The Hanging Houses of Cuenca, Spain take the phrase “living on the edge” to extremes. Built in the 15th century atop rocky cliffs, the homes extended the town to its geographical limits. Las Casas Colgadas, as the structures are known in Spanish, seem suspended in both time and place. Some feature wooden balconies that jut […]
Destinations
Three Must-See Manors in Estonia
A Baltic German aristocracy reigned over Estonia and Latvia from the Middle Ages until the end of the first world war. They arrived as traders and crusaders, fighting to convert the native pagans to the Christian cause. Entry into the Hanseatic League increased the wealth of these German traders and they soon dominated every aspect […]
Rakvere Castle, Estonia: A Step Back to the Middle Ages
I pulled into Rakvere, Estonia on a rainy afternoon and was drawn to the imposing castle ruins perched above the town like a moth to a flame. Built by the Danes in the 14th century, Rakvere Castle is now a self-billed theme park that aims to educate visitors on the realities of medieval life. Trudging across […]
Kadriorg Palace: A Museum Fit for a Queen
Kadriorg Palace in Tallinn, Estonia is a relic of a bygone era. It was built in 1718 by Peter the Great, founding czar of the Russian Empire. The palace’s salmon pink facade, accented with slate blue doors and a green copper roof, was designed in the same ornate style as the buildings of Petersburg, the Empire’s […]
Why You Need to Visit Narva Castle in Estonia
Two stone behemoths have faced off for centuries as countless battles were waged over a very contentious border. Narva Castle towers over the Estonian side, while Ivangorod Fortress sprawls across the Russian bank. Between them runs the Narva River, which connects Lake Peipsi to the Gulf of Finland. Historically, whoever controlled the Narva River also […]