Many of us, presented with suggestions of traveling to the best European cities, turn our minds to thoughts of the Eiffel Tower, the Spanish Steps, the Ramblas or St. Paul's Cathedral. We might say there's a certain western bias. This is likely a result all those years Eastern Europe spent shut off by the Iron Curtain.
Thankfully the days of totalitarian communism are all well behind us. And while the new gems in the crown of Europe's great tourist cities don't shimmer quite as gloriously as when they first became open to visitors, back in the 90s, the cities of Eastern Europe remain remarkable opportunities. They bring together breathtaking architecture, delicious food, ancient cultures, affordable prices and people who remain free from tourism-overload cynicism.
Our top three on the list of must-see cities are offered for your consideration:
BUCHAREST
This is one that may not come to mind immediately for a lot of people. However, being a bit under the radar is likely part of its appeal. Don't wait too long, though. This great getaway is stirring up more and more attention each passing year.
Dubbed little Paris as a result of its distinctive French influence, Bucharest is a great city that survived the bleakest of the bleak Iron Curtain totalitarians in far better shape than might have been anticipated. Back in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, before the Communists got hold of it, Bucharest experienced a developmental flourishing.
These great achievements remain among the cities destination landmarks. Topping that list is Bucharest University, Grand Hotel du Boulevard, the Botanical Garden, the Atheneum, and Casa Capsa.
In general, the city's wide, tree-lined boulevards, glorious Belle Epoque buildings and a reputation for high style, has provided it its well deserved little Paris moniker. A bustling metropolis, Romania's largest city and capital is an absolute must see if you're in search of the East's best European cities.
2. PRAGUE
Okay, so our number 2 spot is somewhat more predictable, but don't let that put you off. Prague may be the best-known city in Eastern Europe. It comes by the fame honestly, though.
Replete with wondrous bridges, cathedrals, gold-tipped towers and church domes, this historic city is pure eye-candy. Somehow it manages to blend the old, medieval, with its cobbled lanes, walled courtyards, cathedrals and countless church spires, with the modern, replete with contemporary fine dining, music, and art.
It goes without saying, when you're visiting Prague there are certain venues you simply have to experience. At the top of that list are the Charles Bridge, the Prague Castle/St. Vitus Cathedral, and the Old Town Square, with its well-known Astronomical Clock. Goodness, though, don't stop there. There are too many other marvelous secrets to discover.
Take the ubiquitous cafe; Prague is rightfully famed for its grand cafes. Check out this hot tip though. When you go in search of your coffee break, turn your gaze upward. Little known to the average tourist, Prague's best and most refined, atmospheric downtown cafes are up on what they call the first floor.
It is amazingly that these are overlooked by most tourists. All the better for you. You'll be left speechless by the elegance and refinement of the period interiors. The coffee is dependably exquisite and the clientele always well appointed in the old European way. Top recommendations are the Grand Cafe Orient above the Cubist Museum and Cafe Louvre. The latter, I'm told, was once of haunt of both Kafka and Einstein.
1. Krakow
If you thought our number 2 spot was predictable, maybe we can make up for it with our number 1 choice. Krakow holds some of the best kept secrets of Europe, with its beautiful architecture and old world charm. The restaurants of Krakow have a reputation for quaint atmospheres and excellent food, all on offer for very reasonable prices.
Despite all this, Krakow is no longer the undiscovered hideaway of even recent years. Steven Spielberg's much decorated movie, Shindler's List, filmed and based on events that took place in Krakow, has brought the city to the attention of tourists in a renew way. It is still possible and relatively easy, though, to get a taste of the real Krakow - of the feel of the city prior to its Hollywood generated tourist industry. Here is our suggestion: get over to Podgrze.
A working-class area being slowly revitalized by Krakow's boho set, seeking refuge from the tourist influx into the town center and Jewish district, Podgrze is surprising easy to access. Simply cross the Laetus Bernatek footbridge. It's easy to do, but most tourists just don't venture across it. Once you're into Podgrze, you'll find a vibrant area with plenty of bars and cafes, for all tastes. You'll have to choose what the right flavor is for you.
One venue we'd highly recommend is Klub Drukarnia. This happening jazz club offers spectacular sunset views over the Wisla River. The club's basement is the local for frequent concerts and DJ nights. Its features include a saloon-style smoking room and a smarter side with velvet seats and a long bar with expansive windows issuing out over the river. Hang with the cool kids of Krakow.
Much as you might enjoy the music and food of Podgrze, the real attraction on this side of the river is Liban Quarry. This place is something else. It's a must-see. Honestly, the term surreal may get overused, but it's perfectly chosen for this place. Originally the quarry of a 19th century Jewish owned limestone company, the Nazis converted it into a forced labor camp. Perhaps they felt there was some irony. The price of this irony was many people's lives; forced labor, when enforced by those as serious as the Nazis, meant worked to death.
After the war Liban Quarry was made a memorial to the victims of Nazi atrocities. Strange sense of memorial, though: the subsequent decades have seen the city essentially turn its back on the place. Consequently, it has been reclaimed by nature, transforming into a spontaneous wildlife sanctuary. It is now home to waterfowl, birds of prey, pheasants and various other animals - including the occasional apparently wild horse. Rusting refinery equipment and memorial gravestones have been swallowed up by intermittent ponds and increasingly dense vegetation, all solemnly overseen by the looming limestone cliffs that started it all. Interpretation of the rather pressing symbolism is left to you.
If a visit to Liban Quarry has left you a little spooked, on your way back across the bridge from Podgrze stop off for a pick me up. There are two delightful cafes just on the city side of the bridge: Mostowy Art Cafe is a large and elegant gallery cafe. And if seeking something more subdued, Po Drodze, just next door, is a cosy old kitchen cafe where you can spice up your coffee with a vodka shot.
Thankfully the days of totalitarian communism are all well behind us. And while the new gems in the crown of Europe's great tourist cities don't shimmer quite as gloriously as when they first became open to visitors, back in the 90s, the cities of Eastern Europe remain remarkable opportunities. They bring together breathtaking architecture, delicious food, ancient cultures, affordable prices and people who remain free from tourism-overload cynicism.
Our top three on the list of must-see cities are offered for your consideration:
BUCHAREST
This is one that may not come to mind immediately for a lot of people. However, being a bit under the radar is likely part of its appeal. Don't wait too long, though. This great getaway is stirring up more and more attention each passing year.
Dubbed little Paris as a result of its distinctive French influence, Bucharest is a great city that survived the bleakest of the bleak Iron Curtain totalitarians in far better shape than might have been anticipated. Back in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, before the Communists got hold of it, Bucharest experienced a developmental flourishing.
These great achievements remain among the cities destination landmarks. Topping that list is Bucharest University, Grand Hotel du Boulevard, the Botanical Garden, the Atheneum, and Casa Capsa.
In general, the city's wide, tree-lined boulevards, glorious Belle Epoque buildings and a reputation for high style, has provided it its well deserved little Paris moniker. A bustling metropolis, Romania's largest city and capital is an absolute must see if you're in search of the East's best European cities.
2. PRAGUE
Okay, so our number 2 spot is somewhat more predictable, but don't let that put you off. Prague may be the best-known city in Eastern Europe. It comes by the fame honestly, though.
Replete with wondrous bridges, cathedrals, gold-tipped towers and church domes, this historic city is pure eye-candy. Somehow it manages to blend the old, medieval, with its cobbled lanes, walled courtyards, cathedrals and countless church spires, with the modern, replete with contemporary fine dining, music, and art.
It goes without saying, when you're visiting Prague there are certain venues you simply have to experience. At the top of that list are the Charles Bridge, the Prague Castle/St. Vitus Cathedral, and the Old Town Square, with its well-known Astronomical Clock. Goodness, though, don't stop there. There are too many other marvelous secrets to discover.
Take the ubiquitous cafe; Prague is rightfully famed for its grand cafes. Check out this hot tip though. When you go in search of your coffee break, turn your gaze upward. Little known to the average tourist, Prague's best and most refined, atmospheric downtown cafes are up on what they call the first floor.
It is amazingly that these are overlooked by most tourists. All the better for you. You'll be left speechless by the elegance and refinement of the period interiors. The coffee is dependably exquisite and the clientele always well appointed in the old European way. Top recommendations are the Grand Cafe Orient above the Cubist Museum and Cafe Louvre. The latter, I'm told, was once of haunt of both Kafka and Einstein.
1. Krakow
If you thought our number 2 spot was predictable, maybe we can make up for it with our number 1 choice. Krakow holds some of the best kept secrets of Europe, with its beautiful architecture and old world charm. The restaurants of Krakow have a reputation for quaint atmospheres and excellent food, all on offer for very reasonable prices.
Despite all this, Krakow is no longer the undiscovered hideaway of even recent years. Steven Spielberg's much decorated movie, Shindler's List, filmed and based on events that took place in Krakow, has brought the city to the attention of tourists in a renew way. It is still possible and relatively easy, though, to get a taste of the real Krakow - of the feel of the city prior to its Hollywood generated tourist industry. Here is our suggestion: get over to Podgrze.
A working-class area being slowly revitalized by Krakow's boho set, seeking refuge from the tourist influx into the town center and Jewish district, Podgrze is surprising easy to access. Simply cross the Laetus Bernatek footbridge. It's easy to do, but most tourists just don't venture across it. Once you're into Podgrze, you'll find a vibrant area with plenty of bars and cafes, for all tastes. You'll have to choose what the right flavor is for you.
One venue we'd highly recommend is Klub Drukarnia. This happening jazz club offers spectacular sunset views over the Wisla River. The club's basement is the local for frequent concerts and DJ nights. Its features include a saloon-style smoking room and a smarter side with velvet seats and a long bar with expansive windows issuing out over the river. Hang with the cool kids of Krakow.
Much as you might enjoy the music and food of Podgrze, the real attraction on this side of the river is Liban Quarry. This place is something else. It's a must-see. Honestly, the term surreal may get overused, but it's perfectly chosen for this place. Originally the quarry of a 19th century Jewish owned limestone company, the Nazis converted it into a forced labor camp. Perhaps they felt there was some irony. The price of this irony was many people's lives; forced labor, when enforced by those as serious as the Nazis, meant worked to death.
After the war Liban Quarry was made a memorial to the victims of Nazi atrocities. Strange sense of memorial, though: the subsequent decades have seen the city essentially turn its back on the place. Consequently, it has been reclaimed by nature, transforming into a spontaneous wildlife sanctuary. It is now home to waterfowl, birds of prey, pheasants and various other animals - including the occasional apparently wild horse. Rusting refinery equipment and memorial gravestones have been swallowed up by intermittent ponds and increasingly dense vegetation, all solemnly overseen by the looming limestone cliffs that started it all. Interpretation of the rather pressing symbolism is left to you.
If a visit to Liban Quarry has left you a little spooked, on your way back across the bridge from Podgrze stop off for a pick me up. There are two delightful cafes just on the city side of the bridge: Mostowy Art Cafe is a large and elegant gallery cafe. And if seeking something more subdued, Po Drodze, just next door, is a cosy old kitchen cafe where you can spice up your coffee with a vodka shot.
About the Author:
Travel enthusiasts need to follow the hottest news on European travel opportunities at our Best European Cities site. Mitchell Jones is a widely published travel writer, who provides the lowdown on the latest travel trends. See his fascinating piece on the wellness travel industry in India.
No comments:
Post a Comment