Things to Do in Europe

The heart of ancient Aix, the Vieil Aix, or Old Town, is marked out by the ruins of its medieval ramparts and remains one of the liveliest areas of Aix-en-Provence. Home to the city’s historic marketplace and sprinkled with grand buildings, there are plenty of things to do in the Vieil Aix. Stroll through the pedestrianized Cité Comtale, the former City of the Counts; admire the opulent 17th and 18th century mansions lining the Rue Gaston de Saporta, many of which have now been converted into luxury hotels; check out the striking 16th century Clock Tower and the Church of the Madeline; rummage through the Saturday flea market at Place de Verdun; or join the locals at the legendary food and flower markets that take over the neighborhood each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Don’t miss a visit to the exquisite Cathedrale Saint Sauveur, a masterpiece of design that blends elements from the 5th century through the 18th century, and houses the famous Burning Bush Triptych by Nicholas Froment. Next door, the equally impressive Archbishop’s Palace was the former residence of the archbishops of Aix-en-Provence and now houses the popular Tapestry Museum. Finally, catch your breath on the central Cours Mirabeau, a tree-lined avenue dotted with cafés and patisseries that runs between the boundaries of the old and new city.

Where can you find the best gourmet Bavarian delights? Munich's Victuals Market, Viktualienmarkt in German, is the place to find exotic fruits, fresh vegetables, artisan cheeses, delicious hams, honey, and truffles.

Many of the market stalls in the Viktualienmarkt have been family-run for generations, and although the gourmet food featured here also means gourmet prices, you would be hard pressed to find better quality culinary delicacies. While in Munich, the Viktualienmarkt is the best place to shop for delicious Bavarian food to make for a picnic lunch at a nearby park.

Across the water from Reykjavik lies Videy Island. Once the main harbor until Reykjavik took over in 1943, the first settlement on the island dates from the 10th century. These days birds are the main inhabitants of the island with around 30 species coming to breed there. For humans, there is a restaurant, located in Videyjarstofa house, the first stone and cement building in Iceland, which dates from 1755. The island was once home to Augustine monks until 1539 when the reformation began in Iceland. There are also walking tracks and horse-riding.

Videy Island has another unusual function - it houses the Peace Tower memorial erected for John Lennon by Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon. First lit in 2007, the memorial is a huge laser which beams into the sky from the 9th of October (Lennon's birthday) until December 8th (the date of his assassination) each year. Iceland was chosen as the site due to its peaceful nature and cheap, natural electricity.

The Vienna Prater is both a huge outdoor area and an amusement park. Once the Emperor Maximilian II's hunting ground in the 16th century, in 1766 Emperor Joseph II declared it open parkland for everyone. Coffee-houses and cafes sprang up and nobody seemed worried that it continued to be used for hunting until 1920! It was also around the 18th century that the Wurstelprater began - an amusement park which continues to this day and includes the giant ferris wheel, the Riesenrad, one of Vienna's famous sights. There are also bumper cars, a roller-coaster, and carousels.

The Prater also houses a planetarium and the Prater Museum, a little disappointing as museums go although the antique slot machines are worthwhile.