The lovely Estonian town of Tartu certainly has a cultural bent: sightseeing highlights include the crooked art museum and the University of Tartu. Another cultural side you’ll notice if you stroll around Tartu is that they’re big on honouring writers. My personal Estonian experience certainly fits this – the first person I spoke with about Estonia, on the bus ride in from Russia, was a half-Estonian Australia whose mother was a famous enough writer to be on the high school syllabus there.

In any case, you might be especially surprised (as I was) to come across a statue of Irish writer Oscar Wilde. You’ll find him sitting on a bench having a talk with Estonian writer Eduard Wilde – of course, Oscar Wilde never visited Estonia but the sculptor “imagined” them having this conversation, theoeretically possible as it was since they were both alive in the late nineteenth century. There’s space to sit between them if you want to get involved in what must have been an interesting chat.

If, like me, you’re especially interested in literary figures, keep an eye out for some of the other monuments you can find in Tartu. There are at least four more that I’ve seen – for Friedrich Rober Faehlmann and Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald who were both involved in writing Estonian folk tales and epic fables; for Estonian poet Kristjan Jakk Peterson who studied in Tartu; and for twentieth century writer Oskar Luts.

Photo: Alastair Rae via Creative Commons

I wouldn’t have even stopped had it not been for what I thought was a ‘typo.’ The sheer horror of a ‘Manet’ instead of a ‘Monet’ was enough to redirect my attention from the unusual colours of Hundertwasserhaus to the more muted glass pane before me, just a few meters from the colourful building, which as you know counts  as one of the best places to visit in Europe.

On closer scrutiny, I realized a number of artists shared the window pane with Manet, and they were all misspelt. This, but obviously, was Vienna’s Museum of Art Fakes.

Photo Credit - Museum of Art Fakes

A novel idea, this Vienna attraction, the Museum of Art Fakes is devoted to the best art forgeries and forgers in the art world. You’ll find a wealth of information (on art, famous forgers and even fakes by world renowned artists) here. Not just that, the exhibits take you through the basics of forgery, enabling you to understand the vocabulary, and the small but significant differences in this world of fakes.

With an entry of 4 Euros, this most unusual of Vienna museums adds an intriguing twist to the concept of a regular art gallery. In addition to the art, there is also a quirky store, full of replicas and kitschy items.

And then of course, not four paces away is Hundertwasserhaus; I’d like someone to take inspiration from these two stops and consider creating a replica of Hundertwasserhaus; I for one would be just as interested in the fake as the original!

Have you been to the Museum of Art Fakes or a similar establishment? Leave us a comment if you have.

I was offered a complimentary copy of Paris Movie Walks by Michael Schurmann for review purposes. I’m not a great movie buff but I thought that movie themed self guided Paris walks sounded like a great idea. Paris is already renowned as being one of the best places to visit in Europe, so it would be interesting to add a movie inspired angle to your Paris sightseeing.

Under the Paris Sky by Reinante El Pintor de Fuego

I was really impressed by the book Paris Movie Walks, it was thoroughly researched, structured in a way to make it really easy to use and written in a humorous manner. Michael suggests that you watch three movies before you arrive in Paris, so at least you have some Paris movie locations to which you can relate. There’s an index of all the movies featured in the walks, so if you have favourite movies you can select the appropriate walks.

The book includes ten walks each taking in several Paris movie locations, complete with maps. I liked the fact that all sorts of movies are included in the book, from the rather obscure to blockbusters. Michael doesn’t appear to make any judgments on the quality of the movies included in the book, I think he’s guided solely by the movie locations. He’s devised the walks to take in several movie locations in fairly close proximity. However, there are some widely dispersed locations a greater distance from the city centre, which Michael has collated in a Further Afield section.

Last Tango in Paris by drmvm1

Author guided walks are on the cards, wouldn’t it be great to have Michael show you around Paris movie locations? You can follow Michael and his wife Marlys on Twitter as @ParisBuff where they give tips on budget travel to Paris and beyond.

I haven’t been to Paris for years and Paris Movie Walks has increased my desire to go there again soon. So, my top Europe travel tip for those planning a Paris trip would be to get a copy of this book.

New York City has the famous cupcakes of Magnolia Cafe, and of course there are the lovely scones of York. But Europe’s real foodie attraction are the pretty in pink cakes in Vienna at Cafe Aida

This is a chain cafe/bakery in Austria, now I normally wouldn’t recommend a Starbucks-like brand. But with their old-fashioned neon signs, their windows full of beautiful cake creations, and their only-pink policy, I can’t think of a better recommendation for Vienna. The umbrellas are pink, the waitresses are pink, and most of the cakes have pink icing. And they’re good – this isn’t all show. So skip the Sacher Torte and head for Aida.

One of my faves is the topfen strudel – which is just a cream cheese strudel (although the cream cheese isn’t exactly the same as the one you’re thinking of). Otherwise, just point at something that catches your eye – there is a massive glass case full of them.

Vienna is a great place for museums and shopping, so my one of my Europe travel tips would be to recharge and relax your sore feet by sipping some cappuccino and a sugary sweet at Vienna’s Cafe Aida. Plus it is a convenient stop if the weather isn’t so great.

Photo by denkrahm

Although I was brought up in London, I’m constantly reminded when I return of the many great places to visit that are new to me. One of these is Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, and ever hopeful that spring is just around the corner, I thought I’d share some Europe travel tips on what to do there.

Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park

Hyde Park was once a hunting ground for Royalty, but these days it’s one of the green lungs of central London with plenty of amenities for visitors. The best way to approach the park is on foot or by tube from wherever you’re staying – the nearest tubes are too many to mention, so I suggest that you download the map from the excellent Royal Parks website and approach from whichever direction is most convenient for the things you want to see. The western half of Hyde Park merges into Kensington Gardens where there also many things to enjoy.

Hyde park for sports

If you’re staying near the park and like to keep fit, it’s an excellent place to run and jog, perhaps doing a circuit or two around the Serpentine Lake that runs through the centre of the park. Cycling is permitted on roads and some cycle paths and you can even swim in the lake at the Serpentine Lido and paddling pool between Easter and October. Near the Lido, you’ll find the tennis centre where you can turn up and play and there’s even horse riding in the park available from the Hyde Park Stable if you ring to book in advance.

Hyde park for families

Princess Diana Memorial Playground

The park is a mecca for kids to enjoy a bit of space away from the noise and London traffic and you can enjoy a picnic in summer or a walk beside the Serpentine Lake to feed the ducks. There are several playgrounds around the park but the most popular is the Diana Memorial Playground on the edge of Kensington Gardens, which is often packed with kids swarming over the pirate ship at the centre. Near the Lido is the Princess Diana Memorial fountain, a loop of shallow water that children love to paddle and dabble in when the weather’s warm. If you have older children, they may also enjoy some of the other sporting activities I’ve already mentioned.

History and Culture in Kensington Gardens

On the western edge of Kensington Gardens is Kensington Palace, home of the late Princess Diana and other members of the Royal Family, where you can visit many of the Palace rooms and see the Royal Ceremonial dress collection as well as an exhibition of some of the clothes Princess Diana wore. If you’re an art buff you can visit the Serpentine Gallery for free when there is an exhibition being held – visit the website to see what’s on.

Afternoon tea in Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens

Kensington Palace in London

There are many places to eat in the parks including the Serpentine Bar and restaurant and the Lido cafe, but one that is ideal for afternoon tea is the Orangery at Kensington Palace where you can have the Debutante’s afternoon tea in the elegant surroundings of the former Orangery. If you’re approaching from the Knightsbridge side, you could push the boat out in elegant luxury on the Park Terrace of the Mandarin Oriental hotel, where they serve lunches and afternoon tea from May to September, overlooking the park.

I’d like to thank Miko Selcuk, Senior Concierge at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park for passing on many of these great tips to me – Do say Hi to Miko for me if you visit the Mandarin Oriental for afternoon tea this summer.

For more information on Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, visit the Royal Parks website.

Photo Credits: Starrgazr, UGArdener, UGArdener

The beautiful medieval town of Civita di Bagnoregio, about 100 km north of Rome – within the province of Lazio and just along the border with neighboring Umbria – is known as la città che muore (the dying city). It’s one of the best places to visit in Europe if you enjoy historic towns.

Dying is, unfortunately, just what Civita di Bagnoregio is doing. The city, originally founded by the Etruscans, is perched on cliffs of tufo (tufa stone, similar to limestone), which is slowly but surely crumbling. Endangered residents have long since moved from Civita di Bagnoregio to the town of Bagnoregio, built during the Renaissance, just opposite the chasm from the medieval town. Residents had been leaving the medieval town all throughout the 16^th century, but a devastating earthquake struck the town in the late 17^th century, leaving it a virtual ghost town.

A 1 km bridge connects the “new” 16^th century town with its medieval twin and tourists make the stunning (and steep) climb up the bridge to enjoy this medieval treasure.

Civita di Bagnoregio in a 1920 photo.

The pedestrian-only town is a wonder to explore. Its buildings are all constructed of tufa blocks. While many of the buildings are crumbling (and those closest to the cliff edge are literally falling over the edge), some are being reconstructed and are charming. There is one hotel in town and a few room and apartment rentals for visitors who would like to make this unique town their base for exploring the region.

The town offers stunning panoramas of the calanchi appennini (eroded rock formations found frequently in the Apennine mountain range). This strange, lunar-type landscape is a dramatic backdrop to lovely Bagnoregio.

A day trip to Civita di Bagnoregio from Rome would be a top Europe travel tip. However it’s also possible as a day trip from nearby Umbria or as a destination for a relaxing holiday in the region. Just be sure to bring comfortable walking shoes for the steep climb up to the town. There’s no doubt both the walk up and the stunning beauty of the town will leave you breathless.

Have you visited Civita di Bagnoregio?

The south of France is a popular holiday destination, for all sorts of reasons, and with very good reason too. It seems the weather is always wonderful, the food out of this world, and there is never enough time. As one of the best places to visit in Europe this area of France never fails to surprise and enchant. If you are looking for a holiday with a difference in southern France and you have not tried boating on the Canal du Midi, read on …

The canal was dug by some 12 000 men between the years of 1667 and 1681. During the reign of Louis XIV these men, under the direction of a Pierre Paul Riquet dug out an estimated 7,000,000m³ of earth to connect the city of Toulouse to the town of Sète on the Mediterranean coast. The canal runs for 240 km and together with the Canal de Garonne, which runs from Toulouse to Bordeaux, provides a navigable route from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic Ocean.

This is in fact why the canal was built in the first place, to provide a faster and safer passage from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic without having to go around the Iberian peninsular, which would have take about a month in the 17th century through areas renowned for piracy. Today, it is possible to hire boats, and a favourite trip on the Canal du Midi is that between Toulouse and the medieval city of Carcassonne.

If you do hire a boat, make sure you take some bicycles with you; or if you are staying in a city on the Canal du Midi, hire some bikes, get yourself a picnic and take a ride out along the paths. In 1996 the Canal du Midi was placed on UNESCO’s list of World heritage sites, not only because of the engineering heritage it represents but also because the canal passes through some areas of outstanding natural beauty.

There are 91 locks which enable boats travelling along it to climb and descend a total of 190 metres. Besides the locks there are also bridges, dams and even a tunnel; in total there are 328 structures associated with the canal, passing through some wonderful towns and cities and open countryside.

These stunning photographs are just a few taken by Zeldenrust, there are many more to see more on his Flikr photostream.

I visited the Kelvingrove Art Gallery Museum in Januarry 2010. It was my first visit after the recent three year restoration of the building. The main entrance leads you straight into the grand Centre Hall. I loved the art deco style ceiling lamps and the decorated ceiling.

The Centre Hall at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

There was an organ recital during my visit on a Sunday afternoon.

The organ in the Centre Hall at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

In an adjacent hall there was a plane suspended from the ceiling.

The suspended plane at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

Under the plane stood a moose with enormous antlers.

The moose at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

In the hall opposite there were hanging heads displaying a spectrum of expressions from horror to indifference to sheer joy.

Hanging heads at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

Elvis Presley AKA as The King was strutting his stuff, complete with halo and bulging stomach.

Elvis at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

One of Glasgow’s most famous sons, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, is remembered through a recreation of a dining room typifying his distinctive style.

Rennie Mackintosh style dining room at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

One of my favourite paintings was Vetheuil by Monet.

Vetheuil by Monet at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

Motherless by Edinburgh born sculptor George Lawson depicts a widower cuddling his child.

Motherless by George Lawson

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and it’s a top free Glasgow attraction, worthy of inclusion in any travel Europe guide. It’s open seven days a week, Monday to Thursday and Saturday 10am to 5pm, Friday and Sunday 11am to 5pm.

You’d better be quick to grab one of the 6000 £15 Travelodge UK rooms up for grabs for stays.  The promotion runs until  Friday 5 February but I suspect that the rooms may well sell out before them.

With the Half Term holidays approaching this is an opportunity for a cheap family getaway as many Travelodge rooms can sleep up to 2 adults and 2 kids. I’m a big fan of Travelodge as their rooms are comfortable and great value.  Looking out for their promotional rate rooms, which can be as low as £9 a night, is one of my top European travel tips.

Finns speak Finnish. It makes sense then that the official language of Finland is Finnish. But it is also Swedish. Just about five and a half percent of the population speaks Swedish as their native language.

This is not a large amount of the population. Despite this, the street signs in Helsinki are written in both Swedish and Finnish. When looking for European travel tips though, you aren’t looking for bilingual signs. Luckily, there are more exciting things to look at while in Helsinki. Three churches of Helsinki really stand out.

Helsinki Cathedral is of course the most well-known. Situated in Senate Square, the cathedral boasts a large dome and enough columns to make you think you’re in Greece. The view from the steps of the Cathedral is amazing and on sunny days, the square below is bustling with locals and tourists alike. Depending on the time of year, and the fact that entrance is free, you might have to fight slight crowds.

On a little island in Helsinki, just off the main part of the city lies the Uspensky Orthodox Cathedral, an impressive red brick structure. Opening hours are limited, but entrance is free. Even if you find yourself getting there after 4 in the afternoon, the exterior is beautiful and really shows off the Russian influence in Helsinki.

Finally, my favorite, simply because it is so different. Temppeliaukio Church. The church is literally built into a large rock quarry. I wasn’t sure what to expect and while trying to find the church, eventually realized that I was walking on top of it. When I finally made my way inside, I was amazed by the stone walls. Not because they were carved stone, but because they were actual rock walls. Temppeliaukio Church is also free, but has some very strange opening hours depending on the season and the day of the week so be sure to check ahead if you want to get inside.