Hidden Travel Gems of Europe
European countries remain some of the most loved travel destinations in the world today, as they are home to many notable landmarks and attractions that draw many millions of international visitors every year. If a European vacation happens to catch your fancy, you probably have several popular European tourist spots in mind. But what if you’re a returning traveller or someone who prefers to explore the hidden travel gems of Europe instead of visiting the usual attractions?
Forget the Eiffel Tower in France, the Colosseum in Rome, or the Grand Canal of Venice in Italy. There are actually many unexplored corners in Europe that can interest more adventurous visitors. A bit of research will open doors to plenty of interesting options. Here are just a few:
Kronborg Castle in Denmark
Travellers well-read in classics will definitely be delighted by a visit to Kronborg Castle, a large stronghold situated near the town of Helsingor. This town is most likely familiar to readers who loved Elsinore in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
Kronborg Castle is also popular for housing a statue of Holger Danske or Ogier the Dane, as it is more popularly known. The legendary character is said to remain sleeping in the castle until such time when he needs to rise and defend Denmark from grave danger.
Aside from its significance in literature, the castle also has an interesting history. It served as a fortress in the 1420s, reconstructed into a unique renaissance castle in 1585, and used as a prison from 1739 to the1900s (with Queen Caroline Mathilde of Denmark and Norway being one of its famous prisoners).
Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland
One of the most intriguing hidden travel gems of Europe lies along the coast of Northern Ireland, a breath-taking natural wonder called the Giant’s Causeway. This stretch of around 40,000 basalt columns interlocking with each other resulted from an ancient volcanic eruption 62 to 65 million years ago. There are actually many epic tales about its origin. The legends come in many versions, all revolving around the battles of Irish warrior Finn McCool with his Scottish equivalent Benandonner. This natural tourist attraction was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.
Truva (Troy) in Turkey
Turkey is a unique country especially in the geographic sense — it is located in both Europe and Asia. The Eurasian nation is home to many ancient cities, including Truva, better known as Troy, a city both legendary and factual, definitely one of the hidden travel gems of Europe.
Troy is popularized in Homer’s Iliad as the site of the Trojan War, an epic battle waged by the Achaeans (Greeks) against the city after the Trojan Prince Paris took Helen, the wife of Spartan King Menelaus.
Present-day Troy resurfaced when German businessman Heinrich Schliemann and English archaeologist Frank Calvert excavated a field in Hisarlik (modern name for the ancient city’s location). The two unearthed cities that appeared to be built in succession. Today, the hidden travel gems of Europe include portions of Troy’s legendary walls and the rebuilt Trojan horse.
