This Lens I made for YOU! The most interesting and beautiful places in Europe: Pictures, Tips, Itineraries and other useful and fun stuff on the BEST places in Europe to visit!
Why I made this lens for YOU
Yes, I'm European and Yes, I travel a lot in Europe and Yes, I love Europe!
And especially that last one is the reaon I made this lens for all you travellers out there! If you're planning a trip to Europe: Check this lens first and remember that I've been to every single place that you'll see here.Ask me!
If you want to know more about any place in Europe, how to get there, what to visit and what Not to visit, just ask me! Leave a Blurb or e-mail me!
Suggestions
Since I'm not the only passionate Europe-traveller out there and I'm pretty sure I haven't nearly seen it all: Tell me which places to add to my lens!
Your suggestions are more than welcome!
Contact me for questions and suggestions!!!
#1 Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik - Croatia
My own 'Great Wall of China'
Why I usually refer to the ancient city of Dubrovnik as my own 'Great Wall of China' in Europe?The answer is simple: nowhere did I experience such a feeling as when first catching the first glimp of the tremendous view over the city of Dubrovnik. As you walk down to the city gates this feeling in you grows and grows, to reach it's climax as you climb the magnificent city walls with their view over the Mediterranean... You imagine how the inhabitants of this city must have felt back then: as kings of the world, gods of the Mediterranean...
You see, it's hard to describe. Me and even far greater photographers than me have tried to capture this feeling. Have tried to capture the city and it's history. And I'm sorry to conclude: None have succeeded.
Go There!
A history of Dubrovnik
This walled City was described by Lord Byron as "The Pearl of the Adriatic".
The town was founded in the 7th century on a site called Ragusium by the Romans. It was under the protection of the Byzantine Empire between 867 and 1205, of Venice until 1358, of Hungary until 1526, and of the Ottoman Empire until 1806, but remained largely self-governing as an independent republic. In the 16th century Dubrovnik had one of the greatest merchant fleets in the Mediterranean, and it remained the chief cultural centre for the South Slavs until the 19th century. Napoleon abolished the city-republic of Dubrovnik in 1808, and the Congress of Vienna ceded the town to Austria in 1815. By the terms of the Treaty of Rapallo (1920) following World War I, the town became part of the newly created Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (later Yugoslavia). During World War II Dubrovnik was occupied by Italian and German forces. In 1991, when Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia, Serbian forces laid siege to and bombarded the town, destroying many sites of historical importance. It has now been fully restored to its former Glory.
Pictures of Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik - Getting There
Getting around in Dubrovnik
Lonely Planet: My favourite travel-resource! (And I'm not alone it seems...)
Best of Dubrovnik
Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 07/11/2009) 
Croatia (Country Guide)
Amazon Price: $14.95 (as of 07/11/2009)
#2 Amsterdam - The Netherlands
Amsterdam - The Netherlands
So much more than Wooden shoes, coffeeshops and the Red Light District!
Amsterdam, world-renowned for its romantic canals and the imposing architecture of the 17th century, a period often called as the "Golden Century". Amsterdam is the sparkling heart of Holland and will definitely get your blood pumping.Amsterdam is a party town 365 days a year, with a harmonious co-existence of the historical and the modern, in a melting pot of nationalities that have only further contributed to the city's charms.
Amsterdammers are deservedly proud of their city and the gorgeous centre. Whatever it is you are looking for it can be found here, in a laid-back atmosphere that is exclusive to this monumental metropolis.
Check this all new lens on Amsterdam!!!
Pictures of Amsterdam
Getting Around in Amsterdam
Lonely Planet: My favourite travel-resource! (And I'm not alone it seems...)
Trust me, I lived in Amsterdam AND own these Lonely-planets: The only better resource available to you would be me! :-)
Lonely Planet Amsterdam
Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009)
Lonely Planet the Netherlands (Lonely Planet Travel Guides)
Amazon Price: $14.95 (as of 07/11/2009)
Berlin - Germany
'All the bullet holes of the world, you can find in Berlin'
The first and second world war, the cold war, the Berlin Wall... Berlin IS Europe's history of the 20th century. You see and feel it everywhere you go.But what you see and feel too is a reborn cultural capital of Europe. Go there and experience the history, the culture, the people, the parties, the laid back atmosphere... Berlin is more than even the 'Berliners' themselves would expect!
Berlin Cityscape(from Wikipedia.org)
The city's appearance today is predominantly shaped by the key role it played in Germany's history in the 20th century. Each of the national governments based in Berlin-the 1871 German Empire, the Weimar Republic, Nazi Germany, East Germany, and now the reunified Germany-initiated ambitious construction programs, each with its own distinctive character. Berlin was devastated by bombing raids during World War II and many of the old buildings that escaped the bombs were eradicated in the 1950s and 1960s in both West and East. Much of this destruction was initiated by municipal architecture programs to build new residential or business quarters and main roads. Berlin's unique recent history has left the city with an eclectic array of architecture and sights.
In the eastern part, many Plattenbauten can be found, reminders of Eastern Bloc ambitions to create complete residential areas with fixed ratios of shops, kindergartens and schools. Another difference between former east and west is in the design of little red and green men on pedestrian crossing lights (Ampelmännchen in German); the eastern versions received an opt-out during the standardization of road traffic signs after reunification. The eastern Ampelmännchen design is now used in the western part of the city as well.
Picture: Branderburger Tor
The Brandenburg Gate (German: Brandenburger Tor) is a former city gate and the symbol of Berlin, Germany. It is located between the Pariser Platz and the Platz des 18. März and is the only remaining gate of a series through which one formerly entered Berlin. One block to its north lies the Reichstag. It constitutes the monumental termination of Unter den Linden, the renowned boulevard of Lime trees which led directly to the royal residence. It was commissioned by Friedrich Wilhelm II as a sign of peace and built by Carl Gotthard Langhans from 1788 to 1791.
Pictures of Berlin
Getting around in Berlin
Lonely Planet: My favourite travel-resource! (And I'm not alone it seems...)
Inside advice: Rent a bike to get around Berlin! You'll see everything in this biker-friendly city at your own pace!
(Alternative is the subway; you'll see squat)
(Alternative is the subway; you'll see squat)
Berlin (City Guide)
Amazon Price: $18.99 (as of 07/11/2009)
Switzerland - See everything!
(It's a small country)
Where to start on Switzerland... The lakes in summer? The mountains in winter? The Montreux Jazz Festival, the best skiing slopes in the world, beautiful mountain hiking, shopping in Geneva, Partying in Zurich...
So much to see and to do! And everything so fresh and clean! Go there!
Winter: Forget Aspen, go high-society and ski in St. Moritz with the rich and shameless of Europe.
Summer: Pack your backpack in summer and hike, hike, hike and hike through the most beautiful mountain landscapes.
Or: rent a convertible and just drive, drive, drive. From Geneva to Lugano is a great trip: Lakes, cute towns, mountain roads, snowy peaks, hot boulevards...
So much to see and to do! And everything so fresh and clean! Go there!
Winter: Forget Aspen, go high-society and ski in St. Moritz with the rich and shameless of Europe.
Summer: Pack your backpack in summer and hike, hike, hike and hike through the most beautiful mountain landscapes.
Or: rent a convertible and just drive, drive, drive. From Geneva to Lugano is a great trip: Lakes, cute towns, mountain roads, snowy peaks, hot boulevards...
Pictures of Switzerland
Getting around in Switzerland
Lonely Planet: My favourite travel-resource! (And I'm not alone it seems...)
Personal tip for getting around in Switzerland in summer: Rent a convertible! Inhale the fresh mountain air while cruising over gorgeous mountain roads and pass by beautiful lakes!
Switzerland (Country Guide)
Amazon Price: $14.95 (as of 07/11/2009)
Walking in the Alps
Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009)
Lonely Planet Walking in Switzerland
Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009)
The Plitvice Lakes - Croatia
If God would have had Photoshop...
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Or did he? Visit the Plitvice lakes and waterfalls and experience every color nature has to offer in every glance!Plitvice National Park in Croatia is considered to be one of the most beautiful natural sights in Europe. Due to its natural beauty and significance, this system of 16 interlinked lakes and a large forest complex around it were set aside as a national park in 1949. In 1979 the park was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The sixteen lakes are separated into an upper and lower cluster formed by runoff from the mountains, descending from an altitude of 636 m to 503 m over a distance of some 8 km, aligned in a south-north direction.
The lakes are separated by natural dams of travertine, which is deposited by the action of moss, algae and bacteria. The encrusted plants and bacteria accumulate on top of each other, forming travertine barriers which grow at the rate of about 1 cm per year.
The lakes are renowned for their distinctive colours, ranging from azure to green, grey or blue. The colours change constantly depending on the quantity of minerals or organisms in the water and the angle of sunlight.
Pictures of the Plitvice lakes
No Photoshop necessary... :-)
Getting around in Plitvice and Croatia
Lonely Planet: My favourite travel-resource! (And I'm not alone it seems...)
Backpackers: Take the bus (cheap!) all along the cost roads (incredibly beautiful!) and make a detour to the inlands to hike through Plitvice park!
Little more budget? Rent a car but don't drive south on saturdays: Thousands of locals will do the same with you...
Little more budget? Rent a car but don't drive south on saturdays: Thousands of locals will do the same with you...
Croatia (Country Guide)
Amazon Price: $17.99 (as of 07/11/2009)
Rome
Rome - Italy
Capital of the World
Rome, capital of the world, the Eternal City, the city of the seven hills or simply the City: enough reasons to visit and get impressed by the many, many, many historical sights... Smell ancient Rome in the middle of this cosmopolitan-crazy Italian capital.The old 'capital of the world' is thoroughly modern and cosmopolitan. As one of the few major European cities that escaped World War II relatively unscathed, central Rome remains essentially Renaissance and Baroque in character. The Historic Centre of Rome is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Situated on the River Tiber, between the Apennine Mountains and the Tyrrhenian Sea, the "Eternal City" was once the administrative center of the mighty Roman Empire, governing a vast region that stretched all the way from Britain to Mesopotamia. Today the metropolitan area is home to around 3.3 million people.
Pictures of Rome
Vote for the best pictures or add your own!
Getting around in Rome
Lonely Planet: My favourite travel-resource! (And I'm not alone it seems...)
Get your kicks on route sixty...ehm... do like the locals, rent a Scooter and experience Rome from your trendy Aprillia with the sun on your face!
Lonely Planet Rome: City Guides
Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009)
Best of Rome
Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009)
I was in .... and all I got was...
And more original gear
Amsterdam Long Sleeve Dark T-Shirt
Price: 27.99
Amsterdam Rocks Long Sleeve Dark T-Shirt
Price: 28.99
Vandersexxx Dark T-Shirt
Price: 23.99
Switzerland Dark T-Shirt
Price: 21.99
Berlin, Germany Light T-Shirt
Price: 20.79
So you've been there?!
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Been there? Going there? Let us know!
And share your experiences with us!
Mikael_Jakub wrote...
Great read! I love Bratislawa myself but I think Berlin is my favourite place you wrote about.
Posted June 06, 2009
travelcast wrote...
Great lens! I've been to a lot of the places you mentioned but its great that you have done such a nice write up about all the places. I tend to stick to Spain, Italy, France and the Canary Islands but I really want to go to Dubrovnik now :)
Posted May 27, 2009
glassjubo wrote...
Hi,
Love the lens, I mostly travel around Asia(see my lens on Angkor Wat), but I have lived in France and Germany when I was small. Now looking at these great places I would like to start travelling around Europe . I fancy Venice, have you got any knowledge of there? Keep up the good work!
Glassjubo
Posted May 27, 2009
ghostJago wrote...
Wow, this is a great lens! I live in the UK so I've been to a lot of these places but your page reminded me that I really should go and visit Switzerland and see more of that place.
Thanks!
Posted May 22, 2009
Check This New Lens!
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