UNESCO World Heritage

But think again. For Mallorca, the fourth most populous island in the Med (after Sicily, Sardinia and Cyprus), has a feast of fine mountain country and a remarkable mix of cultural landscapes. So much so that in 2011 UNESCO inscribed the Serra de Tramuntana—the hills that parallel the north-west coast of the island—on the List of World Heritage Sites.

The island of Mallorca with places mentioned in the post. Photo: © hidden europe

Everything the poet might dream of

The UNESCO-designated area takes in old Moorish gardens, ancient agricultural terraces and water management systems, plus some dramatic mountain scenery around Mallorca’s highest summit at Puig Major. Europe’s literati discovered long ago that the Serra de Tramuntana is Mallorca’s trump card. It was 175 years ago this year, from fall 1838 until spring 1839, that George Sand and Frédéric Chopin overwintered in the hills. In her Un hiver à Majorque, Sand recalls that “Everything the poet or painter might dream of has been created here by nature.”

Another side of Mallorca

Drive the tortuous coast road out to the wild headland at Formentor (at the north-east extremity of the island), and you will surely agree with George Sand’s appraisal of Mallorca. For, yes, there is a redemptive Mallorca, a place apart from the tacky beach communities favored by the sun and sangria set. There are hilltop monasteries, fine country houses and excellent local markets—like the one held at Sineu every Wednesday morning.

The island boasts a vibrant wine industry too. Make for Binissalem to taste wines made of grape types that will probably be totally new to you: manto negro, callet or prensal blanc. And from there, head into the hills.

The village of Orient in the shadow of the Serra de Tramuntana. Photo: © hidden europe

Slow down in Orient

Places on main roads, like Sóller, inevitably pull the crowds. So our favorite Mallorca hill community is Orient, in a remote valley on the edge of the mountains. There are apple orchards and olive groves, neat stone walls and elaborate tiers of terraces. The village is dedicated fair and square to tourism. The farmers have gone, so too has the priest, and most of the houses are now holiday homes. But it is a fine spot to slow down, relax, breathe in fresh mountain air and remind yourself that, despite the woeful spreads of dreary concrete beachfront hotels, Mallorca is still very much worth a visit.

The post Cultural landscapes in Mallorca: Beyond the beaches appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

UNESCO sights

I recently spent a week in Gironde, the French region that includes Bordeaux—and Emilie turned out to be right. Here are five Bordeaux activities that won’t have you “wining” at all:

1. UNESCO World Heritage walking tour

Nearly half of the entire city’s surface is declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it’s easy to see why. With over 350 buildings classified as historic monuments, Bordeaux has preserved its classical and neoclassical architecture.

Yet it doesn’t feel stuffy. The ornate stone mascarons may cast their austere gaze, but the mood on the street is decidedly lively. Take a quick stroll down Rue St. Catherine and you’ll see how classic architecture can provide a backdrop to vibrant urban life.

2. Transit fun

Fellow transit geeks rejoice! To keep the city’s gorgeous skyline free of cluttering electric lines, the streetcars are powered by an underground power strip—the first of its kind in the world!

VClub, the city’s public bike system, is also a marvel. With numerous locations around the city,  you can always find a bike when you need one, 24 hours a day—for €1. Not cheapo enough for you? The first 30 minutes are free. Read more on the VClub Web site.

3. Check out la Base Sous-Marine

Mussolini launched Italian naval crafts in an unsuccessful bid for world domination from this submarine base, built by the Germans in 1942. Today, its functions are far more benign. Converted into an exhibition hall, the cavernous space hosts large-scale installations.

4. Climb the “Dune de Pilat”

Flanked by the Atlantic Ocean and a pine forest one hour from Bordeaux, the crescent-shaped Dune de Pilat (or “Pyla”) is an imposing giant of nature. Reaching over 350 feet into the sky, the sand dune also happens to be the highest in Europe. (Read this site for practical info on getting to the Great Dune.)

I’m a city guy, but even I was blown away—literally, too, since it gets pretty gusty up there. So strong are the winds, in fact, that the dune continues to migrate eastward every year. Give yourself plenty of time to climb and explore the area, as the dune is about 3km long and 500m wide. You can spend a whole day marveling at its beauty—I did.

5. Visit Saint Emilion… on a weekday

The trouble with the medieval town of Saint Emilion is that it’s famous—too famous, in fact, for its wine trade. On weekends, the cobblestone alleys are packed with tipsy tourists.

I was lucky enough to see the town anew on a Monday morning, as the school kids marched up the steep streets and shop owners were sweeping the ground. The town is in the middle of vine-covered hills that stretch for miles all around. Whether you indulge in wine or not, the verdant fields that surround the town are worth exploring on foot.

The post Bordeaux: 5 Activities You Won’t “Wine” About appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

The city is one of those difficult-to-place communities. France with a twist, you might say. We knew just that when we wandered the streets of Strasbourg last week and found the Rue de L’Ail (“Garlic Street”) cheek by jowl with the Rue Martin Luther. France and Germany colliding, as it were.

Exploring Strasbourg

The great thing about Strasbourg is that it is easy to reach, easy to explore on foot, and–if you choose your moment carefully–it won’t break the bank. The city is home to the European Parliament, but if you can visit at a time when the parliament is not in session, then you’ll get great deals on hotels.

Related:

• Our favorite cheap hotels in Strasbourg, France

The crossroads of Europe

The fast rail routes from Paris to Munich and Brussels to Zürich cross at Strasbourg. Even Milan and London are both less than six hours away by fast train, Marseille and Berlin less than seven.

So no surprise perhaps that Strasbourg styles itself “Le carrefour de l’Europe”–the crossroads of Europe. Yet despite having a nodal position in Europe’s transport networks, the city is relaxed and unhurried, a place to chill out for a few days.

Strasbourg’s Old Town

Wander the streets of “Petite France,” the old part of town just a five minute walk from the main railway station, where the street names tell of the local industries that brought wealth to medieval Strasbourg: lace-making, milling and tanneries. There are heaps of little cafés and restaurants in this part of town, which features on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

One of our favorites is the unfussy “La Petite Alsace,” which is a place to relax over a jug of the local Gewürztraminer, the aromatic slightly oily white wine which is the very essence of Alsace. Try it once and you’ll be smitten. There are hints of lychees in this not-quite-dry wine that is the perfect partner for choucroute garnie, Strasbourg’s signature dish. Choucroute is not grand cuisine, but good hearty winter fare, as unpretentious as Strasbourg itself.

Stopping off

Strasbourg makes the perfect one-night stop on long journeys by train across Europe. Come out of the station, with its assertively modern armadillo-like frontage, and you are spoiled for choice for hotels jostling for your euro.

Our advice is to ignore them all, but just head over to Rue Kuhn, a three-minute walk, where the Hotel Monopole Métropole is a classic French family-run hotel. It has a chic reception area with bar and coffee shop, and a really lovely lounge. Faded, but comfortable, and a place to linger on rainy days. We love this kind of hotel, which combines all creature comforts in the rooms with lashings of local character.

Three generations of the Siegel family have presided over the Monopole Métropole. Rooms for double occupancy from about €70. This rate is usually restricted to weekends, but it is always worth checking. You can make bookings direct with the hotel or via www.bestwestern.com.

The post Strasbourg, France: The crossroads of Europe appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Candidates for the 2010 UNESCO List

The historic center of Amsterdam is in the running this year for one of the cherished spots on the UNESCO List. Heritage is of course more than merely Gothic cathedrals and Tuscan gardens and this year’s applications from Europe include a pitch from Slovenia that focuses on the history and legacy of the mercury industry around Idrija. Belgium also picks up a mining theme with a plea for a new UNESCO designation for old mining communities in Wallonia. Other candidates for 2010 are the old Episcopal city of Albi in southwest France and the Augustów Canal that spans the border of Poland and Belarus.

Downe: Evolution in the spotlight

Our favorite bid in this year’s palette of applications is that from the UK. The Brits are plugging Downe, a nomination that seems a little improbable at first sight. But Downe, on London’s southern boundary, is more than just one more anonymous community on the rural-urban fringe. Charles Darwin lived in Downe for forty years and the country immediately around Downe was the setting for many of Darwin’s investigations into evolution. The UK proposal for Charles Darwin’s Living Landscape Laboratory must surely be a front runner for 2010.

When things go wrong

Getting a place on the UNESCO list is not easy, and once secured means that the city or site stays in the limelight, as the Taliban found to their cost when they dynamited the famous Afghan buddhas that had long featured on the list.

The German city of Dresden fell from favour as city officials pushed ahead with plans for a new road bridge over the Elbe, so slicing through a World Heritage Site. UNESCO was not amused and last year stripped Dresden of its World Heritage status. The Elbe valley at Dresden is the only World Heritage Site in Europe ever to have been delisted.

The post Pitching for 2010 World Heritage Status appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.