Karlštejn Castle is a large Gothic castle located about 30 km southwest of Prague above the village named Karlštejn.The castle was founded in 1348. It was built by Czech King and Roman Emperor Charles IV as a place for safekeeping of the royal treasures, especially Charles's collection of holy relics and the coronation jewels of the Roman Empire. The first stay of Charles IV in the castle is documented in 1355 when he came to supervise the building works as well as the decoration of interiors, especially the castle chapels. The construction of the castle was finished in 1365 when the Chapel of the Holy Cross situated in the Great tower was consecrated. At the outbreak of the Hussite wars the castle became the place for safekeeping of the Czech coronation jewels, which were kept here, with the exception of several short-time breaks, for nearly 200 years. The castle was reconstructed... → More 3 Views Add comment
Munich is the capital city of Bavaria, Germany. It is located on the River Isar north of the Bavarian Alps. Munich is the third largest city in Germany, after Berlin and Hamburg. There are approximately 1.35 million people living within city limits.Munich is the capital city of Bavaria, Germany. It is located on the River Isar north of the Bavarian Alps. Munich is the third largest city in Germany, after Berlin and Hamburg. There are approximately 1.35 million people living within city limits.The city's motto is "München mag Dich" ("Munich Loves You"). Its native name, München, is derived from the Old German word for Mönche, which means "Monks" in English. The reason for naming the city in such a manner is to honour the fact that monks of the Benedictine order founded the city. This is also the reason for the monk depicted on the city's coat of arms. Black and gold—the colours of... → More 3 Views Add comment
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe approximately twenty kilometres from the border with the Czech Republic. It is one of the largest centres of the industry, transport and culture of Germany.In the German literature Dresden has received the name Florence on Elba, but also abroad the city is widely known for the monuments of architecture in a Baroque style, magnificent collections of paintings and other works of art.Dresden firstly was mentioned as the city in 1216. Since 1485 Dresden is the capital of Saxony. As a result of Napoleonic wars Saxony incurred huge territorial losses, value of Dresden in political life of Europe decreased, but it was still considered as one of the largest cultural centres.At the end of the Second World War Dresden underwent a large bombardment. The restoration of the centre lasted... → More 3 Views Add comment
The Burj Al Arab (Tower of the Arabs) is a luxury hotel located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Burj Al Arab stands on an artificial island 280 m (920 ft) out from Jumeirah beach, and is connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. It is an iconic structure, designed to symbolize Dubai's urban transformation and to mimic the sail of a boat. At 321 m (1,050 ft), it is the second tallest building in the world used exclusively as a hotel. The Rose Tower, opened in April, 2008, also in Dubai, topped Burj Al Arab's height at 333 m (1,090 ft), becoming the world's tallest hotel. The hotel was under construction 5 years and was opened in December, 1st, 1999. It was built to resemble the sail of a dhow, a type of Arabian vessel. The hotel hall consists of two floors. On the ground floor the registration of visitors is made, on the second floor shops and cafe, and also a corridor... → More 6 Views Add comment
Český Krumlov is a small city in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, best known for the fine architecture and art of the historic old town and Český Krumlov Castle. Old Český Krumlov is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was given this status along with the historic Prague castle district. Český Krumlov is a small city in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, best known for the fine architecture and art of the historic old town and Český Krumlov Castle. Old Český Krumlov is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was given this status along with the historic Prague castle district. The State Castle and Chateau of Český Krumlov ranks among the most important European sights. The Český Krumlov State Castle is a complex of forty buildings situated around five courtyards and seven-hectare grounds of the castle park. The complex grew up by degrees within each... → More 6 Views Add comment
Nuremberg is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. It is situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal. Nuremberg is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. It is situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal. Nuremberg is a lively city of about half a million inhabitants, with a visible history of almost one thousand years. Nuremberg is a city "of wit", where inventiveness and the researchers' curiosity have found a home. Nuremberg is a high performance economic location. Nuremberg is an open, tolerant city with a very high quality of life. And Nuremberg is the centre of a European metropolitan region with 2.5 million citizens. Nuremberg is one of Europe's fastest growing trade fair locations. Every year, over 1,2 million people visit about 100 events and... → More 22 Views Add comment
Are you planning a New Zealand vacation and still not sure what you are going to do there? In this case spend a couple of minutes and check the following list of activities.The strong point about New Zealand is that this country is suitable for all kinds of rest. However, sticking to idea of leisure travel is not something I'd recommend. This country has so much to offer that tourists usually want to get the most from their trips to this wonderful place.The strong point about New Zealand is that this country is suitable for all kinds of rest. However, sticking to idea of leisure travel is not something I'd recommend. This country has so much to offer that tourists usually want to get the most from their trips to this wonderful place.Family travelers will find at least a dozen of places where they can spend wonderful time. Both North and South Islands have national parks. You can always... → More 8 Views Add comment
Australia is one of those rare countries that are suitable for all kinds of tourists. It doesn’t matter whether you are single or a family person and what the size of your budget is - you're always very welcome. This country is without a doubt one of most popular destinations among students and other young people. Are you ready for adventure? Then take a backpack and move your feet to Australia. You can have both rest and work here as numerous local farms always need help in harvest picking. Big cities offer wonderful nightlife and extreme sports. Australia is called surfer's paradise and that is definitely true as it's hard to find another place where almost every day ocean waves are perfect for this activity. Diving seems to be ranked second here. Underwater fauna is incredibly rich in Australia, so the Great Barrier Reef diving will be one of most exciting moments of your... → More 3 Views Add comment
Potsdamer Platz (Potsdam Square) is an important public square and traffic intersection in the centre of Berlin, Germany. It lies about one kilometre south of the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag (German Parliament Building), and close to the southeast corner of the Tiergarten park. It is named after the city of Potsdam, some 25 km to the south west, and marks the point where the old road from Potsdam passed through the city wall of Berlin at the Potsdam Gate. The square was totally laid waste during World War II and then left desolate during the Cold War era when the Berlin Wall bisected its former location. Since the fall of the Wall it has risen again as a glittering new heart for the city and the most visible symbol of the new Berlin.With the construction of the Berlin Wall on 13 August 1961, along the intracity frontier, Potsdamer Platz now found itself physically divided in two.... → More 37 Views Add comment
Tribes of aboriginals of Central America occupied the territory of the modern Mexican United States to the 16th century - the conquest time by the Spanish conquistadors. The Maya, the Toltec and the Aztec had a highly developed civilisation and culture not yielding to the ancient civilisations of Egypt and Greece.Almost all of Mexico lies in the North American Plate, with small parts of the Baja California peninsula on the Pacific and Cocos Plates. Mexico is crossed from north to south by two mountain ranges known as Sierra Madre Oriental and Sierra Madre Occidental. From east to west at the center, the country is crossed by the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt also known as the Sierra Nevada. A fourth mountain range, the Sierra Madre del Sur, runs from Michoacán to Oaxaca. The most well-known volcanoes are Popocatépetl (5 462 m) and Orizaba (5700 m).The Tropic of Cancer effectively... → More 6 Views Add comment
The Mediterranean small town Budva is located on peninsula sharply sticking out to the sea. It was built up by Venetians before Ottoman occupations. In Middle Ages fortifications with the built in high towers protected the Citadel located inside. At present it is a historical museum. Cult constructions of the historical importance are also situated behind the fortifications. St. Ivan's catholic Church is of the greatest interest. It was erected in the 7th century and endured a lot of reconstructions throughout a millenium up to the 17th century. St. Mary's of Punta dating from 840 is the only church remained till our days from the former convent. The Byzantian architecture is accurately traced in contours of the Holy Trinity Church, which was built in 1804. It is the first large religious construction erected after the liberation from the Turkish yoke. The Old City is also the centre of... → More 6 Views Add comment
Montenegro is a small southen European State with the population only 650 thousand people. It has the informal name "Primeval forest of Europe". Here are met more than a quarter of all kinds of plants growing in Europe. The country is proud of the fact it is the unique State on the continent which does not have ecologically harmful manufactures. The sea coast stretches almost 3 000 kilometres. There are no big cities there. The capital Podgorica has the population about 100 000 persons. Administratively the country is devided into 21 municipalities.The climate is soft, Mediterranean. An average annual temperature is about 17 degrees. Four climatic zones are accurately designated: plains, plateaus, high mountains and a coastal zone representing the greatest interest for tourists. There are four National Parks in which bears and wild boars, deers and fallow-deers, roes and royal eagles... → More 3 Views Add comment
Fortunately, Brussels is yet not among heavily touristed destinations in Europe. Paris, Rome or Berlin are definitely gorgeous cities, but the number of tourists breaks local color easily, making it unable to feel the atmosphere.Brussels is a piece of that «Old Europe» you’ve always heard of. Not very fast and full of traditions this city offers amazing experience for all new comers. By the way, if you’d like to know more about Belgian history in general, visit the Place Royale and its new Magritte Collection. The museum is new (it has opened just several months ago) and definitely worth visiting.Gastronomy tourists may know Brussels as a perfect destination. If you look at Michelin, you'll see that 2 cheapest 2 star restaurants in the world are located here. Excellent food at excellent price sounds truly appealing.The first restaurant, the Sea Grill, is a great... → More 24 Views Add comment
Loket is a town of some 3,000 inhabitants in the Sokolov district in the Karlovy Vary region of the Czech Republic.Loket means "elbow" in English. The town is named this due to the town centre being surrounded on three sides by the Ohře River, and the shape the river takes is similar to that of an elbow. The stone Loket Castle is over 800 years old. It was probably founded as a border fortress. It dominates the town on a granite solid rock.Documents firts mention Loket in 1234. The building of the stone castle used to be dated to the reign of the Czech king Přemysl Otakar I (1197-1230) but with the finding of a Romanesque chapel which experts consider one of the oldest buildings of the Czech type, it is possible to date it to the 1170s or earlier. The Castle served kings, the Šlik family and the nobility from Plauen, the Loket aristocracy and in the 19th and 20th centuries also as a... → More 27 Views Add comment
Prague is the capital and the largest city of the Czech Republic. The city has an area of 496 square km (192 square miles). Prague is situated on the River Vltava in central Bohemia. In this city live more than 1.2 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 1.9 million. Since 1992, the extensive historic centre of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. Prague's short history. Prague's story goes back to the distant days of the Celtic tribes, as early as 400BC. The Arab-Jewish merchant Ibrahim Jakub Ibn, who visited Prague in 965 or 966, was the first to leave a written record of the existence of a busy commercial center and settlement below Prague Castle, he described it as a town "built of stone and mortar". During the first half of the 11th century another castle called Vysehrad was founded on the opposite... → More 22 Views Add comment
