Located just on the edge of the Cotswolds, Corsham is a town that a lot of people actually skip. We opted to visit since it seemed there was a bit to do there, plus it was easy to get to via bus. We were not disappointed! Corsham is such a lovely little place and we had a nice short visit.

A Brief History of Corsham

The town dates back to the middle ages when it thrived on wool. Corsham then became a mining town, where what’s known as “Bath Stone,” or the limestone seen throughout the nearby city of Bath, … Continue reading

Though small, Lacock was at the top of my England list because of its immense charm. Many films and TV shows were shot here, including Harry Potter, Pride and Prejudice (1995), The Other Boleyn Girl, Galavant, etc. – to name some of my favorites. Starting from Bath, we got to visit this charming little place and were not disappointed.

A Brief History of Lacock & Lacock Abbey

Lacock (pronounced lay-cock) is a small place that dates back to the middle ages, but it doesn’t have the most eventful of histories. It’s always been a small town. A … Continue reading

The cute city of Troyes (pronounced in French like “trois”) has been on my bucket list for a while. Since it looked small enough to explore in a few hours, I decided on taking a day trip there from Paris and it was a lovely small city. We had a lovely day and Troyes was, indeed, a good choice of location to spend a leisurely few hours.

A Brief History of Troyes

The history of Troyes goes back millennia and it was first a Roman city. Of course a glance at it today would easily tell you that it was … Continue reading

I went to Colmar many years ago and loved it, and for my second visit, added Eguisheim to my visit. It’s just a hop and a skip away from Colmar and it’s one of the many villages in Alsace that still preserves its magical atmosphere. It’s one of the villages said to inspire the setting for “Beauty and the Beast.”

It’s an absolutely charming village that I fell head over heels for.

A Short History of Eguisheim

A small place like Eguisheim has a small – but interesting – history. It is said that there was a Neanderthal skull found … Continue reading

When we went to England, a stop at Winchester was essential to see Jane Austen’s grave. Seeing that there was much more to this small city, we stayed a bit longer so we could see a bit more. I didn’t really have an expectation before I visited but Winchester was actually a very cute place that we enjoyed very much!

The History of Winchester, England

For a city that’s quite unknown (at least to foreigners), Winchester has quite an impressive history.

The city dates back over two thousands years. The Celtic Belgae tribe lived at this spot for hundreds of … Continue reading

I went to Giverny many years ago, when I was 14, on my first international trip. At 29, now armed with a better and more profound appreciation for art and history, I returned. It was absolutely lovely and an absolute must-visit for Monet fans.

Here’s what you can expect to see if you visit, and what the gardens may look like if you visit in July.

Claude Monet at Giverny

Claude Monet reportedly saw the town of Giverny from a train window and quickly rented a home there in 1883. Monet called his small home “House of the Cider-Press.” In … Continue reading

Jane Austen is a popular author touching the hearts of millions over the past few centuries – mine included. It is a truth universally acknowledged that a woman in possession of a good desire to travel must be in want of a Jane Austen pilgrimage in England.

There is a ton of information and several guides available for places to see relating to Jane Austen, and I don’t want to be just another generic guide. I did a lot of research (though not as much as my sources, which are listed at the end) to find places that Jane would’ve … Continue reading

Chawton is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me.

Just kidding! Chawton is a super cute little town in Hampshire and of course, its greatest appeal is that it was the last home of Jane Austen. So of course during our Jane Austen pilgrimage to England, it was somewhere we had we go. It made a beautiful day trip to the countryside and back to the early 19th century.

Jane Austen at Chawton

For some quick background: Jane’s brother, Edward, got adopted out by the Knight family, who had a huge fortune and no heir. Edward Knight, as he … Continue reading

Since I’m into history, the Gudvangen Viking Village was a place I wanted to visit to learn more about the Vikings. I find that open-air museums like this one are great for experiencing what life was like in a different time, rather than simply reading about it or seeing artefacts. If you want to go to the Gudvangen Viking Village, here’s what to expect and what I thought of it.

Called “Viking Valley,” the Viking village is actually named Njardarheimr, meaning “the home dedicated to the Norse god Njord.” It opened in 2017 on the site of what was … Continue reading

I didn’t want to visit Norway without seeing a stave church, and Borgund Stave Church is accessible from Bergen and also the best preserved. I’m so glad I got to see it because it is so beautiful and a remarkable emblem of Norway’s history.

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What is a “stave church”?

To understand Borgund Stave Church, it helps to know what a stave church actually is. In short, it’s the architectural style of church used in post-Viking Scandinavia.

At the end of the Viking age, in 12th-13th century Scandinavia, Christian churches were built from wood all around the area. I’m really … Continue reading