The tiny fortress village of Marvao, sits poignantly upon a rocky outcrop on the Serra de Sao Mamede, is located in the central-eastern region of Portugal and not that far from the border with Spain.
Marvao was a natural strategic defence, with its steep slopes to the north, south and west. Access by foot is only possible from the east, which was the direction in which the town gradually spread within the castle walls.
Marvao attracts visitors from all over to enjoy the unspoiled medieval atmosphere. Its narrow lanes and whitewashed homes that lead to a magnificent 13th century castle. The 13th century church with an interesting museum of archaeological finds and local artifacts are also of interest.
Clervaux is situated snuggly in the Clerve Valley approximately 60km north of Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. It is a medieval market town surrounded by dense woodlands and situated on the Clerve River. There are two main attractions in Clervaux. The first, the Clervaux Castle, locally known as the ‘Burg Clerf’. It houses the famous exhibition of photos collected by Edward Steichen, called ‘The Family of Man’.
The second, is the Clervaux Church, a Benedictine Abbey of Saint Maurice and St.Maur, built in 1910 in Romanesque-burgundian style. It dominates the valley and town of Clervaux and when you first see it from a distance you get a strong impression of the Abbey. With the valley, hillsides and woodlands, these two buildings make for a fairytale setting.
One great reason to visit Clervaux is for for its peaceful, non-commercial setting in a very pretty valley surrounded by woodlands and with some interesting landmarks to visit.
York is located in the County of North Yorkshire in northern England and dates back to Roman times. It is considered to be one of Britain’s best preserved medieval cities with its fine Gothic cathedral (the largest in England), the York Minster. There are four city gates and the old city is surrounded by a large stone wall. Other interesting buildings include, Clifford’s Tower, Treasurer’s House, The Guildhall, Merchant’s Adventurer’s Hall and the Shambles. A fabulous example of medieval shopping street.
The river Ouse flows through York and is a culmination of the small streams which have trickled from the hills of the nearby Dales and Moors. The word ‘ouse’ is a very common name for rivers in England. It’s derived from the Celtic word ‘Usa’, which means ‘water’. The river is very popular in summer with boats cruising the waterway as a means for visitors to view York.
Not far from York and a pleasant drive on the A64, is the famous ‘Castle Howard’. One of Britains finest 18th century private, stately homes. Castle Howard has been part of the Howard family for more than 300 years. You may recognise it for the 1981 television series ‘Brideshead Revisited’.
One great reason to visit York is to wander down the medieval shopping street of the Shambles and view the second storey rooms overhanging the cobbled stone street.
Lubeck is located in the northern region of Germany known as Schleswig-Holstein, approximately 60km north-east of Hamburg. It is situated on the Trave River and is one of the largest German ports on the Baltic Sea. Much of its trade is with the Nordic countries.
For several centuries the “capital” Altstadt, was the former headquarters of the Hanseatic League (“Queen of the Hanse”). The main function of the Hanseatic League was to enable economic co-operation and trading in Europe. With its preserved Brick Gothic architecture, it’s now part of the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Altstadt is the main attraction of Lubeck, located on an island surrounded by the Trave River and smaller channels. The old town has fine examples of churches from various periods, a 13th century Town Hall, 16-18th century Salt Houses and the famous gate way, Holstentor. Lubeck is known as the ‘City of Seven Spires’ because the skyline is dominated by the spires of 5 local churches.
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