1. London

The capital as well as most visited city in the United Kingdom is that of London. It is the largest and most industrialized city in the UK as well as being the largest in the European Union. There are literally thousands of historical sites and monuments in the city including its original medieval town centre.

London, England, UK by André Zehetbauer

2. Edinburgh

The city of Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and is considered to be one of the most popular destinations in the UK. It is a historical city with countless buildings and monuments that date back through the ages. Both the medieval town centre as well as the new town districts are considered to be the world heritage sites.

Edinburgh, Calton hill, Scotland, UK by baaker2009

3. Blackpool

Located in the northwestern part of England, the city of Blackpool can be found along the shores of the Irish Sea. There are eleven kilometres of golden sand beaches in Blackpool which has made it an attractive tourist destination since 1781 when the first road was paved between the city and Manchester.

Blackpool, England, UK by Gidzy

4. Manchester

The city of Manchester is the third largest in the United Kingdom. Originally founded back in 79 A.D. by the Romans, the city has grown into a bustling metropolis over the millennia. There are a number of buildings and sites in the city that date back through the centuries including the Manchester Ship Canal which was built back in 1894.

Manchester Cathedral, England, UK by mark.watmough

5. Glasgow

The Scottish city of Glasgow is the largest in the country and one of the most popular destinations in the United Kingdom. The city can be found along the banks of the River Clyde where it has grown over the years to become one of the largest seaports in the region. The historic town centre of Glasgow is a must-see attraction of this interesting city.

Glasgow Harbour, Scotland, UK by baaker2009

6. Liverpool

Located along the eastern edges of the Mersey Estuary, you will find the city of Liverpool that dates back to the early 13th century. Today it is one of the largest cities in England as well as in the United Kingdom. There are a number of sites within the city to visit and explore. One of the most important facts about that city is that it is a birthplace of The Beatles.

Liverpool town hall, England, UK by Boing! said Zebedee

7. York

The city of York is an ancient city that dates back to the days of the Vikings. It can be found along the banks of where the Ouse and Foss rivers merge. The walled city is known as being one of the most haunted locations in all of England and countless people make their way to York every single year to visit the city’s most haunted places.

York, Minster, England, UK by visitingeu

8. Birmingham

The second most populated city in England as well as in the entire United Kingdom is the city of Birmingham, which can be found in the West Midlands. It was a large market town throughout the middle ages which grew into a bustling metropolis as a result of the industrial revolution.

Birmingham, England, UK by West Midlands Police

9. Bath

The city of Bath can be found in the southwestern part of England. It was back in the first century that the town was first established by the Romans on account of the natural hot springs in the area. Throughout the centuries Bath grew to become one of the most popular spa destinations in England.

Bath, England, UK by Nigel Swales

10. Brighton

Situated in East Sussex, the city of Brighton is a popular resort town in England. Since the 11th century, people have been making their way to the city to bathe in the waters along the city’s seashores. There are several important and historical sites that can be found throughout the city.

Brighton, England, UK by Ilya Schurov

11. Torquay

The seaside town of Torquay is a popular destination in England. There are several resorts and hotels that can be found within the city which are needed to accommodate more than 100,000 visitors who make their way to the city’s shorelines every summer. Torquay is also known as being the birthplace and lifelong home of Agatha Christie.

Torquay, Devon, England, UK by Stephen

12. Cardiff

The city of Cardiff can be found in Wales. There are a number of historical sites that can be found within the city including the local castle which has attracted countless visitors over the years. Its picturesque landscape has led it to be ranked at the top of the National Geographic’s list of worldwide destinations.

Cardiff England, UK by Candy Schwartz

13. Bournemouth

The resort town of Bournemouth can be along the coastlines of Dorset, in the southern part of England. Over the centuries, the town has become a popular summer destination in the country. There are many resorts and hotels that can be found along the town’s beautiful coastlines.

Bournemouth, Dorset, England, UK by Christophe.Finot

14. Bristol

You will find the city of Bristol in the southwestern part of England, along the banks of the River Avon. It is a bustling metropolis which is home to more than a million people. It is also a historical city that dates back well before the 12th century. The beautiful historical town center has attracted countless visitors over the years.

Bristol, England, UK by Arpingstone

15. Inverness

The city of Inverness can be found situated within the Highlands of Scotland where it is nestled along the banks of the River Ness. The picturesque landscapes which surround the city are one of the biggest attractions for the countless people who are visiting this historically important and strategically located city.

Inverness, Scotland, UK by Anne-Lise Heinrichs

16. Belfast

You will find the city of Belfast located in the northern part of Ireland. While being only the fourteenth largest city in Britain, it is considered to be one of the largest in the island. It is here, in the local shipyards of Belfast that the infamous RMS Titanic was built. There are a number of sites and monuments that can be found within the city as well as in the surrounding countryside.

Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK by Macnolete

17. Cambridge

The city of Cambridge can be found nestled along the banks of the River Cam, just north of the nation’s capital. There are a number of archeological sites in the area which has uncovered countless Roman and Viking artifacts over the years. It is also the home of the famous 13th century University of Cambridge which is considered to be one of the best in the world.

18. Oxford

The town of Oxford can be found in the southern part of England. While there are a number of important and historical sites in the city to visit, Oxford is most well-known on account of its university which is the oldest in the country as well as in the English speaking world.

Oxford, England, UK by Duncan Hull

19. Newquay

The seaside resort town of Newquay can be found situated along the Atlantic coastlines as well as the banks of the River Gannel. Over the centuries the area has grown into a popular destination in the United Kingdom due to the beautiful beaches that can be found within the city. It is also

Newquay, England, UK by Kicior99

20. Scarborough

You will find the town of Scarborough situated along the coastlines of the North Sea. It is a historical town which sits upon limestone cliffs overlooking the bounding seas. While the main industry in the town is fishing, during the summer months the population explodes as countless people make their way to the eastern coastlines of the country.

Scarborough, England, UK by EOS_3

The post 20 of the Most Beautiful Cities in the United Kingdom appeared first on Europe Explored.

To experience some genuine typically British experiences then try this list of five – there’s something for everyone.

1. Eat fish and chips. Ideally in the north of England or Scotland where the best ‘chippies’ are to be found, and – very important this – you must eat it sitting outside from the paper it comes wrapped in rather than from a plate. Go heavy on the salt and malt vinegar, absolutely delicious.

2. Try crown green bowling. A version of this genteel game has been played in the UK since the 13th century and it is as much a sport of kings as horse racing. Perhaps one for the older set think English country villages and a cream tea and you are along the right lines.

crown green bowling by Jenny Poole

3. Hop across to a European party island. If you visit Britain in the summer months and are struggling to cope with the unfortunate reality of almost continuous rain then grab a cheap flight and holiday in Ibiza, Majorca or Tenerife for a long weekend. Get ready to party hard this is not for the faint hearted – or your Mum!

4. Take a donkey ride on the beach. Get back to basics with some family fun at the seaside. Indulge yourself with ice creams a plenty and give the kids a treat with a donkey trek on the sands, they’ll love it. Also look out for traditional Punch & Judy puppet shows, crazy golf and amusement arcades: all essential tourist attractions at British coastal towns.

5. Go and see a football match. Soak up the atmosphere on the terraces and get engrossed with the action on the pitch. Some of the world’s greatest players play soccer in the UK so take the chance to see them close up and discover this exciting sport for yourself.

The post Five Typically British Things to Try appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Studio eLBee

1. Cities and towns by lakes often have a rich cultural history supported by the presence of that lake.
If you really want to visit a place that has it all, and expansive lake with a thriving cultural presence, then Italy’s Lake Garda – the largest lake in the country – is the perfect location. It is located in Northern Italy, about halfway between Verona and Brescia, and is easily accessible from the north by the Brenner Pass. There are many different places to stay during a visit to Lake Garda. There are pricey exclusive resorts, as well as affordable family sized villas for rent. On this south side of Lake Garda lies the ancient Roman city of Sirmione. Here you can visit ancient spa complexes, and Scaliger castle which was built in the 13th century. Gardaland is a theme park that is popular among the locals and tourists alike.

2. Lakes support a wide variety of relaxing activities.
Visiting a lake means that you can take part in lots of different activities. Lakes are excellent places to take part in water sports, like kayaking, canoeing, or sailing. The Masuria region of Poland has over 1,000 lakes in the north western part of the country, and is an extremely popular destination for water sports. These are all glacial lakes, and while relatively deep, they are calm and therefore excellent places to take sailing lessons. There are many rivers and streams that connect these lakes, and these are great for paddling expeditions.

3. Lakes are perfect habitats for nature lovers.
Lakes are large areas of freshwater that attracts many different kinds of animals. Lake Ladoga, one of the largest lakes in the world, and the largest in Europe, also has a very large population of water birds. Freshwater fish are also very numerous, making this lake great for fishermen. This lake, that spans across both Russia and Finland, is perfect for birdwatchers and naturalists. Why not find a local car hire company, rent a car and head over to Lake Ladoga, ecologically a very special lake, and invites all kinds of explorations.

4. Cleaner, more beautiful water.
Lakes are often disregarded over coastal areas in favour of beaches and a beach scene, but savvy travellers know that some lake beaches are even more beautiful and relaxing. Lake Annecy of France is regarded as Europe’s cleanest lake, and also happens to be France’s second largest lake. It is the cleanest because of strict environmental regulations. Swimming, biking around the shore and water sports are the most popular activities here. A visit to France is not complete without a getaway to beautiful, scenic Lake Annecy.

5. Beautiful mountain lakes are a true getaway all year long.
Lakes can be situated in many different habitats, and mountain lakes are especially unique. The landscape surrounding mountain lakes are refreshing, with the forest covered peaks and valleys. Lake Geneva is one of the most popular destinations for lake holidays in Switzerland and Europe. It is the largest alpine lake in Europe, sitting at an elevation of 1,220 feet. Visiting mountain lakes means that even in the winter there are surrounding activities. At Lake Geneva, skiing, as well as mountain and lake scenery make it a great place to visit, even in the winter. In the summer, yachting on the lake and lounging on the shores are very popular.

The post Lake Holidays in Europe appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Greg Pye

Faro was originally just a fishing village built by the Romans, who called it Ossonoba. In 1249, thanks to Alfonso III. was freed from the power of the Moors and became to prosper as a city. But in 1596 a city suffered a damaging blow, it was burned by the Earl of Essex, who was a great favorite of Queen Elizabeth I. And later, in 1755, it was damaged again during the massive earthquake. Although the remnants of ancient city walls managed to preserve until today, most of the beautiful buildings either did not outlast the destruction or have been largely damaged. So the buildings that you can see today in Faro, come mainly from the late 18th and 19th century.

Faro is now a beautiful coastal city protected by a low sandy islands Ilha de Culatra, Ilha da Barreta and Ilha da Faro. Unfortunately, many tourists pass Faro without stopping here, even though it has the largest number of cultural and historical monuments from all the towns in the Algarve region. Preserved old town center around the cathedral and behind the old city walls, definitely worth a visit.

The historical center of Faro can easily be explored on foot. It lies in a small bay and is partly surrounded by medieval walls. The old harbor area has arched entrance gate with a bell tower called Arco da Vila. This arch was built in the 19th century for Bishop Dom Francisco Gomes do Avelar, who has decided to rebuild the dilapidated city. Street behind it, paved with cobblestones, leads to a beautiful Largo da Sé Square, where you can see the cathedral. From the original Gothic cathedral from the 13th century, which was destroyed in 1596 by English forces led by the Earl of Essex, are preserved only unusual tower, covered porches and two inner chapels. The reconstruction of the cathedral took a long time, so it is now built both in Renaissance, and Baroque style.

Inside the cathedral you can see a huge pipe organ decorated with spectacular Chinese motifs. During festive occasions, there are playing Europe’s leading organists. The cathedral also houses one of the most important Algarve’s collections of sacred art from the 17th and 18th century. And its tower offers a beautiful view of the city.

On the square Largo da Sé is also a Bishop’s Palace Paço Episcopal. If you go through another stone arch in Arco Repouso, walk up to the church of São Francisco, which was built in the 18th century. It is decorated with tiles and scenes from the life of St. Francis. Further north, another church rises in Pé Nossa Senhora da Cruz, who is an exceptional oil paintings depicting episodes from Genesis.

In the monastery Convento de Nossa Senhora da Assunção (Monastery of Our Lady of the Assumption), which is the oldest Renaissance building in the Algarve, is probably the most beautiful cloister in southern Portugal, which was built in 1540 by Afonso Pires. The monastery was founded by Leonor, sister of Manuel I (king of Portugal). The monastery has been carefully restored and since 1973 houses a museum devoted to archeology where you can see the local archaeological finds. The collection includes also Roman, medieval and Manueline stone reliefs and sculptures. The main exhibit is a 2,000 year old Roman mosaic floor measuring 9 x 3 meters, showing a head of the god Neptune.

The most interesting church in Faro is Igreja do Carmo (Carmelite Church). It has an imposing facade with two towers and a beautiful gilded interior, but its biggest attraction is haunted Bone Chapel. Besides the Carmelite church from the 18th century is located another museum – Museo Marítimo exhibiting a small collection of marine exhibits, including model ships. You will see a flagship example of Vasco de Gama, which he used during his voyage to India. Plus you can learn here about the traditional methods of fishing on the coast of the Algarve.

The main artery of Faro is the elegant pedestrian street Rua de Santo António, which is full of shops, bars and restaurants. On the northeast of the city lies the Jewish cemetery, founded for the community, which was brought here by Marquis de Pombal in the 18th century.

About 7 kilometers from the town is a beach. The local coastline is attractive because it includes a number of small sandy islands with a unique nature reserve. In the vicinity of the bay is the Ria Formosa Natural Park, which is a favorite resting place for many species of migratory birds.

View Faro – largest number of cultural and historical monuments in Algarve Portugal in a larger map

The post Faro – largest number of cultural and historical monuments in Algarve | Portugal appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Triin Olvet

But the city is mainly a seaside location, so the most tourists come here due to a well-known local beaches and promenades, such as beach Paralepa. However once you come to Haapsalu, you should not miss the local mud baths. The tradition of spas in the city dates back to the early 19th century, when a doctor took a habit of local inhabitants to treat rheumatic problems with mud baths. At this time a new sanatorium grew up here and shortly Haapsalu became a favorite destination of the Russian elite. Most of the spa buildings are situated near the Great Mall.

Haapsalu has 11,600 residents and is located 100km from the capital city of Tallinn. The city is also prepared for the lovers of technical monuments – in the local railway station you can find a railway museum and exhibition of historical vehicles. If you wish to enjoy the quiet atmosphere of the seaside spa resort, Haapsalu is the right choice.

View Haapsalu – seaside spa resort in Estonia in a larger map

The post Haapsalu – seaside spa resort in Estonia appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by ocegep

The building is really monumental, and if you are disappointed by haunted Dracula’s castle Bran, be sure to set off in Hunedoara.

Fortress was founded here in the 13th century and up to 17th century was reconstructed and modified. At first in the 14th century by its owner, a general and Regent-Governor of the Kingdom of Hungary – John Hunyadi, and later in the 15th century by his son, Matthias Corvinus. Further alterations were no such significant. Inside the castle is a museum where you can find more information about the history of the castle.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Cernavoda

There is no railway in Hunedoara, but you can take a bus from the nearby Deva. As I wrote, Hunedoara is a relatively small city, so finding the castle would not be a problem – you can go from the bus station along the main street up to the dirty river, go over bridge and you should see the towers of the castle.

Corvin Castle is open every day but the opening hours vary depending on the season. Basic admission is 10 Ron (approx. €2,3).

View Huniad-Corvin Castle – one of the most enchanting Gothic castles in Europe Romania in a larger map

The post Huniad-Corvin Castle – one of the most enchanting Gothic castles in Europe | Romania appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Udo Schröter

Muskau Park is located on the border between Poland and Germany, along the Neisse River. It covers an area of over eight hundred hectares, thus it is one of the largest and certainly the most famous English parks in both countries. The park includes also two magnificent castles – An Old Castle, dating back to the 13th century and two centuries younger New Castle. Right here, beside those two castles, was Muskau Park founded in 1815. The founder was Prince Hermann Ludwig Heinrich von Pückler-Muskau, whose name is probably not missing in any publication of the garden architecture. He was an excellent artist in landscape gardening and wrote also several great publications about a harmony between a nature and human activity. In 1834 he summarized his ideas and findings into the publication, which meant a complete breakthrough in this area. Unfortunately, not all plans could be implemented. The cost of construction of the park and extensive reconstructions of the adjacent castles greatly exceeded the architect’s investment options. In 1845 Pückler was forced to sold a park and the adjacent estate and the new owner engaged for completion works the famous landscape architect Eduard Petzold.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Udo Schröter

Muskauer Park was seriously damaged during the World War II. Both castles and surrounding structures, including bridges, were destroyed by bombing. In addition, the park was in 1945 divided into two parts, which made its reconstruction very complicated. More than two thirds of the area fell to Poland and and the rest to Germany. The closer cooperation between those two parts started in the 90′s of the last century, while the reconstruction work is still being done.

Not only the life-work of Hermann von Pückler, but also the way how Muskau Park was created, greatly influenced the development of landscape architecture in Europe and America. This is why the park was in 2004 inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The park is now open for visitors every day from 10 to 18 hours, winter months excluded. The admission is free.

View Muskau Park – largest and one of the most famous English gardens of Germany and Poland in a larger map

The post Muskau Park – largest and one of the most famous English gardens of Germany and Poland appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Michael Mertens

Every year it holds several big events that remind the story of Dr. Frankenstein and his monster. Castle of Frankenstein lies hidden in the beautiful countryside. You can get here quite easily by a transport from the modern metropolis Frankfurt am Main. Frankenstein’s Castle was built in the mid 13th century by Count Konrad Reiz von Breuberg. Later there was built a hospital but from the late 18th century this wonderful medieval building began decay. The real glory of this place then came with the mentioned novel written by Mary Shelley.

During your visit in the Castle of Frankenstein in Mühltal you will certainly enjoy a big amount of adventure. It will be very interesting for the lovers of nature and historical monuments as the beautiful scenery can be found everywhere around castle.

Regardless of the name and history associated with the Castle of Frankenstein, people still make weddings in the chapel in ruins. But the best time to visit Castle of Frankenstein is probably October, when the castle holds Halloween party.

View Frankenstein Castle – the monster’s home Germany in a larger map

The post Frankenstein Castle – the monster’s home | Germany appeared first on Europe Explored.

The river Arno flows through Florence and the bridges connect its banks in the narrowest point probably since Etruscan times. In ancient times Florence was situated on an important route the Via Cassia connecting Rome with the main cities of the north. Bridges were the only way to get across the river Arno. However due to flooding they had to be frequently renewed, but did not survive anyway and were torn down by floods completely. The present bridge was built in 1345 and Florentines gave it the name of the Ponte Vecchio, which means “old bridge”. They wanted to distinguish it from another one – Ponte alla Carraio. Although this bridge is much older (built in 1218), they already called it the Ponte Nuovo, the “new bridge”.

View Ponte Vecchio in Florence – the world’s most beautiful bridge Italy in a larger map

Ponte Vecchio was built by an architect Neri di Fioravante, who created an elegant building with three arches. Today, the Ponte Vecchio is also known as “The bridge of jewelers” because on its both sides you can find plenty of shops and boutiques, mostly jewelry. The first shops were open here in the 13th century, but originally there were fish traders, tanners and butchers. The river served them as an excellent dump. Above the second arch, in the middle of the bridge was therefore a small space available, through which they could throw garbage straight into the river. Fortunately this free space does not serve to its original purpose any more, but it allows a nice view of the river and other neighbouring bridges.

In 1593 Grand Duke Ferdinando I. kicked all the existing traders off the bridge and replaced them with jewellers and goldsmiths. About 50 of them settled in wooden shops and thanks to them the bridge got its distinctive character. Above the shops there is a Vasari Corridor which was built in 1564 by order of Grand Duke Cosimo I, who wanted to have sheltered and safe walkway from Palazzo Vecchio square to Palazzo Pitti. In the middle of the bridge you can see a bust of one of the most famous Florentine goldsmith, Benvenuto Cellini (1500 – 1571), created in 1900 by sculptor Raffaello Romanelli.

Ponte Vecchio can boast the title of one of the most famous symbols of Florence or the most beautiful bridge in the world.

View Ponte Vecchio in Florence – the world’s most beautiful bridge Italy in a larger map

The post Ponte Vecchio in Florence – the world’s most beautiful bridge | Italy appeared first on Europe Explored.

The place is located close to Barcelona. Montserrat literally means “jagged mountain” and when you take a look at the pinkish rock, which is above the monastery and visible already from afar, you are immediately clear why. Although the mountain alone attracts many rock climbers, most people come here to visit the Benedictine monastery and see the statue of the Virgin Mary and infant Christ, also known as “la Moreneta”. The Black Madonna is made of wood and was created sometimes between the 12th and 13th century. Just like in many similar cases, even here a lot of people believe that the statue has supernatural abilities, such as cure or fulfil wishes. She was declared the saint patron of Catalonia by Pope Leo XIII in 1844.

View Montserrat – the most sacred place of Catalonia Spain in a larger map

But Montserrat Monastery is even older coming from the 8th or 9th century, however since then it has undergone many alterations and was almost destroyed during Napoleonic wars. Today’s appearance is from the late 19th century.

Some of you who knows the music much better than just from radios would certainly be familiar with a local boys’ choir of sopranos and altos called L’Escolania, existing since the 13th century. It is the oldest institution of its kind in Europe.

The monastery also includes an extensive library with more than 200,000 volumes. But it is still not everything. The legend says that this site was a place of the castle of the Holy Grail (often identified with the dish, plate, or cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper and said to possess miraculous powers).

Montserrat monastery is situated in the mountain at an altitude of 750 meters above sea level and formerly was very hard accessible. However now it is very easy to get there, so be prepared for crowds. You can use road, but also a steep lift built in 1930 (Aerie de Montserrat) or cog-railway from 1892.

Due to a huge number of visitors (almost 750,000 people a year), there are lots of car parks, restaurants, refreshments with ice cream, souvenir shops, two museums and even a hotel.

View Montserrat – the most sacred place of Catalonia Spain in a larger map

The post Montserrat – the most sacred place of Catalonia | Spain appeared first on Europe Explored.