York - A City of Roman Emperors, Vikings and Kings: The walled city of York was called Eboracum when the Romans founded the city in 71AD, then renamed Eoforwic when the Angles took over at the end of Roman rule in 415AD and Jórvík when the Vikings captured the city in 866AD. When the Normans took over, the name York gradually evolved. The city's location, at the confluence of the Ouse and Foss Rivers was an important factor in York's development and its position in British history. York … [Read more...]
Sarlat-la-Canéda – Capital of Périgord Noir
May 5, 2010 by
Classified "Ville d'art et d'Histoire", Sarlat is An Artistic and Historic Town: Sarlat-la-Caneda is a town that surprises many people when they visit. Apart from being the capital of the Périgord Noir, it has the highest concentration of Medieval, Renaissance and 17th century facades of any town in France. We walked into the old town centre from the northern end of rue de la République. This main street, which itself is pretty nondescript, runs the length of the old town but once you … [Read more...]
Erlangen – a University Town with a Huguenot History
April 22, 2010 by
Erlangen Hosts the Third Largest Beer Festival in Bavaria : Erlangen is a town that is probably not known to many travellers to Germany, but Bavarians know it well - Erlangen hosts the third largest beer festival in Bavaria, after the Oktoberfest in Munich and the Gäubodenvolksfest in Straubing. Over 1 million people attend the Bergkirchweih every year - that's ten times the population of Erlangen. If you've been to Nuremberg, Erlangen is approximately eight kilometers to the north. … [Read more...]
Bayreuth is Richard Wagner’s City
April 21, 2010 by
Bayreuth - A city of Art and Culture Bayreuth is a city well known for its association with Richard Wagner. But whilst Wagner brought international fame to Bayreuth through his music and opera compositions, and continues to attract visitors to Bayreuth through the annual Richard Wagner Festival, this northern Bavarian city owes much of its beautiful Baroque buildings, parks and other monumental treasures to Princess Wilhelmine of Bayreuth. Walk around town and you'll see the city's main … [Read more...]
See Castles in Germany on the Scenic Castle Road
April 20, 2010 by
A String of Castles and Palaces link together by the Famous Castle Road : More than three times longer than the Romantic Road, is the 1,200 km Castle Road which runs from Mannheim to Prague in the Czech Republic. The Castle Road is one of Germany's longest established scenic roads lined with 90 impressive castles (and castle ruins), palaces and stately homes. Navigating the Castle Road From Mannheim, the road zig-zags eastwards and along the way, just before the half way point around … [Read more...]
Stilton – The Village with the Famous Cheese
April 9, 2010 by
Stilton, the Village that Gave the Cheese its Name: I've eaten a lot of Stilton cheese over the years, but it never occurred to me to find out where this cheese comes from...until now. Stilton cheese takes its name from Stilton village in the District of Huntingdonshire in the County of Cambridgeshire. For anyone who's been to Cambridge, Stilton sits northwest of this famous town, and its nearest large town is Peterborough. Today the reputation of the Stilton cheese brand has far outpaced … [Read more...]
Germany’s Romantic Road – A Road Well Travelled
February 23, 2010 by
Romantische Strasse - One of Germany's oldest Scenic Routes: Along a 350 km stretch of road from Würzburg in northern Bavaria to Füssen in the Allgäu Alps is Germany's most famous and well travelled Romantic Road or Romantische Strasse. The Romantic Road is one of Germany's oldest scenic routes and it takes travellers through rich and varied cultural landscape along the river Main and through the Franconian wine country to the Alps. The Road links a series of picturesque towns and … [Read more...]
Robin Hood's Bay – North Yorkshire
January 26, 2010 by
Once a smugglers' haunt, Robin Hood's Bay is now a walker's destination: Robin Hood's Bay was once a haunt of smugglers and legend has it that Robin Hood kept his boats here in case he needed to make a quick escape. Seeing the rocky shoreline and landscape, it's easy to imagine why this is a conducive hideaway. Robin Hood's Bay is very popular with visitors who come here to enjoy the views, have picnics or just to have a relaxing time. There are two parts to the village, the upper section is … [Read more...]
Of Whitby, Captain James Cook and Count Dracula
January 25, 2010 by
Whitby - Home to Captain James Cook and the trails of Count Dracula: Mention Whitby and "holiday resort and fish and chips" come to mind. To the unsuspecting modern day traveller, Whitby presents as a sleepy Victorian holiday resort and fishing town. But, Whitby has a long history as an industrial port and a shipbuilding town and is also home to a few famous residents. And, those with vivid imagination or a belief in the supernatural may see more when they look up the cliff at St. Mary's … [Read more...]