Undoubtedly the world's most famous beer festival, Munich's Oktoberfest draws a remarkable six million visitors each year. The 16-day festival celebrating Bavarian beer and culture has become something of a rite of passage for any young European who likes a beer, and attracts plenty of travelers from further afield as well. Oktoberfest history dates back to 12 October 1810, when crowds were invited to a meadow in the city to celebrate the wedding of Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Sachsen-Hildburghausen. It subsequently became an annual fair that initially included horse races and agricultural conventions. Local businessmen working with city breweries created the first massive beer tent in 1896, and the festival has been all about beer ever since. The area where that ...
The first thing you notice when standing in front of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull volcano, is the sound. It lets out a steady low rumble like thunder rolling, and every now and then, releases a loud roar that sends shock waves bouncing up through the smoke above it. Standing there, listening to its groans and watching the smoke pour into the sky, it’s a constant reminder of just how small you are when compared to the power that lies beneath the earth. Despite its name, the land in Iceland is hot. The country has over 200 active volcanoes, fields of still-smoking lava, and endless hot springs. There’s so much geothermal power that the entire country can rely on all-natural heating systems, and instead of having to heat ...
Rising high above the River Thames, and set against iconic architecture that has stood for centuries, the London Eye has provided spectacular panoramic views of London for over a decade. With 3.5 million riders boarding its thirty-two capsules annually, “The Eye” has established itself as the UK’s most popular paid tourist attraction. Situated in Jubilee Park in the South Bank area, the London Eye Ferris Wheel was built as part of London's millennium celebrations. Truly European in construction, the London Eye used mechanical contributions from six countries. Electrical components came from the UK, as was the steel (although it was fabricated in The Netherlands). The cables and glass came from Italy; bearings from Germany; spindle and hub were cast in the Czech Republic; and the ...
Champagne region, specifically Épernay, France is beautiful. A pleasant break from Paris, you can see for miles around, without having your view obscured by a myriad buildings. The main draw, of course, is the Champagne. Drinking Champagne in Épernay is simply something one must do when in France. France is the birthplace of Champagne and Benedictine monk Dom Perignon. Quoted as saying “Come quickly, I'm drinking stars!,” when he first tasted Champagne, Dom Perignon is immortalized in the prestigious cuvée of Moët and Chandon for his advancements to the Champagne making process. Épernay rivals Reims as the center for Champagne production in France. Travelers looking to taste stars and learn the origins of this drink synonymous with celebration and luxury, need only drive an hour ...
Roughly 200 years ago a group of geniuses decided it would be fun to chase a wheel of cheese down the steepest hill they could find. Although there is no concrete information describing how this tumble derby began, or why the Double Gloucester wheel of cheese is its coveted prize, one thing is for sure, the Cooper's Hill Cheese Rolling Festival is one of the UK's most anticipated annual events. Before the rest of the world discovered the Brit's idea of fun it was attended only by locals, but over the years the popularity of Gloucestershire's cheese rolling has grown immensely and now attracts crazy cheese chasers from around the world. Every May long weekend a bunch of people (drunk, crazy... most likely both) take ...
Nestled in the French Alps near the borders with Switzerland and Italy, Chamonix Mont Blanc is probably the most famous destination in Europe for skiing. It’s not hard to see why – this beautiful area has a host of scenic peaks plus a wide range of slopes. From beginner slopes to longer tracts including free-ride and off-piste, there’s something to suit all levels. The town’s three ski areas are: Brévent/Flégère, which has south-facing slopes with amazing views of the Mont Blanc peaks; the Grands Montets, high altitude slopes facing to the north; and the Balme area, wide open slopes atop Chamonix valley next to Switzerland. There’s also a sister resort at the other end of the valley called les Houches. If you’re an absolute beginner, ...
When traveling in Belgium, you can't just ask for "a beer", doing so will only produce a lager of some sort that can be found practically anywhere in the world. Belgium is home to many unique beers including abbey beer, lambic beer, and trappist beer, who derive their distinct taste from ancient brewing traditions. It is said that you can taste a Belgian beer everyday for a year, and still leave some brews untouched. With such deep history and selection, the best way to learn about Belgian beer is the equivalent of a pub crawl through Brussels, Bruges and Antwerp. To taste a new and exciting beer in Belgium you can go pretty much anywhere. Even convenience stores have hundreds of different kinds. A great ...
When you first arrive at Gullfoss (translated as the “Golden Falls”), you’ll wonder what all the fuss is about. You approach from the top, down river from where the falls drop off, and as you draw nearer, it looks like a small, albeit pretty, waterfall. You’ll probably think it seems a bit disappointing to be the most famous waterfall in Iceland, but then as you walk closer, you’ll suddenly realize that the falling water just… disappears. That is, until you step closer still and the ground abruptly opens in front of you, leaving you peering down at a thunderous rush of water and a very steep, very narrow, very startling drop. Gullfoss waterfall is on the Hvítá river, and is part of the famous Golden ...
The most common way to experience the Trevi Fountain in Rome is with your back to it. It is said that anyone who turns around and throws a penny (or a centesimo) into the fountain are sure to return to Rome one day. Although the Trevi Fountain's Baroque charm can't be appreciated from this angle, it does allow you to take in the whirlwind of activity that is constantly happening around the famous basin. Surrounded by gelato vendors, budding romances, and gladiators posing with tourists, the Trevi Fountain is a jewel of water and stone nestled into the Palazzo Poli. Trevi Fountain history recounts the construction of a simple basin in 1453 to mark the end of the aqueduct, Aqua Virgo, which had been used ...
Florence was at the center of the Italian Renaissance, and the city’s Duomo is one of the crowning achievements of that period. Officially known as the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, the Florence Duomo had an incredibly long gestation – it was not consecrated until 1436 even though the first stone was laid in 1296. Its designer Arnolfo di Cambio and subsequent overseer Giotto both died well before the project came to fruition. The Florence Duomo’s proudest feature is its magnificent eight-sided dome – the first of its kind ever to be built without an internal wooden frame or external buttresses. Still the largest brick dome in the world to this day, Filippo Brunelleschi’s design is thought to have been centuries ahead of its ...
