In the 1670s, Louis XIV built the Palace of Versailles on the site of his father’s hunting lodge. Louis was fed up with the scheming nobility and relocated the entire French court from Paris to a remote location where he could monitor them more closely. Versailles was designed to show off Louis’s absolute power as […]
Parks and Gardens
Cesis, Latvia: A Must See Fairytale Town
“This is the land of Narnia,” said the Faun, “where we are now; all that lies between the lamppost and the great castle of Cair Paravel on the eastern sea.” My favorite book growing up was The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. The story is about four precocious British children who […]
Bauska Latvia: Three Big Reasons to Visit
The Latvian countryside is dotted with castle ruins thanks to the Livonian Knights who once controlled the region. Bauska Castle was built in the mid-15th century and served as a stronghold for over 100 years. After the Knights lost the Livonian War in the mid-16th century, the castle was incorporated into the Duchy of Courland, a […]
Top Activities to Enjoy in Riga, Latvia this Summer
Latvia may not be as popular a summer destination as, say, Spain or Italy, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a great place to visit. The season here is short and oh so sweet – especially if you know how to take full advantage of the region’s fleeting summer sunshine! Don your sunglasses and SPF and get […]
Getting Wonderfully Lost in the Gardens of Prague
If there was ever a fairy-tale city, Prague is it. There’s a castle on a hill, UNESCO-protected Easter egg-hued architecture, stone bridges spanning a river, and sculptures galore. The gently rolling cityscape is a sea of red tile roofs and spiky church spires. Music and the sweet scent of freshly baked trdelniks waft in the […]