Europe Explored » beautiful nature https://europeexplored.com Travel through the most beautiful places in Europe Sun, 08 Sep 2013 13:36:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=3.6 Guide to Camping Holidays in Spain https://europeexplored.com/2013/02/26/guide-to-camping-holidays-in-spain/ https://europeexplored.com/2013/02/26/guide-to-camping-holidays-in-spain/#comments Tue, 26 Feb 2013 15:31:23 +0000 Claire https://europeexplored.com/?p=13920 Camping holidays – they are different, challenging, affordable and memorable and they can’t quite be compared to any other type of holiday. Who wouldn’t like to sleep in a tent, swim in a lake, hike in the mountains and cook on fire? It’s a great experience, but it’s not for the faint-hearted. A camping holiday […]

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Camping holidays – they are different, challenging, affordable and memorable and they can’t quite be compared to any other type of holiday. Who wouldn’t like to sleep in a tent, swim in a lake, hike in the mountains and cook on fire? It’s a great experience, but it’s not for the faint-hearted. A camping holiday needs proper organization and a solid plan – where, when and how. There are various ways to have a camping holiday, but the most authentic one is packing a tent and a sleeping bag, ready to explore a beautiful area somewhere you’ve never been before. Some of the best campgrounds in Europe are in Spain. It’s a unique destination for camping, because of the diverse landscape – woodlands, beaches, mountains and beautiful nature. Spain is the perfect place for a refreshing and recreating camping holiday. There are so many beautiful settings to choose from that you will be spoiled for choice. The best campsites are usually full of tourists. Some of the campgrounds you can find are in Aragon, Andalusia, Castile and Leon, Basque Country, Murcia, Majorca, Valencia, Asturias, Cantabria, Navarre and Castile-La Mancha. Let’s take a more detailed look into some of the popular camping regions in this beautiful and sunny country.

Camping holidays in Spain
Camping holidays in Spain / Photo by Claire (Europe Explored)

Andalusia: Situated in the southern part of the country, it’s a region famous for its deserts, beautiful sandy beaches and ancient cities. Some of the best beaches are along the coast of Costa de la Luz and Costa del Sol. It’s the region with the highest mountains – the Sierra Nevada mountain range. There are plenty of great camping sites around the provinces of Granada, Malaga, Sevilla and Almeria. The combination of seaside and mountainous landscape attract a big number of campers.

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Aragon: Situated in the northern part of Spain, it’s a great camping region. The area borders France with the Pyrenees and it is famous for its rural villages, beautiful valleys and breathtaking mountain peaks. Some of the best campsites are in Zaragoza, Teruel and Huesca. They are top choices of both experienced campers and beginners.

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Asturias: If you’d like a different camping experience – combined with some sightseeing, this is the ideal destination for you. It’s on the north of Spain and there are plenty of historical buildings and museums in the area. There are numerous campsites to choose from in Luarca, Colunga, Cudillero, San Tirso de Abers, Ribadesella and many more.

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Catalonia: One of the finest Spanish regions, bordering Andorra and France to the north (with the Pyrenees), Valencia to the south, Aragon to the west and the Mediterranean Sea to the east. It’s a wonderful area for camping and sightseeing. The region is popular for its impressive architecture and art.

Galicia: A region which borders both the Atlantic Ocean and Portugal; it is often called “the first country in Europe”. Full of great campgrounds, the best areas are in Pontebedra, Ourense and A Coruna.

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One of the major tourist destinations in Spain is Majorca. It attracts people with its mountainous scenery, golden sandy beaches and beautiful cities. It’s a great camping location with various options for outdoor activities and sports. Spain is also famous for its music scene, culture, warm and friendly people, delicious food and it’s definitely worth a visit. A camping holiday is a great opportunity to explore the country with just a backpack on your back and sturdy walking shoes.

Article provided by https://vacation-rentals-news.com/category/vacation-rentals-articles/, pictures provided by article writer.

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Pieniny – the smallest and second oldest national park in Slovakia https://europeexplored.com/2012/01/10/pieniny-the-smallest-and-second-oldest-national-park-in-slovakia/ https://europeexplored.com/2012/01/10/pieniny-the-smallest-and-second-oldest-national-park-in-slovakia/#comments Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:43:47 +0000 Claire https://europeexplored.com/?p=5937 East of the rocky peaks of the High Tatras mountains lies the picturesque and extremely attractive natural scenery of Pieniny National Park (Pieninský národný park – PIENAP). It is spread at the Slovak-Polish border and covers an area of 37.5 square kilometres, which makes it the smallest national park in Slovakia. This area is unique […]

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East of the rocky peaks of the High Tatras mountains lies the picturesque and extremely attractive natural scenery of Pieniny National Park (Pieninský národný park – PIENAP). It is spread at the Slovak-Polish border and covers an area of 37.5 square kilometres, which makes it the smallest national park in Slovakia. This area is unique in many ways and hides a lot of unique natural treasures (however not only natural).

Pieniny national park in Slovakia
Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by DaLee_pl

Pieniny is spread in the northern part of the country called Spiš, in the region of Zamagurie. It is about 30 km long and belongs to Beskydy mountain range. In 1932, Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk established here the first international natural park in Europe. It was formed by National park of Pieniny in Poland and Nature Reserve of Pieniny in Slovakia. In 1967 was declared a National Park. Most tourists to Slovakia often stop in the High Tatras Mountains only, without knowing how beautiful nature is hidden behind them.

Pieniny National Park is an area with unspoilt nature, where meadows blend with the forest, villages are subtly incorporated into the landscape. It is a country full of rock formations, amazing rivers and high-mountain streams. Although there are not any high rocky peaks, but anyway this park will enchant everyone who come here. It’s a place where you can still see freely grazing herds of sheep and remote villages where time has stopped tens years ago, both in terms of architectural and cultural. It is not unusual to see a wooden horse-drawn carriages carrying hay, as well as a hundred years ago, or old ladies sitting in traditional festive costumes in the front of their homes.

Pieniny Mountains - Rafting on Dunajec Gorge. Poland one side, Slovakia the other!
Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Emillie & Lloyd

The mountain range is composed of Jurassic and Cretaceous limestones with younger sandstones, shales and conglomerates, which together creates very impressive character. The rugged relief with deep valleys, gorges and remarkable rock formations was created mainly due to the activities of water, frost, erosion and climate fluctuations. There are also numerous cave systems.

Nature in Pieniny National Park is very diverse, with a number of plant and animal species. From the protected animals you can see here such as Goshawk, Eurasian Eagle-Owl, falcon, raven, crayfish or Eurasian Lynx. There are also rare and endemic species, such as springtails, several species of grasshoppers, centipedes and butterflies. The forests are mostly mixed (firs, pine, spruce, beech, maple, and European yew).

Pieniny National Park in Slovakia 2
Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by DaLee_pl

Pieniny National Park offers relatively dense network of well marked trails with the possibility to choose the optimal route according to your capabilities. Most famous and most visited area in the Pieniny is certainly Breakthrough of Dunajec, located between the towns Szczawnica and Červený Kláštor. Dunajec river created a wonderful valley and you can try rafting on the wooden rafts here, which is the biggest tourist attraction. When sailing, you can see beautiful surrounding scenery. If you do not like water very much, you can go through the Breakthrough of Dunajec on foot or ride a bike.

The highest peak of Pieniny is Vysoké skalky measuring 1050 meters above sea level and lying at the borders with Poland. The top is beautiful, offering panoramic view of the surroundings. Much better known and more significant, however, are dominant Tri Koruny with a height of 982 meters above sea level, located above the Dunajec river. It is formed by rocky towers, whose walls are about 100 meters high and have the form of a crown. The summit offers a magnificent view over the whole area of ​​Pieniny, Spisska Magura, Belianske Tatras and even the High Tatras.

Tri Koruny in Pieniny National Park in Slovakia
Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by tokarcik.tomas

Very interesting is also well preserved folk architecture in the villages Osturňa, Havka, Veľká Lesná and Jezersko.

A large part of the Pieniny National Park is still a God forgotten region, which is accessible to the ordinary tourist, mostly in the summer. There are not any large hotel complexes or resorts. It is ideal for hikers, cyclists, lovers of traditional culture or history, climbers, adventurers or simply for people fleeing from everyday bustle of the city.


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Aquapark Vyhne – Thermal Water Paradise in Slovakia https://europeexplored.com/2011/08/12/aquapark-vyhne-thermal-water-paradise-in-slovakia/ https://europeexplored.com/2011/08/12/aquapark-vyhne-thermal-water-paradise-in-slovakia/#comments Fri, 12 Aug 2011 13:36:53 +0000 Claire https://europeexplored.com/?p=4752 The village Vyhne lies at the beginning of the protected area Štiavnica Mountains (Slovak: Štiavnické vrchy), amidst beautiful nature, only 15 km away from the historic royal mining town of Banská Štiavnica and less than 40 km from another beautiful medieval royal town of Kremnica. The village Vyhne offers also great wellness and relaxation services […]

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The village Vyhne lies at the beginning of the protected area Štiavnica Mountains (Slovak: Štiavnické vrchy), amidst beautiful nature, only 15 km away from the historic royal mining town of Banská Štiavnica and less than 40 km from another beautiful medieval royal town of Kremnica.

The village Vyhne offers also great wellness and relaxation services which are available in the Water Paradise Vyhne all year round, regardless of the weather and season.

During the summer season, which lasts from May to September, all the relax and wellness services are available at additional charge, while outside the main summer season they are included in each access to the swimming pool.

Modern Relaxation – Sports Centre offers squash, bowling, indoor-outdoor pool with a relaxing whirlpools – jacuzzi, spa services, solarium, fitness room, 4 saunas – dry, steam, herbal and infra. You can enjoy all kinds of massages here, from classical, through sporty, reflexology, to special, such as honey massage, cupping, ayurveda, hot stones, and others.

Pools are filled with natural thermal water with a temperature ranging from 29 to 36°C.

Water is also chemically treated and controlled to meet all hygiene standards. The result is crystal clear water with an extremely favourable composition of minerals and microbiological hygiene without any contraindications.

Water Paradise Vyhne is opened every day from 09:00 (or from 08:00 during weekends) to 21:00 and the basic whole-day admission is €11.

Find a moment for yourself and your health and come to relax and to eliminate stress from everyday life.


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Madeira – explore beautiful nature in the Pearl of the Atlantic | Portugal https://europeexplored.com/2011/07/25/madeira-explore-beautiful-nature-in-pearl-of-the-atlantic-portugal/ https://europeexplored.com/2011/07/25/madeira-explore-beautiful-nature-in-pearl-of-the-atlantic-portugal/#comments Mon, 25 Jul 2011 10:09:47 +0000 Claire https://europeexplored.com/?p=4707 Madeira – “Island of Flowers”, “Pearl of the Atlantic,” “Green Paradise”. It’s a beautiful small island (just 22 km wide and 57 km long). Thanks to its mountainous landscape it gives the impression of a large wild island. In Madeira there is a pleasant subtropical climate during the whole year. It is paradise not only […]

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Madeira – “Island of Flowers”, “Pearl of the Atlantic,” “Green Paradise”. It’s a beautiful small island (just 22 km wide and 57 km long). Thanks to its mountainous landscape it gives the impression of a large wild island. In Madeira there is a pleasant subtropical climate during the whole year. It is paradise not only for plants but also for tourists looking for warm rays of the sun.

In Madeira you can find several worlds at one place, despite its seemingly small area. Beautiful green mountain, partly similar to South America. The seaside towns offer breathtaking views of the wide blue ocean. Madeira has unlimited number of natural resources. In the wild nature you can see orchids, Strelicies and other exotic flowers. The flowers can be seen at each step in Madeira and their beauty and fragrance caress the soul of every man.

Irrigation canals are built around the whole island (in total length of 2000 km), along which you can easy walk and hike the island.

For the lovers of nature and mountains Madeira is an ideal place for active recreation. Of course, for the lovers of bathing it is a land of rest, but do not try to find the extensive beaches.

Best travel tips in Madeira – Interesting tips for travel around Madeira, that you should not miss.

Porto Santo
Madeira consists of two main islands, Madeira and Porto Santo but also includes the Desertas and the Savage Islands. In Porto Santo you can find beautiful long beach with golden sand, so this could be a paradise for swimmers.

The city of Funchal
Do not miss the capital city of Madeira – Funchal. Beautiful historic center, picturesque streets, Funchal’s bay and Botanical Gardens definitely worth seeing.

Mountains and inland
Inland of Madeira will enchant you with its magnificent mountain peaks, rising from the ocean to the heavens. The highest peak is Paul da Serra located in region of Santana. Its elevation is 1,862 meters above the sea level.

Festivals and celebrations in Madeira

Carnival on Madeira | Portugal

Madeira held four distinct and major festivals.

Carnival
Carnival takes place in late February. Streets change to the rhythm of Brazilian samba for four days and four nights. Masks, music, dance and happy mood are everywhere in the city streets.

Flower Festival
Flower Festival is held in late April or early May (two weeks after Easter). The whole city of Funchal is decorated with flowers. On Saturday children’s parade takes place when each child bears a flower and put it into the hole in the “Wall of Hope” on the square Praça do Município.

Wine Festival
Wine festival is held in early September in honor of the grape harvest in several villages.

New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve, like in other countries is to celebrate the end of the year. It belongs to the largest ones. If you want to see an amazing fireworks just over the ocean, do not wait and book your hotel in advance.


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Canoeing and rafting on the Czech rivers https://europeexplored.com/2011/07/15/canoeing-and-rafting-on-the-czech-rivers/ https://europeexplored.com/2011/07/15/canoeing-and-rafting-on-the-czech-rivers/#comments Fri, 15 Jul 2011 11:54:22 +0000 Claire https://europeexplored.com/?p=4677 If you like active holidays and prefer nature to sights, and would like to experience something different, I would suggest you to try canoeing or rafting in the Czech republic. It is really cheap and suitable also for the families with kids. You don’t have to be an expert in canoeing, as Czech rivers are […]

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If you like active holidays and prefer nature to sights, and would like to experience something different, I would suggest you to try canoeing or rafting in the Czech republic.

It is really cheap and suitable also for the families with kids. You don’t have to be an expert in canoeing, as Czech rivers are not as wild. It is even suitable for those that have never been rafting before. However you have to meet one requirement – you have to love water.

There are about 500 rivers that you can raft in the Czech republic. We prepared for you just a short overview of the most popular rivers you should start with.

Vltava river - Canoeing and rafting on the Czech riversVltava river
The very Czech river is usually rafted from the town of Vyšší Brod to the city of České Budějovice. It is possible to add additional two days from Lenora to Lipno or two days from Prague to Mělník. On all these sections the river flows nicely and is suitable for tourist canoe. Very popular is sailing down the all the dams on the Vltava between České Budějovice and Prague on sea kayaks. Also, if you would like to get an unforgettable experience you should pass through the Czech capital – Prague, or through the city of Český Krumlov.

+ Beautiful landscape, nice flow, most dams are rideable
- Too many boaters and full camps.

Rental services on Vltava river: www.ingetour.cz

Sazava river - Canoeing and rafting on the Czech riversSázava river
Sázava provides two interesting sections – one is at the beginning and one at the end. The section between Týnec nad Sázavou and Pikovice belongs to the most popular ones in the Czech republic.
+ Interesting rapids
- Dangerous weirs, long stretches without power, many boaters on the downstream

Rental services on Sazava river: www.pujcovna-lodi.cz (only in Czech)

Lužnice river
Lužnice has already been described in the separated article here.

Berounka river - Rafting and Canoeing on Czech riversBerounka river
If you’ve never been on the water yet, Berounka river is ideal for you. It does not flow too fast, it is broad and water level is enough high throughout the year. The list of superlatives can include a beautiful nature, interesting sights all around and the camping almost on every turn. Those looking for comfort, night guitar just at the fireplace, pubs or walks to the surrounding ruins, will find Berounka as the best solution. Here you can meet the groups that runs the same river for decades.

+ Forests and meadows, many nice campsites, monuments and sights
- Dry after the weirs

Rental services on Berounka river: www.rekaberounka.cz

Ohre river - Canoeing and rafting on the Czech riversOhře river
Ohře river is a number 2 among the most popular canoeing rivers. It is powerful, and fresh. Fast flow alternates with rapids. It often passes under the rocks, on which is castle or at least the ruins. The historic town of Cheb, Karlovy Vary and Kadaň worth seeing. Many camps offer only cheap place for a tent and a simple toilet, but there is also a number of comfortably equipped campsites.

+ Live river, fast flow, romantic landscape
- Too many boaters

Rental services on Ohře river: www.dronte.cz

Otava riverOtava river
Castles, beer, sausage, relax – it’s Otava. Nicely flowing through the planes of Šumava forests to Orlík lake. There is no unpleasant surprises waiting for the paddlers. During the holidays it is full of boaters, but the number of boats and tents in the camps is reasonable.

+ Peaceful atmosphere
- In the hot summer can be the lack of water

Rental services on Otava river: www.lodniservis.cz


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The town of Tsarevo – one of the sunniest places in Bulgaria https://europeexplored.com/2011/06/17/the-town-of-tsarevo-one-of-the-the-sunniest-places-in-bulgaria/ https://europeexplored.com/2011/06/17/the-town-of-tsarevo-one-of-the-the-sunniest-places-in-bulgaria/#comments Fri, 17 Jun 2011 13:13:01 +0000 Claire https://europeexplored.com/?p=4493 Tsarevo (formerly known as Vasiliko or Mičurin) is a town and a spa resort in the southeastern part of Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast. It is located approx. 70 km from Bourgas and 17 km from Primorsko. The resort is situated between the mountains Strandja and the Black Sea, on two peninsulas. Around you can find […]

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Tsarevo (formerly known as Vasiliko or Mičurin) is a town and a spa resort in the southeastern part of Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast. It is located approx. 70 km from Bourgas and 17 km from Primorsko. The resort is situated between the mountains Strandja and the Black Sea, on two peninsulas. Around you can find the beautiful bays with sandy, rocky and grassy beaches.

Thanks to its location the city and its surroundings belong to the warmest areas of the Bulgarian coast. For its beautiful nature the resort was a popular place for the Bulgarian royal family in the past. Today Tsarevo is a popular tourist destination suitable for lovers of comfortable, quiet, romantic, but also of active holiday.

In the center of town you will find the pedestrian zone, shops, markets, cafes, pastry shops, restaurants, discos, bars, parks, cinema or a jungle gym for children. Tsarevo has a football field with artificial turf, which is freely accessible to children. In Tsarevo you can also enjoy some sport activities such as sailing, diving or widsurfing. Close to the resort you can stay in well-known campsites Bulgarka and Nestinarka.


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Peak District National Park – the oldest national park in United Kingdom https://europeexplored.com/2011/02/15/peak-district-national-park-the-oldest-national-park-in-united-kingdom/ https://europeexplored.com/2011/02/15/peak-district-national-park-the-oldest-national-park-in-united-kingdom/#comments Tue, 15 Feb 2011 15:16:00 +0000 Claire https://europeexplored.com/?p=2553 Peak District National Park is the oldest national park in United Kingdom, located in the middle of England, less than 35 km southeast of Manchester. Peak District National Park was designated in 1951 and consists of two distinct types of landscape. The first type is located in the southern part of the park, called the […]

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Peak District National Park is the oldest national park in United Kingdom, located in the middle of England, less than 35 km southeast of Manchester.

Peak District National Park was designated in 1951 and consists of two distinct types of landscape. The first type is located in the southern part of the park, called the White Peak, and is characterized by undulating limestone terrain. In the northern part – Dark Peak there are the wild moors and heaths.

Peak District National Park is interlaced with numerous hiking trails with beautiful vantage points – for example, Hathersage, from which you can get a panoramic view of the northern moorland or Edale, from which you can see the winding trail Pennine Way that is 412 km long.

Probably the biggest tourist attraction of the Peak District National Park is Arbor Low – stone ring, called the “Stonehenge of north”. The ring consists of 46 laying stones surrounded by a moat from 2000 BC.

Another beautiful place is Dovedale. In this southern part, the Peak District National Park is densely forested along with the most beautiful river valley, which is dominated by steep cliffs. The site is suitable not only for romantic walks, but also for fishing.

Thanks to limestone bedrock, the Peak District National Park is characterized by caves, such as Thor’s Cave or Treak Cliff Cavern.

But the Peak District National Park is not only about beautiful nature, you can meet lots of historical artifacts and ruins in many places, such as Alport Castle or Peveril Castle. One of the entry points for the park may be a picturesque spa town of Buxton, which opera house is due to its location in the beautiful surroundings of the town called “theater in the hills.” Another entry point can be Cromford village, which boasts the first cotton mill in the world, which used water power.

Peak District National Park also offers a unique tram museum in the town of Crich, where you can ride the old trams from around the world.


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