1. The Palace of Versailles

If you are staying in Paris for a portion of your visit, then just 20 kilometers away is situated one of the most opulent memorials to royalty – The Château de Versailles. Built by King Louis XIV, the palace is compromised of extensive landscaped gardens and sprawling, decorative castle grounds. It is recommended to take an audiotour of the castle grounds, or perhaps even a guided tour, as the history and stories behind the palace are both extensive and fascinating.

Garden at the Palace of Versailles, France by Urban

2. Bordeaux

The city of Bordeaux is listed as a World Heritage Site, as “an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble”. The city, and its surrounding region is famous worldwide for its excellent wines. It is also considered as France’s “Little Paris” thanks to its many cultural, architectural, and historical monuments. It is a lively town, with many young people as it contains the country’s largest university. Thanks to the youthful population, the town has a thriving cafe and night life scene. You will be raising your wine glass many times while visiting beautiful Bordeaux.

Saint Pierre Church, Bordeaux, France by Luidger

3. Provence

You haven’t seen the best of France until you have explored the Provence region. It is one of France’s most beloved regions, by tourists and locals alike. With a distinct Mediterranean atmosphere, it is also famous for its fields of lavender and rose wines. While in Provence, be sure to visit Verdon Gorge, one of the most beautiful gorges in all of the European continent. There are also several ancient castles in the region that should not be missed.

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie village, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France by Nepomuk

4. Brittany

Located in the North west region of France, the region of Brittany is perhaps most famous for its prehistoric megalithic monuments at Carnac. The Lac de Guerledan lake is an artificial lake that is worth a visit for its prime scenic beauty. A drive along the Cote d’Emeraude coast would make a memorable road trip, as there are many varied and bustling fishing towns and villages along the way.

Kermario Carnac, Brittany, France by Odedr

5. Normandy

Most famous for the 1944 D-Day invasion by the Allied forces, there are many other things to see and do in this northern region of France. There are many posh resorts on the coast, as well as wild and rugged landscapes of the La Hague.

Port Arromanches, Normandy, France by Comité Régional

When visiting France from overseas by plane, you’ll arrive in the nation’s capital, base yourself in one of the many beautiful Paris apartments from Worldwide-Accom and live like the locals!

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Windsor castle, England, UK by gailf548

The Tower of London

Just half an hour from Gatwick airport, the Tower of London is one of the oldest historical monuments in London. Dating back to the Roman empire, this fortress has been the home of royalty, a stronghold against invasion and a prison. It’s open year round, but the crowds are thinnest in the late spring and early summer.

Windsor castle

This is the oldest inhabited castle in the world, and is currently the weekend home of the Queen. Located in Berkshire, the castle is just a 30 minute drive from Gatwick airport, and it’s also near historic Stonehenge for an easy day trip. Because the castle is occupied during the summer, it’s best to avoid the area from June through August, but it’s open to visitors throughout the rest of the year.

Lewes castle

Located in Sussex, Lewes castle is one of the closest monuments to the airport. It’s next to the Babican House Museum, which provides a comprehensive view of Sussex history, and the castle walls provide the best views of the surrounding countryside. Both the castle and museum are open year round, but it may be best to avoid hotter months due to walking and climbing needed to explore the castle keep.

Lewes castle, Sussex, UK by Charlesdrakew

The Royal Pavilion

A palace, not a castle, the Royal Pavilion is home to a museum and beautifully-cultivated garden. The palace sits on a pier filled with carnival-like festivities year round. The best views of the garden are during the spring and summer months when everything is in bloom, but the palace and grounds are open throughout the year.

Arundel castle

Built in the 11th Century, this castle is located an hour away from Brighton in the quaint town of Arundel. The castle towers over the city and provides a stunning view of Arundel and nearby Sussex. Arundel castle is open to visitors only from March through October.

There’s so much to see and do near Gatwick airport that you’re sure to find something to appeal to your tastes. If you’re looking to tour castles, it might be best to book a trip in the spring as there are fewer crowds and most attractions are open at this time. If you can’t make it out during the spring months, however, you can still see many of the year-round attractions that the countryside has to offer. While you explore, be sure to choose a centrally-located hotel that will give you access to all of the attractions near Gatwick airport.

Georgie Little is a guest writer for www.gatwickairporthotels.com where you can find out more about Gatwick hotels.

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Sunny Beach, Bulgaria by kismihok

Sunny Beach resort

Sunny Beach is the biggest sea resort in Bulgaria and it is real alternative to the Spanish resorts with its more than 4 km long beach which somewhere is up to 100 meters wide. The resort attracts more international fans of the sun than any other resort in the country. The beach is one of the best in Bulgaria, offering all sorts of attractions from mini golf to parachuting. There are also many lovely and lively restaurants and bars where you can have fun during the whole day. If you are looking for a safe and comfortable resort where you can improve your tan, this is the right place to go.

Sunny Beach can be seen as a small island, because there are very few tourists who are willing to leave its sun and golden beaches during their vacation. The most common destination for those who still want to visit other interesting places on the Bulgarian coast is the nearby Nessebar. The high quality comes at the right price and Sunny Beach is considered as one of the most expensive places for summer vacation in Bulgaria.

Sveti Vlas resort

Sveti Vlas is one of the newest sea resorts on the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria and it is located only 5 km north of Sunny Beach. The village was originally founded by the Thracians, who called the ancient settlement Larissa and was later renamed in honor of St. Vlas. Despite the ancient history of the resort, there are almost no historical monuments. Nowadays, it is a place where you can see many luxury hotels and apartment complexes, awesome bars and restaurants. There is opened the first private marina in Bulgaria with capacity for 300 yachts in 2007. The port also has a luxury hotel and restaurant complex.

The center of St. Vlas is located near the beach. There you can find post office, bank, interesting restaurants, cafes, shops and some Internet clubs. The narrow beaches are one of the best available in Bulgaria, but in comparison with those in Sunny Beach they are much calmer and less crowded with tourists. The water is shallow and provides a good opportunity for water sports like jet skiing, diving, windsurfing and banana boat.
The above resorts are just small part of everything that Bulgaria has to offer. There are also many resorts and towns where you can rent an apartment for really great price. The mild climate and the warm water will definitely make your summer vacation in Bulgaria unforgettable. The entertainment is everywhere, so pack your luggage and head to the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. You will never regret it.

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Barcelona beach, Spain by David Spender

How to reach the destination?

Barcelona is well connected trough airways, railways, and waterways. The Barcelona EI pray airport is at a distance of about 17 kilometers from the city center. This second largest airport of Spain connects major parts of world to the city. Sabadell airport is another major airport near the city.

Popular tourist attractions of the city:

Barcelona is the best place to spend summer vacations. Some of the popular locations including the giant temple, Barcelona aquarium, Columbus monument, Tibidabo, monastery of pedaled, Santa Maria del mar, and many other exotic locations, add to the beauty of the city.

• Tibidabo: It is 512 meters above the sea level, and it surrounds the city and used to protect it from enemies from the north. The view from the top of the mountain is simply spectacular. Large Ocean, valleys and greenery adds to the scenic beauty of the mountain.

• Amusement park: A beautiful amusement park is established at the slope of mountains few years earlier. This amusement park has been extended up to 70,000 square meters.

National palace of Barcelona is one among the popular historical monuments of the town. Many other attractions like magic fountain, Mies Van De Rohe pavilion, and many others are located near the monument.

Popular hotels and resorts located in the city

Many five star and four star hotels have been established in the town for providing an unforgettable experience to the visitors. Easy access to metro and other facilities has increased the demands for these hotels.

Some popular hotels of the city include Casa Fuster Hotel, Arts Hotel Barcelona, Euro Stars Grand Marina Hotels Barcelona, Claris hotel Barcelona, Le Meridian, Grand Florida Hotel, Melia Hotel, Majestic Hotel and Spa, and many others.

The luxurious facilities offered by these hotels attract a lot of tourists every year. It is better to book a room for two or family well in advance, in order to avoid any kind of inconvenience.

• Casa fuster hotel: It is a 100 years old building providing five star services to their customers. The exterior, infrastructure and every other little thing is designed in an artistic way. The floors of the hotel are designed with shiny black mosaic. Common facilities offered by the hotel include sauna, terrace area, spa, modern gym, Galaxo restaurant, and many others.

Tibidabo, Barcelona, Spain by Leonora Enking

How to plan a travel to Barcelona:

Many tour agencies provide all paid vacation packages to this magnificent city. They help you plan your trip within your budgets. They make all the arrangements for you, from your stay to your food, and for visiting the popular attractions. They also arrange your air tickets.

Author’s Bio: Wilson has been blogging about various travel destinations from across the world. If you are planning on holidays to Portugal, then you might want to check out his posts on cheap flights to Portugal with Jet2.com.

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Photo by admin

Once in Rome, the options for entertainment are endless. Those that prefer their vacation with a side of history will, no doubt, want to stop by the Colosseum. This ancient elliptical venue was the site of famous gladiator contests and seated 50,000 spectators. Partially ruined today, it still stands as an iconic image representing ancient Roman times.

One of Rome’s more distinctive features is that a separate city resides within its borders. Vatican City, home to the Pope, has a population of only 800, making it the smallest independent state in the entire world. While it was not officially established as an independent nation until 1929, Popes have resided in that general area since 1377. Some of history’s most important art can be found in Vatican City, including Michelangelo’s famous Sistine Chapel.

Italy is known for its pasta and Rome is no exception. In fact, the National Museum of Pasta is located in Rome and alfredo sauce was invented by a Roman chef in 1914. After a day of sightseeing, be sure to hop into a local restaurant for a wonderful selection of pasta dishes. Le Mani restaurant in Tratesvere has some great reviews for its pasta.  It is different from other trattorias (eating establishment in Italy which is less formal than a restaurant) in Rome as it offers dishes not normally found in trattorias. Le Mani is so popular, it is always busy, so booking ahead is a must. It can get very crowded.

Rome has a wealth of hotels and hostels, depending on length of the visit it might be more economical to consider renting one of the many Rome apartments available in the city. Renting one of the apartments offers travelers the luxury of having a home away from home, more space than a hotel room while also having the option to cook meals instead of constantly eating out. A simple online search for Rome accommodation rentals will bring up a list of possible options for renting Rome apartments.

There are many different places to stay when travelling round Europe.  A lot of companies offer short term accommodation rentals in Berlin, Rome, London and you can even rent apartments in Paris.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Greg Pye

Faro was originally just a fishing village built by the Romans, who called it Ossonoba. In 1249, thanks to Alfonso III. was freed from the power of the Moors and became to prosper as a city. But in 1596 a city suffered a damaging blow, it was burned by the Earl of Essex, who was a great favorite of Queen Elizabeth I. And later, in 1755, it was damaged again during the massive earthquake. Although the remnants of ancient city walls managed to preserve until today, most of the beautiful buildings either did not outlast the destruction or have been largely damaged. So the buildings that you can see today in Faro, come mainly from the late 18th and 19th century.

Faro is now a beautiful coastal city protected by a low sandy islands Ilha de Culatra, Ilha da Barreta and Ilha da Faro. Unfortunately, many tourists pass Faro without stopping here, even though it has the largest number of cultural and historical monuments from all the towns in the Algarve region. Preserved old town center around the cathedral and behind the old city walls, definitely worth a visit.

The historical center of Faro can easily be explored on foot. It lies in a small bay and is partly surrounded by medieval walls. The old harbor area has arched entrance gate with a bell tower called Arco da Vila. This arch was built in the 19th century for Bishop Dom Francisco Gomes do Avelar, who has decided to rebuild the dilapidated city. Street behind it, paved with cobblestones, leads to a beautiful Largo da Sé Square, where you can see the cathedral. From the original Gothic cathedral from the 13th century, which was destroyed in 1596 by English forces led by the Earl of Essex, are preserved only unusual tower, covered porches and two inner chapels. The reconstruction of the cathedral took a long time, so it is now built both in Renaissance, and Baroque style.

Inside the cathedral you can see a huge pipe organ decorated with spectacular Chinese motifs. During festive occasions, there are playing Europe’s leading organists. The cathedral also houses one of the most important Algarve’s collections of sacred art from the 17th and 18th century. And its tower offers a beautiful view of the city.

On the square Largo da Sé is also a Bishop’s Palace Paço Episcopal. If you go through another stone arch in Arco Repouso, walk up to the church of São Francisco, which was built in the 18th century. It is decorated with tiles and scenes from the life of St. Francis. Further north, another church rises in Pé Nossa Senhora da Cruz, who is an exceptional oil paintings depicting episodes from Genesis.

In the monastery Convento de Nossa Senhora da Assunção (Monastery of Our Lady of the Assumption), which is the oldest Renaissance building in the Algarve, is probably the most beautiful cloister in southern Portugal, which was built in 1540 by Afonso Pires. The monastery was founded by Leonor, sister of Manuel I (king of Portugal). The monastery has been carefully restored and since 1973 houses a museum devoted to archeology where you can see the local archaeological finds. The collection includes also Roman, medieval and Manueline stone reliefs and sculptures. The main exhibit is a 2,000 year old Roman mosaic floor measuring 9 x 3 meters, showing a head of the god Neptune.

The most interesting church in Faro is Igreja do Carmo (Carmelite Church). It has an imposing facade with two towers and a beautiful gilded interior, but its biggest attraction is haunted Bone Chapel. Besides the Carmelite church from the 18th century is located another museum – Museo Marítimo exhibiting a small collection of marine exhibits, including model ships. You will see a flagship example of Vasco de Gama, which he used during his voyage to India. Plus you can learn here about the traditional methods of fishing on the coast of the Algarve.

The main artery of Faro is the elegant pedestrian street Rua de Santo António, which is full of shops, bars and restaurants. On the northeast of the city lies the Jewish cemetery, founded for the community, which was brought here by Marquis de Pombal in the 18th century.

About 7 kilometers from the town is a beach. The local coastline is attractive because it includes a number of small sandy islands with a unique nature reserve. In the vicinity of the bay is the Ria Formosa Natural Park, which is a favorite resting place for many species of migratory birds.

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Geographically Orlické hory are divided into three parts: Deštenská highland, Mladkovská highland a Bukovohorská highland. Orlické hory was declared a protected landscape area in 1969 and includes 19 protected parts. There are several rivers flowing through the mountains such as Olešenka River, Divoká Orlice and Tichá Orlice. The mountains covers a total area of ​​204 km2 and it is a home to rare and protected species of plants and animals.

Orlické hory offers ideal conditions for hiking and biking. During the winter months it is ideal for skiing and cross-country skiing. Among the most popular ski resorts are Deštné v Orlických horách, Říčky v Orlických horách, Zdobnice or Čenkovice. Visitors will be pleased with numerous cultural and historical monuments, which include for example Opočno castle, the baroque castle of Rychnov nad Kněžnou, Doudleby nad Orlicí castle, or Častolovice castle, which is one of the most beautiful Renaissance castles in the Czech Republic. Among the most visited ruins are Potštejn and Litice, Žampach and Lanšperk. It is worth mentioning pilgrimage site of Homol with the Church of the Sorrows of the Virgin Mary, a Baroque staircase, and with two chapels founded in 1692 by Countess Tereza Eleonor of Ugarte.

Other tourist attractions in Orlické hory include several military fortifications that were built at the former Czech-German border in 1936-38 to defend against danger from fascist Germany.

During your holiday trip you get to know and admire the natural beauty of this area. Either you are sport lover or lover of history and sights, or just a tourist looking for comfort and relaxation, then Orlické hory in the Czech Republic are really suitable for you!

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Michael Mertens

Every year it holds several big events that remind the story of Dr. Frankenstein and his monster. Castle of Frankenstein lies hidden in the beautiful countryside. You can get here quite easily by a transport from the modern metropolis Frankfurt am Main. Frankenstein’s Castle was built in the mid 13th century by Count Konrad Reiz von Breuberg. Later there was built a hospital but from the late 18th century this wonderful medieval building began decay. The real glory of this place then came with the mentioned novel written by Mary Shelley.

During your visit in the Castle of Frankenstein in Mühltal you will certainly enjoy a big amount of adventure. It will be very interesting for the lovers of nature and historical monuments as the beautiful scenery can be found everywhere around castle.

Regardless of the name and history associated with the Castle of Frankenstein, people still make weddings in the chapel in ruins. But the best time to visit Castle of Frankenstein is probably October, when the castle holds Halloween party.

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Sandy beaches on the southern coast of Cyprus are very popular among tourists already for years. There are lots of young people coming here every summer. Cyprus’ beaches are traditionally evaluated very positively. The coast slowly descends into the warm turquoise water. The crystal clear sea is suitable for the lovers of water sports – here you can try paragliding or riding on water skis, or diving.

Until the late 18th century, the only inhabitants on the island were monks from the local monastery. The monastery was built specifically as a home for sacred icon, which according to legend, should appear to hunters during hunting. Just after almost two centuries, about twenty civilians moved to the area and founded the city, in the middle of which you can find a monastery.

Nature around Ayia Napa is beautiful, there are also many cultural and historical monuments and archaeological sites and beautiful churches.

How to get here
During the summer season you can take a ferry from the Greek island of Rhodes or the city of Piraeus and Turkish Tasuku. It can be reached by air, Ayia Napa is located about 50 kilometers from the airport in Larnaca.

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Transylvania is located in the heart of Romania. Originally it was an autonomous region, which was gradually included under the government of Hungary, the Ottoman Empire or Austro-Hungarian Empire. Fortunately much of its history and cultural heritage still preserved.

The city of Cluj-Napoca is considered as the capital city and cultural and industrial center. Here you can find the famous Orthodox cathedral. Several state and private universities have their headquarters here, including the largest university in Romania – Babes Bolyai University. There are lots of museums in Cluj-Napoca. You can visit the Museum of Art, Museum of Pharmacy and Transylvanian Ethnographic Museum with its impressive exterior exposures.

Another medieval city that attracts visitors to Transylvania is Sighisoara. Especially its part called Upper Town, which is even included on the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its castle tower with astronomical clock, which now serves as a historical museum has even become a symbol and hallmark of the city. From a wooden walkway at the top of the tower you can enjoy a beautiful view of all the houses and roofs in the neighborhood, including the alleged birthplace of Count Dracula. Even Dracula, or Vlad Tepes, whose tyranny served as an inspiration to the famous theme of the novel, were not born here in fact.

Just in a short distance from Sighisoara, in the middle of the Rocky Mountains, you can find a popular ski resort of Poiana Brasov. But thanks to the spectacular peaks the resort worth visiting also during the summer months. Not far from it you can visit the famous “vampire” Bran Castle. Although here you can virtually meet with Dracula at each step, inside the majestic castle he is not even mentioned. The ruins of the “real” castle, inhabited by the dreaded Vlad Tepes, is located elsewhere, not far from here, but they are hardly accessible and would certainly not impress much more as more attractive Bran.

Romantic wooden churches in the northern part of Transylvania are other of the places that were included on the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The narrow, but tall buildings with turrets, complete the true face of the Romanian mountain landscape. It is surprising that this museum of rural life, which belongs to the greatest treasures of Romania is often omitted by many tourists on their trips around Transylvania.

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