Things to Do in Europe

Welcome to Jan Matejko’s universe! The famous artist, counted among the most famous Polish painters, is celebrated for his vivid depictions of political and military events inspired from Polish history. Some of his most famous works include the Battle of Grunwald, Union of Lublin, Rejtan, as well as several portraits of Polish kings, which are exposed in various National Museums across Poland.

The three-story town house is where the painter used to work and live, and has been transformed into a biographical museum in the late 1800s, shortly after his death. The house is still adorned with artwork commissioned by Matejko himself, which is now particularly valuable, seeing as he was quite the collector. Hundreds of objects and trinkets that belonged to Matejko, collected throughout the years, make up the relatively small but highly significant collection – from his reading glasses to Renaissance furniture, and from antique firearms to books documenting his fascination for gargoyles.

For nearly 200 years, this distillery produced one of Ireland’s leading whiskeys, before Jameson—together with other producers—moved operations to a purpose-built facility in Middleton, County Cork, in the 1970s. Now, the Jameson Distillery Bow St. has been revamped as a visitor center showcasing the history and heritage of the brand.

Entry to the Jameson Distillery Bow St. is by guided tour only. Many visitors opt for the 40-minute distillery tour, which includes an explanation of the ins and outs of whiskey making, a tour of the recreated distillery facilities, a whiskey tasting session, and a free drink at the onsite JJ’s Bar. Whiskey enthusiasts may want try a whiskey-blending masterclass, a whiskey cocktail-making workshop, or a premium whiskey-tasting session, during which they can compare and contrast four different Jameson whiskeys. 

Cask draw experiences, during which visitors get to taste unblended pot still whiskey straight from a cask in the maturation warehouse, are also available. Fans of Irish alcoholic drinks can pair a tour of the Jameson Distillery Bow St. with a tour of the nearby Guinness Storehouse, where Ireland’s popular malty stout is produced. Jameson Distillery Bow St. entry is included in the Dublin Pass.

The distillery is located on Bow Street in Dublin’s city center. Take the Luas tram (Red Line) to Smithfield station, which is just a 2-minute walk from the distillery. Hop-on hop-off buses also stop near the Jameson Distillery Bow St.

Tours take place at least every 30 minutes and even more regularly during busy periods. On weekends, tours frequently sell out by mid-afternoon, so book in advance or arrive earlier in the day to ensure a spot.

The Jameson Distillery Bow St. is just one of several whiskey-related attractions in Dublin. Fans of the triple-distilled tipple can also visit the Irish Whiskey Museum, which chronicles the rise, fall, and resurgence of the Irish whiskey industry. Consider touring working distilleries such as Teeling and Pearse Lyons, as well as sampling even more Irish whiskeys in bars such as the Victorian-era Bowes and the Palace Bar on Fleet Street. 

Spanish culture shines bright in the southern city of Jerez de la Frontera. Once inhabited by Romans, Visigoths, Arabs and ultimately Christians, it’s a city now especially famous for three things: flamenco, horsemanship, and Sherry, the internationally known unfortified wine.

Indeed, the city, and region around it -- which is delineated by Jerez as well as two other cities, Sanlucar de Barrameda and Puerto de Santa Maria – make up the Sherry Triangle. This is where Sherry has its roots, and where you’ll want to sample the local libation, which can be found throughout the region, and even at bodegas in the center of Jerez de la Frontera itself.

The other local delights – flamenco and horses – can both be experienced during the town’s beloved spring festival, the Feria de Jerez. Other opportunities abound too, including the internationally acclaimed Flamenco Festival, taking place during the end of February and beginning of March. Meanwhile horse breeding gets a special spotlight at the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art, which is open to the public for visits.

There’s still more to see in this sweet southern city, though. Jerez’s old town is packed with tree-lined squares and avenues, an 11th-century Moorish fortress, and even a cathedral built on the ruins of a previous mosque. Indeed, it’s a city to get lost in, whether you wish to simply appreciate its beauty, or to become better acquainted with its rich culture and traditions. 

This museum is housed inside a working replica of the 19th-century Jeanie Johnston, a tall ship that carried Irish emigrants to North America on 16 journeys undertaken between 1847 and 1855. Tours of the re-created interior reveal what the transatlantic passage was like for those fleeing the devastation of the Great Irish Famine.

 

The Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship and Famine Museum can be visited only as part of a guided tour. Visitors learn about the original vessel and the construction of the replica ship, and guides take participants below deck to show the cramped living conditions endured by the ship’s passengers. Some Dublin sightseeing passes also include a tour of the Jeanie Johnston.

 

The Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship and Famine Museum is docked at Custom House Quay on the north bank of the River Liffey. Ride the Luas Red Line tram to George’s Dock. The ship is less than five minutes’ walk from the station. 

 

Tours take place six times daily between April and October, and four times daily between November and March. During the peak summer months of July and August, book in advance to reserve your spot.

 

Upon exiting the Jeanie Johnston, walk west along the riverfront for a few minutes and you’ll reach the Famine Memorial, a series of bronze sculptures that represent the starving Irish citizens forced to emigrate during the Great Famine. Next to the Jeanie Johnston is EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, which traces the stories of the 10 million Irish people to have left Ireland for foreign shores, including more than a million who fled the famine.

But the hidden surprise within the borders of this small principality is its many public green spaces, perhaps the most surprising being the Japanese Garden on Avenue Princesse-Grace. It lies at the bottom of the mountain, just across from the Mediterranean Sea, a location that adds to the almost surreal tranquility of the garden.

It's a bit small, which has its merits – after all, there's plenty to do and see in Monaco. But there's so much in the country that is just over the top – the flashy cars, the James Bond-style casino, the yachts that are bigger than most people's dream homes – that a visit to the Japanese Garden can be just the respite you're looking for.

And the best part? It's a public park, which means it's free to enter and you can stay as long as you’d like. Spend time at the waterfall, listen to the babbling brook or watch the sunset at the end of a long day.

The ornate Baroque town of Karlovy Vary in Western Bohemia is famous for its spas, crystal ware and Becherovka, a herbal liqueur that was first concocted in 1807 by pharmacist Jan Becher using the pure water that made the town famous. Today Becherovka is still distilled to the same secret recipe – known only to two people at any one time – using a mixture of natural ingredients including sugar, cinnamon, herbs and spices. It is one of the Czech Republic’s favorite tipples and is also exported to more than 35 countries worldwide. The Jan Becher Museum opened in 2009 in the distillery’s original premises when production moved into larger premises. Guided tours take in the original subterranean cellars, where Becherovka was stored for two months in vast oak barrels, and showcase the history of the liqueur in a short movie before tracing each stage of its production. The museum is filled with portraits of six generations of the Becher family, two centuries’ worth of advertising posters and examples of the porcelain cups from which Becherovka was traditionally drunk. 

After visiting the museum, Becherovka is available to sample straight or in a variety of cocktails in the tasting room, the Terrace Bar and the Esplanade; it can also be bought in personalized versions of its distinctively flat, green bottle to be taken home as a souvenir.

The Janubio Salt Pans are the island’s most famous, created in the early 20th century by Victor Fernandez and consisting of over 440,000 square meters of pans, making it the biggest salt refinery in the Canary Islands. Today, the area is a protected National Heritage site and produces up to 10,000 tons of salt each year, harvested by hand during the summer months. The historic site has also become a tourist attraction, and the gigantic patchwork of salt pans makes for a unique view, set against a backdrop of the black sand Janubio beach and attracting an array of native birds.

Built in 1968, Manrique’s creative vision centers around a series of collapsed lava tubes, or ‘Jameos’, where pressure build-up had caused the roofs to fall in, making an atmospheric location for an open-top swimming pool. Additional highlights include a series of underground galleries devoted to the island’s volcanic history, a concert hall that makes use of the natural cave acoustics, and an underground lake, famous for its endemic population of blind Albino Crab (a species found only on Lanzarote).

Located between the Dome Square and the Town Hall Square in Riga’s Old Town, Jauniela is said to be one of the most beautiful streets in the city. Lined with colorful old buildings and paved with cobblestone, it has been the site for filming several movies and is home to a number of hotels. In addition to the rainbow of Art Nouveau buildings, the appearance of flowers nearly everywhere on Jauniela is notable, from the windows to the balconies. 

Jauniela is popular with locals and visitors alike, with a variety of shopping, dining and nightlife options. Enjoy dinner in the Riga residence of a former Russian tsar, stay at the regal Neiburgs Hotel or visit the Riga Kino Museum, showcasing the history of Latvian and word cinema.

A staple of Gran Canarian and Spanish culture, the botanical garden was named after pioneering Spanish cleric and scholar José Viera y Clavijo. It opened in 1959 after seven years of landscaping. And although it is intrinsically linked to the island’s history, the garden was technically the life work of Swedish-Spanish botanist Eric Ragnor Sventenius, who devoted a number of years of his life to optimizing and expanding the site. The garden, which spreads over 27 hectares and is officially Spain’s largest, comprises of 500 plant species endemic to the Canary Islands scattered in several divisions, like the "Garden of the Islands", the "Garden of Cacti and Succulents" and its 10,000 succulents, the "Laurel-leaved Forests", the "Fountain of the Wisemen," the "Macaronesian Ornamental Garden” as well as the “Hidden Garden” and its sublime greenhouse. It now houses plants from all over the world and a research laboratory.

The Jameson Experience takes visitors on a tour of the Old Midleton Distillery in East Cork, where the well-known whiskey was produced until the 1970s. In the company of a guide, visitors explore the preserved distillery interior, and view old kilns, mills, and distilling equipment, as well as a restored 19th-century warehouse.

 

The Jameson Experience offers a behind-the-scenes look at the history of the distillery. Guests take a 75-minute guided tour that includes a short video and a walk through the historic buildings in the old distillery complex, including a 19th-century warehouse where whiskey is aged. Tours conclude with a complimentary drink of Jameson. Visitors can also purchase tutored tastings of premium Jameson whiskeys.

 

 

The Jameson Experience is situated in east Cork, 12 miles (20 kilometers) from Cork city center. Shuttle buses run from St. Patrick’s Quay, Cork, three times daily from late April through September, and on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in October. Cobh-Midleton train service runs between Cork Kent and Midleton station, which is a 20-minute walk from the distillery. Local bus lines 261, 240, and 241, and some hop-on-hop-off buses, run between Cork and Midleton.

 

Tours run year-round, with additional frequency between April and October. The distillery is busiest on weekend afternoons, when coach tours often stop here. Come here first thing after opening (10am) to get in ahead of the crowds.

 

In addition to the Jameson Experience in Midleton, it’s also possible to tour the Jameson Distillery Bow Street in Dublin. This distillery, which was re-created and restored to look much the same as it would have before it ceased operation in the 1970s, can be explored on guided tours, that focus on the art of whiskey making and the history of the Jameson brand.

Housed in a meticulously restored Georgian townhouse, this museum is devoted to one of Ireland’s greatest literary figures. The house once hosted the dance academy of Denis Maginni, a minor character in Joyce’s Ulysses, and now showcases Joycean artifacts including furniture from his Paris apartment and displays on his life and writings.

Visitors can explore the three floors of the 18th-century building with the aid of a free audio tour. Exhibits include the door or 7 Eccles Street, where Ulysses characters Leopold and Molly Bloom lived; a re-creation of Joyce’s study; and documentary films focusing on topics such as the controversy surrounding Ulysses.

The center runs guided walking tours inspired by Dubliners and the movements of Leopold Bloom that cover sights with Joycean connections. Hop-on hop-off tour buses stop at the center, while some sightseeing-pass ticket holders are entitled to free skip-the-line entry. 

Things to Know Before You Go

• James Joyce Centre is a must for literary fans and Joyce enthusiasts.
  
• In addition to the permanent exhibits, special Joyce-related exhibits are often shown at the house.
  
• The ground floor of the building is accessible via ramp, though the exhibition spaces on the upper floors are accessible only by stairs. 

The James Joyce Centre is situated on North Great George’s Street. The Parnell Luas stop, served by the Luas Green Line tram, is just a 2-minute walk away, and several Dublin bus routes stop nearby. 

James Joyce Centre is open daily, April–September, and from Tuesday through Sunday, October–March. Tours run more frequently during summer. One of the best times of the year to visit is during the annual Bloomsday festival celebrating Joyce, which takes place June 16 and features special tours, Bloomsday breakfasts, and other events at the center. 

Though Joyce left Dublin in his early twenties, the city remained a big inspiration for the writer, featuring heavily in his fiction, from Dubliners to Ulysses. In the seaside suburb of Sandycove, Joyce fans can visit the Joyce Tower and Museum, a Martello tower where Joyce stayed in 1904. Other Joyce-connected sights include the Gresham Hotel on O’Connell Street, which features in the Dubliners short story “The Dead”; Belvedere College, the Jesuit-run secondary school Joyce attended; and Sweny’s, a Victorian-era chemist mentioned in Ulysses.

The living heart around which Zagreb beats, Jelačić Square was built in the mid-19th century when Croatia was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and it marks the boundary between Gornji Grad and Kapitol (both in the Upper Town) and Donji Grad (Lower Town). The huge, paved piazza is named after a military leader of the 19th century, whose equestrian statue by Austrian sculptor Anton Dominick Ritter von Fernkorn was erected in 1866; it has great sentimental value to the Croatian people as it was removed from the square in 1947 by the Communists, and only replaced in 1990 during the breakup of Yugoslavia. 

Surrounded by elegant and arcaded Baroque buildings – many swathed in advertising hoardings – the vast square is crossed by several of the city’s great boulevards, including Illica and Radićeva. It is lined with bars and cafés that move outdoors in the summer, when locals and visitors jostle for space with buskers, beggars and the trams that constantly rattle around its perimeter. A Christmas market takes place during Advent, and Jelačić Square is where the people of Zagreb see in the New Year with fireworks and live music. 

Nicknamed the “Zagreb Sea” by the locals, Jarun Lake is a pleasant oasis just outside the city center. This popular year-round recreation area offers city dwellers a break from the bustling urban center with pebble beaches, cycling paths, and a range of outdoor activities. Take a day trip and relax by the beach, try your hand at windsurfing or paddleboarding, or just people-watch at one of the waterfront cafes.  

Jarun Lake features activities for the whole family. Young children will enjoy splashing in the shallow waters of the lake and exploring the many beachside playgrounds. Water sports enthusiasts can canoe, windsurf, stand-up paddleboard, and more. You can also take a stroll along the lakeside paths or simply sunbathe along the shore. In the evening, Jarun turns into a nightlight hotspot with some of Zagreb’s most popular dance clubs and bars. 

Located in the southwest corner of Zagreb, Lake Jarun is easily reached from the city center. Simply take tram number 5 or 17 to the Jarun stop, then follow the signs to the lake. You can also visit Lake Jarun by car or bike or visit as part of a hop-on hop-off tour of Zagreb.  

Lake Jarun can be visited year round, but summer is best for swimming and water sports such such as canoeing and windsurfing. You can enjoy a jog or cycle around the lakeside path anytime of the year. Most bars and cafes are only open during the warmer months, so winter is an especially peaceful time to visit; plus, it’s a great time to view swans, ducks, and other birds.

Jarun is comprised of two connected lakes: the Large Lake, marked off for rowing, kayaking, and canoeing competitions, and the Small Lake, which is intended for swimming. Life guards are found along the beach, and showers and changing areas are also available. Each beach also features its own sports courts, playgrounds, and other recreation opportunities.

Founded in 1364, Jagiellonian University is the second oldest university in Central Europe. While it has survived to celebrate its 650th jubilee in 2014, its history has been turbulent. After briefly collapsing in 1370, it was revived in 1400, and in the early 16th century, it enjoyed a golden age in the midst of the Polish Renaissance. However, the prestige of the university eventually declined as Poland’s position in Europe got worse and the country was partitioned multiple times. After nearly closing in the 19th century, the university then hosted major scientific achievements. It was then targeted by the Nazis, who sent dozens of faculty members to concentration camps and destroyed university libraries and laboratories. Jagiellonian continued to suffer under Communism, and it wasn't until Poland’s Communist government was overthrown that the university once again began to flourish. Today it is considered one of the top universities in all of Europe.

Most notable for visitors to the university is the Collegium Maius building, home to the Jagiellonian University Museum, which boasts an impressive collection of old scientific instruments, university memorabilia and a portrait gallery of professors.

Located in the heart of St. James in the City of Westminster in London, Jermyn Street is one of London’s most historic and fashionable districts. Dating back to 1664, it was dominated by the Church of St. James and lined with houses, hotels, schools and taverns. Today, it has developed a reputation for high quality British artistry and craftsmanship and is home to the finest tailors, shirt makers, leather suppliers, food and wine merchants and art galleries in the city. It is also where you will find the 70 seat Jermyn Theatre, the smallest in the West End.

Named after Henry Jermyn, who is widely regarded as the founder of London’s West End, Jermyn Street has been home to notable Brits such as Sir William Stanley, Sir John Churchill, Sir Isaac Newton, William Pitt, Sir Walter Scott and William Gladstone.

On Jan. 16, 1969, a student named Jan Palach set himself on fire in Wenceslas Square to protest the Soviet Union’s invasion of Czechoslovakia. Today, a truly unique memorial comprised of a horizontal weather-worn wooden cross rising up from cobblestone streets pays homage to Palach and his friend, Jan Zajic, who killed themselves as an act of political protest.

Today, visitors can stop at this quiet square and reflect on the changes that have taken place in this Eastern European country. While travelers agree that the memorial isn’t well marked, or very well-explained, its significance in Czech history is great and certainly worth a visit.

The most complete of the four great medieval abbeys in the Scottish Borders, Jedburgh was founded in the mid-12th century by Augustinian canons; the town that grew up around it played an important role in the historic border struggles between England and Scotland. Repeatedly attacked by invading armies, the abbey was destroyed several times down the centuries before loosing its status during the Protestant Reformation in 1560.

Today the abbey sits in the middle of the town of Jedburgh and is surrounded by herb gardens, a gently dilapidated graveyard, a picnic area and tranquil views over the Jed Water. The nave and bell tower of the abbey church are still standing, built in a mix of Romanesque and Gothic styles; visitors can climb the spiral staircase at the west end of the nave for impressive views over its arched avenue of arcades. A visitor center displays artifacts discovered during various restorations; the most important of these are the ivory Jedburgh Comb, dating from the early 12th century, medieval biblical carvings and an eighth-century shrine, thought to be from the Anglo-Saxon monastery on the island of Lindisfarne in Northumberland.

Today the Borders abbeys (the others are at Dryburgh, Melrose and Kelso) are all connected by a 64.5-mile (103-km) walk that takes in the towns of Hawick and Selkirk. Jedburgh is also within easy reach of Hadrian’s Wall and the museums of Roman Britain.

Jasna Góra Monastery is one of the largest Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world. Located in Częstochowa, Poland, the monastery is home to the famous Black Madonna of Częstochowa, or the Our Lady of Częstochowa, a four-foot-high Gothic painting displaying the Virgin Mary. Legend has it that Luke the Evangelist completed the iconic painting, and it is further purported that the painting was done on a tabletop built by Jesus himself and that it was discovered by St Helen, mother of Emperor Constantine. 

On average, 14,000 people visit the monastery each day to see the Black Madonna, a painting credited with several miracles, including the saving of the monastery during a 17th-century Swedish invasion. It is believed that the original painting was a Byzantine icon dating back to sometime between the 6th and 9th centuries. During a 15th-century restoration, it was painted anew, as the restorers were not able to apply tempera colors over the wax paint.