IMO, there’s only so much European architecture a traveller can take. I don’t know about you but personally, the “must do” cities have mentally melted into a huge memory pot marked “Europe,” and I can’t discern one experience from the next. Sure, this doesn’t say good things about my memory but it also says a lot about the fabled continent. Don’t get me wrong, it’s beautiful and cultural and great for the soul but the truth is: it can be pretty samey.
After weeks of exploring, I think it’s perfectly natural to return home with Euro-fatigue. For many, the side-effects are temporary: a glazing of the eyes whenever anyone mentions a monument, chills if you handle a euro, vomiting at the sight of an authentic pizzeria. We’ve all been there. However for some, the effects are sadly more extreme. The thought of exploring Paris’ catacombs or taking a guided gondola tour around the liquid streets of Venice causes physical convulsions and excessive swearing. It’s a serious condition, yeah?
With this in mind, if you want to visit the Big E and return unscathed, check out a side of the continent that’s void of bucket list cities. Go for the unseen. If you’ve compared your flights and decided your destination, then consider visiting the following:
The Lake District, UK
If you think a trip to England can be summarised by royal palaces, museums and village pubs then think again. If you venture a little further up the country and explore the wilds of the Lake District, you will not be disappointed.
As a relatively untouched part of the UK, the Lake District has been immortalised by poets for years and even merited its own school of Romantics in the nineteenth century. The Lake Poets, as they were known, comprised of William Wordsworth, Samuel Coleridge and Robert Southey, united by their love of the landscape and the freedoms of the Romantic Movement. For a truly literary adventure, head to this picturesque part of the world and soak up the scenery. It’s good for the mind, body and soul.
France, not Paris
Visiting Paris and thinking you’ve seen France is like visiting New York and thinking you’ve seen the US. Paris is a city of sophistication, elegance and expensive restaurants. France, on the other hand, is characterised by sleepy villages and bargain wine, set against a rolling backdrop of rustic aesthetics.
I implore you, hire a car and realize the true potential of France. Your eyes will be dazzled by medieval fortress, hillside chateaus and the kind of winding, unmapped roads that satisfy the most curious of cats. One of the best holidays I ever had was a directionless road-trip that took in Le Havre, Caen and the beautiful Brest. It was on this adventure that I discovered the unbelievable Mont Saint Michel, an island and commune off of the coast of Normandy that is like Diagon Alley meets the Disney Princess Castle. You can only access this magical place when the tide is out and if you don’t get back to your car in time, it will be swallowed up by the sea! That’s the stuff of story books.
Basque Country, Spain/France
With its fiestas, siestas, beaches, bulls and tapas, there is very little of Spain that has not been trampled. However, check out the Basque Country. Thanks to its unique mixture of French and Spanish heritage (Españo-Franco, I like to call it), the gastronomy of this place needs to be tasted to be believed, seriously. Head to San Sebastian, Hondarribia and Bilbao for gourmet goodness, including some of the freshest seafood this side of the equator.
Whilst in Bilbao, check out the Guggenheim – Frank Gehry’s spectacularly twisting titanium art museum that is perhaps one of the most celebrated examples of contemporary architecture in the world. Plus, this multicultural region is often used as a gateway to Spain and France, meaning visitors overlook the potential of the surrounding area. Well worth an adventure.
Lyngen Alps, Norway
For one reason or another, Norway is rarely recognised as a reputable travelling destination. Unless you love to ski, you probably wouldn’t go all the way to the artic arc of Europe. This, of course, can only be a good thing for the Euro-fatigued because it’s neigh on impossible to locate a McDonalds or a Starbucks amongst the cruel wilderness of the Lyngen Alps.
These alps are a mecca for outdoorsy types looking to perfect their prowess on the ski slopes, but that’s not all they offer. For those less into snow-based activities, the valleys and deciduous forests are literally bursting with wildlife. Look out for reindeer, elk, wolverines (for real!) and lynx. Soak in the magic of the northern lights and revel in the simplicity of a way of life that is relatively unchanged. I’d recommend Norway for city types that need to reconnect with nature before they blow their top. It’s a place of real therapeutic beauty.
Pompeii, Italy
I’m closing with a touristy one, but it’s for good reason.
Back in 79AD, Mount Vesuvius erupted, burying everything in molten lava and entombing a once thriving metropolis for 1700 years. Since its rediscovery in 1748, Pompeii has served as a unique insight into the lives of those that lived thousands of years ago.
In a cruel twist of irony, the ash that swallowed the town and its people also perfectly preserved the buildings (and macabrely, the corpses). Therefore, there is no better place on this side of the planet to experience the realities of the past.
Whilst some will argue that this destination is widely visited, it’s also an archaeological marvel that simply cannot be missed. If you have to visit one “must do” destination in the whole of Europe, let it be Pompeii. I call it the Machu Picchu of Europe, which says it all really.
