The story of the little mermaid standing by the waters of the Copenhagen Harbour is based on a fairy-tale by Hans Christian Andersen.  It was written in 1836, and turned into a movie by Disney in the 20th century.  It is a popular attraction for the whole family, no matter of what age, and a famous tourist place of Denmark, and is visited the whole year round.

The Little Mermaid, Copenhagen, Denmark by Dennis Jarvis

Sculptor

A brewer named Carl Jacobsen went to watch a ballet of the Little Mermaid in 1909, which was also based on the fairy-tale.  He then went to the Danish sculptor Edvard Eriksen and asked him to build the sculpture of the mermaid.  She was constructed with half a fish tail and half legs so that visitors would know who she was.  In 1913, she was unveiled at Langelinje and stood four feet tall.  Edvard Eriksen’s wife was the woman who modelled for the statue after the ballerina from the theatre turned Carl down.  She did not want to pose naked, knowing the public would look upon her.

The Mermaid’s Tale

The story of the little mermaid is a sad tale about a fifteen-year-old mermaid who comes out of the sea to fall in love with a prince that she saved from drowning. To get legs to walk around on land she gives her voice to an evil sea witch. Unfortunately, she never finds her prince because the witch betrays her and changes her legs into deadly sea foam instead.

Little Mermaid, Copenhagen, Denmark by Dennis Jarvis

The little bronze mermaid sculpture rests on granite stone in Nyhavn, an old port district, where she will always sit next to the shore of the Langelinie Quay or harbour.  She is not far away from many other famous attractions of Denmark. This is the perfect spot for her to rest because it is where she can watch the sailors coming into Copenhagen. The life for the locals here is to visit outdoor bars and restaurants, but they have to keep an eye on the weather. Some chat by the water if it is warm and perhaps sunny, with a beer, looking upon the little mermaid with pride.

Sadly, for the people of Copenhagen the Little Mermaid was no longer where she had lived for about one hundred years.  She was lifted onto a truck where she started her journey to Shanghai for a World Expo.  She was moved there to be the centrepiece of the Danish exhibit.  It was only to be a temporary move at this point, but the residents of Copenhagen wondered if they would ever see their Little Mermaid again.  Many of the older generation had grown up with her, so it was very sad for those people losing a piece of their memories as well as the history.  But in November 2010, the people of Copenhagen rejoiced again as the Little Mermaid came back home to rest in her old spot by the water.

The Little Mermaid is a must see if you visit Denmark. However, you definitely need to find a suitable hotel in Copenhagen (interesting to know is that the Danish term is Lækkert hotel København) for you. Find more travel tips in Channel Voyager.

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Castle Coch

Located in the village of Tongwynlais just north of Cardiff, Coch Castle is favoured for its ideal fairy tale resemblance. Visitors are attracted right away by the fluted towers and charming drawbridge. Built upon the ruins of a former keep, the castle represents more of an impressive work of art than a military fortress. Designed in a Gothic Victorian style, the castle also features a beautiful ornate interior. The Lady Butte’s room is well worth checking out with its mirrored ceilings. From the top of the battlements, visitors can get splendid views across the Cardiff area. Surrounded by lush woodland, the castle grounds offer several walking and cycling trails and picnic spots.

Photo released under public domain. Source: wikipedia

Carreg Cennen Castle

Located in the village of Trapp, a few miles south of Llandeilo is the spectacular castle of Carreg Cenne. The castle is well noted for its strategic defence position atop a steep limestone cliff. Human remains found at the castle area have presented evidence of people living at the site as far back as prehistoric times. Rich in history, the castle has seen its share of sieges and battles and even being damaged during the War of the Roses. Visitors can tour the square court surrounded by high towers, the drawbridge and even explore a cave tunnel beneath the castle. Stunning views of the area can be seen from the tower and battlement tops.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by zingyyellow…wish I could bend space/time

Caernarfon Castle

Built in 1284, this Norman castle is one of the most popular attractions in Wales. The architectural beauty, hexagonal towers and imposing presence set it apart from other castles. It was here that the fourth son of Edward I was born and crowned as Prince of Wales. The castle was used in 1969 for the investiture of Charles, Prince of Wales. The castle features everything one expects in a castle from its lovely turrets, towers, interesting passageways and murder holes. From the tower top, visitors can see across the Menai Strait with its elegant suspension bridge and lovely countryside.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Bladeflyer

Pembroke Castle

Located in the west of Wales, the castle is well noted for its significance in Britain’s history as the birthplace of Henry VII. Founded in 1093 by Roger of Montgomery, it was also the residence of the Earl of Pembroke. The castle is so huge that it can take up to a half of a day to tour it. Here, visitors can explore corridors and rooms featuring tables that depict the history of the castle. Wander the outside grounds and feed swans at a nearby pond.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Wendy Mann

Conwy Castle

Located on the north coast of Wales, this beautiful castle was originally a stronghold built by Henry III and later replaced by King Edward I. Built on a high rock precipice, the castle is said to be haunted by an earlier resident. Featuring high curtain walls and eight round towers, the castle presents a dominating presence. Climb to the top for incredible views of the area. Children can learn about the castle’s history through a children’s trail and interactive displays.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Phillip Capper

Written by www.worldwidetravelguide.co.uk

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Bouzov castle is also possible birthplace of the Czech King Jiří z Poděbrad (George of Poděbrady), whose family – the lords of Kunštát – owned this castle from 1396 until the end of the 15th century. At the end of the 16th century almost the whole castle was destroyed by fire. The owners of the castle had not fully reconstructed it, but they tried to sell it. But there was nobody who would like to buy such a “ruin” so they forced Grand Master of the Order of the Teutonic Knights to buy it. In the 19th century the castle was rebuilt by a young Grand Master archduke Eugen of Austria in the style of German Neo-gothic. For the reconstruction was responsible Viennese architect Georg Hauberisser who designed the castle as a symbol of medieval traditions and the Teutonic Knights.

He built a new two-storey palace, demolished and restored the old high cylindrical tower. A magnificent furniture, including chairs, beds, tables and even a ceiling, was moved here from various castles. There were built the moat, walls with battlements, drawbridges and great medieval gates. At the same time was also equipped with very modern features, as it had functional bathroom, practical kitchen and phone. However until today it is not electrified.

Bouzov castle is now considered one of the most popular and most visited monuments in the Czech Republic. The castle was a place of several fairy tales, including Arabela, Fantaghirò, and Before the Fall, so if you want to get to the fairy tale for a while, do not wait and come!

The castle is opened from April to October during weekends and holidays only but daily from May to September and the basic admission is around €8. For further information visit official site of the castle (in Czech only).

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Heather Sunderland

There are a huge range of tour operators offering winter wonderland holidays in Finland. Go onto different travel review sites to see which hotel and tour operator gets the best recommendations before booking your magical family holiday.

The Finnish hotels are usually set in perfect backdrops of frozen fairy tale forests, adding to the wonder of it all for you and your children. There are lots of activities that you can combine with your holiday. And of course, there’s the chance to meet Father Christmas and his elves.

If you’re not sure what to pack, then think of it in the same way as you would prepare for a ski holiday. Don’t forget – you can be too cold, but it’s going to be difficult to get too hot. If you do get too hot, you can always take layers off – better to carry an extra jacket than be wishing you hadn’t travelled so light. As well as having great ski outfits, make sure you’ve don’t forget to pack essentials like thermal underwear.

It’s not just about meeting Father Christmas; you’ll have the chance to do things like take a ride on a skidoo, go on a sled pulled by Huskies or ride a reindeer. Just don’t forget to have your thermal gloves with you at all times when you go outside. It’s probably worth taking a spare pair for the kids, as they’re the most likely to lose them as they’ll be so breathlessly excited.

Holidays like these don’t come cheap, but the memories will last a lifetime.

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You cannot miss Europa-Park as the Silver Star – the tallest steel roller coaster in Europe is visible from far away. Do not be fooled, nor discourage from the inclusion of the amusement parks. What you’ll see and experience here at the 85 hectares, you certainly not enjoy anywhere else. Fantasy worlds are waiting for you to be discovered!

You can try the rapid ride through the Greek antiquity on the water roller coaster Poseidon, or shocking Silver Star with a top speed of around 130 km/h, or an expedition into the world of dinosaurs.

Europa-Park provides hundreds of attractions and a great show not only for the kids but also for the adults. You can get into the train that take you from one fairy tale to another fairy tale and passes through the town of Rust.

Europa-Park is one big city, composed of twelve districts, which follow and bring atmosphere of the selected European countries. The main gate to welcome you to Germany, and take you to a panoramic train. France invites you to an ultra-fast single-track Silver Star, where you usually waste an hour in the queue. Swiss will sit you on the bobsleigh track. Norwegians throw you into the rubber rafts in the vortex of a wild river bed. Russians offer traditional tunes and fables with scenes of pagodas, and you can also visit the space station MIR, where the centrifugal force tries the resistance of the space candidates. Dutch people will sit you into porcelain tea cups and spin in a wild circular motion.

You can feel free to let your children explore the world of dinosaurs, play on the pirate ships, seek the treasure or watch knights jousting while you enjoy the charms of European countries. You will distinguish them easily from each other according to the typical architecture and culture, but also by shops, restaurants, delicacies and visage of staff in different parts of the park. You can walk through Spain in the beat of the flamenco, try paella and then go e.g. to Italy. In Café Benedeta you can taste a cup of coffee, while enjoying magic of Venice Carnival. In Holland you can buy great chocolate to your children. The ladies probably get lost in France during a visit boutiques and fashion shops. You can then meet in a bar Marianne and take a glass of real champagne.

However you can pass Europa-Park in one day, we recommend you to take 2 days for it. During the day you can watch the exciting contest of gladiators, dancing on ice, visit London’s Globe Theatre, or a medieval jousting tournament, but the park is alive at night as well!

In the program you can choose from a Spanish fiesta “Viva la Vida”, the German knight’s banquet, an evening with a French cook in the bar La Cigale, or sitting at La Scala and listening to Caruso and his friends…

In Europa-Park you can enjoy a memorable gourmet dinner with cultural program, simply select a country to which you desire! Stylish performances do not end the show in the evening, it continues even in local hotels that are full of inspiring experiences and dreams. For example, you can stay overnight in the Colosseo, Santa Isabel, El Andaluz, or in an Indian village.

Europa-Park is open 09.04.2011 – 06.11.2011 from 9 am to 6 pm (extended opening hours during peak season). 2 day ticket for adults costs €67, for children (4-11 years) costs €59,50. For children under 4 there is free entry.

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