Twelve Things in Europe that Don't Really Get Enough Attention

Gee, Ed, you're such a maverick. Most people do top ten lists. Unfortunately, I have only been to one place on your list -- Chartres. I agree that it's really great (especially if you take a tour with Malcolm Miller), but I would have said it's a major site. But why quibble? Your list looks pretty interesting.

The Diocean Museum Brixen - Brixen/Bressanone

Churburg Castle (Castle Coira) - Schluderns, Val Venosta, Italy

Kloster Muestair (Convent of St. Johns) - Switzerland

The Dolomites in general!

Paul

This isn't a list, but I think the most overlooked thing in Europe is Scandinavia, Sweden and Finland, in particular.

So far my biggest pleasant surprise tourist experience has been Helsinki, Finland.

I wish more people would make it a point to venture north, especially in the summers when the weather is fine and the days are long.

There aren't so many castles and cathedrals because they didn't usually build with stone. But we, as Amercans, can enjoy things besides castles and cathedrals, can't we?

Ed,

Your No. 6 entry, The National Museum of Prehistory in Les Eyzies is one of the stops covered on Rick's Paris & the South of France tour. I found it very interesting and both the building (which is built into the side of a cliff) and the displays were very well done.

The Perigueux region is also covered on that tour, and as I recall that's the area that offers canoeing down the Dordogne.

Cheers!

Romania!!!

Frankfurt!

As embarrassed as I was to having to admit to three things on your previous list, I'm more embarrassed to admit I haven't seen anything on your current list. However, most things are from the UK, which I avoid for reasons of language difficulties; same for Spain and France (Italy also).

I realize that I'm unique, preferring to spend time in small town Germany, connecting with the locals and practicing my German. The only places on most people's list I can identify with are a couple of castles on the Rhein, Rothenburg, Munich, Berchtesgaden, and Fuessen.

I agree, Lee and my complements to your linguistic tenacity. AND go to Koblenz to see the fortress that is also the DJH hostel, from which you'll see Deutsches Eck....a fantastic view.

Bonnfest.

I attended before I visited Oktoberfest the first time. Having been to both, I would take Bonnfest any day. Stays open all night rather than closing early. The beer tent has two stages (one oompah band and one rock band) so there aren't long breaks in the music. Way fewer crowd control rules. Plus more local families and less tourists.

For military history buffs, I would add the Royal Museum of Military History in Brussels. Half of the collection consists artefacts from the Belgian military and is probably only of interest to specialists. But the other half consists of a huge collection of material from the world wars, and has exhibits representing nearly every combatant nation in both conflicts.

The Lahn river valley half way between Frankfurt and KoblenzThe Lake of Constance, especially the Northern shoreDresden, Swiss Saxony and the Zittau mountainsThe German Baltic sea coast between Lübeck and SwinemündeThe Mecklenburg lake district around Müritz

Ed i have only made it to one place on your list, #12. Alignments at Carnac, France, very interesting spot and beautiful part of Brittany. I really want to go to Bilboa and at the same time visit the Guggenheim. I will have to look up some of your suggestions since i have not heard of them, thanks!

Ed, you have me so intrigued! Who knew there was a pencil museum? I adore small quirky museums.

Oh Karen, you must come see our "Hammer museum", though the "Leather" museum is pretty cool too.

Lee's comment about language difficulties in the UK made me laugh!

Only thing on this list I've even gotten close to is Hadrien's Wall, but it's been 10+ years since I went to UK and haven't been anywhere else on the list.

For Italy, I would add Ostia Antica. It's well-known among Rick's followers, but most people only think of Pompeii.

I spent three days in London in 1990 and hardly ever understood a word anyone said (common language, eh?). Fortunately the signs were quite readable.

Speaking of "quirky" museums, in Creglingen, on the Romantic Road, there is a Fingerhut (Thimble) Museum. See here.

Tom--A great recommendation, the Royal Museum of Military History in Brussels. it's one of the few major ones in Western and Central Europe which I just have not gotten around to seeing with diligent care during my trips. This one in Brussels and the Tank Museum in Saumur (Fr.) are must-sees.

Mecklenburg is also a place which I have not yet seen, especially the museum in Greifswald...good suggestion.

Haven't done much of your list, though #s7 and 8 are on my bucket list. I'd add Cardiff and the Snowdonia area of Wales, Kew Gardens in London, and Aviemore Scotland - all places I'd do over and over and over.

In France, Orador sur Glane is a site many dont visit.Its a town that was burned after killing the townspeople.It is now a memorial.

As George Bernard Shaw once said "English and the Americans are the only two peoples separated by a common language". I have not been to any of those places Ed mentioned. The closest would be to the National Museum of Prehistory, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac, France when we did a canoe trip from Vitrac to Beynac on the Dordogne but we did not get to the museum. There is a dreamy little village in The Netherlands called Giethoorn, formerly called Geythorn, (goat horns) that is called the Venice of the Netherlands. Some of our Holland friends took us there a few years back and it is worth a day trip for anyone close by. No streets so transportation is by boat, foot or bicycle. It is a very picturesque village and most of the houses have thatched roofs. It is one of those places that is not well known by tourists but is a nice getaway place for residents of Holland. Many of the houses are built on very small islands and are only connected by bridges. Anyone looking for a nice break from a hectic itinerary may want to spend a couple of days there relaxing and recharging the batteries.

Wuppertal, Germany has a unique transportation system called the Schwebebahn which is a suspended monorail over the Wupper River. It never has to contend with traffic as it goes above the river for about 7 miles or so. This is not something to go out of the way to see but if anyone is in Wuppertal you might as well hop on and go for a unique ride on a transportation system unlike any other.

As George Bernard Shaw once said "English and the Americans are the only two peoples separated by a common language".

That is not exactly what he said, but this is the gist of it all the same.

Since we are talking Shaw, I will add an Irish site: the Famine Ship at New Ross in Co. Wexford. It gives greater understanding of why they were called Coffin Ships and what horrors they were.

Michael, you forced me to do a little research on the Shaw quote. How about this:

"England and America are two countries separated by a common language".

I would cast a vote for Coventry Cathedral. The old cathedral stands in ruins just as it was when the fires from the Blitz were extinguished. It is a heart-wrenching site. But next to it stands the International Modern style cathedral built in the early 1950's, a stark contrast architecturally. The combination speaks eloquently of pain and renewal, of despair and hope...and Christians would find even deeper layers of meaning, I'm sure. The cathedral is in the old city center only blocks from the train station, which is easily reached from Euston Station in London.

How about the Camargue in southern France, in the Rhone Delta? I don’t see it mentioned in travel literature all that much, and I won't mind all that much if it has been overlooked. But for anyone interested in wetlands, birds, riders on indigenous horses herding fighting bulls with tridents, gypsy festivals – it’s an area worth a visit.

Oradur sur Glane

Orkneys

Urquhart Castle along Loch Ness

RAF Museum (n London)

Ceremony of the Keys @ Tower of London

laundomats----meet great people and have time to catch up on journaling

Wachau Valley in Austria!

Only an hour from Vienna.
One of the loveliest riverscapes of the world.
Wine country.
Paradise for gourmets.
Cradle of history for Central Europe.
http://www.donau.com/donau/e/portal/default.asp

I visited Carnac on my first visit to Bretagne in 2008-2009. Wonderful experience.

Hi Ed, interesting list. I have been to a few of your sights. Just thoughts:

Penzance - Out, St Ives - In,
Lands End - Out, Iles of Silly - In,
Carrick-A-Rede rope bridge - In,
Pencil Musem - Sorry, definitely - Out,
Chartres - a definite keeper,
The entire Hadrian Wall - Out, Portions of it - In,
Bilbao, Guggenheim, a definite keeper,
Orkney Islands - In,
Arndel Castle, UK - In,
Narrow boat in the Midlands - In,
York, Train Museum - In,
Dartmouth - In,
Cape St Vincent Portugal - In, Oporto - In,
Sewer Museum, Paris - Out,
Aran Islands - In,
Murals in Bogside, Derry, Ireland - In,
I'm tired for now.
Enjoyed your ideas Ed. Thanks