Picturesque Towns in Europe: Your Favorite?
Aug 13th, 2009, 07:07 AM
#61
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I've been to Brugge, Bath, Mykonos and Sintra.
I would add Cadaques, Pals and Girona in Spain; Dubrovnik, Grozjnan and Motovun in Croatia; Evora in the Alentejo region of Portugal; and Alghero on the island of Sardinia in Italy.
Jeanine
www.jthetravelauthority.com
I would add Cadaques, Pals and Girona in Spain; Dubrovnik, Grozjnan and Motovun in Croatia; Evora in the Alentejo region of Portugal; and Alghero on the island of Sardinia in Italy.
Jeanine
www.jthetravelauthority.com
Aug 13th, 2009, 07:27 AM
#62
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Late to the game, I see this went to print today!
I've been to the below:
Èze, France
Rothenburg-ob-der-Tauber, Germany
Bath, Great Britain
Sintra, Portugal
I'd have suggested Obidos. I enjoyed my brief visit to Sintra, but it didn't have me exclaiming around every corner like Obidos. It's a gem. I second the mention of Pienza, and Oriveto! Guarda in Switzerland, a perfect view...
I've been to the below:
Èze, France
Rothenburg-ob-der-Tauber, Germany
Bath, Great Britain
Sintra, Portugal
I'd have suggested Obidos. I enjoyed my brief visit to Sintra, but it didn't have me exclaiming around every corner like Obidos. It's a gem. I second the mention of Pienza, and Oriveto! Guarda in Switzerland, a perfect view...
Aug 13th, 2009, 07:54 AM
#63
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Been to Lucca and Mykonos (latter is terribly overrated, not quaint or charming, too staged). My choice is Capri town before 10am and after 5pm when the hoards of day-trippers go back to the mainland and leave the place to the natives and residing tourist.
Aug 13th, 2009, 09:40 AM
#65
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I have been to Eze, Brugge, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Mykonos, Lucca and would add Celle, Quedlinburg, Germany.
How about doing this survey on the US to help us Europeans to make better choices when going to that country?
How about doing this survey on the US to help us Europeans to make better choices when going to that country?
Aug 13th, 2009, 11:15 AM
#67
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I have been to all but two...I would agree with saige above that Sintra is very beautiful. I would also add Northern Portugal, in particular Viana do Costelo, and Pinhao...incredible. Can post pictures if anyone cares.
Aug 13th, 2009, 11:26 AM
#68
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Salzburg.
Specifically, walking from the town center (opposite side of the river from the fortress) toward the Augustiner brewery in the evening, crossing one of the bridges and looking back at the lit old center. Absolutely amazing.
Of course you can't have a list without Venice.
Bath, Vernazza, San Gimignano, Cochem and Wurtzburg are also very high on my list.
Of the ones mentioned only Lucca would NOT be on my list. Lucca is okay but not picturesque.
Specifically, walking from the town center (opposite side of the river from the fortress) toward the Augustiner brewery in the evening, crossing one of the bridges and looking back at the lit old center. Absolutely amazing.
Of course you can't have a list without Venice.
Bath, Vernazza, San Gimignano, Cochem and Wurtzburg are also very high on my list.
Of the ones mentioned only Lucca would NOT be on my list. Lucca is okay but not picturesque.
Aug 13th, 2009, 02:51 PM
#70
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Lucca in Tuscany is the most picturesque place I have ever been, so it definitely belongs on your list. I would add a town on the Rhine in Germany and a harbor-town unknown to most Americans.
First, Boppard on the Rhine is one of the few Rhine-side towns where the train tracks are inland rather than right along the Rhine. This allows for a splendid pedestrian promenade on the river. The views are both charming (the town's architecture) and magnificent [the physical features of the Rhine Valley's topography here, at what many observers (self included) think of as the Rhineland's most beautiful part].
Second, St. Peter Port, Guernsey, the Channel Islands. [Note to Los Angelenos: I don't mean the Channel Islands off your coast, I mean the British Crown's dependencies once described by Victor Hugo as "pieces of France that She carelessly dropped into the ocean, and which were scooped up by Britain."] Guernsey is about 19 miles west of France's Cotentin Peninsula [WW2 historians are more familiar with the area immediately EAST of the Cotentin Peninsula, since that's where Omaha, Sword, Juno etc. are located.]. SPP is built on a series of hill-terraces surrounding the most perfectly picturesque harbor that can be imagined. It needs to be on your list. It is almost as picturesque as Lucca, but in a different way.
First, Boppard on the Rhine is one of the few Rhine-side towns where the train tracks are inland rather than right along the Rhine. This allows for a splendid pedestrian promenade on the river. The views are both charming (the town's architecture) and magnificent [the physical features of the Rhine Valley's topography here, at what many observers (self included) think of as the Rhineland's most beautiful part].
Second, St. Peter Port, Guernsey, the Channel Islands. [Note to Los Angelenos: I don't mean the Channel Islands off your coast, I mean the British Crown's dependencies once described by Victor Hugo as "pieces of France that She carelessly dropped into the ocean, and which were scooped up by Britain."] Guernsey is about 19 miles west of France's Cotentin Peninsula [WW2 historians are more familiar with the area immediately EAST of the Cotentin Peninsula, since that's where Omaha, Sword, Juno etc. are located.]. SPP is built on a series of hill-terraces surrounding the most perfectly picturesque harbor that can be imagined. It needs to be on your list. It is almost as picturesque as Lucca, but in a different way.
Aug 13th, 2009, 03:46 PM
#72
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#1 I have been to 3, Eze, Sintra and Mykonos. #2 Yes, I agree all are picturesque. #3, Burano and the villages of Cinque Terre were mentioned in responses and I agree those are as well. Perhaps I might add Rousillon or Gourdes, Cascais/Estoril and the Amalfi Coast
Aug 13th, 2009, 04:46 PM
#73
Echternach in Luxembourg
Horta in the Azores - the painted marina walls and particularly the sidewalks done in stone mosaic are amazing.
Burano - I must have used 1 gig of media taking pictures there
Prague - don't miss the views from the Charles Bridge and Kampa Island
Horta in the Azores - the painted marina walls and particularly the sidewalks done in stone mosaic are amazing.
Burano - I must have used 1 gig of media taking pictures there
Prague - don't miss the views from the Charles Bridge and Kampa Island
Aug 13th, 2009, 06:13 PM
#75
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No one has mentioned Interlaken in Switzerland. We rented an apartment here and our balcony looked straight out at the Jungfrau - this was magnificent when the sun was setting in the evening. This is a central place to stay when visiting the mountain areas of Murren and Grindlewald (as already mentioned) and wonderful walking. The train system here is marvellous for visiting all these areas. April/May is a good time to visit - not too many tourists.
Aug 14th, 2009, 07:43 AM
#77
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I've been to six of Katie's nine. Loved them all. Almost missed Delft. When staying in Haarlem, I took a train there one Sunday. The train station where I got off was in a part of town that was nondescript modern and there seemed to be no one around. Bits of paper and fast food containers were blowing around. It was beginning to rain. I almost got back on the train to return to Haarlem, but in the distance I saw a spire. With that as my "compass" I began walking and came out on a lovely city square. (It helped that the rain stopped and the sun came out as I approached the old part of the city.
However, I don't think that I could list which is to me the most picturesque town. I have been in so many breathtaking places. The wonder of being in a new place always overwhelms me.
Ediemay's comment that this would be a shorter thread were we to list ugly places is so right on target. I can't think of any truly ugly places I've been. There are a few sort of gritty places, but there was always something of interest to make it memorable in a good way.
I had to laugh at Cathies' comment about being nearly ready for the divorce court before finding "Brigadoon". One of the advantages of traveling solo: there is no one to get mad at you when you screw up as driver or navigator. On the other hand, there is no one with whom to share the joy of finding that perfect place.
However, I don't think that I could list which is to me the most picturesque town. I have been in so many breathtaking places. The wonder of being in a new place always overwhelms me.
Ediemay's comment that this would be a shorter thread were we to list ugly places is so right on target. I can't think of any truly ugly places I've been. There are a few sort of gritty places, but there was always something of interest to make it memorable in a good way.
I had to laugh at Cathies' comment about being nearly ready for the divorce court before finding "Brigadoon". One of the advantages of traveling solo: there is no one to get mad at you when you screw up as driver or navigator. On the other hand, there is no one with whom to share the joy of finding that perfect place.
