Paris

Paris is probably the most romantic city in the world, it’s as if it wants couples to be in love here, and indeed fall in love. Every street corner has a story to tell.

Paris at night, France by agaw.dilim

The Notre Dame Cathedral is a magnificent sight 81 metres high and nearly 150 metres long, with an even more impressive interior, its vaulted ceiling disappearing 38 metres into the gloom.

The building is the famous location of Victor Hugo’s tragic tale The Hunchback of Notre Dame. You’ll have a tremendous view of the whole city from the dizzying heights of the Eiffel Tower’s observation deck more than 270 metres up. Did you know than a quarter of all European visitors to the tower live in France?

Some Parisians will argue that the better view of the city is from the steps of the Basilica of Sacre-Coeur.

On a hill in the north of the city the view on a nice day is spectacular, but the district is more famous as the hangout of artists and thinkers – most notably Renoir, Toulous Lautrec, Modigliani and Picasso.

And don’t forget the most famous painting in the world, Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, with pride of place in the Louvre.

There are Metro stops everywhere, so you’ll never have to walk to each stunning location.

Venice

It just wouldn’t right to go to Venice and not to take a ride on a gondola. It might be a bit of a stereotype, but can you think of a better way to see the world’s most famous canal city?You can even have your very own personal serenade as you glide along the water.

Canal Grande, Venice, Italy by admin

Some of Italy’s most important art is in Venice with works but the city’s great masters – including Titan, Carpaccio and Tintoretto – on display at the Gallerie dell’Accademia.

The evening is a beautiful time in the city, when at certain times of year the setting sun casts a pink glow over the city, as Venetians flock to their favourite bars for an evening aperitivo before a sumptuous meal.

Duck away from the major tourist spots, where you’ll pay a fortune for a slice of pizza of plate of antipasti, and you’ll come across some hidden gems where your taste buds will love you for the rest of your life.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is hugely popular with Brits skipping through the Channel Tunnel for a long weekend. It’s a vibrant city with the perfect mix of culture to keep you busy all day, and a nightlife that will exhaust you until morning.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands by Chris Yunker

Arriving at the Central Station you are right in the heart of the city, just a few steps from Dam Square, surrounded on all sides by the city’s most important buildings – the Royal Palace (which was briefly the home Napoleon Bonaparte when Amsterdam was the Third City of the Empire); the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church), one of the most visited exhibition spaces in Holland, and the National Monument to commemorate the victims of World War Two.

The most famous of these victims is Anne Frank, the young Jewish girl who hid for two years in with her family and four other people.

Canal tours are the best ways to see the city, with stops that include Van Gogh Museum.

Catherine Halsey writes for a digital marketing agency on a range of subjects. This article links back to https://www.eurostar.com

The post Top European Getaways for Couples appeared first on Europe Explored.

Yes, there was an educational aspect to the long weekend, or week if you were really lucky, but for the most part it was great fun just heading abroad to a new and exciting city.

So, what are the best destinations for a school trip to Europe?

Paris

When you’re young (or even as an adult) Paris is one of the most enchanting cities of the world. It has a well-deserved reputation as a city of romance, art, music and culture.

Paris, France by Trey Ratcliff

While the romance will be strictly off the cards for the youngsters they will all have heard of the magnificent Eiffel Tower; erected in 1889 and standing 320 metres tall it is the most recognised icon of Paris, and indeed France.

Not far from here is the Louvre, Paris’ stunning, not to mention enormous museum and of course the home of Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, her curious smile put to canvas more than 500 years ago.

Don’t forget Notre-Dame Cathedral, the centre point of Victor Hugo’s famous tale “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame” and the resting place of the Unknown Soldier, the Arc de Triomphe.

As the first major destination once you’ve passed through the Channel Tunnel, Paris is by far the most popular, but don’t forget about the next two great cities.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a fabulous city, made up of 90 islands created by miles of canals, with 1,280 bridges connecting them all together.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands by MorBCN

The best way to see the city is by canal tours which stop at all of the major landmarks. One of the most famous stories of World War Two is The Diary of Anne Frank, a German-born girl who sadly didn’t survive the war following her arrest in 1944 when her family and four other Jewish families were discovered hiding in a cramped house. The house in now a museum, a testament to Anne and all of those who didn’t survive.

An impressive stop that must not be missed is the Royal Palace of Amsterdam. Built in 1855, citizens of the city were so impressed by its grandeur they declared it the eighth wonder of the world. It was once even home to the French king Louis Napoleon.

Brussels

It might be famous as the home of the European Parliament, but for literature fans out there you’ll be more excited by its connection to Hergé and his famous creation, the intrepid journalist Tintin.

The city is festooned with tributes to Belgium’s most famous cartoon character. There are walks, statues, museums, and even hotels that pay tribute in some way. Check out this list of Tintin related sights and landmarks.

Of course, let’s not forget that other thing that Belgium is famous for, and a favourite of children, chocolate! In November 2012 is the first Belgian Chocolate Fair, which will be kicking off Chocolate Week, how can you resist?

These cities are great for children of all ages you get a real taste of (chocolate) and exciting European cultures.

Catherine Halsey writes for a digital marketing agency on a range of subjects. This article links back to https://www.eurostar.com

The post Three Great European Cities for School Trips appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Chris Yunker

Florence

This medieval Italian city features beautiful flower gardens, ancient buildings constructed with various colors of marble, and many of Michelangelo’s masterpieces. See the Boboli Gardens at the Pitti Palace and the Rose Garden near Michelangelo Square. One of the Renaissance artist’s most recognized pieces includes the Statue of David, which stands 17 feet (5.2 meters) tall and is on display at the Accademia Galleria. Visitors also find the tombs of Michelangelo and famed scientist Galileo in Florence. The amazing artwork throughout city also features works created by medieval artists Ammannati and Cellini.

Rome

This ancient Italian city features a number of iconic landmarks that include the Coliseum, the Forum and the Pantheon. Vatican City also attracts millions of visitors who admire the fountains, statues and dome of St. Peter’s Cathedral. See original masterpieces created by Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael in the Vatican museum. The building is also the site of the famous Sistine Chapel.

Photo by admin

Venice

The dozens of interconnected waterways and romantic gondola rides are but some of the attractions of this popular tourist destination. The city also features Byzantine to Neoclassic architecture, which spans from the 13th to the 18th century. One of the popular buildings that guests visit is the Doge’s Palace. Filled with carvings and amazing wall-sized frescoes, the palace once imprisoned famous con artist Casanova. The Bridge of Sighs is another well-known structure that connects the Doge’s Palace with a more modern prison.

Pisa

This city contains the famous tilting, freestanding bell tower of the Pisa Cathedral. Construction began on the tower in 1173 and sinking initiated only five years later. When construction resumed 100 years later, contractors compensated for the tilt by building floors higher on one side than the other. The tower stands 183 feet (56 meters) tall on the low side and 186 feet (57 meters) tall on the high side. Now stabilized by using lead counterweights and excavated soil displacement, visitors climb the 296 stairs to the top.

Photo by admin

Pompeii

In 79 A.D., Mount Vesuvius violently erupted, covering the nearby ancient Roman city of Pompeii with 13 to 20 feet (4 to 6 meters) of ash. Though all 20,000 residents lost their lives on that fateful day, the ash protected and preserved all of the city’s structures. Since the community’s discovery and excavation in 1749, Pompeii attracts millions of visitors annually. Besides architectural features, buildings display complete mosaic tiles and frescoes depicting mythological figures and legends.

Have you considered a luxury apartment for your next holiday to Italy? Worldwide Accom has a huge selection of Rome apartment rentals available. Each apartment is personally inspected so you can be sure you’ll be staying in quality, safe accommodation.

View Top 5 Tourist Destinations in Italy in a larger map

The post Top 5 Tourist Destinations in Italy appeared first on Europe Explored.

If you reshuffle historical records and manuscripts, you will learn that King Francois I played a significant role to reshape this castle after modification. There are many critics and historians who claim that Domenico da Cortona attributed a lot to redesign this building. Some of them claim that Philibert Delorme – the French Renaissance architect or Leonardo da Vinci had an important role in designing the structure of chateau.

Architectural Beauty of Le Château de Chambord

According to researchers, exterior and interior parts of Le Château de Chambord are fantastic to look as professional architects have used sumptuous marble slabs, stones and wall painting color shades. The central keep is beset with four decorated pillars with arches (four immense bastion towers at the corners). Le Château de Chambord is also designed with an eye-catching garden, moats and backyards. Conventional moat or water ditch adjacent to the castle was not constructed to defend enemy but this water moat has accelerated overall beauty of the building. There are 440 spacious rooms, 365 fireplaces along with more than 80 well decorated staircases inside the building.

So far as architectural aesthete is concerned, architects have borrowed Italian architectural style to install large windows and a rooftop gallery with open sides (loggia) to gear up visibility and clarity. Designers used their razor sharp intelligence and imaginative faculty to construct roof of the castle by setting up 11 towers, 3 different chimneys inclusive of double helical or spiral staircases in the chateau. There is also a well decorated beautiful lighthouse at the top of Le Château de Chambord.

Le Château de Chambord was confiscated as enemy property in 1915 but after severe legal battle, it was got back to the family of the Duke of Parma. Engineers and architects started the building renovation works after World War II. Right now, this historical site has become one of the most attractive tourist centers.

View Le Château de Chambord – a major tourist attraction in France in a larger map

The post Le Château de Chambord – a major tourist attraction in France appeared first on Europe Explored.

The city of Florence has been inhabited since the prehistoric times. However, it would not be until 59 B.C. that the city would become part of the Great Roman Empire. Nestled along the banks of the Arno River, Claire Cesar knew that the city would be great one day. Back in those days, Florence was known as Colonia Florentia. It started off as a military colony and grew into one of the most beautiful cities in the entire world.

Sunset over Florence, Tuscany, Italy by Steve

The history of Florence is both rich and very colorful. There are many landmarks and monuments throughout the city which have attracted countless visitors over the centuries. Some say that perhaps the most notable of these landmarks is the 106 meter tall Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore that was built at the end of the 13th century. From the top of the Duomo, you can see some of the best panoramic views of Florence imaginable.

The next most notable monument in Florence is that of the Ponte Vecchio. This old bridge which was built back in 1345 is not just a bridge, it is an entire community. Along the length of the bridge, there are several homes, various shops and boutiques. Ponte Vecchio is the only bridge in Florence that was not destroyed back in the Second World War which makes it the oldest stone arch bridge in the whole of Europe.

Tower of Florence Cathedral, Tuscany, Italy by Ivan Borisov

Of course no one could be allowed to leave Florence without taking the time to stop by the Piazzale Michelangelo. Situated atop a hill, from the Piazzale you can get some of the most awe inspiring views of the city and of course, of the infamous Florentine sunset.

The post Florence – the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance appeared first on Europe Explored.