Swiss Alps by Artur Staszewski

Of course outdoor sports are the main draw of the Alps. With more than two million skiers and snowboarders visiting every year, it is safe to say that the Alps is the Mecca for snow sports. With cities such as Chamonix situated on the French border and Cortina d’Ampezzo situated on the Italian border, the Alps boasts an impressive range of culture with four different dialects spoken at different points along its length.

Apart from sports, the Alps has impressive spas and health clubs dotted all over the range from St Moritz to Morillon. As some of the Spas double up as hotels, these health resorts are perfect for a quiet getaway with a loved one, with time to relax and enjoy each other’s company. With some of the most impressive and newest treatments on the market, a few days in a spa with nothing but fresh mountain air and impressive surroundings will surely give you and your other half some well-deserved peace of mind.

Cimon della Pala, Dolomites, Italy by rachel_thecat

Not only are there spas and health resorts to visit, the Alps boasts an impressive range of cuisine. Depending on where you are situated, the food may vary. However, generally you should find it easy to find some classy eateries to visit with foods ranging from Italian to French and Swiss. Let your taste buds dance with excitement as you try something new and let loose.

As seasons change around the mountains, so picking the perfect time to go all depends on your personal choice. As summer is usually only three or four months long, the Alps is more often than not a haven for people who prefer the cold to the heat. That said, the summer months are gorgeous, experiencing highs of 27-30 degrees, and really the Alps are beautiful all year round. Make sure that you research the seasons before you fly so you can build a trip around you and your other half’s personal preferences.

Muriel Fish is planning a summer trip to the Alps this year and has been looking for accommodation at alpsaccommodation.com.

The post Why The Alps Present A Perfect Getaway appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Roser Goula

Northern Costa Brava

Starting in the north Figueres and Cadaques are the main towns of the area stretching up to France. Figueres is a beautiful Catalan town with an interesting architecture and plenty of warmth. The town is most famous for its Dali museum which is the world’s best collection of Dali’s and absolutely un-missable. Dali was born in Figueres and the museum is the most popular in the whole of Spain. Beyond the museum the ramblas are a great place to stroll and while away your afternoons while enjoying the fantastic cafes and street culture of this great town. Cadaques is also tied intimately to Dali and is a beautiful fishing village with a much more sedate and peaceful way of life for you to enjoy.

Outside of the towns the north of the Costa Brava has beautiful countryside with the area around Cap de Creus being fantastically beautiful. Inland the medieval capital of the region Girona is spectacular and a beautiful town with exceptional architecture.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Roser Goula

Central Costa Brava

The central areas of the Costa Brava are the most popular with beach tourists. The main areas between Palamos and Pals are the favourite haunt of locals from Barcelona and tourists. The central coastline is really just a tourist attractions with Costa Brava villas, hotels and luxury resorts lining most of the coastline and somewhat ruining the local atmosphere. That said there are still some places to escape the tourist crowd and some beautiful beaches. If you head a little further inland though you can enjoy the stunning scenery of this fantastic region and a much more local atmosphere.

Southern Costa Brava

The southern Costa Brava takes us further into the concrete jungle and the traditional hotel and beach villa holidays Spain has to offer. It’s much more lively this end of the Costa Brava strip with the area around Lloret de Mar being the most vibrant and boisterous. The sun, sea and sands are undoubtedly the biggest draws and there are some stunning beaches and beautiful resorts to enjoy. However, if you want local culture you will again have to head inland for the main part as the southern coast is one of the most popular tourist regions. Nevertheless this shouldn’t put you off as the area is still beautiful and it’s a lot less crowded and more beautiful than the neighbouring Costa del Sol.

View Exploring the sunny Costa Brava in a larger map

The post Exploring the sunny Costa Brava | Spain appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by raffaele sergi

Area of Via Lattea boasts in total 400 km of ski slopes, which are situated in the mountains at an altitude of 1350 – 2823 meters above sea level. There are 200, mainly red, interconnected pistes, from which you definitely should not miss the Olympic slopes located in Sestriere or Sansicariu. Another resort of Pragelato is a place of the Olympic cross-country trails. You can try a total of 79 lifts here that are able to transport more than 105,000 skiers within an hour.

Via Lattea offers several snow parks, ski schools and have over 30 restaurants directly on the slopes. An offer of après-ski activities in the area of ​​Via Lattea is fully sufficient thanks to shops, bars and restaurants where you can taste the specialties of delicious local cuisine. Those, who are even after returning from the skiing day still full of energy, can skate on ice rinks in the areas of Sestriere, Sauze d’Oulx and Claviere.

One day ski pass costs €20, if you are coming for more days, it is better to buy a ski pass that can be used on all of the 400km of slopes. For such 6-day ski pass you should pay €231.

For further details visit official site of Via Lattea.

View Via Lattea – Milky Way with 400 km of ski slopes in Italy in a larger map

The post Via Lattea – Milky Way with 400 km of ski slopes in Italy appeared first on Europe Explored.

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.

View Europa-Park in Rust, Germany – travel through the best European countries within 2 days in a larger map

The post Europa-Park in Rust, Germany – travel through the best European countries within 2 days appeared first on Europe Explored.

The City of Tournai has a rich history, the Celts settled here already in 1st century BC. The first Christian church was built here by the Franks in 431. In the 6th century it was the seat of a bishop, later incorporated into the West-Frankish kingdom. In the 13th century the city belonged to the French kings, and just in the 16th century it became the part of the Netherlands. Only in 1830 the city became a part for Belgium.

Tournai is one of the most important cultural sites in Belgium and it is the 2nd oldest city in Belgium – after Tongeren. The city is designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

What to see in Tournai?
You can start at the heart of city – in Grand Place, which consists of Renaissance and Baroque houses with 72-meter high watch tower – Beffroi – built in the 1200. If you look from the tower across the square, you can see the Romanesque church from the late 12th century Cathédrale St. Quentin. In the middle of the square stands the memorial to Christine de Lalaing d Epinoy – heroine who defended the city during the Spanish siege. Not far from the square there are five huge towers of Cathedral of Notre Dame (Cathedral of the Virgin Mary) that you can see from all parts of the city. Cathédrale Notre Dame is one of the finest Romanesque buildings in Belgium.

Another place of interest is the 13th-century Scheldt bridge (Pont-des-Trous). You can also visit the numerous museums such as museum of tapestries, or ethnographic museum documenting life in the 17th century.

Interesting tourist destinations near Tournai are Brussels or Bokrijk – Museum in the nature

View Tournai – 2nd oldest town of Belgium in a larger map

The post Tournai – 2nd oldest town of Belgium appeared first on Europe Explored.