Ken.G

Although beautiful and full of magic, Languedoc is not as popular as its sister Provence. This one is associated with lavender fields, blue shutters and landscapes that delighted painters - not only impressionists. Languedoc, on the other hand, remains somewhat in the shadow, although it has a lot to offer. Together with Roussillon, which until recently was a separate province, it forms a vast region encompassing the Pyrenees on the Spanish border and the Rhône estuary in the east. Languedoc-Roussillon is an area extremely diverse geographically and culturally. You can clearly see the Catalan heritage there, starting from painting the houses in vivid colors, through the cuisine (including tapas and bull steaks), and ending with traditions associated more with Spain than France - bullfights. The history of the region is also colorful, although often its main color was blood red. In Prouille , approximately 78 km from Toulouse, the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) was born, from which many inquisitors came. In the region we will find numerous ruins of castles nestled in steep rocks, silent evidence of his cruel activities. The scene of particularly grim events was Béziers , the town where the Cathar massacre took place. Fortunately, it also has a brighter side - Pierre-Paul Riquet, the creator of the Canal du Midi, a water route from the north to the south of France, to the Mediterranean Sea, was born there. What other cities are worth visiting during your holiday in Languedoc-Roussillon ? Certainly the above-mentioned Toulouse with its beautiful Capitol and a number of monuments that cannot be visited in one day, Carcasonne with the largest medieval urban complex in Europe, and Albi, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Narbonne, Nîmes and Montpellier are also worth mentioning.

Languedoc flowing with wine

Rome, known as the Eternal City and the "capital of the world", can be visited in many ways. On the web, we will find many comments about the fact that with each visit to the capital of Italy, we will discover something new, we will come across a place unnoticed earlier or we will even get to know the taste of the next dish. But it will turn out that there will not be enough time to see everything that you wanted to see. So you have to come back again and again. Rome is a very important point for people spending their  , easily accessible by bus to the center of Rome. It offers relaxation in well-equipped bungalows, as well as in a camper and a tent. Nature lovers will be delighted to stay there, also those who love sightseeing from the height of the saddle - a picturesque bicycle path runs along the Tiber, which takes you to Rome. Guests have at their disposal a swimming pool, solarium, mini market and a restaurant serving both traditional Italian dishes and pizza from a wood-fired oven. Dishes can be eaten inside and outside, cooling down in the shade of the large pergola. There are also busy people who can order a take-away meal without any problems. Camping Tiber is a great place for tourists planning to visit Rome and looking for a base. It is ideal for families with children, as well as for those in love who, in the romantic scenery of the Roman province, want to enjoy themselves and their stay in the Eternal City.

Greenery at the foot of Rome

North Jutland is a region where we come across a great deal of evidence that a drop is boring the rock. Or - more appropriately to the situation - that the sand is boring the land. Slowly, slowly, it moves forward for years, relentlessly taking what it wants. Of course, people try to fight it by creating blockages of vegetation, but we can find more than one example that sand has won a lot by consistent action. The golden hero of our story is not very famous in the north of Denmark. It choked down the meadows and swallowed up many buildings, including churches. After Den Tilsandede Kirke (Church under the sand), only the tower remained, now serving as a vantage point. A similar fate befell the Rubjerg Knude lighthouse, the highest part of the cliff, in the immediate vicinity of Lønstrup. On the west coast, the Råbjerg Mile dune was born, an inquisitive creature that can travel about 15 meters a year. Someone who has come on vacation to Denmark for the second time may be really surprised by how quickly the landscape changes due to sand dune wandering. The area is covered with grass and sea buckthorn, among the sand there are also remnants of bunkers from World War II. The Danish painter and poet Holger Drachmann fell in love with the local landscape. He stole his heart so much that he wished to be buried here - while walking in the dunes they will come across his tomb.

The sun of North Jutland

In the central part of Italy, there are the landscapes of Lazio, the heart of which is the capital of the country - Rome. During the journey through the territory of the region, we will see beaches, rocky coasts and mountain landscapes of the Apennines. Inland, there are lakes, forests and olive groves. The most important monuments of Lazio are in Rome - not only sacred buildings such as papal basilicas (including the basilica of St. John Lateran, St. Paul Outside the Walls), but also secular ones, including the Colosseum, Capitoline and Pantheon. In addition to the capital, there are many other places worth seeing in the region.

Vacation in Lazio

Languedoc-Roussillon is located in the south of France. It is part of the recently created region of Occitania, and the proximity of Spain and access to the Mediterranean Sea makes it an attractive destination for both holidays and a shorter holiday trip. It is famous for its numerous wineries. At the beginning of the 21st century, the production of local wine accounted for 1/3 of the national production, more than, for example, in the entire United States. In addition to wine, the region is famous for something else - something that not so long ago residents were afraid to leave their homes even during the day.

The shadow of the beast in Lozère

Navarre is located at the junction of France and Spain, in the western Pyrenees. It is a region that covers part of the historic Basque Country, and its capital is Pamplona, a city on three rivers. What is it famous for? Of all the encierros in Spain, Pamplona is the most famous one. In addition, the city is close to the hearts of the faithful who wander the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, as well as fans of Ernest Hemingway's prose. Navarre is a good destination for motorized tourists, as its location gives you the opportunity to get to know the attractions of two countries. It is easier to travel to several French cities than to Madrid. For example, Bayonne is only 111 km from the provincial capital, Pamplona. Also, those who spend their holidays in France can quickly cross the border and indulge in the charm of the Spanish siesta. Another thing is that some people will not even reach the hot south, because they will charm their coast by San Sebastián, known as the "pearl of the North". And what does Navarre offer to tourists? The possibility of contact with nature, calm down and observing the fauna. Where? For example, in Foz de Lumbier , a canyon where you can relax listening to the sounds of birds, the sound of the water and the silence. Only man and nature. It is also worth going to Olite, a small city full of monuments, and to Estella - especially if someone likes mountain hiking. And the already mentioned Pamplona, one of the most important points on the way of St. James? Tourists associate them mainly with encierros, bull chases held in July, during the sanfermines holiday. They are attended by men who want to find out if they are as masculine as they think. More than one, in addition to torn pants, brought a badly damaged ego from Pamplona.

Pamplona - tea with Hemingway

In the recent past, Dieppe had the role of the scene on which the failed Operation Jubilee took place. The Allied test landing was a fiasco, the attackers suffered heavy losses and were forced to flee. Traces of WWII events still lie on the coast, but the city does not live only in the past. Dieppe continues the tradition of the fishing town, and besides, it offers numerous attractions for tourists. Each year they attract not only Parisians, but also holidaymakers from other countries. Dieppe is a charming city located practically on the cliffs above the English Channel. Due to the fact that it is the seaside resort closest to Paris, it is very popular among the inhabitants of the French capital. From one city to the other, it takes about 2.5 hours by car, and there are regular trains between them. Dieppe is also a port (one of the busiest in Normandy), from which the ferry leaves for Newhaven. Course prices start at £ 78 per car and 2 adults (one way). With the ferry you can easily get to Brittany, as well as central and western France. And what will we visit in Dieppe itself? The city's many attractions attract tourists spending their holidays in Normandy . They are tempted by the beach surrounded by cliffs, which has already delighted 19th-century painters, including Gauguin and Monet. The local cuisine based on fish and seafood is also a big lure. Gourmets should definitely visit Dieppe in November when the Herring Festival takes place. In addition to food for the body, the resort offers food for the spirit. In the heart of Dieppe is the Villa Perrotte, an art gallery, and the 15th-century fortress, Château de Dieppe, towers over the city. Today it is a museum with an ivory collection, paintings by painters such as Renoir and Boudin, and sculptures by local fishermen. While visiting Dieppe , we will repeatedly see evidence of the durability and strength of the city's relationship with Canada. Maple leaf flags are noticeable at every step, and in Canada's Square you can see a monument commemorating the moment of Canada's colonization by settlers from France.

Strongly Canadian Dieppe

If you want to know a place where Salzburg people like to rest, you should go on a trip to Lake Mondsee. It is situated in the immediate vicinity of Attersee, approx. 30 km north-east of Salzburg. Residents come here on weekends to recharge their batteries. There is a town on the lake with the same name as it. Its biggest attraction is the Stift Mondsee built in the 8th century AD - one of the oldest monasteries in Austria. In addition to sightseeing, Mondsee invites you to relax on the beaches, stroll through winding streets, and enjoy delicious coffee or tea in cozy cafes.

Mondsee before and after the season

One can talk about Kołobrzeg for a long time, after all, it is one of the most beautiful Polish health resorts. Picturesquely situated at the mouth of the Parsęta River, on the Baltic Sea, it invites you for leisure stays, business trips, family holidays and romantic dates. It delights with the richness of the surrounding flora and fauna, enchants with fresh air and tempts with numerous leisure options. Many people associate holidays at the Polish seaside with Kołobrzeg. Many people remember school camps in a city full of monuments, visiting churches (with a mandatory point in the form of the Basilica of the Virgin Mary), a lighthouse or visits to museums. Those who have finished school see Kołobrzeg as a beautiful tourist resort with a strong spa accent. The famous Kolobrzeg peloid has been bringing relief to patients who come for treatment from Poland and other countries, including from Germany or Scandinavia. Effective in the treatment of rheumatic diseases and diseases of the musculoskeletal system, it is also a valuable export product (it is sent to foreign sanatoriums). There are also rumors that it helps to regain vigor - it is more and more often called "Kołobrzeg Viagra" for a reason. She has not been scientifically proven to work on this subject, but no one will deny her power. In the nineteenth century, when the seaside spa park was established, shrubs and trees were planted in peat lumps, thanks to which they absorbed more easily in the white sand. However, the real fame of the city was brought not by mud, but by salt. Already in the distant past, it was shipped by sea and land. Thanks to her, Kołobrzeg became brick early, which was equal to great wealth. Today, the city no longer produces salt, but tempts with brine baths in numerous plants. On the shore of Parsęta, in the northern part of the Salt Island , there is a brine spring - a great tourist attraction, visited by the inhabitants during the pickling season. Homemade pickles can be bought not only in the store, but also on the beach, at sellers encouraging customers with slogans: "Small-salt cucumbers tighten the lower parts".

In Kołobrzeg, the head does not hurt

In Poland, Marzanna is drowned every year to ward off the winter. In Spain, March is the month not of water, but of fire, and effigies are not drowned, but burned. We will see this in Valencia, the capital of the province and autonomous community of the same name. Tourists who come here in spring will see Fiesta de Las Fallas - the Fire Festival. It is a festival lasting from March 15 to 19, during which several-meter-high figures are placed on the streets, adding a satirical commentary on current events. The sculptures are created according to the designs of professional artists and are made of wax, wood and cardboard. Each group of figures is accompanied by a smaller group ("ninots"), created by children from a given housing estate or district. Over the next few days, residents and tourists vote for the best puppets. On the night of March 19, all pieces except the winning ones are burned. The Fire Festival combines the tradition of saying goodbye to winter and religious motifs. It is a fun-filled festival that arouses great interest among tourists.

Fiery Valencia

As of 2016, the Midi-Pyrenees (Southern Pyrenees) is no longer a separate region. Together with Languedoc-Roussillon it transformed into Occitania, creating a giga-region that would take more than one, two or even three holidays to visit. Especially since they are themselves larger than, for example, Switzerland. They stretch in the southwest of France, between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Thanks to the wonderful climate, sea, ocean and mountains, they have been attracting tourists for years as well as great French cuisine. One trip is enough to understand why the Midi-Pyrenees is a proven recipe for a successful holiday.

A break for a cassoulet

You can love Denmark, but you must have a lot of longing in your heart for the elusive and inscrutable. Then the landscapes of windswept areas, escarpments sliding into the sea and sand slowly taking over human settlements will delight and soothe you. Someone who loves intensely colored flora and the joyful blue sky and sea may only see sadness in Danish landscapes. But if he gives them a chance, he will see that they are beautiful - only in a different way, with a hint of nostalgia. The landscapes of northern Denmark consist of areas stolen from the sea. The land formed itself by raising the seabed and then depositing volatile sands and creating dunes. To prevent sand from returning to the sea, the coast is planted with trees. The gusts of wind can be so strong that over time all the trees lean towards the land, as if trying to hug it. While relaxing in North Jutland, you will see such views, for example, in the Thy area, located west of the town of Thisted. It is filled with hills covered with grass and trees - formerly sand dunes. The west coast has the widest sandy beaches in Denmark, dunes and steep cliff edges, eloquent evidence of the losing battle between land and sea. In the east, the landscapes are gentler and there are also beautiful beaches. North Jutland is sometimes called the North Jutland Island because it is separated from the mainland by the waters of the Limfjord. At the narrowest point of the fjord lies the second largest city on the Jutland Peninsula - Aalborg , a surprising point on the map of this part of the country.