I was interested and very amused by a thread in the US format questioning what were the cheesiest places to see. That got me to wondering about Europe. I am planning my first trip to Europe (mostly Germany) in August. What are some of the tackiest/cheesiest places in Europe?

Fromageries.

Unfortunately Lands End in Cornwall is a contender. Many parts of the Cornish coast are owned by the National Trust and are beautiful and unspoiled. Lands End was bought by a man who has turned it into a tatty theme park.

Some hauts-lieux of Euro Trash are:<BR><BR>St-Tropez<BR>Mont St-Michel<BR>Entire city of Brussels<BR>Any Formula 1 racing venue<BR>Luna Park in Vienna<BR>Area around the Berlin Zoo<BR>Boulevard de Clichy in Paris<BR>Area around the Dam in Amsterdam<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>

Paris.

On a more serious note, I'm not sure this would qualify for "tacky", but one thing I admit to tiring of in Europe (and other places as well) is when someone, or something, famous or well-known is promoted and marketed endlessly. Two places I've been that come to mind are Salzburg with Mozart and "the Rock" in Monaco with the Grimaldis.

OK.. I admit.. I actually get a kick out of tacky places!!!I seek them out and enjoy them by embracing the tackiest elements.<BR>In Europe I really enjoyed:<BR>1)Loch Ness (lovely scenery.. but the plastic monster sculpture was THE best!)<BR>2)I agree with Land's End.. what a deliciously out of place theme park to plant on what could, arguably be the most lovely spot on earth!<BR>3)EuroDisney<BR>4)The sex museum in Amsterdam..(really loved that one!!)<BR>5)The London Dungeon...(the sights, and SMELLS of ancient London!!!) We had a kick on that ride... it was too funny.<BR>

Very tacky:<BR><BR>Vatican City gift shops (just love those plastic bubbles with the Pope that make snow when you shake them)<BR><BR>Lourdes gift shops (just love those plastic bubbles with the Virgin Mary that make snow when you shake them)<BR><BR>

Europe and tacky just dont go together, darlings. Didnt y'all know that TACKY is an American thang! All American as Apple pie with a slab of Velveeta in it!Europeans can try to be tacky but it just doesnt seem as genuine as down home!

Forgot to mention the Rialto Bridge in Venice. It is right up there with the tackiest of the tackiest.

how 'bout the "black forest coocoo clocks" in Zurich<BR><BR><BR>

The epitome of tacky in this world is Las Vegas, so everything else pales in comparison, but:<BR><BR>London Dungeon<BR>Madame Tussaud's (although I like it)<BR>The Prehistoric Village near Roquegageac<BR>Place de Tertre<BR>The taxfree shopping area in Andorra <BR>The Casino in Sliema, Malta (although rumor has it that it's been spiffed up)<BR>

I've gotta go with that big, oil derrek smack in the middle of Paris. It's really hard to believe that people stand in line for hours to go up it.

Blackpool!!!

I never thought the Eifle tower was very fascinating either. But when I went to Paris a taxi driver told me this interesting story about the history behind the tower. I never validated the truth behind the story but I think it everytime I see the tower. It was very interesting. And the view from the tower at night is beautiful and you won't have to wait in line for hours.

Okay, Isabella, now I'm curious. So, what is the really interesting story about the history of the Eiffel Tower? Thanks.

The tower was officially built for an internaional competition hosted by some king (not sure of century and exact dates) by Gustave Eiffel. Anyways, the taxi told me the story in French and my french is not that good so don't quote me on this story. He said that Gustave was obessessed with women and that the tower was his monument to women. And that by traveling up the 'legs' of the tower you are traveling up her skirt which I assume the destination was Gustave's salute to womanhood! Another part of story had to do something with how at that time in engineering it was believed that a structure with 4 legs and single point without an supporting vertical pole would have been an engineering disaster and could not be done. Therefore, Gustave not only made the Eiffel tower the LARGEST building of its time but claimed it made it to look like a woman wearing a skirt to mock the men who claimed such a structure could not soundly be engineered. Now whether any of that is true, I don't know. I think I am sucker for good stories though.

I love Toledo, but if you are dumb enough to take any buscoach tour of it, you will end up spending far more time in their Campbell's canned-soup lunch place and their cheesy "factory store" full of tin-snip jewelry than seeing the town.

Incredibly tacky are all those cheesy gift and rip off stands right beside the Duomo and the Leaning Tower in Pisa.<BR><BR>US

Great story, Isabella (whether true or not). It certainly is a very graceful and elegant structure. The first time I saw it up close I was struck by how delicate the iron work looked. <BR><BR>I've read that the majority of Parisians hated the Eiffel tower and that it was destined to be torn down. Apparently, it was only saved due to the fact that it had a valuable function: a very high point from which to broadcast. <BR><BR>The moral, I guess, is how something that's despised can grow to become loved over time.