Norwich

This is the main city is Norfolk and features an excellent combination of the old and new. While architecture lovers will be able to marvel at the finest collection of medieval architecture in the whole of the United Kingdom, visitors will also find an excellent range of modern amenities to make use of such as hotels, restaurants and shopping centres. The highlights of Norwich are many and varied and include the 12th century cathedral, the impressive castle and the interesting and informative Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery. Walking along the cobbled streets to browse for bargains in the city’s open-air markets is a popular pastime here, while visitors can get a real feel for the city by taking an atmospheric floodlit river cruise.

Norwich Castle, Norfolk, England, UK by Bluemoose

King’s Lynn

This picturesque town can be found on the banks of the gently flowing River Ouse and is famous for its historic attractions. Some of the highlights here include the renovated merchants’ houses at the waterside Boat Quay, the ornate Customs House and the Town House Museum of Lynn Life. King’s Lynn also boasts a richly varied entertainment and nightlife scene, and a wide range of musical events are regularly held at the Corn Exchange. Lovers of classical music will want to make sure that they catch a performance from the Norfolk Symphony Orchestra, while the town also features a collection of more than 40 pubs to choose from as well as eateries ranging from trendy bistros to cheap and cheerful cafes and just about everything in between.

Town Hall, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, England, UK by Elliott Brown

Great Yarmouth

The coastal town of Great Yarmouth is the perfect place to relax and unwind on a sunny day, as it features a number of wide sandy beaches. This destination is particularly popular with families, who tend to divide their time between sprawling on the sand and exploring the amusement arcades located along the promenade. Other highlights here include the Tolhouse Museum and Old Prison, Yarmouth racecourse, Caister Castle and the enchanting Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens.

Regent Road, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England, UK by mira66

The Norfolk Broads

This unnamed natural zone is a popular place to go hiking and trekking at any time of the year. A large number of trails run through the Norfolk Broads and offer visitors the chance to see a wide range of flora and fauna. Family run pubs and restaurants provide refreshment and occasionally accommodation to visitors and the area’s many preserved areas mean that this is a real haven for creatures such as the swallowtail butterfly and marsh harrier.

Hunsett Mill, Norfolk Broads, England, UK by Acme, Cristobal Palma Photography

Thetford Forest

Nature lovers will also want to take the time to explore this large and lovely forest while they are visiting Norfolk. The forest can be found just to the south of Thetford and offers visitors to take park in all the usual outdoor activities such as nature watching, wandering through the forest and mountain biking, while a whole host of amenities as well as comfortable accommodation options are available at the Centre Parcs holiday centre situated in the heart of the forest.

Thetford Forest, Norfolk, England, UK by Darren Bradnick

Written on behalf Holidays in Norfolk

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City of Carcassonne lies on the river Aude in the southern part of France. Carcassonne has a long history, there was oppidum already in the Iron Age, which was later transformed to the Roman city in the 1st century BC, and in the 11th century AD this Roman city was the strongest one in the county. Because the city was not controlled by church, Carcassonne soon became a haven for medieval intellectual elite.

Carcassonne was very open and tolerant city until 1659, when was conquered by the French and lost its position. Thus began the decline of the city, people left and Carcassonne deteriorated.

The medieval city centre is situated on a hill above the river. In times of decline of this old town there had grown a new town under the hill along a river.

The city centre was saved in the 19th century thanks to the reconstruction led by Viollet le Duc. This controversial architect reconstructed also Cathedral Notre Dame in Paris, which was his first work. Some people admire him for his extensive reconstructions which ensured France a lot of curious tourists that are coming here just to see his work. On the other hand, others disagree with the method of his work. Viollet le Duc just found an original fragment, and repeated it over and over again. The result is that the buildings are far away from the original form. Although the sights have typical signs, but those are not completely correct or at least not in such combination (e.g. respecting the original architect’s intent). But finally it is something unusual and tourists just love it.

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The city centre is surrounded by walls, within which you can find a church, castle, museum and a labyrinth of medieval streets with shops and restaurants.

Sweet France offers visitors lots of different attractions and sights. One of the places worth visiting is the medieval city of Carcassonne. If you are going to the south of France or you are heading for the Pyrenees, do not miss this place, because here you can really feel the Middle Ages.

Once you are around Carcassone do not miss the Canal du Midi. It is a remarkable technical monument, which connects the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. The canal was built to ensure fast and safe transport of goods between ports in the Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. The project dates from 1662 and its author was Paul Riquet. The canal was completed in less than twenty years after approval of the project and its construction employed 120 000 workers.

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Today Hohensalzburg Castle is open to the visitors during the whole year. Particularly interesting is the medieval royal room and the castle museum. For a tour around the castle complex from 11th century you will need more time. There is also a palace Hohe Stock, Church of St. Georg or several different towers. In the local Gothic rooms you can join the unique concert with candlelight. Since 1892 there is a cable car (Festungsbahn) in operation, which can help you to get up to the castle easily and quickly.

During 20th century Hohensalzburg Castle became one of the most visited attractions in Austria.

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Olavinlinna Castle in Finland by Miraceti

In 1714, the Castle Olavinlinna became the property of the Russians for a few years until 1721; but by 1741 it was once again in Russian hands, and remained so until Finland was granted independence from Russia in 1917. The castle has three massive towers, however it originally had five towers. Today there are several museum exhibitions and Castle Museum. In the museum there are objects associated with the castle. There is also a museum with a collection of religious icons and religious objects in Finland and Russia. Olavinlinna Castle Opera Festival takes place here every year already since 1912.

Olavinlinna Castle is one of Finland`s biggest tourist attractions.

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