Life's Little Adventures

Free Travel APP

Have an iPad? iPhone? iPodTouch? Like to travel? 

Well, here's a great FREE app to download that can open a new world of travel possibilities and inspiration! Check it out!

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sutro-world/id446206531?mt=8

 

Yes, I'm on it a little bit, but so are two hundred other travel writers.

Not only is this the very best source of reliable travel apps anywhere, but soon this little fella's joining in the fun as well.

Paris Day Trips

At long last: My travel app for easy one-day trips to intriguing destinations outside of Paris is available for download to Apple iPad, iPhone, and iPodTouch devices — and soon it will also be ready for Android devices as well.

"...The Île de France has no regional unity, it does not offer any precise boundaries..." This undefined region within easy daytrip range of Paris is truly the heart of France. Its best attractions are fully explored on my Paris Day Trips: A Travel Guide app. 

To view free samples of this you will first need to download the FREE travel app SUTRO WORLD (click), which also allows you to sample pages and illustrations from over 300 of the very best travel apps anywhere. Listings are grouped by region. For mine, touch "Europe" and then scan down to "Paris Day Trips: A Travel Guide." Open that, then touch words in bold face blue to explore further. If you like what you see, click on the low, low price in the upper right corner to begin a quick download to your Apple iDevice. It's that easy.

 

SO, just what Little Adventure am I up to now in 2012? Why, just the most challenging one of them all! CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT.

CASTLES

Several of the posts on this blog make references to castles, mostly in Europe. Here are links to them:

Windsor Castle, England. The Queen lives here, and it suits her fine.

Arundel, England. Like a vision from a fairy tale, the little town of Arundel nestles snugly at the base of its massive castle.

Norwich, England. One of Britain's truly great castles in a delightful old town with a major cathedral.

Dover, England. The nation's great seaport is guarded by a 12th-century castle high atop the fabled White Cliffs.

Colchester, England. England's larest castle keep was built by the Normans on top of Roman remains. Today it's a museum.

Hastings, England. Built by William the Conqueror after the Battle of Hastings, it is now mostly in ruin but does house the fascinating 1066 Story exhibition.

King's Lynn, England. Castle Rising, built in 1138 and one of the finest Norman castles in England, is just outside this ancient port town.

Nottingham, England. The Norman castle is now a museum, but you can visit its dungeons, caves, and subterranean passages for a spooky experience.

Edinburgh, Scotland. Two castles here, one ancient and historic, the other belongs to the Queen.

St. Andrews, Scotland. It's ruined, but you can still crawl around what remains.

Stirling, Scotland. The scene of much Scottish history, still in excellent condition.

Vianden, Luxembourg. A restored fairytale castle overlooks a delightful little town.

Sans Souci, Germany. Two royal palaces here, but we'll call them castles — Just outside Berlin.

Rüdesheim, Germany. The 11th-century Brömserburg Castle now serves as one of the best wine museums anywhere — and it overlooks the Rhine.

Sintra, Portugal. One of the strangest castles anywhere, and close to Lisbon.

Segovia, Spain. The classic "Castle in Spain." Awesome.

Toledo, Spain. Begun in the 13th century, the massive Alcázar played an important role in the Spanish Civil War of the 1930s.

Salzburg, Austria. The massive Festung Hohensalzburg castle dominates the town.

Defiling a Castle in Spain. An account of a 1960's escapade at the Alhambra on Granada, Spain.

Helsignør, Denmark. Kronborg Castle is widely regarded as the setting for Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Burg Hohenwerfen, Austria. Falconry shows and dungeons at the mountain castle near Salzburg.

Neuschwanstein, Germany. THE dream castle to end all castles was built in the Bavarian Alps by crazy King Ludwig II in the 19th century. A daytrip from Munich.

Warwick, England. What is considered to be England's finest castle puts on a great theatrical show.

And let's not forget my online friend, Evelyn Wallace, whose Castle Lady blog and website tell all about visiting Europe's castles.

SO, just what Little Adventure am I up to now in 2012? Why, just the most challenging one of them all! CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT.

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A FAIRYTALE CASTLE IN THE GRAND DUCHY

A FAIRYTALE CASTLE IN THE GRAND DUCHY..an easy daytrip from Luxembourg City

Here's a wonderful little one-day adventure taken right out of the pages of my guidebook Daytrips Holland, Belgium & Luxembourg. Check it out by clicking the link at the bottom of this post.

VIANDEN

Towering high above a romantic village, the fairytale castle of Vianden casts its spell on the narrow, cobbled streets below. This is, quite simply, the most picturesque little town in the Grand Duchy, and the most enticing destination for a daytrip from Luxembourg City. In addition to its restored medieval castle, it offers a visit to the exile home of Victor Hugo, an excellent folklore museum, magnificent scenery, and a delightful atmosphere that attracts visitors from all over Europe.

The story of Vianden is the story of its castle. A small fort had existed on this hill since Roman times, and the castle was built over it in the 9th century. This was greatly enlarged during the 11th, 12th, and 15th centuries and became an ancestral home of the House of Orange-Nassau, the dynasty that supplies both the kings and queens of the Netherlands as well as the grand dukes of Luxembourg.

GETTING THERE:

Trains depart the Luxembourg City Station several times in the morning for the half-hour ride to Ettelbruck, where you change to a connecting bus for Vianden. The bus ride takes about 30 minutes and railpasses are accepted. CLICK HERE for schedules.

By Car, head north from Luxembourg City on the N-7 road to Diekirch, then follow local roads to Vianden. The total distance is 43 km (27 miles).

PRACTICALITIES:

Vianden is best visited on any fine day from April through October. The local Tourist Office (Syndicat d'Initiative), T: 834-257-1, is at 1a Rue di Vieux-Marché, just across the bridge.

FOOD AND DRINK:

Le Châtelain (126 Grand Rue, in the Hôtel Oranienburg just below the castle) A popular restaurant with French cuisine and an outdoor terrace. T: 834-153. €€ and €€€

Auberge du Château (74 Grand Rue, near the folklore museum) Good-value meals at an attractive inn. T: 834-574. €€

Heinz (55 Grand Rue, near the folklore museum) A small hotel with good food in an ancient building. T: 834-155. € and €€

Aal Veinen (114 Grand Rue, below the castle) Hearty, simple cooking in a rustic house from 1683. T: 834-368. € and €€

Auberge de l'Our (35 Grand Rue, by the river, near the Victor Hugo House) Local specialties, with a view. T: 834-675. €

SUGGESTED TOUR:

Numbers in parentheses correspond to numbers on the map.

Leave the Bus Station (Gare Routière) (1) and stroll down Rue de la Gare to the Victor Hugo House (2). The great French writer loved Vianden and stayed there several times, including a period of political exile in 1871. Reconstructed after World War II damage, the house is now a small museum containing some of the author's belongings, and documents relating to his visits. T: 2687-4088. Open Tues.-Sun. 11-5. €.

Just before the bridge there is a bust of Victor Hugo. In the middle of the span you'll see a statue of St. Nepomuk, the patron saint of bridges. Continue across the Our River and head up Grand Rue to the Parish Church of the Trinitarians (3), a Gothic structure with a double nave dating from 1248. It is one of the oldest religious buildings in Luxembourg and is noted for its fine rococo altar. A short visit here is definitely worthwhile, as are a few moments spent in the 14th-century cloisters behind it.

The route now leads uphill and climbs steeply to one of the greatest architectural treasures of the region, the:

*CASTLE OF VIANDEN (Château de Vianden) (4), T: 834-108. Open Jan.-Feb. daily 10-4; March daily 10-4; April-Sept. daily 10-6; Oct. daily 10-5; Nov.-Dec. daily 10-4. Closed New Year's Day, Nov. 2, Christmas. €€.

Until a few decades ago, Vianden's great castle lay in a state of semi-ruin, but a major restoration project has revived its former medieval splendor. The roof is back on, and many of the rooms are again furnished with period pieces. A printed diagram will be given to you at the entrance.

Return to the village and follow the very charming Vieille Rue until it joins Grand Rue. Across the street is the Museum of Rustic Arts and Puppets (Musée de la Poupée et d'Art Rustique) (5), where local crafts, antiques, household items, toys and puppets are displayed in a charming old house. T: 834-591. Open Easter-Oct., daily 11-5. Closed on Mon. in the off-season. €.

You could easily return to the river by strolling down Grand Rue, but a more interesting (if slightly rugged) way to get there is by following the remnants of the ancient Town Walls (6). Now re-cross the bridge and turn left on Rue Victor Hugo, which brings you to the Chairlift (Télésiège) (7). From here you can take an enjoyable ride across the river and up to the top of a hill overlooking the valley, town, and castle. There's also an outdoor café for refreshment while taking in the lovely *view. T: 834-323. Operates Easter to mid-Oct., daily 10 to 5 or 6. Closes in bad weather. €.

Ambitious walkers may want to continue on to the Dam (Barrage) (8). This forms the lower reservoir of a vast pumped-storage hydroelectric complex. During the night, when demand for power is low, surplus electricity is used to pump water from here to a higher reservoir. During peak-use periods this is released, turning generators on its way down. If you have a car, you might want to drive about three miles beyond the dam to the underground gallery, which may be visited. T: 849-031-1. Open 10-4. Free. Ask at the tourist office for details concerning guided tours.

Walk across the top of the dam and follow the trail past the 17th-century Church of St. Rochus. From the bottom of the hill, Rue du Marché brings you back to town, where you can stop for some refreshments before heading out to the bus station.

Extracted from Daytrips Holland, Belgium & Luxembourg, 4th edition. Copyright © 2006 Earl Steinbicker. All of its pages may be viewed (but not printed) free at Google Books. 

SO, just what Little Adventure am I up to now in 2012? Why, just the most challenging one of them all! CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT. 

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