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Torun, Poland’s Gingerbread Town: Things to Do & Travel Guide

You’ve heard of Warsaw and Krakow, but have you ever heard of the medieval Polish town called Torun? It’s a great stop on your tour of Poland and also makes a great day trip from Gdansk or Poznan. It’s been inhabited for millennia but its prime time was in the medieval era. It became an import trade route and hosted a Teutonic fortress in the 13th century. In the 15th-16th centuries, it was even one of the largest cities in Poland. It is also the home of Nicolas Copernicus, the astronomer who discovered that the sun is the centre of … Continue reading

Posted on Friday, May 24, 2019 in Destinations
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The Charming Canal City of Bruges – Things to Do & Travel Guide

Bruges, Belgium is a fairytale city and one of the most unique and charming I’ve been to. Bruges is definitely a town more people should consider visiting, especially if they like the aesthetic of medieval times combined with the comforts of today.

Bruges, Belgium

The History of Bruges

Bruges was founded by the vikings but a lot of Bruges’s history revolves around its high time in the late medieval period to the early Renaissance (1000s-1400s). Because of its location, it served as a large trading port, primarily in cloth, with a huge international influence. It is said (though sometimes disputed) that Bruges … Continue reading

Posted on Monday, April 8, 2019 in Destinations
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The Beautiful City of Ghent – Things to Do & Travel Guide

Ghent is one of the most beautiful cities in Belgium, which every history lover should know about (and I’m surprised many don’t). There was a time it was one of the biggest cities in Europe. Today, it looks like a city stuck in the 1400s! Photographs alone can compel someone to go to Ghent, but the city actually has a lot to offer.

Ghent, Belgium

Some of Ghent’s History

It may not come as a surprise that the height of Ghent’s power came during medieval times, much like other Belgian cities such as Bruges and Antwerp. It was already well-established when it… Continue reading
Posted on Sunday, March 10, 2019 in Destinations
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The Norman City of Rouen – Things to Do & Travel Guide

Rouen is such a charming city in Normandy with a fantastic history, and it makes an excellent day trip from Paris.
It’s definitely worth seeing if you have time to spend in France. I’ve been twice and have enjoyed both trips to this lovely Norman city.

Rouen

The History of Rouen

Rouen has a very long and impressive history. The city of Rouen dates back to the Roman days and became a Viking city in 841. It was actually so important that it served as the capital of Normandy until about 1060, when William the Conquerer moved the capital to Caen … Continue reading

Posted on Saturday, December 29, 2018 in Destinations
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The Alluring City of Avignon – Things to Do & Travel Guide

Continuously inhabited since it was a Roman city, Avignon is a place that has experienced centuries of exciting history. A stone’s throw away from Marseilles, Avignon also played Seat of the Papacy from 1309 til 1377, the only other time the Seat was in a city other than Rome. If the extended history of this city in Provence isn’t enough to entice you, the charming town it is today most certainly will.

Papal Palace, Avignon

Avignon

Avignon is such a great city because it beautifully incorporates different parts of its history into one. It still retains its medieval structures such as the city walls … Continue reading

Posted on Tuesday, October 16, 2018 in Destinations
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Exploring the Beautiful City of Zurich – Things to Do & Travel Guide

When I got laid off, the first thing I did was book a trip to Switzerland – with no regrets. I stayed in Zurich, and it’s an extremely beautiful city that makes a great base to see other parts of the neutral nation. There’s something about the Swiss mountains and the beautiful but humble architecture that makes Switzerland so unique, and the country’s beautiful city of Zurich is a great way to start to see it all.

Zurich

The History of Zurich

The area around Zurich had been inhabited since ancient days. Zurich as we know it today grew under Frankish … Continue reading

Posted on Saturday, September 29, 2018 in Destinations
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A Day Trip to Fontainebleau and Vaux-le-Vicomte

If you’ve any interest in French history, you may have heard of the castles Fontainebleau and Vaux-le-Vicomte. Both are located not in the Loire Valley but the Île-de-France region and have a lot of history behind them, Fontainebleau in particular. On my return to Paris, the urge to see such monuments brought me on a day trip.

Fontainebleau

Fontainebleau

Fontainebleau

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Fontainebleau has a history that goes back almost one thousand years. A keep (castle tower) was built there in 1137 and a monastery hospital was built there a century later. King Philip IV of France (1268-1314) … Continue reading

Posted on Tuesday, August 21, 2018 in Destinations
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Day Trip to the Swiss Rhine: Schaffhausen & Stein am Rhine

On my way to Stein am Rhine, I got to see Schaffhausen as well. I love Swiss and German style architecture so when I went to Switzerland, I knew I had to spend some time near the German border to see the Rhine river and the towns that lived next to it. For that, I chose to go to Stein am Rhein and ended up seeing two towns instead.

Schaffhausen

Schaffhausen, Swiss Rhine, Switzerland Schaffhausen, Swiss Rhine, Switzerland

I had to go through the town of Schaffhausen to get to my destination, so I decided to make a trip out of it when I got there, and I’m … Continue reading

Posted on Friday, August 10, 2018 in Destinations
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3 Chateaux of the Loire Valley: Chenonceau, Chevery, and Chambord

When my mom came to visit me in France, I thought a great way to spend the day would be to take a day trip to the Loire Valley, known for its Renaissance castles. We booked a tour as my mother prefers planned tours and then we set off to three castles: Chenonceau, Cheverny and Chambord.

Chateau de Chenonceau

Chateau de Chenonceau, Loire Valley Chenonceau, Loire Valley

Chenonceau Castle is one of the most famous in the Loire Valley, and France, because of its location atop a small river. There’s no need to tell you that the architecture is absolutely stunning and definitely worthy of a visit. However … Continue reading

Posted on Saturday, July 21, 2018 in Destinations
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Colmar, One of France’s Most Beautiful Cities – Things to Do & Travel Guide

Colmar is one of the well-known gems of Alsace, the region of France that borders Germany and combines the history and culture of the two. It’s rumoured to have inspired the setting for Beauty and the Beast but whether or not it was Colmar or another Alsacian village, Colmar is definitely a town out of a faerytale.

Petite Venise in Colmar

The History of Colmar

Colmar has been around for over 1,000 years but its history has been relatively quiet. The town of Colmar grew from the era of Charlemagne to 1226, when it was made an Imperial City. What I find most interesting … Continue reading

Posted on Tuesday, July 17, 2018 in Destinations
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