One of the most popular destinations to visit in Paris is the Montmartre District. With the Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur (Sacred Heart) sitting on top of the hill with incredible views of the city, it is certainly worthwhile to put it on your itinerary. There are plenty of restaurants and cafés in the area and many people go there just to sit on the steps of the basilica and look out at the wonderful views. We didn’t make it there until our second visit to Paris, which was in the winter and unfortunately it was a cloudy and rainy day, which did diminish the views a bit.
The Front of the Basilica of the Sacré-CœurCloudy View of the CityTomb Inside of the ChurchEven With the Rain, It Was BusyThe Bell Tower
The inside of the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur is certainly quite beautiful and might be even more popular with Notre Dame still being repaired. The area is very busy, even on the rainy day that we visited, so be prepared for large crowds when you visit. We only had a few hours in the area during our visit, so we’ll have to take the time to go once again on our next trip to Paris when hopefully the weather will better.
Looking Up at One of the StatuesEntering the BasilicaMaking the Most of a Wet DayImagine if It Was a Sunny DayAngel Statue and Stained Glass Windows
We have plenty of wonderful memories from our trip to England, but one of our favorite memories is of Warwick Castle. Walking around the grounds of the castle is like walking back in time to England’s rich history when lords, ladies, and knights ruled the land. Seeing how the wealthy from generations past lived was quite fascinating and the castle provides plenty of historic displays within the manor. Considering what life was like for most people who lived in that period, the contrast couldn’t have been greater compared to those fortunate enough to be born into such wealth.
Castle Wall
Banquet Room
The Manor
Stunning Castle
The rooms have been preserved and are decorated to portray the ambiance of the time period. As you walk through the castle, each new room is more splendid than the next. You can almost hear the mannequins talking about the next glorious ball or what to do with the land. It is truly a window into the past that was very special to see.
An Evening Listening to Music
The Men in the Library
The Castle
Looking Up at the Castle Wall
The grounds are gorgeous and we could easily imagine dawning a riding outfit as we went fox hunting on the open fields. There is even a catapult next to a stunning river that runs through the castle’s property. Climbing up to the top of the castle walls, there are spectacular views of Warwickshire, where the castle is located. Seeing the sprawling fields around the castle helps you understand the expanse of the estate and get a feeling for the farms that would have been worked by the subjects of the manor.
Us Walking the Grounds
The Fields Behind the Castle
Catapult
The River
Obviously it is set up to attract tourists and as such there are some things that take away from the overall experience. There is a haunted tour of the tower where costumed characters jump out at you around every corner. No trip to a castle is complete without a trip to the dungeon, but the haunted house theme was a little unnecessary. That being said, we really had a wonderful time seeing every part of the vast estate.
Entrance to the Tower
Dungeon
Getting Ready for Battle
Warwickshire Church
If you’re in England and have the opportunity to visit Warwick Castle, we would highly recommend it. Just to see the gorgeous countryside, the Tudor homes, and the grand mansion is definitely worth the trip. Warwickshire is located near Stratford-upon-Avon, which made it a perfect place to visit while also visiting the birthplace of Shakespeare. Walking the grounds of a true castle that is as well-kept as Warwick Castle allows you to truly understand how grand and opulent their lives truly were.
There are several options for taking a day trip out of Budapest, Hungary, some within the country and some to neighboring countries. One of the most popular is to Vienna, Austria, which is about 3 hours from Budapest, but since we have been to Vienna previously, we decided to go to Bratislava in Slovakia. Located about 2 hours outside of Budapest, Bratislava is an interesting city with a rich history. It is the largest city in Slovakia as well as the capital of the country. In addition to getting to visit the city of Bratislava, it also gave us an opportunity to see the Hungarian countryside.
Bratislava CastleWalking the Narrow Streets of BratislavaInside of St. Martin’s Cathedral
The history of Slovakia is somewhat complex as it was part of Hungary for centuries until Hungary was broken up into Nation States and the country of Czechoslovakia was created in 1918. Then, in 1993, the Czech Republic and Slovakia split and Bratislava became the capital of the new nation. As one can imagine, with a history that spans back centuries, but with their independence being relatively young, their is a true sense of national pride. Although there is some mistrust of Hungary due to the fact that Hungary retook the region during WWII, it seems that recently they have come to appreciate the relationship and the tourism that comes from Budapest.
Fisherman’s Square in BratislavaModern Bridge with UFO RestaurantStatue of
Our tour started by visiting the Slavin War Memorial, which honors the 6,845 Soviet Union soldiers who died freeing the country from German occupation. The highlight of visiting the memorial are the amazing views of the city, the Bratislava Castle, and the modern bridge with the UFO restaurant suspended above it. From the views of the city, it is clear that Bratislava is a city that is growing and many modern skyscrapers are starting to dominate the skyline. Obviously, our tour was focused on the historic areas of the city.
Slavin War MemorialModern SkyscrapersStatues of Soldiers at the War Memorial
Following the memorial, we stopped at the Bratislava Castle. Although you can’t enter the castle as it is now the home of government offices, walking the grounds is quite beautiful with its gardens and fortress walls. The original castle was destroyed and the current castle was rebuilt in the 1950’s, although a few of the original features remain. There have also been recent renovations to the castle, including the adding of a statue of King Svatopluk I, who was a Moravian ruler.
Michael’s GateThe Dome of St. Martin’s CathedralHistoric Building
Finally, we spent time in the old town area of Bratislava. St Martin’s Cathedral is certainly the focal point of the area and was actually where the kings of Hungary were crowned for over 300 years. The tower of the church is modeled after the Hungarian crown and is another example of the complex history of the area. As with most cities in Europe that were once surrounded by medieval walls, the walls were taken down centuries ago to allow the cities to grow, but one of the gates, Michael’s Gate, still remains and is one of the most interesting features in the city. There are also many historic mansions that were built by the wealthy aristocrats in the region that have now been converted into stores, restaurants, and hotels.
Memorial for Victims of the HolocaustGardens at the CastleFamous Statue Called the Watcher
We had originally scheduled our tour for earlier in the week, but the weather forecast for the day of our tour called for rain and cold temperatures, so we rescheduled it to later in the week. We were definitely happy with that decision since the weather was decidedly better, although still cool and overcast. Bratislava is definitely worth visiting if you have the opportunity and we are glad that we decided to add it to our itinerary.
View of Bratislava CastleBratislava Castle Up-Close
