Lille, France by jledruide

1. Architecture

Lille has a large number of impressive buildings with a variety of different architecture. A number of these structures are in the centre of Lille, all within a quick walking distance of each other. Whilst there are also sights to see in the Old Lille which may require a quick bus journey. Attractions include the Palace of Fine Arts (Palais des Beaux-Arts), the Voice of the North (Voix du La Nord) and the theatre (la Métaphore). One of the main reasons for tourists coming to Lille is to view these buildings in person, as well as many others that Lille has to offer.

2. Lille Grand Place

The busiest part of town when you visit this French City is the Grand Place. Popular amongst tourists and locals alike, la Grand’place de Lille plays hosts to several of the impressive architecture buildings and sights to see. There are beautiful views wherever you stand in the Grand Place, as well as opportunities to sit and enjoy your time here, whether it be in the centre of in a park nearby. The Grand Place itself hosts a large number of shops.

3. The Vieille Bourse

The Vielle Bourse, or the Old Stock Exchange to you and me in English is arguably the most prestigious monument in the city of Lille. It is situated between the Grand Place and Theatre Square and opposite Europe’s largest book store. On the front courtyard you are often greeted by book sellers and florists.

4. Monuments

As well as impressive buildings, there are a large number of monuments and statues scattered around Lille, each contributing their own part to the city’s history. Whilst walking around the Grand Place you will notice a statue of The Goddess looking down upon you. Other statues to view during your visit include one of General Faidherbe, a tribute to the Pigeons of the 1914-18 war and a War Memorial situated at the Palais Rihour.

5. The Zoo

Lille Zoo can be found situated north of the zoo and is easily accessible with a €1.40 short bus journey from the centre. Entrance is free and the zoo holds more than 70 different species of animal from five continents. These include Rhinos, Zebras, Gibbons and Birds. If you’re going with the family for a holiday to Lille, the zoo is a great option for the kids to have a fun hour or so outdoors.

6. The Citadel

Next door to the Zoo is the Citadel of Lille. The huge pentagon-shaped citadel that remains the largest in France was built by over 2,000 men in the 17th century and was besieged during the Siege of Lille in 1708. These days the Citadel remains in top shape and tour guides are available for €7 during the summer months.

As well as all of these attractions to visit during your stay in Lille, make sure you taste their food speciality, which is mussels. This seafood dish can be purchased in most restaurants and are often served in large saucepans, usually with a wine sauce.

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Campeggio Valle Gesso

If you are looking for a secluded spot to spend quality time with your family in the great outdoors, Campeggio Valle Gesso might just be the place that you are looking for. Located in the woods in Northwest Italy on the border with France, this campground offers plenty of shade with beautiful views of the Alps. There is a children’s playground for the little ones to enjoy, and swimming pool for everyone to relax in. If you want to maximize your relaxation, there is no better way to do it than by getting a hydromassage, which is offered on site! For the older kids with more active tastes, the campground also offers cycling routes that can challenge even the most experienced riders.

Campsite Tenuta Primero

Located on the coast of the Adriatic Sea on the Friuli-Venezia Giulia province of Northern Italy, this campsite offers sandy beaches and sun bathing for a true vacation experience. This campsite also offers a children’s playground and swimming pool. In addition, you can also swim in the Adriatic Sea if you choose so! In addition to this, you have guided walks, golf, a disco, and a beauty center at your disposal. When it comes to dining, the campground offers a restaurant with an extensive menu and a grocery store with a wide selection of products if you choose to cook. Campsite Tenuta Primero is truly luxurious and accommodating.

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Campsite Eden

Campsite Eden is the water enthusiasts’ paradise. Located in Northern Italy’s Lombardy Province, it is situated on a lake Lago di Garda with a beautiful pebble beach and offers a huge option of activities for your water loving family. If all you want to do is relax, you can choose to simply swim in the pool they offer or in the lake. Activities are endless! The campground offers scuba diving, snorkeling, wind surfing, sailing, water skiing, and you can even take your own boat in the lake! Out of the water, you can walk or cycle on the marked trails. Anything you choose to do, you will have a blast here.

This post was published for Al Fresco Holidays – An outdoor holiday provider.

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Experiencing tours of Greek islands means priceless memories of sightseeing galore and beach relaxation. In these wonderful islands, one can get hold of the past and the present as they blend in a wonderful array of picturesque landscapes, historical fortresses and landmarks, and awesome beaches.

Here are the top destinations you can go when you are on a Greece island tour. Discover the many riches and glory of the ancient Greece. Add up the natural beauty of its nature and surroundings and you will never regret why you chose to tour Greek islands.

Go Around the Rhodes Town. No one would miss Greece’s capital as well as the financial and cultural centre of the islands, the Rhodes Town. It is interesting to stroll in this town because Greece is seen both from the past and the present. Many will learn a lot from historical landmarks in the Old Town and bask in the modern leisure activities in the New Town.

Visit the Glorious Past of the Old Town. Take pictures on the mighty medieval fortresses built from old centuries as well as discover the legacy of the Crusader Knights of St John in defending the islands. These are just a few of the things you can do while visiting the Old Town.

Be Mesmerized with Mandraki Harbor. This is the place where once stood an ancient wonder of the world, the Colossus of Rhodes. Today, two deer made of pure bronze can be seen on the tall columns overlooking the marina filled with boats, yachts and excursion boats. Tourists are attracted with its beautiful views as well as the remains of the historical landmarks such as century-old fortresses, palaces, and Turkish minarets.

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Send a Postcard From The Historic Lindos. Medieval and architecture enthusiasts will definitely get hooked with the famous antiquity. Lindos is actually built around the foot of a steep rock rising more than a hundred meters. On top, tourists are offered with amazing landscape views of the town, bays and the best of coastline overlooking Aegean Sea from the ancient Acropolis.

Get a true beach experience in Skiathos. With the long strip of crystalline beaches, clearly transparent waters, green vegetation, sumptuous food, Skiathos is nevertheless the perfect choice to relax in a short period of time. The island is also an excellent haven for night-outs. With bars, restaurants and other activity centres operating at night, your time will surely not be wasted during your stay at Skiathos.

These are just a few of the sumptuous treats that you will experience while on Greece island tour. If you wish to be a part of them all, arrange a day tour upon your arrival. Visit the sights and landmarks, take a dip on their blue waters, choose a water sport to enjoy, enjoy the green scenery, give way to your gastronomic pleasures and discover the rich culture the whole day, but do not miss out the night scene after those activities. Your Greece experience would surely be a lifetime memory you wanted to remember.

Post supplied by Sally at Explore-Earth Travel Blog – recommended for quirky and different destinations for your next vacation!

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Travelling and Getting Around

There are two international airports located in the vicinity of Hisingen Island. The larger of the two is Landvetter Airport, which offers international flights around the world and is a short thirty minute bus ride into the heart of the island. The second and significantly smaller airport is the Gothenburg City Airport. This airport primarily offers budget flights around Europe but is closer to the city centre than Landvetter. Although cars are certainly permitted in the area, they are far from necessary. Opt to use public transport in the form of buses, trams, trains and ferries for very reasonable prices instead.

Volvo Museum

The car maker Volvo is one of the most important and historically significant companies in all of Sweden. The company has recently opened an exciting museum on Hisingen Island that is a truly must visit destination for car and transport enthusiasts. You can view some of the earliest car models created by Volvo as well as try out simulators designed for learning how to drive the largest vehicles and trucks. Children will love the actual cars that they are allowed to steer and pretend to drive. Admission is 60 SEK for adults and 25 SEK for children. Discounts are available for groups and students attending together.

Ostindiefararen Götheborg

With so many harbours on Hisingen Island, it is clear to even a first time visitor that the region must have a significant maritime history. Perhaps what the area is best known for is the Ostindiefararen Götheborg, a ship built in the eighteenth century but sunk after a series of long voyages to China. Some twenty years ago private citizens built a replica of the ship and resumed the worldwide voyages. Today the eighteenth century replica is located at one of the larger harbours on Hisingen Island. Although the magnificent wooden ship does set sail for regional journeys on certain dates, visitors also have the opportunity to see the ship docked right in Hisingen and even step onboard to tour the vessel.

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Ramberget Hill

This landmark on Hisingen Island stands at a height of nearly three hundred feet above sea level and is the tallest spot in all of Gothenburg. The short walk up to Ramberget Hill winds through the beautiful public space of Keiller’s Park. This park is a popular hangout for university students and families who want to relax in the sunshine, enjoy street vendors and local foods or just chat with friends.

Accommodations on Hisingen Island

As a popular travel destination and home to a large university, there is no shortage of accommodation options in the area. Some holiday ideas might include staying in a private apartment in order to save money and get a feel for local life in the area. Of course, there are also some boutique hotels, international hotel chains and even some traditional guesthouses and inns. Those who want a truly luxurious holiday might consider Swedish villas on the island instead.

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Another interesting mountain range is Börzsöny which is protected by National Park of Duna-Ipoly. It lies at the Slovakian border, above Budapest, and includes also popular Hungarian towns of Visegrád and Nagymaros.

The park is also famous for many castles and forts. It is a pleasant, mostly forested landscape that waves together with the banks of the Danube and Ipoly rivers, interwoven with series of waterways and wetlands. Only in the Börzsöny mountains there are more than 335 different springs and streams. This area is one of the least accessible parts of Hungary. There are no roads, but you can get there by the narrow gauge railway which is also interesting and popular technical monument here. Of course, the best way how you can get to know the landscape is on foot, but be careful, some parts of the park are not accessible at all due to protection.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Tamas Ring

Most features of the landscape were created by volcanic activity, there are an extinct volcanic cones, steep ravines or bizarre rocks. Fourteen million years ago these places were occupied by the great volcano, about 1400 meters high. After the eruption, the central part of the volcano failed down, so today we can see the remnants of the crater. The highest point of Börzsöny mountain is Csóványos peak with a height of 939 metres above sea level, offering a panoramic view of the region. However, there are also other peaks and hills where you can enjoy beautiful views, such as Hegyes-Tető with the great vista of the Danube. In good weather conditions, you can even see the Slovak High Tatras mountains from some hills.

The area a home to many rare and protected animals, especially reptiles, amphibians and birds including several species of eagles. There are also wild cats and martens. It boasts also a varied composition of plants, including the relics from the post-glacial period.

Börzsöny Mountains are not very visited areas, in comparison with Balaton, Budapest or any of the Hungarian thermal aquaparks. But the prices here are reasonable and the romantic local scenery is an alternative for less demanding, but interesting holiday – especially for hikers and cyclists.

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Kaunas is located in central Lithuania, about 100 km west of Vilnius, at the confluence of rivers Neris and Nemunas, which are two largest rivers of Lithuania. According to a legend the city was founded by a son of two young lovers Milda and Daugerutis, who was begotten in a cave near the present city of Kaunas. Archaeologists are of the opinion that Kaunas was founded in the 13th century, but the first written mention dates from 1361.

Today Kaunas is an important shipping port, with nice architecture and many museums. The historical center is located around the square Rotušės aikštė. Vilniaus gatvė paved street is the main artery crossing the magical Old Town. In the 13th century, this street was even connected with the capital city of Vilnius. In the vicinity of this street you can visit the museum of folk music and instruments. Perhaps the most expressive building is the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul from 1410, which has a baroque look. Inside the cathedral there are nine altars and the tomb of Kaunas’ priest and poet Maironise.

Do not miss the visit to remains of Kaunas castle, there is repaired tower, the walls and moat. The castle was founded in the 13th century and served as an important base on the western border of Lithuania.

In Kaunas there are nine view-points, which offer beautiful views of the Old and New Town.

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Southwest ridge runs across two apparent elevations – i.e. Upper and Lower Priehyba – and ends in afforested Grunik. These routes belong to quite difficult and challenging hikes in the High Tatras and require some physical and technical prowess. The part of the route is fixed and secured with chains. Kriváň peak offers beautiful views. You can see almost the entire ridge of Low Tatras, West Tatras and the Red Hills to the northwest.

You can access Kriváň from several places:

• Tri studničky (following blue-green route, 2h10″/2h30″)
• Štrbské pleso lake (blue-red route, 3h00″/3h30″)
• Pod jamami (blue, 2h45″/3h30″)

Kriváň is not even among the 20 highest peaks in Slovakia (but 27th). But its magical silhouette with noticeably curved top, after which is named, attracted poets, painters and ordinary people since beginning. Lots of myths and legends exist about Kriváň. In the past, it was a symbol of strengthening of the national pride and identity, sometimes abused for political goals.

This massive peak became a symbol of Slovak national consciousness and in 2005 it was decided that it will be displayed on the back of the Slovak euro coins with a face value of 1, 2 and 5 cents.

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Moldoveanu peak is 2544 m high. There are many hiking trails leading from the villages in the valley to the top of Moldoveanu, but they are mainly very steep. Therefore the most popular trail, however it is longer, leads over the Viştea Mare (2527m), by coming from Podragu, Sambata, or by the Vistea Valley.

From the top of Moldoveanu you can enjoy beautiful views of the Făgăraş Mountains and the valley. Below the peak there is a tourist lodge where you can sleep for free and take the water for the following hike.

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In the valley there are three monasteries. The most formidable of them is San Esteve – thanks to its size, style and history. It is accessible only by car or walking. San Esteve monastery was founded in the 6th century, and the oldest parts are the Romanesque cloister and church. Two other monasteries are from the 16th and 17th centuries.

The most beautiful views of the Cañon del Sil are on 14 km trail leading from Loureiro to the village of Parada do Sil. At the very edge of the canyon, 5km north of Parada do Sil, there is Santa Cristina monastery from 12th and 13th century.

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The ancient town is really well preserved. The monument complex contains also a smaller ancient theater, located on the hill of Monte Barbaro, from which you can enjoy the beautiful views of the Castellammare del Golfo.

At Segesta’s archaeological park, there’s a shuttle bus to take you from the parking area to the amphitheatre and urban excavations. The nearest locality is Calatafimi. During Summer, several classical Greek dramas are performed at Segesta’s ancient amphitheatre, but many of these productions feature actors and actresses wearing casual clothes instead of classical costumes.

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