Discover the Medieval Old Town of Tallinn

A major lure of Tallinn is the fantastically well preserved medieval Old Town. A rabbit warren of twisting cobbled streets flanked by eye catching architectural delights, a trip to the Old Town takes you back to 15th century and beyond. Uncover the church spires dotted amongst the streets and sip a coffee in a half hidden café. There is plenty to see and more to learn during your explorations! A fairy-tale town indeed, the shops, monasteries, museums and restaurants are the icing on the cake.

Tallinn, Estonia by David Pursehouse

Escape it all on Estonia’s Islands

As I mentioned earlier on, the beauty of Estonia is one of its favoured attributes and it extends even further onto the islands which float just off the west coast. Interestingly, there are close to 1,500 with the largest and most visited including Hiiumaa, Kihnu, Ruhnu and Vormsi. Stop at the most popular island, Saaremaa, for a visit to the medieval castle in the island’s only city and be sure to sample the delicious local beer! Life passes at a calm and comfy pace on the islands and you can soak up the beaches and forests with little interruption. Enjoy!

Visit Jagala Waterfall

We’ve all heard of Niagara Falls in North America and even if you haven’t visited, you are likely to have at least some idea as to how impressive it is. Well, Jagala Falls is Estonia’s answer to Niagara Falls. No more than 8 metres tall, it is the width of the waterfall which makes it so striking, spanning more than 50 metres across. Only 4km from the mouth, the waterfall is found in the lower course of the Jagala River in northern Estonia. It’s an attraction that can be visited for free throughout the year and is an ideal spot for a summer picnic but the best time to visit is definitely in winter when it is covered in ice and takes on a completely different, and somewhat mystical, appearance! Pick up one of the many rental cars in Estonia and see for yourself!

Jagala Waterfall, Estonia by Aigars Mahinovs

Jam out at a Music Festival

Estonians love their music, there’s more than enough evidence of this fact from a glance at their annual summer festival calendar! Celebrating all types of music from around the world, no matter what your taste you will likely find an event to get your feet tapping. Plan your trip to Estonia to coincide with Ollesummer Festival, a 4 day event held in Tallinn in July which features a variety of musicians and artists; it’s an event not to be missed. For something a bit more authentic, head to the town of Viljandi in south Estonia for its annual Folk Music Festival. Rest assured that there are plenty more to choose from!

So, there you have it; a taste of the opportunities that Estonia has to offer. Whatever you are after from a holiday, you will probably be able to find it here and the best part is that you won’t have to share it with thousands of other people!

Bio: Kerri Ware is a travel blogger and writes for EconomyCarHire.com, a car hire broker offering great price car hire in Estonia. Follow us on Twitter @economycarhire.

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Now what would you say if this could all be but one day of your itinerary? Well, it could be, if you and your spouse choose to honeymoon in beautiful, historical Croatia!

Baška, Krk, Croatia / Photo by admin

In Croatia, you can enjoy both untouched, expansive scenery from rolling hills to mighty mountains to the picture perfect villages, or you can dance until dawn and enjoy world class shopping and the finest array of cuisines in the capitol, Zagreb, a lively metropolis of more than three quarters of a million people. Or a yacht charter; Croatia has a vast coast line, too!

Croatia offers its visitors both a glimpse of Old Europe, with restored castles and ancient cities dotting its picturesque landscape, with all the charm and history of any of its European neighbors, as well all the comforts and amenities of the most up to date modern conveniences. You can have the best of both worlds, the Old and the Modern, in lovely Croatia.

Baška, Krk, Croatia / Photo by admin

And what better way to see a country that boasts so much beautiful coastline — hundreds and hundreds of miles of rugged cliffs and perfect beaches lining the Mediterranean sea — than by boat?

When you and your spouse arrange for a yacht charter Croatia spreads its beauty before you from the deep blue seas. There truly is no better way to explore this lovely land than by traveling up and down its coast and visiting both the continental mainland and also its many wonderful islands. With a yacht  charter Croatia becomes a country of both the land and the sea. Where else can you spend time in breathtaking mountains with views down to the Mediterranean sea below and then in hardly any time at all be sailing across the seas and looking back up at rugged mountains dotted with centuries old villages, churches and castles?

Baška, Krk, Croatia / Photo by admin

Croatia is a land that invites you to enjoy it in your own way. If you and your spouse want a relaxed honeymoon, there are beautiful beaches and resorts and the finest spas in Europe at your disposal. If you wish to start your marriage off with rugged outdoor activities, such as hiking and cycling in the summer and world class skiing in winter, you can do that too! And don’t forget about the sea — a yacht charter, Croatia’s coast line at sunset, and a bottle of local wine — perfection!

Jillian Johnson is a professional marketing content writer with an interest in writing about travel and leisure. Follow her @MissWritey.

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A great view of Bass rock / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Karen Roe

History of Bass Rock

The rock was once the home of a group of Christian hermits who lived a simple and isolated life on the island. The most famous of these early inhabitants was St. Baldred, said to have made the Bass Rock his home as early as the sixth century. A medieval castle was built on the island that in later years was used as a prison. Today, however, all that can be seen of the structure is ruins. A lighthouse was constructed on Bass Rock in 1902 and is now the only building on the island. Bass Rock is home to a large gannet colony, making it a prime birdwatching destination. It has also been mentioned multiple times in literature by the likes of Robert Louis Stevenson, Bruce Marshall and James Robertson.

Tours of Bass Rock

Although there is plenty of historical and cultural significance to Bass Rock, most people want to tour the island thanks to the huge gannet colony. From far away the island might look white, but the colour is actually due to the dense population of white birds on Bass Rock. An hour long boat trip from the Scottish mainland will bring you right up to the island itself and costs twenty-two pounds per person. If you want a more elaborate tour, a five hour boat trip actually takes you onto the island and a local guide will let you feed the gannets and even tour the lighthouse. This longer trip will be ninety-eight pounds per person and needs to be booked at least a few days in advance.

A close-up of the Lighthouse on Bass Rock / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Martin Pettitt

Nearby Attractions

The Scottish mainland is just one mile from Bass Rock and boasts plenty of interesting local attractions. Most people choose to explore the town of North Berwick while in the area. Head to the Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick in order to learn more about the birds that live in the vicinity and better understand the natural wildlife along the coast. There is a beautiful viewing platform over the sea as well as a popular cafe that offers delicious local Scottish meals. Just south of North Berwick along the coastline is the Tantallon Castle, a fourteenth century fortress that is available for touring most of the year. Admission is £4.70 for an adult to tour the castle and there are discounts for children and seniors.

Accommodations in the Area

Unfortunately there is no accommodation directly on Bass Rock. As a result you will have to stay on the Scottish mainland at night and set off on day boat tours of the island. Since there are not a large number of hotels in the area, you might want to choose one of the many Scottish apartments instead and enjoy a self catering holiday. You can find local apartments for rent in North Berwick or other nearby coastal towns such as Dunbar or Aberlady. By shopping for groceries and using the equipped kitchens in the apartments, you can actually save yourself a significant amount of money on your holiday.

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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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The oldest city of Hungary was known as Savaria – the capital of Pannonia. It has been an important city since the very beginning. There were built the imperial residences, public baths and amphitheater. From Roman times you can see the preserved Savaria Mithraeum shrine, which was discovered during the construction of a new shopping center in 2008.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by János Tamás

In one area of ​​excavation (Romkert Templom tér) you can find the remains of the Forum, which belonged to a civilian city. There are also fragments of the largest mosaic of the Lieutenant-Governor’s Palace. Majority of the most important Roman monuments, including remains of Roman road signs, customs, shops and the medieval castle walls, can be seen in the so-called Garden of Ruins.

Once you are in Szombathely you should visit Savaria Museum, which takes care of the fortress foundations, findings from the Mercury Temple and public baths, and almost fifty metres long part of two thousand years old Amber Road. The cellar is full of Roman altars and blue glass vials found during excavations in Savaria. The first floor of the museum provides an overview of local history, including the collection dedicated to the Romanesque church of Jak.

Jak is the nearby small village boasting a Benedictine church, which is one of the finest examples of Hungarian Romanesque architecture.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Cecilia, Lili & Krisztian

In Szombathely there is also a huge cathedral designed in 1791 by Melchior Hefele for Bishop János Szily. This Bishop’s double-towered cathedral was covered with stucco and frescoes by Franz Anton Maulbertsch and supported by large marble pillars. It is the largest Baroque church in Hungary. Its interior is decorated with frescoes, paintings and sculptures, which were, however, in 1945 seriously damaged during a bombing and are still restoring.

Those are just few of lots of sights you can see here. Szombathely is really worth a visit!

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Horia Varlan

A curious thing is that the cruel ruler Vlad III. Dracula, who was called Vlad the Impaler due to his horrific methods of torture and murders, in fact, never visited this historic castle. In spite of this fact, this place is now very popular among tourists and there are a large number of them.

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Bran Castle is located approximately 30 kilometers from the city of Brasov, right in the middle of Romania. Once you decide to visit the castle, you definitely should reserve some additional time and explore the surrounding countryside as well. Transylvania is a fascinating part of Romania, where you can still enjoy almost untouched wilderness.

But do not go there if you have a fear of vampires.

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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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Windsor Castle dates from the 11th century. Originally it was built of wood by William the Conqueror in 1070, as the protection of western routes into London. Over time, Windsor Castle has been rebuilt several times. Most buildings were built during the reign of King Henry II. and Edward III.

In the 20th of the 19th century King Henry IV. adjusted some of the buildings. In 1992, Windsor Castle suffered a devastating fire which broke out during the maintenance work in the ceremonial chambers. Today, the area is restored again.

The oldest building, which boasts the Windsor Castle is the wooden Round Tower, built by William the Conqueror. In 1170 the tower was rebuilt to a stone one, and remained so until now. In the Round Tower there is now a royal archive and photographic collection.

Probably the biggest gem of Windsor Castle is St George’s Chapel, built between 1475 – 1528, in which are the remains of 10 kings. St George’s Chapel is one of the finest examples of late Gothic style in England.

Windsor Castle is now the main residence of the Queen and her family, but it is also open to the public and is a very popular tourist destination. The length of the guided tours in interiors depends on the presence of the royal family in the castle. For safety, all the visitors have to pass the inspection. Windsor castle offers the tours every hour, but most visitors are viewing the site separately with audio-visual guides that are available for free.

Windsor Castle has, just like any major office, its own guards, that change regularly, which is also very popular attraction. The visitors are also attracted by the beautiful adjacent park suitable for relaxation after a demanding tour of the castle.

Windsor Castle is a real gem and certainly worth seeing.

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Olavinlinna Castle in Finland by Miraceti

In 1714, the Castle Olavinlinna became the property of the Russians for a few years until 1721; but by 1741 it was once again in Russian hands, and remained so until Finland was granted independence from Russia in 1917. The castle has three massive towers, however it originally had five towers. Today there are several museum exhibitions and Castle Museum. In the museum there are objects associated with the castle. There is also a museum with a collection of religious icons and religious objects in Finland and Russia. Olavinlinna Castle Opera Festival takes place here every year already since 1912.

Olavinlinna Castle is one of Finland`s biggest tourist attractions.

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Basilica di San Francesco, Assisi, Umbria, Italy by Jim Linwood

The town stretches along one side of Monte Subasio. A typical feature of Assisi are picturesque houses decorated with pink geraniums, narrow winding streets, small squares with fountains, a number of churches and other monuments from pre-Christian times. Visitors to Assisi can enjoy tranquility, comfort and cleanliness.

St. Francis of Assisi was born here in 1181 and later founded the Secular Franciscan Order. But the city has a much longer history. The city was inhabited already in around 1000 BC. From the Roman period there have been preserved several sights: city walls, forum, where is now the Piazza delle Commune, an amphitheater and the Temple of the Goddess Minerva where is now the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva. From the original temple only the front face with 6 columns have been preserved.

Most sites, however, comes from the Middle Ages, when the city experienced its greatest prosperity, and was several times under papal jurisdiction. Among the most important monuments from this period are:

• Basilica of San Francesco d’Assisi (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the Franciscan monastery which were built in 1228 – 1253. The Basilica was badly damaged by an earthquake of 26 September 1997 – where four people died inside the church
• Pilgrimage Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, built in 1569
• the Cathedral of San Rufino, built in 1140 – 1253
• Basilica of Santa Chiara from 1257
• Santo Stefano – one of the oldest churches of Assisi

In Assisi there are much more beautiful religious buildings, which are definitely worth seeing. The main square of the city is already mentioned Piazza delle Commune, which was formerly the Roman Forum. Assisi is dominated by the medieval Castle of Rocca Maggiore, built in 1367 by Cardinal Albornoz. There is also the smaller castle in Assisi which was built much earlier, in the Roman era. However, only small part has been preserved and only three towers are open to the public.

The city offers to the visitors lots of cultural events. Most renowned festival is Calendimaggio, which is held here every year in early May. It presents the medieval way of life where you can see many actors of theater and dancing crews. Since 2000, the town of Assisi, is UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today there are living about 27.000 people.

In the city neighbourhood you can reach following destinations:

• Urbino – about 73 km
• San Marino – about 97 km
• Montefiore Conca – about 91 km
• Rocca fortress – about 97 km
• the Leaning tower of Vernazzano – about 45 km
• Orvieto Cathedral – about 57 km

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