introduction
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- Budapest -
‘Pearl of the Danube’ Budapest is the capital city of Hungary. With a unique, youthful atmosphere, world-class classical music scene as well as a pulsating nightlife increasingly appreciated among European youth, and last but not least, an exceptionally rich offer of natural thermal baths, Budapest is one of Europe’s most delightful and enjoyable cities. Due to its scenic setting, and its architecture it is nicknamed “Paris of the East”. In 1987 Budapest was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List for the cultural and architectural significance of the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrássy Avenue.
Basic Information
£28 per night
£5 - £15
Hello - Helló
£60
£1.50
Thank you - köszönöm
Metro, Bus, Trolley Bus, Yellow Streetcars
Hungarian
How do I get to... - hogyan jutok el...
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- Top Attractions CASTLE HILL Castle Hill, a 1km-long limestone plateau towering 170m above the Danube, contains Budapest’s most important medieval monuments and museums. Castle Hill is Budapest’s most spectacular and most visited district. In one small area you have most of the city’s big-hitter attractions, including the Royal Palace with its museums and library, the Matthias Church, the Fisherman’s Bastion and several spectacular statues. The views over the Danube to Pest are incomparable and worth the trip alone. Castle Hill has been settled since the 13th century, and you can still feel
the scale of the medieval in its steep twisting streets and little square. It’s watched over by a magnificent golden turul - the mythical eagle that is featured in Hungarian mythology. As you come up by funicular, the turul is practically the first thing you see.The Royal Palace also has its fair share of fantastical statues, including a fountain featuring the young King Matthias posing as a hunter. The palace contains the Budapest History Museum.
BUDAPEST OPERA HOUSE The Budapest opera house stands as one of the most beautiful buildings in Europe. It is considered to be amongst the best opera houses in the world. The Hungarian State Opera House is a neo-Renaissance opera house located in central Budapest, on Andrássy út. It is home to the Budapest Opera Ball, a society event dating back to 1886. Before the closure of “Népszínház” in Budapest, it was the second largest opera building in Budapest. Today it is the largest Opera building in Budapest and Hungary. It is a richly-decorated building and is considered one of the
architect’s masterpieces. It was built in neo-Renaissance style, with elements of Baroque. Ornamentation includes paintings and sculptures by leading figures of Hungarian art including Bertalan Székely, Mór Than and Károly Lotz. Although in size and capacity it is not among the greatest, in beauty and the quality of acoustics the Budapest Opera House is considered to be amongst the finest opera houses in the world.
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- Top Attractions CHAIN BRIDGE The Chain Bridge is one of the symbolic buildings of Budapest. It is the most widely known bridge of the Hungarian capital. The Chain Bridge was the first permanent bridge in Budapest; the nearest bridge was in Vienna and during winter time the only way to cross the Danube was by taking a ferry. A temporary bridge was only available in the summer: it had to be disassembled each year to protect it against drift ice. The Chain Bridge, officially known as the Széchenyi lánchíd, is named after count István Széchenyi, the driving force
behind the construction of the bridge. After the count missed his father’s funeral when the ferry service across the Danube was halted due to bad weather, Széchenyi, a prominent statesman, resolved to build a permanent bridge across the Danube. The iron chains, which make up the bridge, are held by two 48-meter river piers in classicist style. This resulted in the bridge being called the “chain bridge” by many locals.
HEROES SQUARE Flanked by the Museum of Fine Arts and the Palace of Art, Budapest’s Heroes’ Square stands in honor and memory of the great leaders in Hungary’s history. Heroes’ Square and Városliget, the adjoining city park, were created at the end of the 19th century to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of the Magyar conquest of Hungary in 1895. Since many of the attractions weren’t ready in time the festivities were held one year late, in 1896. The square only received its current name in 1932, three years after the completion of the Millennium Monument. Since its creation Heroes’ Square
has been the site of numerous special events, including many Socialist holiday celebrations staged during the country’s Communist era. In 1989 it was the site of the ceremonial reburial of Imre Nagy, leader of the uprising against the Soviet occupation in 1956.At the center of Heroes’ Square stands the Millennium Monument, designed in 1894 by Albert Schickedanz. The monument is a must see on your visit to Budapest.
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- Top Attractions BUDAPEST BATHS The Széchenyi fürdő is the largest of the many medicinal bath complexes in Budapest. It is even the largest such complex in Europe. The origin of the Széchenyi Baths can be traced back to 1868 when Vilmos Zsigmondy, a mining engineer, started drilling in the city park to find a thermal spring. It wasn’t his first such endeavor; just one year before he had managed to find a spring 120 meters under Margaret Island. This one turned out to be much more difficult: after fruitlessly drilling for ten years he finally succeeded in 1878, when an
artesian hot spring was found at a depth of 970 meters. The main building of the Széchenyi Baths, the Cziglerwing, is truly impressive. The front facade, dominated by three large domed pavilions, is more reminiscent of a palace than a bathhouse. The roof of the central hall is decorated beautifully with bronze statues of galloping horses and the entrances are flanked by massive Corinthian columns.
VATI UTCA Váci utca is a popular shopping street in Budapest. The street starts from Vörösmarty Square, where it is pedestrianized and leads to the Great Market Hall. The street known as Váci was formed in the eighteenth century.The avenue has long been a place where the rich and famous of Budapest enjoyed spending their money though, at first, it was a shopping area accessible to most. However, as it became fashionable in the early decades of the twentieth century for the well-to-do to enjoy an early evening stroll down Vaci Street, the stores
here became more and more exclusive.While many of the shops are fashion boutiques, lately, as Budapest’s tourism industry has grown, vacationers will find a fair number of souvenir shops located on Vaci Street and the small streets that dissect it. Many bars and cafes also line the street, offering a place to grab a bite to eat or an alcoholic beverage that offer some of the local cuisine.
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- Brussels -
‘The European Village’ Brussels is quickly gaining a reputation as one of Europe’s must-see destinations, with its small town charm, trendy bars and restaurants, fabulous food, great nightlife, fantastic shopping, numerous museums, and other attractions. Brussels is also known as a mecca of style, art, and design. While attracting more and more big names in international fashion to its growing shopping districts, home-grown Belgian designers are rapidly gaining global notoriety. The streets of Brussels feature art and architecture created from an unmistakably Belgian point of view that cannot be replicated. This beautiful city is a centre for fashion, art, and Belgian culture.
Basic Information
£53 per night
£10 - £20
Hello - Hallo
£62
£2.50
Thank you - dank u
Train, Streetcar, Metro, Bus
Dutch
How do I get to... - hoe krijg ik te...
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- Top Attractions NATIONAL BASILICA The National Basilica in Koekelberg, the 5th largest church in the world, is an architectural masterpiece a stone’s throw from the city centre. As the fifth largest church in the world and the largest Art Deco building in existence, the National Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Koekelberg is a breathtaking experience for all visitors. Perched on Koekelberg Hill, the enormous church dominates the Brussels skyline, an under its green copper dome, which rises 89 metres into the sky, a 360 degree outdoor gallery offers spectacular panoramic views of the city. The church itself is a Unesco
World Heritage Site, built over 50 years and two world wars, and features notable modern stained-glass windows. There is a lot to see inside, so take your time to wander around its two museums, exhibitions, and numerous sculptures. And don’t forget to take the elevator up to the gallery for a view that is simply awe-inspiring. The National Basilica offers stunning views around the park, so make sure you leave enough time to take everything in.
ATOMIUM The Atomium is an international tourist attraction. This unique piece of architecture, was created on the occasion of the World Fair of Brussels in 1958. Unmistakable symbol of Brussels and Belgium and unique feat in the history of architecture: the Atomium is today the most popular attraction in the Capital of Europe.Built for the 1958 World Exhibition, the Atomium is shaped on the model of an elementary iron crystal enlarged 165 billion times. Beyond surreal walks through tubes and spheres, the Atomium houses a permanent exhibition about its history as well temporary
exhibitions for a broad public (sciences, design, society). Tubes connect the spheres along the 12 edges of the cube and all eight vertices to the centre. They enclose escalators and a lift to allow access to the five habitable spheres which contain exhibit halls and other public spaces. The upper sphere offers unique and spectacular views across the city skyline. At night, 2970 lights offer a fairy dimension to the 102m high building.
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- Top Attractions MAGRITTE MUSEUM The René Magritte museum is installed in the house where the famous surrealist painter lived for twenty four years. This Museum is situated in the very heart of Brussels, on Place Royale. It was fitted out thanks to the patronage of skills provided by the French and Belgian subsidiaries of GDF SUEZ and to the support of the Magritte Foundation. It exhibits for public viewing the creations of the surrealist artist belonging to the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium. These come mainly from purchases as well as from the legacies of
Irène Scutenaire-Hamoir and Georgette Magritte. Many private collectors and public and private institutions have also contributed to the Musée Magritte Museum project through the loan of their masterpieces. This multidisciplinary collection is the most extensive in the world. It comprises more than 200 works consisting of oils on canvas, gouaches, drawings, sculptures and painted objects as well as other media types.
MINI - EUROPE Located at the foot of the Atomium, MINI-EUROPE is the only park where you can have a whitlestop tour around Europe in a few shorthours. Mini Europe in Brussels is home to about 350 monuments from across Europe. It is located within the entertainment park called Brupark alongside an amusement park, a water park and the Atomium. Brussels Mini Europe was a team effort commissioned by the Belgian government and opened by Prince Philip in 1989. The 24,000 square kilometers of park is filled with 1:25
scaled models which resemble surprisingly well the actual buildings, sites and monuments of famous Europe cities. You can walk past the Grand Place in one minute and come face to face with a rumbling Mount Vesuvius in the next! Some of the models have moving parts, such as the Thalys train, which travels proudly past the historical monuments, rivers and streams of Mini Europe.
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- Top Attractions COMIC STRIP MUSEUM The Belgian Comic Strip Center, a true temple dedicated to comic strip art, is also an undisputed masterpiece of the Art Nouveau. With more than 700 comic strip authors, Belgium has more comic strip artists per square kilometre than any other country in the world! It is here that the comic strip has grown from a popular medium into an art in its own right. Nowhere else comics are so strongly rooted in reality and in people’s imagination. If you come to visit the Belgian Comic Strip Center, you will witness the unusual marriage of the Ninth Art and Art
Nouveau, two artistic forms of expression which have always been particularly cherished in Brussels. his kingdom of imagination is home to some of Belgium’s best-known comic strip heroes: Tintin, Spirou, Bob and Bobette, the Smurfs, Lucky Luke, Blake and Mortimer, Marsupilami, etc. They are one big happy family of paper heroes. We can safely say that the heart of European comic strips beats in Brussels.
GRAND PLACE The Grand Place or Grote Markt is the central square of Brussels. It is surrounded by guildhalls, the city’s Town Hall, and the Breadhouse. Brussels’ incomparable central square tops any itinerary. Its splendidly spired Gothic Hôtel de Ville was the only building to escape bombardment by the French in 1695, quite ironic considering that it was their main target. Today the pedestrianised square’s splendour is due largely to its intact collection of guildhalls , rebuilt by merchant guilds after 1695 and fancifully adorned
with gilded statues. Several now host tempting cafes , though similarly historic drinking spots are somewhat less expensive around the nearby Bourse. That’s Brussels’ 1873 stock exchange whose neoclassical stone facade features sculptures by the young Rodin. A block northeast of Grand Place, the 1847 Galeries St-Hubert was Europe’s first shopping arcade and remains a must-visit.
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- Amsterdam -
‘Venice of the North’ Amsterdam is one of the greatest small cities in the world. From its canals to world-famous museums and historical sights, Amsterdam is one of the most romantic and beautiful cities in Europe. It is also a city of tolerance and diversity. It has all the advantages of a big city: culture, nightlife, international restaurants, good transport - but is quiet, and largely thanks to its extensive canals, has a little road traffic. In Amsterdam your destination is never far away, but get a bike for an authentic local experience.
Basic Information
£60 per night
£10 - £20
Hello - Hallo
£69
£1.80
Thank you - dank u
Train, Tram, Metro, Bus
Dutch
How do I get to... - hoe krijg ik te...
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- Top Attractions RIJKSMUSEUM The Rijksmuseum is a Dutch national museum dedicated to arts and history in Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The Rijksmuseum, which in English means, The State Museum, exists for more that two hundred years and today belongs to the most breathtaking museums in the world. During its existence, the museum went through many transformations and remains now, especially after its complete renovation, the attraction you should not miss during your trip to the Netherlands. It is in 1800, that The Rijksmuseum opened first its
collection to the public as the Nationale Kunstgallerij (National Art Gallery). Since then, it moved several times before being established in Amsterdam (1808) by the decree of the King of the Netherlands Louis Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon. Named then the Royal Museum, received in 1815 from the Dutch King Willem I its present name. In 1885 Rijksmuseum moved to its beautiful building, designed by the Dutch architect Petrus J.H. Cuypers.
STEDELIJK MUSEUM The Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam is a museum for modern art, contemporary art, and design located at the Museum Square in Amsterdam South. The Stedelijk Museum or as the Dutch call it short Stedelijk (Municipal), strives to be one of the most innovative and interesting museums of modern art in the entire world. After eight years of renovation and a construction of a new building next to the old one, the museum has reopened in September of 2012. Moreover, while again, almost as at its first opening more than hundred years ago, the Stedelijk Museum drew controversies for its artistic
choice, its policy and its financial decisions, the new museum is yet again interesting and fun to visit. Established in 1895 as the municipal museum, the Stedelijk became only in 1938 the state museum, with its interests divided into many disciplines as art, objects documenting history of Amsterdam now in the collection of Amsterdam Museum and specific subjects as history of medicine. A must see attraction when on your visit in Amsterdam.
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- Top Attractions DAM SQUARE Dam Square, or simply the Dam, is the town square in Amsterdam. Its notable buildings and frequent events make it one of the most well-known locations in the city. Just a five-minute walk down the Damrak from Centraal Station takes you into this jam-packed square, jostling with locals and tourists day and night. It was created in the 13th century when a dam was built around the river Amstel to prevent the Zuiderzee sea from swarming the city. During the sixties, the square was renowned for its Dam Square hippies, and the laid back and relaxed character of this densely pigeon populated square
lives on. There are food stalls, restaurants and shops galores, including the trendy Bijenkorf, Magna Plaza, Bonneterie and the Amsterdam Diamond centre. Such is the popularity of Dam Square that you might even have to wait for a seat at one of the many cafés and bars. Whatever the weather, there is always something going on here so expect lots of entertainment. Where ever you go in Amsterdam you will pass through the square.
OUDE KERK The 800 year old Oude Kerk is Amsterdam’s oldest building and oldest parish church, founded ca. 1213 and finally consecrated in 1306 by the bishop of Utrecht. A big and monumental church – De Oude Kerk (The Old Church) dominates over the Red Light District. Although originally built as a Catholic place of worship, today the Oude Kerk is one of the unique buildings expressing the national character of Dutch Protestantism. Through its exceptional architecture, high windows full of light, beautifully sculpted misericords in the choir, impressive old granite gravestones on its floor, as well
as through its unique history omnipresent in the building, the Oude Kerk symbolizes the tradition and the present-day of Amsterdam. Standing in the church’s main entry, you will be amazed to see the coffee shop just left to it, windows with sex workers in front and the Princess Juliana Nursery School left right the church. Contrast could not be bigger and the Oude Kerk, the oldest and for centuries the most important church in Amsterdam.
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- Top Attractions HEINEKEN BREWERY The Heineken Experience, located in Amsterdam, is a historic brewery and corporate visitor center for the internationally distributed Dutch pilsner, Heineken beer. In 1988 Heineken closed an old Amsterdam brewery, which spread its smell over the popular De Pijp district, and opened a tour for the fans of its beer. There is something secretive about the taste of the world’s best beers and certainly Heineken pilsner belongs to this group. The brewery was established in Amsterdam in 1864 and today Heineken is a huge multinational company, one of the three largest
beer producers in the world. Throughout its history, Heineken remained a large family company, with Charlene de CarvalhoHeineken as its stockholder and her husband Michel on the company’s board. Heineken rich and successful history has been presented in their old defunct brewery in Amsterdam, with several amusement park attractions added to the exhibit and renamed as Heineken Experience.
RED LIGHT DISTRICT De Wallen is the largest and best known red-light district in Amsterdam consists of alleyways containing approximately three hundred one-room cabins. From brothels to sex shops to museums, the Red Light District leaves nothing to the imagination. It is very likely that you will have heard about this neighbourhood and to be frank, everything you will have heard is probably true , but to really put rumours to rest, you have got to check it out for yourself. The Rossebuurt, as the locals know it, is unlike any other place. Guaranteed. Certainly, the Red Light District that everyone
knows about is the one where women, of all nationalities, parade their wares in red-fringed window parlours, many ready to offer more than a school boy peep-show in a private cabin. Another familiar image of the Red Light District is of packs of men, young and old , couples holding hands and pointing in shock of it all, giggling groups of women celebrating a hen night , and busloads of Japanese tourists toting cameras.
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- Prague -
‘Historical pearl of Europe’ Prague has always played an important role in the history of the country and Europe. Since the Middle Ages Prague has been famous as one of the most beautiful cities of the world and has been attributed adjectives such as “golden“, “hundred-spired“, “the crown of the world”. Nowadays, Prague is an important European city that attracts visitors not only by the abundance of architectural gems the generations of our ancestors left us. It is a place where cultural, social and political events of international importance are held as well as a popular destination for trade fairs and congresses.
Basic Information
£42 per night
£5 - £10
Hello - Ahoj
£70
£1.40
Thank you - Děkuji
Metro, Bus, Tram, Funicular, Ferry
Czech
How do I get to... - Jak se dostanu do...
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- Top Attractions PRAGUE CASTLE Prague Castle, founded in 870 AD, is the largest medieval castle in Europe. It was the seat of the Kings of Bohemia for centuries. The Prague Castle was most likely founded in around 880 by Prince Bořivoj of the Premyslid Dynasty (Přemyslovci). According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the Prague Castle is the largest coherent castle complex in the world, with an area of almost 70,000 m². A UNESCO World Heritage site, it consists of a large-scale composition of palaces and ecclesiastical buildings of various architectural
styles, from Roman-style buildings from the 10th century through Gothic modifications in the 14th century. The famous Slovenian architect Josip Plečnik was responsible for extensive renovations in the time of the First Republic (1918-1938). Since the Velvet Revolution, the Prague Castle has undergone significant and ongoing repairs and reconstructions. A definate must see on your visit to Prague.
CHARLES BRIDGE The Charles Bridge is a famous historic bridge that crosses the Vltava river. Its construction started in 1357 and finished at the beginning of the 15th century. Charles Bridge is a 14th century stone bridge linking the two sides of Prague. This magnificent structure is one of the city’s finest attractions, and is the main pedestrian route connecting the Old Town with the Lesser Town (Malá Strana) and Prague Castle. From Charles Bridge visitors enjoy fairy-tale views of the Prague skyline. The wide expanse of the river flows
beneath it, flanked on both sides by elegant buildings. Prague Castle towers above in its eminent position. Here you are truly in the centre of the city. Charles Bridge throngs with people during the day. Street artists sketch and musicians play; look out for the jazz band, who are particularly entertaining. But for a truly romantic and less crowded stroll, try early morning or any time in the evening.
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- Top Attractions OLD TOWN HALL The history of the Old Town Hall began in 1338, when King John of Luxembourg granted Prague’s Old Town the right to establish its own administrative centre. The Astronomical Clock, built in to one side of the Old Town Hall Tower, dates from the 15th century. To fully appreciate the clock’s intricate construction, join the crowd in front of the tower to watch the procession of the Twelve Apostles: on the hour, every hour, a small trap door opens and Christ marches out ahead of his disciples, while the skeleton of death tolls the bell to a defiant statue of a Turk.
Below the Astronomical Clock are 12 medallions with the signs of the zodiac, added by Josef Manes in 1865. The Old Town Hall Tower, built in 1338, is one of the most striking buildings in Prague. Inside is a staircase and an elevator. For a fee, visitors can climb or ride to the top to experience terrific views over the Old Town Square and the rest of the Old Town. The town hall is a definate must see when in Prague.
PETRIN LOOKOUT TOWER The Petřín Lookout Tower is a 63.5 metre high steel framework tower in Prague, which strongly resembles the Eiffel Tower. Built as a mini version of Paris’s Eiffel Tower, the Petrin Observation Tower was built in 1891 for the Jubilee Exhibition. The tower is 60m tall, which doesn’t seem particularly high until you add in the fact that it sits at the summit of Petrin Hill, which is 318m (1043 feet) high. Climb the 299 steps to reach the top of the tower and the view over Prague is magnificent. On a clear day it is possible to see the highest peak in the Czech
Republic, Snezka, which is 150km away. The Petrin Observation Tower is set in landscaped gardens, which make for a pleasant stroll all year round. In the grounds there is also a hall of mirrors, an observatory with a telescope open to the public, a church and a rose garden. Much of the stone used to build the major sights in Prague was quarried out of Petrin. But this is well hidden beneath the grass.
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- Top Attractions ST NICOLAS CHURCH The Church of Saint Nicholas also called the Saint Nicholas Cathedral is the Baroque church in Lesser Town Prague, built between 1704 - 1755. The beautiful St. Nicholas Church at the Old Town Square was completed in 1735, and replaced a parish church mentioned in records dating back to 1273. St. Nicholas is a Baroque church, the interior of which was inspired by the chapel of St. Louis-desinvalides in Paris. The delicate stucco decoration was executed by Bernardo Spinetti, and the frescos by Peter Adam the Elder. The sculptures are by AntonĂn Braun. In 1781 the decoration inside
St. Nicholas was removed after emperor Josef II ordered the closure of all monasteries without a social function. After some time, in 1870, St. Nicholas became Russian Orthodox. During the second World War Czech army units were stationed at St. Nicholas, and working alongside artists of the day, the troops were set to work restoring the church. Much of what we see today is thanks to their meticulous work.
JOSEFOV Josefov is a town quarter and the smallest cadastral area of Prague, formerly the Jewish ghetto of the town. It is completely surrounded by the Old Town. Josefov is located between the Old Town Square and the Vltava River. Its torrid history dates back to the 13th century, when the Jewish community in Prague were ordered to vacate their disparate homes and settle in one area. Over the centuries more and more people were crowded into the area, as Jews were banned from living anywhere else. Restrictions on their movements and the trades they were allowed to conduct
underwent constant change. The Jewish Quarter, or the Jewish Ghetto as it was later known, also endured a lot of structural changes, the latest of which was a vast redevelopment of the area between 18931913. Its present appearance dates mainly from this period, although most of the significant buildings from previous eras were saved, a living testimony to the history of Prague Jews, spanning many centuries.
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R i ga
- Riga -
‘Singing Pearl of the Baltics’ Riga is the gem of the Baltics. It is situated at the mouth of the Daugava, on the shores of the Gulf of Riga on the Baltic. Riga has an ancient history and rich cultural heritage. As Riga has always been located at a juncture of trading routes, it is a multicultural city which means there are things to see here: a weekend in Riga is a great way to gather new impressions and to relax. Travellers can admire the diverse architecture of Riga, especially the art nouveau buildings. It is also valued as a city with a unique collection of wooden developments in its central section.
Basic Information
£52 per night
£5 - £10
Hello - Sveiki
£60
£1.20
Thank you - Paldies
Bus, Trolley Bus, Tram, Train
Latvian
How do I get to... - Kā es varu nokļūt...
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- Top Attractions TOWN HALL SQUARE At one time this was the heart of the city, today it is the home to the city council, the main tourist office, the occupation museum and the house of Black heads. The Town Hall Square was formed of a market square and up to 19th century it was the economic and an administrative centre of Riga. A lot of different processions, competitions, tournaments and dances were organized on this square. The square was also a place for a fulfilment of execution. People of Riga were convoked to see it by a bell of the St. Ekaba’s cathedral. One of the major structures of the Town
Hall square was the Town hall - a three-storied building with a tower and a clock on it. Main city problems were solved in the Town hall. It was a symbol of independence and it promoted construction activity in Riga. In this building till 1889 there was a Riga Town hall, later it was replaced by the selected municipal council. The second considerable building on the Town Hall square was the Blackheads House.
FREEDOM MONUMENT The Freedom Monument was built to honour soldiers killed during the Latvian War of Independence, but these days it is considered an important symbol of Latvia. The Freedom Monument has been Riga’s central landmark for almost a century. This 42.7 m tall granite and copper work of art is a symbol of the Latvian nation’s striving for freedom and independence. The woman on top of the monument is holding up three golden stars, which represent Latvia’s historical regions of Kurzeme, Vidzeme, and Latgale. The motto “For the Fatherland and Freedom” is inscribed upon the base. It
was unveiled on 18 November 1935 and financed entirely from public donations. The Freedom Monument was erected according to the design by the outstanding Latvian sculptor Kārlis Zāle (1888–1942); he was also artist for the Memorial Ensemble at the Brethren Cemetery. Zāle’s idea was implemented by architect Ernests Štālbergs (1883–1958); the construction lasted for four years.
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- Top Attractions CENTRAL MARKET Riga Central Market is Europe’s largest market and bazaar in Riga, Latvia. It is one of the most notable structures from 20th century in Latvia. Riga Central Market offers hemp seed butter, pork snouts, belash, the Latvian drink kvass, and other interesting food. This is a place where you can haggle with the vendors, enjoy a unique shopping experience, and the architecture. You can see from afar how architecturally complementary are Railway Bridge and the vaults of the Central Market hangars or ‘pavilions’. Meanwhile, the market area and the pavilions
feature the liveliness of buying/ selling. Riga Central Market was opened in autumn 1930, and at that time it was the biggest and most modern marketplace in the world. Today the area is remarkable for its special atmosphere and trading process. The market pavilions are the right place to find fresh and ecological food from local producers. Please pay attention to the architecture as they were converted from Zeppelin hangars.
POWDER TOWER The Powder Tower was originally a part of the defensive system of the town. It was restructured between 1937 and 1940 to include the Latvian War Museum. Dating back to the beginning of the 14th century, only the rock foundations remained after it was destroyed by invading Swedish troops in 1621. The so-called Powder Tower originally served as one of the Riga defensive system buildings. There is no information on the exact date of the construction, but the first tower on this place was built in the 13th century. The name of a tower - Powder, has
appeared later. In documents for the first time this place has been mentioned in 14th century by the name of Sand tower. The modern tower has been constructed on a boundary of 15th and 16th centuries. During the centuries it has been collapsed and later restored. The entrance of the tower was at the height of 5 meters, and it was possible to get to a tower only having walked upstairs.
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- Top Attractions THREE BROTHERS The Three Brothers are the oldest complex of houses in Riga. The houses each represent various periods of house construction in the Middle Ages. The oldest complex of dwelling houses in Riga was constructed in the 15th century. Their name Three Brothers, was given a very long time ago and, according to a legend, the buildings were constructed by men from one family. Today, the premises house the Latvian Museum of Architecture and the State Inspection for Heritage Protection. In Medieval times, Mazā Pils iela was located in Riga suburban area inhabited
by craftsmen; the oldest of the Three Brothers’ building (No. 17) was also used for production and trade. It was built around 1490 without any embellishments; the stone posts at the door were the only decoration to the house. It had one huge room which served for work, trading, and daily needs; up to today, the building has preserved its historic appearance. The three Brothers are a must see attraction on your itenary when visiting Riga.
BASTION HILL Bastejkalns or Bastion Hill in English is a nice and quiet park in the very center of Riga. It was formed in the 19th century after tearing down city bulwarks. This hill was created from 1857 to 1859 to replace the old defensive sand bulwark. After the Crimea war the Riga Guildhall decided to demolish the defensive dykes around the city, because they haven’t already had their military importance. The city fortifications were demolished in 1857. The soil of the defensive dykes was used to make 15 m high artificial hill, which was called Bastion hill. In the year
1860 the pavilion was built on the top of the hill. In the year 1880 the Bastion hill was rebuilt according to the project of Georg Couphaldt, the footpaths going to the top were built. In 1884 the territory near the hill was landscaped, the trees were planted, but Riga bird society has gifted two swans to Garden administration. The little swimming house was built according to the project of Henrich Shell for their needs.
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- Tallinn -
‘Medieval city of the North’ Tallinn is one of the best preserved medieval towns in northern Europe, and makes a beautiful impression from the sea, with its ancient city walls, church spires, and red-tile roofed homes. At the Old Town, you pass beneath the arches of Tallinn’s ancient stone walls and enter a world of cobblestones, narrow alleys, and medieval buildings. It’s a fun place to explore on foot. The capitol city of Tallinn is now visited frequently by tourists sailing aboard hydrofoils and other vessels from Helsinki and Stockholm.
Basic Information
£40 per night
£5 - £10
Hello - Tere
£74
£1.60
Thank you - Aitäh
Bus, Trolley Bus, Tram, Train, Ferry
Estonian
How do I get to... - Kuidas ma saan...
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- Top Attractions KIEK IN DE KOK Kiek in de Kök is an artillery tower in Tallinn, Estonia, built in 1475. It gained its name from the ability of tower occupants to see into kitchens of nearby houses. Those interested in walls, towers, cannons and the like should drop into this museum of the town’s defences. Visitors of this museum will see examples of Medieval fire power, displays detailing how the city’s system of fortification walls and towers developed through the centuries and an exhibit on crime and punishment in old Tallinn. The name of this massive, 38m-high cannon tower literally
means “Peek into the Kitchen.” It was so high that Medieval guards joked they could see right down the chimneys and into the kitchens of the houses below. Kiek in de Kök is also the starting place for visitors interested in the fascinating system of hidden tunnels (Bastion tunnels) that run underneath the old bastions of Toompea hill. Make sure to pay a visit to the top floor café for beautiful Old Town views.
ESTONIAN HISTORY MUSEUM The Estonian History Museum was initially established by chemist Dr. Johann Burchard who ran the town hall pharmacy known as the Raeapteek. The mediaeval Great Guild Hall has always played an important role in the life of the city. The museum is housed in the Great Guild Hall, this newly renovated museum’s permanent exhibition, entitled Spirit of Survival, covers 11,000 years of Estonia’s history with interactive displays and text in Estonian and English (audioguides available in Russian and English). The building itself, built 1407 - 1410, is significant
as the home of Tallinn’s union of wealthy merchants and is a sight worth visiting in its own right. As part of the renovations, several formal rooms and cellars have now been opened to the public for the first time. Next to the museum, follow the Börsi Passage where Estonia’s history is set in the stone path (when it’s not covered in snow), from the pre-history, through the present-day.
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- Top Attractions OLEVISTE CHURCH Oleviste church is believed to have been built in the 12th century and to have been the centre for old Tallinn’s Scandinavian community. St Olaf’s Church in Tallinn, the city’s biggest medieval structure, took its name from the sainted Norwegian king Olav II Haraldsson.Twisting cobblestone lanes and iron street lamps. Gothic spires and medieval markets. Cappuccino and Wi-Fi. This is the city’s famous Old Town. If you’re looking for that mix of historic ambience and cutting-edge culture that defines Tallinn, you’ll find it here. Built up from the 13th to 16th
centuries, when Tallinn or Reval as it was known then was a thriving member of the Hanseatic trade league, this enclosed neighbourhood of colourful, gabled houses, halfhidden courtyards and grandiose churches is, quite rightly, the city’s biggest tourist draw. And the fact that it’s all neatly packaged within a mostly-intact city wall and dotted with guard towers gives it an extra dose of fairytale charm.
LEMBIT SUBMARINE Submarine Lembit was, until 2011, the world’s oldest still-in-water-submarine. Lembit was hauled out of water from its home port in Tallinn, on May 20th. British built submarine Lembit weighing 600 tones is the centrepiece of the new museum. Built in 1936 for the Estonian navy, Lembit served in the World War II under the Soviet flag. It remained in service for 75 years being the oldest submarine in the World still in use until it was hauled ashore in 2011. Despite its long history, Lembit is still in an excellent condition offering a glimpse of the 1930s art of technology.
Another exciting attraction is a full-scale replica of Short Type 184, a British pre-World War II seaplane, which was also used by the Estonian armed forces. Short Type 184 has earned its place in military history by being the first aircraft ever to attack an enemy’s ship with an air-launched torpedo. Since none of the original seaplanes have survived, the replica in Seaplane Harbour is the only full-size representation of the aircraft.
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- Top Attractions BASTION TUNNELS The Bastion tunnels 10m below the ground will take the visitor back to the future, showing how people imagined the future would turn out in the past. Like any respectable Medieval town, Tallinn has its share of underground passageways, particularly the defensive tunnel systems built in the 1600s during the time of Swedish rule. Back then attack was a constant worry, so city planners constructed high bastion walls around the outside of the fortified city. They also installed tunnels under the base of the walls so they could safely move soldiers and ammunition to
where they were needed, not to mention spy on the enemy. Some tunnels were forgotten. As late as 2003, workers digging a foundation near the Occupation Museum found a pentagonal system of limestone-lined tunnels dating to the end of the 17th century. Other tunnels have always been well known, in particular the ones that run underneath Harju Hill and Linda Hill at the edge of Toompea, which are now open for tours.
NIGULISTE MUSEUM The exposition of ecclesiastical art from the Medieval and Early Modern periods presented here is the most significant and extensive collection of church art. St. Nicholas’ Church is a medieval former church in Tallinn, Estonia. It was dedicated to Saint Nicholas, the patron of the fishermen and sailors. Originally built in the 13th century, it was partially destroyed in Soviet Bombing of Tallinn in World War II. It has since been restored and today houses a branch of the Art Museum of Estonia, focusing mainly on ecclesiastical art from the Middle Ages onward. The former church is also used as
a concert hall. The church was founded and built around 1230– 1275 by Westphalian merchants, who came from Gotland in the 13th century. While the city was still unfortified, the church had heavy bars for closing the entrances, loopholes and hiding places for refugees. When the fortifications around Tallinn were finished in the 14th century, the St. Nicholas’ Church lost its defensive function and became a typical medieval parish church.
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i sta n b u l
- Istanbul -
‘The City on Seven Hills’ A world center of great value in the past as well as in the present, Istanbul embraces Asia on the one hand and Europe on the other. Istanbul, with its historical peninsula, numerous scenic and historical beauties is a magnificently unique city that has been capital to many civilizations capital to many civilizations from past to present and still continues to be home to residents from all over the world. This rooted city, with a history dating back to 300 thousand years before, constitutes a mosaic of many civilizations and cultures combined.
Basic Information
£38 per night
£5 - £15
Hello - Merhaba
£69
£2.20
Thank you - Teşekkür ederim
Tram, Train, Metro, Bus, Boat
Turkish
How do I get to... - Nasıl alabilirim...
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- Top Attractions BASILICA CISTERN The city’s most unexpectedly romantic attraction, the Basilica Cistern, offers an insight into the complicated system that once brought drinking water into Istanbul. When those Byzantine emperors built something, they certainly did it properly! The cistern is 65m wide and 143m long, and its roof is supported by 336 columns arranged in 12 rows. It once held 80,000 cubic metres of water, pumped and delivered through nearly 20km of aqueducts. Constructed using columns, capitals and plinths from ruined buildings, the cistern’s symmetry and sheer grandeur of conception are quite extraordinary. Don’t
miss the two columns in the northwestern corner supported by upside-down Medusa heads, or the column towards the centre featuring a teardrop design. Walking on the raised wooden platforms, you’ll feel water dripping from the vaulted ceiling and may catch a glimpse of ghostly carp patrolling the water. Lighting is atmospheric and the small cafe near the exit is certainly an unusual spot to enjoy a cup of çay.
HAGIA SOPHIA The Hagia Sophia, whose name means “holy wisdom,” is a domed monument originally built as a cathedral in Constantinople in the sixth century A.D. Hagia Sophia is a great architectural beauty and an important monument both for Byzantine and for Ottoman Empires. Once a church, later a mosque, and now a museum at the Turkish Republic, Hagia Sophia has always been the precious of its time. The mystical city Istanbul hosted many civilizations since centuries, of which Byzantium and Ottoman Empires were both the most famous ones. The city today carries the characteristics of
these two different cultures and surely Hagia Sophia is a perfect synthesis where one can observe both Ottoman and Byzantium effects under one great dome. After 160 years of darkness, Seraphim’s face is in daylight. There are 4 seraphim mosaics ( God’s protector angels with 6 wings) on the 4 pendentives that carry the dome. The 4 seraphims’ faces were covered with 6-7 layers of plaster for almost 160 years during the sovereignty of Ottomans.
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- Top Attractions TOPKAPI PALACE If there is one absolute must-see in Istanbul, it has to be the Topkapi Palace, home to generations of sultans and their wives, who were closeted in the famous harem. Topkapi is the largest and oldest palace in the world to survive to our day. In 1924 it was turned into a museum at Atatiirk’s request. Situated on the acropolis, the site of the first settlement in Istanbul, it commands an impressive view of the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara. The palace is a complex surrounded by 5 km of walls and occupies an area of 700,000 sq. m at the tip of the historical peninsula. Following the conquest of the city in 1453, the
young Sultan Mehmet moved the capital of the empire to Istanbul, His first palace was located in the middle of the town. The second palace, which he built in the 1470’s, was initially called the New Palace, but in recent times it came to be known as the Topkapi Palace. Topkapı is a classical example of Turkish palace architecture. It consists of tree- shaded courtyards, each serving a different purpose and opening onto one another with monumental gates.
BLUE MOSQUE The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is a historic mosque in Istanbul. It is popularly known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior. With his eponymously named mosque, Sultan Ahmet I (1603–17) set out to build a monument that would rival and even surpass the nearby Aya Sofya in grandeur and beauty. Today it’s more widely known as the Blue Mosque. The mosque’s architect, Mehmet Ağa, managed to orchestrate the sort of visual wham-bam effect with the mosque’s exterior that Aya Sofya achieved with its interior. Its curves are
voluptuous, it has six minarets and the courtyard is the biggest of all of the Ottoman mosques. The interior has a similarly grand scale: the blue tiles that give the building its unofficial name number in the tens of thousands, there are 260 windows and the central prayer space is huge. To best appreciate the mosque’s design, enter the complex via the Hippodrome rather than from Sultanahmet Park. This is a must see when visiting Istanbul.
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- Top Attractions SULEYMANIYE MOSQUE The Süleymaniye Mosque is an Ottoman imperial mosque located on the Third Hill of Istanbul. It is the largest mosque and one of the best sights in the city. The Süleymaniye crowns one of the seven hills dominating the Golden Horn and provides a magnificent landmark for the entire city. It was commissioned by the greatest, richest and most powerful of the Ottoman sultans, Süleyman the Magnificent (r 1520–66), and was the fourth imperial mosque built in İstanbul. Although it’s not the largest of the Ottoman mosques, the recently restored Süleymaniye
is certainly the grandest. It was designed by Mimar Sinan, the most famous and talented of all imperial architects. Although Sinan described the smaller Selimiye Camii in Edirne as his best work, he chose to be buried here in the Süleymaniye complex, probably knowing that this would be the building by which he would be best remembered. His tomb is just outside the mosque’s walled garden in the northern corner.
CHORA CHURCH The Church of the Holy Saviour is considered to be one of the most beautiful surviving examples of a Byzantine church, situated in the Edirnekapı neighborhood. İstanbul has more than its fair share of Byzantine monuments, but few are as drop-dead gorgeous as the Chora Church. The fact that it’s tucked away in the little-visited Western Districts of the city means that many visitors overlook it, but we counsel you not to do the same. The church was originally known as the Church of the Holy Saviour Outside the Walls, but what you see today is not the first church-outside-the-walls on this site. This one was built in the
late 11th century, and underwent repairs, restructuring and conversion to a mosque in the succeeding centuries. Virtually all of the interior decoration dates from 1312 and was funded by Theodore Metochites, a poet and man of letters who was auditor of the treasury under Emperor Andronikos II (r 1282–1328). One of the museum’s most wonderful mosaics, found above the door to the nave in the inner narthex, depicts Theodore offering the church to Christ.
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v i en n a
- Vienna -
‘The Imperial City’ A whirl of gilded Hapsburg palaces and regal parks on the banks of the blue Danube, Vienna is a fine romance of a city. Tradition and innovation walk hand in hand: Strauss waltzes are still hip to 20-something ball-goers and even the imperial stables have been born again as the surprising and vibrant Museum Quarter. The Viennese love Gemütlichkeit (relaxation), so this city is to be savored not rushed, whether you’re indulging in a dark chocolate Sachertorte in a chandelier-lit coffee house or rising gently above the twinkling Prater in the Riesenrad Ferris wheel.
Basic Information
£59 per night
£10 - £20
Hello - Hallo
£70
£2.50
Thank you - Danke
Metro, Bus, Tram
German
How do I get to... - Wie komme ich zu bekommen...
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- Top Attractions HOFBURG PALACE Hofburg Palace has housed some of the most powerful people in the history, including the Habsburg dynasty, rulers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Today the Hofburg is a tourist magnet, and visitors flock to see the royal apartments, chapel, church, library, the Winterreitschule and the many museums that are housed in the complex, which consists of eighteen wings with more than 2000 rooms designed in a wide range of architectural styles, from Gothic to Baroque and Neoclassicist. The mostly Baroque exterior is nonetheless
surprisingly harmonious. Due to its vast size it is impossible to visit all the attractions in the Hofburg in just one day. Some of the highlights include the Kaiserappartements (royal apartments), the Schatzkammer (Treasury), the Prunksaal in the National Library, the Winterreitschule (Winter riding school), the Albertina Museum and the Neue Burg museums.
ST. STEPHENS CATHEDRAL St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Austria’s most eminent Gothic edifice, houses a wealth of art treasures, some of which can only be seen during a guided tour. St. Stephen’s Cathedral (Stephansdom) is located at Stephansplatz and is the most important Catholic Church in Vienna. It has a multi-colored tile roof with a diamond pattern and two tall towers which are the most recognizable symbols of the city. It is the Number 1 tourist attraction of Vienna. The church started as a Romanesque church that was consecrated in 1147 and was initiated by Rudolf IV. There
was a major fire in 1258 that destroyed the church, so a Gothic church was started in the early 14th century as a replacement. There was a Turkish siege of the city in 1683 that caused much damage to the church. At the end of the Second World War, the roof was heavily damaged. The church was reopened in 1948 and the roof was completely repaired in 1950 with ceramic tiles donated by the people of Vienna.
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- Top Attractions RATHAUS Friedrich von Schmidt, designed and built Vienna’s City Hall, the most important secular building in the neoGothic style in the city, between 1872 and 1883. The tower measures 321 feet, not including the “Iron Knight of City Hall” who measures almost 20 feet to the top of his pennant. This knight on top of the tower has become one of the symbols of Vienna. The Vienna City Hall is the seat of the mayor and governor of Vienna, of the City Council and of the Assembly.It also houses the Municipal and State Libraries and Archives which hold many key documents of Vienna’s history and a large
collection of local memorabilia. On both sides of the approach from the Ring, statues honor personalities who left their mark on the history of the city. The Park of City Hall (Rathauspark) is a very attractively laid-out garden with two fountains and several interesting monuments, among them the memorial to the painter F. G. Waldmüller and the statues of two great composers of waltzes, Johann Strauss Father and Joseph Lanner.
THE BELVEDERE The Belvedere is a historic building consisting of two Baroque palaces, the Orangery, and the Palace Stables. The buildings are set in a Baroque park landscape. The two Baroque palaces were built in the 18th century as a summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy. They are known as the Upper Belvedere - full of huge rooms for entertaining - and the Lower Belvedere - the former living quarters - and are set in huge and magnificent gardens. They are considered to be the best Baroque palace in the world. The Upper Belvedere is now a gallery showing Austrian art from the
Middle Ages to the present day, including the world’s best collection of Gustav Klimt. Klimt’s famous golden The Kiss is here. In The Orangery next to the Lower Belvedere houses changing exhibitions, and in the Lower Belvedere you can see the prince’s living quarters and staterooms, plus the stables. With such vast grounds, you should leave plenty of time to walk around and see the beauty of the whole palace.
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- Top Attractions THE LEOPOLD MUSEUM The Leopold Museum, housed in the Museumsquartier in Vienna, is home to one of the largest collections of modern Austrian art. Hundreds of masterworks of Austrian modern art collected by the passionate art lover Dr. Rudolf Leopold are shown in the Leopold Museum at MuseumsQuartier near the Imperial Palace. The Leopold Museum is a unique treasure-trove of Viennese art nouveau, the Vienna Workshop and of the Expressionist period. As the most-visited museum in the most fashionable
cultural place in the city, the MuseumsQuartier, it houses the most important and largest Egon Schiele collection in the world as well as masterpieces by the founder of the Vienna Secession movement, Gustav Klimt. In addition, the Leopold Museum is also showing exhibits of the Vienna Workshop from Josef Hofmann to Koloman Moser, which are considered to be unique artworks of international design history.
MUMOK The Museum of Modern Art Ludwig Foundation is the largest museum for modern and contemporary art in Central Europe with an extensive collection of art. The dark basalt edifice and sharp corners of the Museum moderner Kunst (Museum of Modern Art) are a complete contrast to the MuseumsQuartier’s historical sleeve. Inside, MUMOK is crawling with Vienna’s finest collection of 20th-century art, centred on fluxus, nouveau realism, pop art and photo-realism. The best of expressionism, cubism, minimal art and Viennese Actionism is represented in a collection of
9000 works that are rotated and exhibited by theme – but take note that sometimes all this Actionism is packed away to make room for temporary exhibitions. On any visit you might glimpse: wearily slumped attendant, photos of horribly deformed babies, a video piece of a man being led by a beautiful woman across a pedestrian crossing on a dog leash, naked bodies smeared with salad and other delights. There is always lots to see on a visit to MUMOK.
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k r a ko w
- Krakow -
‘The Imperial City’ Probably the most beautiful and fascinating city in Poland. The attraction is not just the splendid architecture and the treasures of art, reminders of the times when Krakow was a royal capital city, but also the unique ambience of the former Jewish district and the masterpieces of Polish Art Nouveau. However old and beautiful it is, Krakow is not limited to its monuments and museums. Thanks to an amazing density and variety of bars, pubs and restaurants, Krakow sparkles with life. Anyway, there is no point in merely talking about its attractions, everyone should see Krakow with their own eyes.
Basic Information
£50 per night
£5 - £15
Hello - Cześć
£73
£1.60
Thank you - Dziękuję
Bus, Train, Tram
Turkish
How do I get to... - jak mogę dostać się do...
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- Top Attractions WAWELL HILL Wawel is a fortified architectural complex erected over many centuries atop a limestone outcrop on the left bank of the Vistula river in Kraków. Wawel Hill in Krakow, the mecca of every Pole and a must for foreign tourists, is a microcosm of Polish history and culture. From the 11th century Poland’s monarchs took residence in the Royal Castle. The Castle is home to three dynasties of Poland’s monarchs. Its stately halls and exquisite chambers are filled with priceless art, best period furniture and rare ancient objects. The collection of the 16th-century monumental
Flemish tapestries is matchless. Wawel Cathedral is Poland’s impressive national shrine shelters plenty of superb church art. Among its 18 chapels are true architectural masterpieces. The giant bell Zygmunt of 1520 ranks with the world’s largest. Most Polish kings and their family members are buried in the cathedral, its chapels and crypts, together with the greatest national heroes, two poets, four saints and numerous bishops.
CZARTORYSKI MUSEUM The Czartoryskis Museum which dates back to 1801, is the oldest museum in Poland. The museum can boast the country’s most valuable collections of art. The Princes Czartoryski Museum the oldest Polish art and history museum of enormous value and great tradition was created in Pulawy as a treasure house for regal jewels, war and crown trophies, as well as objets d’art: paintings, decorative works, arms and armour, and celebrity memorabilia. To accommodate this collection, Princess Izabela Czartoryska nee Fleming (1746–1835) ordered to construct two buildings in the park of her
Pulawy estate: the Temple of Sybil (1801) with the past for the future carved on the façade, where she kept objects relating to Polish history, and the Gothic House (1809) for artworks and objects that had belonged to eminent foreigners.Facing confiscation in the aftermath of the fall of the November Uprising (1831), the collection was taken away to Paris. In 1876 Prince Władysław Czartoryski (1828–1892) brought the collection to Krakow.
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- Top Attractions WIELICZKA SALT MINE The “Wieliczka” Salt Mine is one of the most valuable monuments of material and spiritual culture in Poland.It is located in the polish town of Wieliczka. The “Wieliczka” Salt Mine is one of the most valuable monuments of material and spiritual culture in Poland. Each year it is visited by more than one million tourists from all over the world. The mine, built in the 13th century, produced table salt continuously until 2007, as one of the world’s oldest salt mines still in operation. From its beginning and throughout its existence, the Royal mine was run by the Żupy krakowskie Salt
Mines. Commercial mining was discontinued in 1996 due to low salt prices and mine flooding. The mine’s attractions include dozens of statues, three chapels and an entire cathedral that has been carved out of the rock salt by the miners. The oldest sculptures are augmented by the new carvings contemporary artists. About 1.2 million people visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine annually. You should definatly visit it on your trip to Krakow.
AUSCHWITZ Auschwitz has become a widespread symbol of terror, genocide and the Holocaust in the global consciousness. Although it’s not the only German concentration camp. For centuries the town of Oświęcim was a quiet community, largely bypassed by world events. That changed with WWII when Oświęcim under German occupation, became the chosen site of the largest death camp in the Third Reich. Between 1.1 million and 1.5 million people were exterminated here, etching the name of Auschwitz forever into the history books; countless films, documentaries, books and survivor accounts have since burned it into the
collective consciousness. The Auschwitz Museum and tour present one of the most horrific acts in human history with a level of tact, passion, poignancy and professionalism that is so profound, it almost makes as lasting an impression as the site itself. Without being heavyhanded, the history of the site is presented in all of its contexts and guests are perhaps spared from fully surrendering to their emotions only by the sheer relentlessness of the information.
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- Top Attractions SUKIENNICE The Cloth Hall dates to the Renaissance and is one of the city’s most recognizable icons. It is the central feature of the main market square in Kraków Old Town. It was once a major centre of international trade. Traveling merchants met there to discuss business and to barter. During its golden age in the 15th century, the hall was the source of a variety of exotic imports from the east, spices, silk, leather and wax, while Kraków itself exported textiles, lead, and salt from the Wieliczka Salt Mine. On the upper floor of the hall is the Sukiennice Museum division of the National Museum, Kraków. It holds the
largest permanent exhibit of the 19th-century Polish painting and sculpture, in four grand exhibition halls arranged by historical period and the theme extending into an entire artistic epoch.The museum was upgraded in 2010 with new technical equipment, storerooms, service spaces and an improved thematic layout for the display. The Gallery of 19th-Century Polish Art was a major cultural venue from the moment it opened on October 7, 1879.
ST. MARY’S ALTAR St. Mary’s Altar is the largest Gothic altarpiece in the World and a national treasure of Poland. It is located behind the Communion table of St. Mary’s Basilica. The altarpiece was carved between 1477 and 1489 by the Bavarian sculptor Veit Stoss. It is 13 m high and 11 m wide when the panels of the triptych are completely opened. The realistically sculptured figures are 2.7 m high;each one was carved out of a tree trunk of lime. Other parts of the altarpiece are made from oak wood, and the background is constructed of larch wood. When closed, the panels show 12 scenes of
the life of Jesus and Mary. The scene at the bottom of the main altarpiece shows the death of Jesus’ mother, Mary, in the presence of the Twelve Apostles. The upper centre part illustrates the Assumption of the Madonna. At the very top, outside the main frame, the coronation of Mary is shown, flanked by figures of Saint Stanislaus and Saint Adalbert of Prague. The side panels show the six scenes of the Joys of Mary.
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Ro m e
- Rome -
‘The Eternal City’ Rome, the Eternal City, is the capital and largest city of Italy and of the Lazio region. With wonderful palaces, milleniumold churches, grand romantic ruins, opulent monuments, ornate statues and graceful fountains, Rome has an immensely rich historical heritage and cosmopolitan atmosphere. Rome is one of Europe’s and the world’s most visited, famous, influential and beautiful capitals. Rome has a growing nightlife scene and is becoming a shopping heaven, leading it to be one of the fashion capitals of the world. With so many sights and things to do, Rome can truly be classified a “global city”.
Basic Information
£65 per night
£10 - £20
Hello - Ciao
£76
£3.00
Thank you - Grazie
Metro, Bus, Tram
Italian
How do I get to... - Come faccio ad arrivare a...
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- Top Attractions PANTHEON Built more than 1800 years ago, the Pantheon still stands as a reminder of the great Roman Empire. The name refers to it’s original function as a temple for all the gods. With its thick brick walls and large marble columns, the Pantheon makes an immediate impression. But the most remarkable part of the building is the more than 43 meter high dome. It was the largest dome in the world until 1436 when the Florence Cathedral was constructed. At the top of the dome is a large opening, the oculus, which was the only source of light. The front portico
has three rows of columns; the first row has eight columns while the other two have four each. A huge bronze door gives access to the cylindrical building. Its diameter equals the interior height of 43.3 meters. Originally a temple for all pagan gods, the temple was converted into a church in 609. The Pantheon now contains the tombs of the famous artist Raphael and of several Italian kings.
COLOSSEUM The Colosseum or Coliseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome. The Colosseum is today the most recognisable of Rome’s Classical buildings. Even 2,000 years after it was built, and despite centuries when the abandoned building was pillaged for building materials, it is instantly recognisable; a Classical template for the stadia of today. It was the first permanent amphitheatre to be raised in Rome, and the most impressive arena the Classical world had yet seen. And with accommodation for 60,000
seated and 10,000 standing, all of whom could enter and leave in a matter of minutes, courtesy of 80 entrances, this is a structure that the designers of modern sports stadia could learn from. The name Colosseum is in fact a much later addition. It was originally known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, and was conceived as a peculiarly Roman political gesture; a gift from a new dynasty of Roman emperors to a populace kept happy by bread and circuses.
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- Top Attractions THE VATICAN Vatican City, is a landlocked sovereign city-state, walled within the city of Rome. It has an area of approximately 44 hectares, and a population of around 840. Vatican city was built over the tomb of Saint Peter. The Vatican’s position as a sovereign state was quaranteed by the Lateran Treaty of 1929, marked by the building of a new road, the Via della Conciliazione. This leads from huge St Peter’s basilica to Castel Sant’ Angelo, a monument to a far grimmer past. Vatican is the smallest state in the world, based in Rome in Italy. Inside the Vatican city we can find 11 Vatican Museums with the restored
Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, and Vatican Gardens, an enchanted place, a system of large and small gardens, fountain, fish pool and enclousure for rabbits. They date back to medieval times when vineyards and orchards extended to the north of the Apostolic Palace. Vatican radio station broadcasts all over the world in 29 languages, it has it’s television station, the dialy newspaper, post office with Vatican stamps, shops, offices and publishing house.
SPANISH STEPS The Spanish Steps are a set of steps in Rome, climbing a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna at the base and Trinità dei Monti church at the top. With its characteristic butterfly plan, the Piazza di Spagna is one of the most famous images in the world, as well as being one of the most majestic urban monuments of Roman Baroque style. In the Renaissance period, the square was the most popular tourist attraction in the city: it attracted artists and writers alike and was full of elegant hotels, inns and residences.At the end of the seventeenth century, it was called Trinità dei Monti,
after the church that dominates the square from above, but it was later given the name we know today after the Spanish Ambassador who lived there. At the foot of the stairs, you will find the famous Barcaccia Fountain, the work of Pietro Bernini and his son, Gian Lorenzo. The latter went on to become the creator of some of the most important masterpieces of Baroque art in the city, including the renowned baldachino of St. Peter’s Basilica.
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- Top Attractions ALTARE DELLA PATRIA The Altare della Patria also known as the Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II is a controversial monument built in honour of Victor Emmanuel. Officially known as the Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II, the enormous white marble monument that dominates Piazza Venezia was built as a tribute to the first king of a united Italy, Victor Emmanuel II. Known also as the Altare della Patria (Altar of the Fatherland), it was begun in 1885 to commemorate Italian unification and honour Victor Emmanuel II, Italy’s first king and the subject of its vast
equestrian statue. The monument also hosts the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and, inside, the Museo Centrale del Risorgiment , a free museum documenting Italian unification, and the Complesso del Vittoriano, a gallery space that regularly hosts major art exhibitions. For Rome’s best 360-degree views, take the Roma dal Cielo lift from the side of the building up to the top of the monument.
TREVI FOUNTAIN Trevi Fountain is a fountain in the Trevi district in Rome, Italy, designed by Italian architect Nicola Salvi and completed by Pietro Bracci. The Fontana di Trevi or Trevi Fountain is the most famous and arguably the most beautiful fountain in all of Rome. This impressive monument dominates the small Trevi square located in the Quirinale district. The Trevi Fountain is situated at the end of the Aqua Virgo, an aqueduct constructed in 19 BC. It brings water all the way from the Salone Springs (approx 20km from Rome) and supplies the fountains in the historic center
of Rome with water. The central figure of the fountain, in front of a large niche, is Neptune, god of the sea. He is riding a chariot in the shape of a shell, pulled by two sea horses. Each sea horse is guided by a Triton. One of the horses is calm and obedient, the other one restive. They symbolize the fluctuating moods of the sea. On the left hand side of Neptune is a statue representing Abundance, the statue on the right represents Salubrity.
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