1,000 Places to See Before You 1,000 Places to See Before You DieDie

P. SchultzP. Schultz

EuropeEurope

EnglandEnglandWindsor Castle, Westminster Windsor Castle, Westminster

Abbey, and StonehengeAbbey, and StonehengeWindsor Castle is a thousand year old fortress that has been turned into the largest inhabited castle in the world, beingoccupied by the British Royal Family, going back to the 1300s.

Westminster Abbey is a World Heritage Siteand Gothic church. The Abbey is the traditional place of royal coronations and is a burial site for British monarchs.

Stonehenge is a prehistoricmonument consisting of a large circular setting of large standing stones. It is a World Heritage Site dating back to 3100 BC, and little isknow about how it was built.

ScotlandScotlandEdinburgh CastleEdinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle has human habitation dating back to the 9th century BC, and is the centre of military activity in Scotland. The structure sits on an extinct volcano, knownas Castle Rock. In 1621, King James VI granted land between Scotland and Newfoundland to promote settlement, and called this land Nova Scotia – literallymeaning “New Scotland”!

IrelandIrelandKillarney National ParkKillarney National Park

Killarney National Park was the first of its kind to be established in Ireland. It is known forits diverse ecology and beautiful landscapes. The park is unique because it is one ofthe few places in Ireland that has been continuously covered by woodland since thelast glacial period, 10,000 years ago. Also, humans have lived in this area since theBronze Age, 4,000 years ago.

AustriaAustriaHotel ImperialHotel Imperial

Hotel Imperial was built in 1863 and was the original residence of the prince ofVienna. The hotel showcases the 19th century romance of Vienna, and has been namedone of the top 75 resorts in Europe. Accommodations start at $285 USD.

FranceFranceThe Beaches of Normandy, The Beaches of Normandy, The Louvre, and VersaillesThe Louvre, and Versailles

On June 6, 1944, thousands of allied soldiers landed on the beaches of Normandy in what is known as D-Day, the turning point in WWII. Today, while the remnants of the battle are long gone, the remains of thousands of soldiers are still present at many cemeteries, such as the one honouring Canadians at Bayeux.

The Louvre is the world’smost visited museum, housingworks of art such as the MonaLisa, Madonna of the Rocks,and Liberty Leading the People. It has become more well known bythe book and movie, The Da VinciCode.

Versailles is a magnificent palace thatflourished under KingLouis XIV. It was the home of the French nobility and the Royal Court. It also has hundredsof acres of amazing gardens.

MonacoMonacoMonte Carlo CasinoMonte Carlo Casino

The Monte Carlo Casino is one of the most famouscasinos in the world, and it also houses an opera and ballethouse. Construction of the Monte Carlo began in 1858,and perhaps the most odd law regarding the casino is thatcitizens of Monaco are forbidden to enter the casino (residents are not allowed to gamble) – guests have to show their passports to get in (and the Royal Family even has to use a side door to get into the theatre!) Dress attireis also very strict – tuxedos and evening gowns only!

GermanyGermanyHotel Vier JahreszeitenHotel Vier Jahreszeiten

Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten opened in 1897 and remains one of the world’s great grandhotels. Located in the city of Hamburg, the hotel survived the bombing campaignduring WWII, which nearly destroyed the city. The hotel staff are known for theirimpeccable service, and can even greet guests by name. Accommodations start at $250 USD.

GreeceGreeceThe Acropolis and The Acropolis and

DelphiDelphiThe Acropolis, a World Heritage Site, houses 21 buildings ofhistoric and cultural significance in Athens. The mostfamous building is perhaps the Parthenon, a templededicated to the Greek Goddess Athena, built in the 5th

century BC. It is also the best surviving structure on the Acropolis.

Delphi is also a World Heritage Site, and was home to themost important oracle in the classical Greek world, and wasalso a major site for the worship of the god Apollo. The Pythian Games were held every four years here, and theywere the precursor to the Olympic Games.

ItalyItalyPompeii, the Sistine Pompeii, the Sistine

Chapel, and the Basilica di Chapel, and the Basilica di San MarcoSan MarcoPompeii is a ruined and partially buried city located by Mount Vesuvius, a volcano that

erupted and destroyed the city in 79 AD. What is unique about Pompeii is that the volcanic ash preserved much of the city, including actual human remains, encased inthe cement ash. The volcano remains active today.

The Sistine Chapel, located in the Vatican, is where the election of a new pope is heldwhen needed. It is well known for its amazing architecture and paintings, particularlythe ceiling, and was worked on by artists such as Michelangelo and Raphael.

St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice is one of the best examples of Byzantine architecture, and was built in 1094. It has been a symbol for wealth and power,with many of its decorations being made of real gold and bronze.

NetherlandsNetherlandsThe Anne Frank HouseThe Anne Frank House

The Anne Frank House, now a museum, wasthe home of Anne Frank, a young Jewish girlwho hid from Nazi persecution and kept a diaryof her experiences during the war. She gainedinternational recognition after her death (in 1945)when her diary was published. The swingingbookcase that hid the secret door to the attic remains, along with pictures Anne cut out and pasted on her wall.

SpainSpainLeonLeon

Leon Cathedral was built in the 10th century, and it houses one of the oldest choirsin the country, along with 1800 square metres of stained glass windows. The CathedralMuseum also houses over 1,500 pieces of work, including 50 Romanesque statutesdating to the 18th century.

Czech RepublicCzech RepublicCarlsbadCarlsbad

Carlsbad (the English name for Karlovy Vary) is a spa city known for its hot springs And became a popular tourist destination in 19th century. The city has 13 main hot Springs, along with 300 smaller springs, and a warm-water river. The city, situated ina wooded valley, retains its 19th century architecture as well.

RomaniaRomaniaCount Dracula’s CastleCount Dracula’s Castle

“Count Dracula’s Castle” is really Bran Castle, once the home of Prince Vlad Dracula (aka Count Dracula)in the 1400s. The castle, located in Transylvania, housed the prince, who was known for his ruthlesscruelty, including impaling his enemies on stakes (butnot for drinking human blood, or being a vampire). The allure of the castle and of the prince really comes from literature, courtesy of 19th century author Bram Stoker.

RussiaRussiaThe Kremlin and Red The Kremlin and Red

SquareSquareThe Kremlin and Red Square, a World Heritage Site, isthe most famous city square in Russia (and in theworld) and is home to the President of Russia. The RedSquare, besides being the home of the government, wasalso important for military parades, particularly during the Soviet era. The site continues to host parades, such as the annual Victory Day Parade, marking the defeat ofNazi Germany in WWII.

DenmarkDenmarkThe Tivoli GardensThe Tivoli Gardens

The Tivoli Gardens is a famous amusement park and garden located in Copenhagen. Best at night, the park opened in 1843, and is known for its wooden rollercoaster (Mountain Track), which is one of the world’s oldest operating wooden roller coasterstoday – it was built in 1914! It also features the world’s tallest carousel, and in thesummer has a live music series.

IcelandIcelandThe Ring RoadThe Ring Road

The Ring Road runs in a 860-mile circuit around much of the island, where the sceneryis breathtaking. This is the only major road in the country, which connects all the inhabited parts of Iceland. A point of interest is the swimmable volcanic craters… and,despite its name, Iceland is actually 89% ice free, and is actually a volcanic island witha population of 316,000… less than Mississauga!

FinlandFinlandSanta’s VillageSanta’s Village

Finland’s Arctic Circle is home to Santa’s Village! Aside from meeting Santa and hisreindeer, you can actually set one foot on either side of the Arctic Circle! His workshop post office displays 600,000 letters received every year from people all over the world,and he actually manages to answer about a third of them! Are you a believer now?

NorwayNorwayThe Viking Ship The Viking Ship

MuseumMuseumThe Viking Ship Museum in Oslo houses Viking ships and their burial treasures. TheVikings terrorized the coasts of Europe from 800-1050, although little was written down about their saga. The museum, built in 1936, has three 9th century well preserved Viking burial ships, which contained the bodies of the royal Vikingchieftains and one queen, along with their servants, pets, and artifacts.

SwedenSwedenThe Ice HotelThe Ice Hotel

The Ice Hotel in Sweden was the world’s first ice hotel built in 1990. It houses acinema, 45-foot vodka bar, and even a Honeymoon Suite! 4,000 tons of snow andice are used to build the hotel every November. All of the furniture, art, andsculptures are made of snow and ice! Accommodations start at $100 USD, whichincludes a thermal sleeping bag!

Fin!Fin!