Fairytale Destinations |
Is it a
dream or is it for real? These places will make you wonder whether you
step into the land of magic and fantasy or still firmly stand on the
ground. With unearthly nature, unreal landscapes or fairy tale
architecture, these destinations will take you far away from your
humdrum reality.
Colmar, France.
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Picturesque Colmar in France, considered the most beautiful city in Europe, looks like it came straight out of a fairy tale. This tiny town in Alsace is famous not only for its magically colourful old town. Colmar, situated along the Alsatian Wine Route, is called the "Capital of Alsatian Wine" - it boasts a sunny microclimate and is the second driest city in France, making it ideal for wine growing. As if being the wine capital was not enough, Colmar, with its pretty squares, fountains and canals, is also called the "little Venice" (la Petite Venise). It is also the home town of Frédéric Bartholdi, who designed the Statue of Liberty, and the painter Martin Schongauer. |
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Faroe Islands.
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The Lord of the Rings' scenery of
Faroe Islands truly makes you believe the archipelago is inhabited by
hobbits and elves. Located halfway between Iceland and Norway, in the
heart of the Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic, the 18-island
archipelago is home to beautiful dramatic landscapes of volcanic peaks
and oceanic waves hitting against the rocky shoreline. The islands'
magical and mysterious scenery seems to be much closer to the fantasy
world than to reality. |
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Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany.
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It is not a
sugary Disneyland construction, although it looks like a fairy tale
palace occupied by some capricious princess. In fact, despite its
magical look, the Neuschwanstein Castle is more firmly rooted in reality
than one could imagine. Constructed on a rugged hill in the 19th
century for Ludwig II, the castle's fixtures were revolutionary at that
time: the building had running water and toilets with automatic flushing
on every floor as well as a heating system. Today, the Neuschwanstein
is the main stop on the Romantic Road, the Bavarian trail of ancient
towns and castles. |
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Cappadocia, Turkey
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If there
was a fairy tale about the enchanted land of clay, its setting would
look like Cappadocia. This fabulous region located in central Turkey is
famed for its pottery and unique rock formation in which the ancient
people carved out their houses and churches. The region is also home to
the odd-looking rock formations called "fairy chimneys" that can be
found in various shapes such as cones, mushroom-like forms, columns and
pointed rocks. The tradition of pottery and ceramics in Turkey is one of
the world's oldest crafts, dating back to the 8th century. |
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Hoi An, Vietnam.
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Hoi An is a
place that cannot be missed while in Vietnam. This colourful, magical
and beautiful little town is home to more silk lanterns than people.
Situated on the coast of the South China Sea, the town used to be an
important port and trading centre. Today it is a fairy tale spot
visited by thousands of travellers and backpackers that cannot resist
its charm. Hoi An's fabulous atmosphere blended with captivating
hospitality and fairytale architecture make the town one of the most
rewarding destination in South-East Asia. |
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Greenland.
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Unspoiled,
remote and untraveled, Greenland is a land of wilderness, unbeaten
tracks, raw landscapes and jaw-dropping vistas. With virtually no trees,
no roads and almost no people, the island seems to be inhabited by
mythological dwarves rather than humans. Though cold and rugged,
Greenland is a place of unforgettable atmosphere warmed up by the
magical aurora borealis and colourfully painted houses. |
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Venice, Italy.
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Venice is
hard to rival. Its admirable architecture, unique canals, the abundance
of fantastic sights and extraordinary atmosphere are one of a kind.
Venice seems to be imported from another dimension, though the New York
Times described it as "undoubtedly the most beautiful city built by
man". Stretched across 117 small islands, Venice boasts 455 bridges,
hundreds of canals where romantic gondolas wind their way through the
city, and is home to the famed Carnival of Venice, Venice Biennale and
the Venice Film Festival. |
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Kathmandu, Nepal.
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Beautiful
and spiritual, Nepal's vibrant capital, Kathmandu, is truly a magical
place. Surrounded by mighty mountains, the city is filled with
enchanting atmosphere, exotic sounds, smells and fascinating temples.
Although Kathmandu is the largest city in the country, it has preserved
its fantasy-like charm of ancient temples, shrines and traditional
architecture. Called "the Land of Gods", Kathmandu seems to be a
slightly unearthly destination. |
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Bamboo Forest, Japan.
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Though
located in Kyoto, Japan and unrelated with the movies, the landscape of
the Bamboo Forest resembles the scenery of the Crouching Tiger, Hidden
Dragon or House of Flying Daggers. Is only one example of hundreds of
amazing forests covering the region of South-East Asia. Bamboo plays a
significant role in many Asian cultures- it is a symbol of longevity in
China, a symbol of friendship in India, and in Japan many Shinto shrines
are surrounded by a bamboo forest which is considered a sacred barrier
against the evil. |
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Sintra, Portugal
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No wonder
Sintra inspired Lord Byron to write Childe Harold's Pilgrimage that
celebrates the beauty of the town. Anyone visiting this magical spot,
located not far from Lisbon, could feel encouraged to create a sublime
poem in honour of Sintra's graces. Pena Palace, the Castelo dos Mouros,
and Palácio Nacional de Sintra are the town's three amazing palaces, and
the Sintra Mountain Range, one of the largest parks in the Lisbon area,
only adds more charm and enigma. |
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And the
best thing about these places, notwithstanding their magical qualities,
is that they're all as real as it gets. Accessible, safe and inviting,
they're just waiting for you to pack your bags and reach for that bit of
fantasy on Earth. Been there? Seen that? Please tell as a story...
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mercredi 8 octobre 2014
Fairytale Destinations
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