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South of France

The South of France is known for its great cuisine and Roman ruins. It has several tiny villages and also boasts of big cities like Marseille. This part is home to the Riviera and the Pyrenees, a mountain region separating the country from Spain. The Dordogne is one of the most beautiful regions in France and is a must see.

Central France

This region is one of the quietest parts of France but has the famous Loire Valley as a part of it. The valley is studded with extraordinary castles and quaint towns. The cathedral in Chartres makes it one of the most beautiful cities in terms of French property.

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Eastern parts of France

Alsace and Burgundy fall in the east of France. These regions are known for their wines and are characterized by magnificent hills. Dijon, Nancy and Strasbourg are some of the famous cities in this region.

Western France

Western France faces the Atlantic coast. It is adorned with beaches, beautiful cities and lush hills. The atmosphere in this part of France sets it apart from the rest. The Neolithic ruins on the beaches remind visitors of its Celtic origin and give the entire region an additional historic and enchanted aura.

Most of the attractions in France are in the form of natural or built heritage. Some popular sites include the Eiffel Tower, a 19th century tower that was built for the World Fair. It is comprised of 7300 tones of iron. The Louvre Museum, the first national museum in the country, hosting a collection of artefacts, sculptures and paintings from all over Europe. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart houses more than 200 steps that provide one the most splendid views of Paris. Apart from the major cities, some other small communes and villages are also breathtaking and must-see locations. France is also home to several famous cathedrals and the world’s largest traffic round-about at the Arc de Triomphe.

Chateauforsale.org is a website promoting the finest and best luxury french chateaux and vineyards for sale in France. The website regularly covers a variety of topics relating to France on their French Property Blog. Follow them on twitter @frenchchateaux.

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Kampen is connected to Zwolle, which is the capital of the province, by a road that continues north to Emmeloord. Between the cities leads also 12 km long local railway that crosses a typical Dutch landscape. View of the endless plains dotted with trees and wind power plants. Without them, it would perhaps be possible to see through Amsterdam. The pastures are full of cows, or white sheep.

The most important monuments of Kampen are the city gates, which are the remains of former fortifications. Very valued building is the Church of St. Nicholas (Bovenkerk) from the 14th century, tower Nieuwe Toren from the 17th century and the city hall decorated with a beautiful facade. You can visit a small port or take a walk around the romantic streets. Following the Burgel channel and Broederstraat street you can get to a beautiful gate Broederspoort dating from the 15th century. From here it is just about 400 metres to another Gothic gate Cellebroederspoort.

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Through Burgelgracht you get to the church Bovenkerk, which was built from the bricks and rare stone. Since this is a Protestant church, its interior is not overly ornate and interesting. Behind the church lies Koornmarkt – a square on which stands the building of the famous Protestant Theological Faculty. A little further you come across the Koornmarktspoort gate with two massive cylindrical towers, which in the past defended city from the waterfront. It is the oldest gate in the city.

Kampen is also famous for the production of cigars, as evidenced by the small Kamper Tobacco Museum located on the square Botermarkt. However this museum is really unique as it is open for tourists only after prior agreement.

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Already in 740, Salzburg’s monks founded a settlement at this place called Cella Bisontio, which ensured them prosperity mainly in salt trading. Local people were moving the salt on mules through Hochtor to the south, where they changed it with the wine. Hochtor is a place lying now on the high Alpine road Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse, which was completed in 1935 and begin at Bruck, about 4 km from Zell am See. In 1348 the village acquired the right of market town, but the real boom came up with the railway which was built here in 1875. This developed a tourism and mountaineering here.

Zell am See is the capital city of the Zell am See district in the Salzburger Land (the Austrian state of Salzburg). It is situated at an altitude of 757 meters and has around 9700 permanent residents. The town is surrounded by massive mountain giants, reaching heights of about 3000 meters above sea level. This stunning surroundings not leave visitors rest and certainly not hiking lovers. Winding streets full of shops, restaurants and Zell am See hotels offer pleasant atmosphere. Also history lovers can admire many sights in Zell am See.

The oldest building is a tower Vogturm built probably at the end of 10th century. Tower is also sometimes called Kastnerturm, according to trader Johann Kastner, who bought the tower in 1866. In its interior there is now a small museum of local history Heimatmuseum. A major monument of Zell am See is also a parish church of St. Hippolyte from 11th century, which was rebuilt several times over the centuries and in 1770 to its current Baroque style. Inside the church there is a Gothic altar and the frescoes from the 13th and 14th century.

City Hall can be found in the Rosenberg Castle, built in the late 16th century. It has the four corner towers and a circular central tower. The town is located not far from the another castle Prielau from the 15th century, which currently operates as a luxury hotel.

Nearby mountain Schmittenhohe (1965 meters high above sea level) is also a popular tourist site. You can climb up on your foot, a hike will take about 3 hours, or take a lift and then enjoy the view of the snowy peaks of the Hohe Tauern. They are around 3000 meters high – e.g. Grossglockner and Großvenediger. Mountain Schmittenhohe is ideal starting point for hiking and in the winter it is a great place for skiing.

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Castell’Arquato, Emilia-Romagna, Italy by mat’s eye

The main street in Castell’Arquato is known as Via Dante and anyone visiting the town will have to make their way up the street if they plan on reaching the castle. On your way up, you will pass a number of nice restaurants and shops. After you have climbed halfway up the hill, you will come to the Palazzo del Duca whose fountain was built back in 1292. Near the Palazzo you will find a tower from the 16th century that dominates the skyline.

Once you get to the top and before you can ever make it to the castle, you will come to the Palazzo Pretorio and Piazza Municipio which dates back to the late 1200s. During the months of July and August, the Enoteca Communale offers music and free wine tasting on Thursday nights.

Castell’Arquato, Emilia-Romagna, Italy by Benjamin Claverie

The Rocca Viscontea di Castell’Arquato is the castle in the center of the town. It is a masterpiece to say the least. You can wander through the courtyards and even visit the fortress museum. However, if you want to see the surrounding countryside around Castell’Arquato, you will need to pay a small fee to climb the stairs to the top of the castle’s tower. But before you leave the town, make sure to stop and rest in the park just outside of the castle before making your way back down to the lower parts of Castell’Arquato.

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