St-Jacques’s Path, Midi-Pyrenees

There are four paths leading pilgrims to St. Jacques de Compostelle, through southern France and northern Spain. Rumor has it that the most beautiful is the via Podensis, in the Pyrenees. Starting from the medieval town of Figeac, the walk will take you through fields of safran, among herds of goats and sheep, and you will come across many interesting monuments along the way.

St-Jacques’s Path, France by Hk kng

The calanques, Bouches-du-Rhône

Situated between Marseille and Cassis, in southern France, the calanques are steep and uneven limestone formations, which bright pale color contrasts beautifully with the deep blue Mediterranean sea. The panorama is spectacular. Piece of advice: do not forget to bring sufficient amount of water since the heat can get intense and there is no fresh water available anywhere in the calanques. Preferably, choose to go there off-season, between March and May. The temperature will be fresher, and you’ll avoid most of the calanques’ annual 2 million visitors.

Sentier des muletiers, Puy de Dôme, Auvergne

Highest point of the Chaîne des Puys, a chain of extinguished volcanos in Auvergne, center of France, the Puy de Dome used to be an important place of worship in the Roman empire. You can hike up to the top using the historic sentiers des muletiers, the ancient path that once conducted worshipers to the temple of Jupiter, which ruins are still existing on the summit. The sentier des muletiers is a fairly easy hike that can be achieved within an afternoon, back and forth. The view from the summit is amazing; but brace yourself for crowds of tourists. The Puy de Dome is one of the most visited spots of France, which is the most popular destination of the world. So do not expect to be alone up there!

Mont Dore, Chaine des Puys, Auvergne, France by Sébastien Bertrand

While you are in Auvergne, seize the occasion to explore the surrounding Chaine des Puys. There are countless mountains hiking tracks, all more beautiful than one another: breathtaking panoramic views, waterfalls, pristine lakes, etc. It is well worth it.

Contentin Peninsula, Normandy

With over 436 km in total, the path that takes you around the Cotentin Peninsula, in Normandy, would take over 20 days to be walked completely. But you can easily choose to walk short sections of the path. The landscapes are splendid, the air is fresh, the view, panoramic, arouses an incomparable feeling of freedom and peace.

About the author:

Mireille Mayrand-Fiset is a travel, music and theater enthusiast. She writes for the stage and television, and is working as a freelance blogger for Tourism Montreal, which provides all kind of information to plan your trip in Montreal. You can find more information here.

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Dublin Castle, Ireland by William Murphy

Food spots

Dublin offers some great places to eat in, ranging from cheap and cheerful to more expensive and upmarket. High on the list is the Italian eatery Dunne and Crescenzi on Frederick Street South in the Temple Bar area. With its fine wines, coffees and excellent menu choices this is an ideal place to dine at. Another great spot is Chapter One in Parnell Square offering reasonable prices as well as specialities from Irish seafood to sumptuous desserts.

Arts and culture

Among the artistic and cultural attractions is the national photographic archive in Temple Bar so perhaps this is a place to drop in to before or after your visit to Dunne and Crescenzi. Hundreds of thousands of images are stored here with exhibitions available. Also in the city is the Irish Museum of Modern Art (or IMMA) which is located near Heuston Station, in the building of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham.

Music

Also in the Temple Bar area is Andrew’s Lane which used to house plays and performances but has become a music venue in recent years. The vibe here is slightly out of the box, offering innovation not heard on your mainstream radio stations. Another superb venue is the Cobblestone in Smithfield in the north of the city. The Cobblestone is a fantastic pub as well as a setting for some of the finest in local music with distinctive interior design which really adds to the atmosphere.

Where to drink

Part of the fabric of Dublin is its proliferation of establishments in which you can sample the local drinks, which of course includes the finest Guinness. O’Donoghue’s in Merrion Row is an important place in the history of folk music and is always a hit for tourists. On Harry Street you can find McDaid’s with the standard food and drink offerings as well as a particularly attractive interior. For a livelier pub look no further than Kitty O’Shea’s, giving you a vibe more befitting of a holiday resort like Ibiza.

Steven Smith writes here about the many attraction on offer in Ireland, on behalf of Eirebus

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Christopher John SSF

The city was established by the Romans as a first-century military base. It had a larger fortress than those built in York and other parts of the country, which suggests that Chester was meant to be the capital of Roman Britain. In any case, it was certainly a very important place, and some evidence of Roman Chester survives to this day. These include the remains of Britain’s largest Roman amphitheatre, and central Chester’s main street plan, which follows the same pattern that was laid out by its Roman pioneers.

Chester’s medieval past is more immediately visible today. This was a violent period in the city’s history, and the impressive wall surrounding Chester is evidence of this. First the Saxons, then the Normans built up its fortifications. The Normans further strengthened the city by constructing the castle, and they also carried out much of the early work on the cathedral. Today, Chester has one of the most complete city walls in Britain. Apart from a short section, the wall is virtually intact. It creates a certain feeling of calm within, and walking around the city wall is a fantastic ways to see Chester from a different angle.

Whatever aspect of Chester’s long history you’d like to learn more about, the city works hard to bring it to life for you. There are plenty of activities and attractions for children and families. These recreate moments in history, to help better our understanding of Roman and medieval times.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Christopher John SSF

Walking through Chester’s streets, you could be forgiven for thinking it’s entirely built in the middle-ages. The shopping streets are dominated by black and white timber-framed buildings. They create a unique atmosphere. In reality, some of Chester’s buildings are medieval, but most are the product of Victorian reconstruction and revival. Authentic or not, it doesn’t really matter. The city’s streets have a wonderful charm to them.

Shopping in Chester is especially famous for what it calls the Rows. You won’t find anything else quite like these in Britain. The lower two floors of these typical black and white houses are usually commercial in purpose. The bottom floor is below street level, and there are steps leading down to the shops there. The first floor is above street level, and shops are accessed via a walkway. You’ll find all the big high street names in Chester, but the design of the Rows is much better suited to smaller shops. As a result, Chester has a thriving independent retail sector. It’s not just the atmosphere that’s unique, many of the shops are too.

When you’ve had enough of history and shopping, you won’t have to walk too far before finding somewhere to sit and have a bite to eat. Cafes and restaurants are all over the city. Sometimes they’re tucked away in quiet little courtyards, so look out for the signs. It’s also worth getting a map when you visit Chester. It’s a compact city, but it has some hidden gems. If you don’t know where to look, you might miss out on something special.

Written by www.globaltravelblog.co.uk

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Bea y Fredi

Belfast is situated on the east coast of Northern Ireland, in the shadow of the mountain range, including Cavehill, which is believed to inspire Jonathan Swift in his famous novel Gulliver’s Travels. Thanks to its location, which is an important place in the mouth of the River Lagan, the city became ideal for shipbuilding in the 19th and 20th centuries. This is a sector that certainly made Belfast famous worldwide as the gigantic cruise ship Titanic was carefully constructed here in the shipyard Harland and Wolff in 1912.

Historical economic success of Belfast is also reflected in the massive, remarkable and impressive buildings, which return us to the era when this city was at the forefront of industrial growth of Britain and Ireland. Belfast architecture has an entirely different appearance in comparison with other cities on the island. The top sights of Belfast include the popular clock tower – Albert Memorial Clock situated at Queen’s Square or wonderful City Hall built in Baroque Revival style.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by William Murphy

The attractiveness of Belfast, however, definitely does not end with its appearance. It is a city full of energy and a paradise for lovers of culture, gastronomy and music. Discover the Queen’s Quarter that is home to the largest university in Ireland. It is full of young people who enjoy student life. Belfast features the vast spaces that are just created for spectacular festivals. The city is well known for its legendary party spirit and atmosphere.

It is also one of the most exciting places where you can dine outside the home, with an impressive and talented young chefs in highly valued restaurants, which in any season stimulates your appetite. It would be a mistake not to mention that Belfast has also its own song. It was sang by Boney M., a world known euro disco band created by German record producer Frank Farian. I am sure you know it!

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Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore is one of the four papal basilicas (Saint Peter’s Basilica, Basilica of Saint John Lateran, Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls). It belongs to the most beautiful early Christian Basilicas in Rome, and became an important place of pilgrimage. It is also the largest church in Rome which is dedicated to Virgin Mary.

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The Romanesque bell tower was added to the basilica in 1377 and with its 75 meters it is the highest one in Rome. At the turn of the 16th and 17th century, Basilica underwent a reconstruction. The basilica boasts wonderfully ornate interior. Richly painted coffered ceiling is supported with 40 massive columns, which were transferred here from the ancient Roman buildings. The beautiful decoration is everywhere you take a look. But the most breathtaking is a mosaic created between 1290 – 1295 by Jacopo Torritim. It is located in the apse, which is considered the top of medieval mosaic tradition in Rome. Other important mosaics come from the 5th century and decorate boat and triumphal arch. Mosaics on the side-walls show scenes of Moses, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Once you are here, do not miss a visit to Chapel Cappella Sistina from 1585, which is a kind of church in the church. It is the work of Domenico Fontana, who created it for Pope Sixtus V. At the opposite side, there is the Cappella Paolina, built in 1611 for two popes – Paul V and Clement VIII. They tried to create a more beautiful chapel, than the opposite one, therefore it is overdecorated.

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