All of the great fantasy tales have their foundation in some English myth or historical event from the medieval age. For those of us who fell in love with the legends of Camelot, read the Lord of the Rings over and over again and watched breathlessly as armies clashed in modern movies like Braveheart, there can be only one nation that can bring these dreams to life: the United Kingdom.There are many places to visit if dreaming of knights is your passion. And when planning your tour, be sure to put Durham on your list. Set on a peninsula above the River Wear just south of the Scottish border, the town of Durham is drenched in old English charm and wonder.

Durham Cathedral is the heart and soul of the city, even now, and fittingly enough was the first building erected in Durham more than 1000 years ago. Monks from the island of Lindisfarne arrived here carrying the remains of Saint Cuthbert, a renowned Middle Age healer, and found that the hill atop the peninsula provided the glory and protection they wanted for the resting place of their saint. Less than 100 years later, the Normans invaded England in 1066 and wrested control of the nation from Harold. They promptly marched up to Durham and built a great castle to demonstrate their dominion over all of England. Soon the castle and the cathedral, built atop the modest home the Lindisfarne monks had built, faced each other regally across the Palace Green. The bishop, appointed by the Normans, commanded extraordinary powers as Prince Bishop by Divine Providence and made his home in the castle. Under the powers of the Church and the Bishop, Durham rose to be one of the greatest towns in England from the 13th to the 19th century.

For travellers, Durham is a good place to stop before heading north into Scotland (or returning). The town escaped the ravages of the Industrial Revolution, despite the coal mines prevalent in the area, and remains to this day a pristine, wooded and walled town hugging the banks of the slow moving River Wear. Since Durham University was founded in the late 1800s, the town has seen an infusion of young blood each year that contrasts smoothly with the great walls of the castle and the silent woods along the Wear. To accommodate young tastes, pubs and restaurants have popped up along the river and the marketplace at the foot of the cathedral. Rooms and small apartments are available during the summer for rock bottom prices — landlords have to make due when the kids leave, so summer might be a great time to spend a few days in Durham.

Both the cathedral and the castle are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and are open to the public. It is actually possible to stay in the castle during the summer months. The remains of Saint Cuthbert are on display in the cathedral and the Great Hall of the impregnable Durham Castle is also open to visitors during the day. The River Wear has boat operators that allow for couples to take a quick row under the bridges and parkways and paths line the river from one part of town to the other.

Durham is a small town and it is possible to walk the whole of it in just half a day. All of the major sites — the river, the cathedral and castle, the bridges and marketplace — are very close together and can be visited at a leisurely pace. In the surrounding areas are other Norman, Anglo-Saxon and Roman sites open to visitors, such as Barnard Castle, a marketplace town built around the remains of a 12th century castle anda classic English villa just south of the castle. Just outside of Durham is the Beamish Open Air Museum, where the history of the area comes to life in historic replicas of homes, schools, mine shafts and working pubs (!).

The best way to enjoy this place is with 2-3 days (maybe more) of quiet walking around the almost legendary sites of ages past, with a good hearty English dinner and ale at the end of the day. To really punctuate your Durham visit, I suggest a little time spent in a rowboat on the river. Sir Walter Scott did just this several hundred years ago, and when he stopped on one walk to stare up at the cathedral, he wrote these lines, carved into the stone of Prebend Bridge:

“Grey towers of Durham
Yet well I love thy mixed and massive piles
Half church of God, half castle ‘gainst the Scot
And long to roam those venerable aisles
With records stored of deeds long since forgot.”

Have you ever looked at labels on European wine bottles and wondered about the meaning of AOC, DOGC, or QmP? Look no further. In my European Wine Guide series (organized by country), I will take you through a crash course in wine classifications and varietals found in major wine-producing regions throughout Europe. Let’s start our “wine tour” in Italy.

The Italian wine classification system is comprised of four main categories:

Italian Fine Wines

The Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) classification is reserved for the highest quality Italian wines. There are a limited number of wines that fall into this category and let’s just say you pay accordingly for this type of quality.

Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) is essentially the equivalent of the French wine classification, Appellation d’Origine Controlée (AOC). It is required that wines in this category be made in government-specified areas, following strict regulations that are designed to preserve the wine’s distinctive terroir (the special characteristics- weather patterns, soil, growing techniques- of a region or growing site).

Italian Table Wines

Indicazione di Geografica Tipica (IGT)
Most of these table wines are easy to find and grown in specific areas in Italy. Keep in mind that it is of IGT wine (because the wine producers wish to sidestep the strict regulations of DOC or DOCG classifications).

Vino Da Tavola (VdT)
The only criterion for a VdT wine is that it needs to be produced in Italy. VdT wines are typically used as inexpensive table wine or cooking wine.

Super Tuscans are an informal and newer type of Italian wine classification. This category is made up of Tuscan red wines that do not follow the traditional blending rules for the region (and thus are ineligible for DOC or DOCG classifications).

Common Italian Varietals

Red

Sangiovese – Easily the most famous Italian varietal, Sangiovese wines taste of cherry, earth and cedar. Chiantis are made from a blend of Sangiovese and Merlot grapes.

Montepulciano – This grape is grown on the other side of the country (Abruzzo) from the town of Montepulciano (found in Tuscany). It produces wines with a lively acidity, medium tannins, and plum flavors.

Barbera – Piedmont and the towns of Asti, Alba and Pavia (in Lombardy) are home to the Barbera grape. Wines made from this varietal are very dark in color and taste of cherry.

White

Trebbiano – This is the most common white varietal planted in Italy and is called Ugni Blanc in France. Some of the best Trebbiano is grown in Abruzzo and Lazio. They produce food-friendly, light wines.

Moscato – This varietal is typically grown in Piedmont and used to make the sparkling (frizzante), sweet Moscato d’Asti.

Pinot Grigio – Known as Pinot Gris in France, Pinot Grigio wines are crisp, flavorful and can range from delicate to complex depending on the vineyard and grower.

Cin cin! Salute!

This Robin Hoodesque retreat was granted a license to use the European Union’s ecological sign ( flower symbol) because of its demonstrated commitment to the environment.

Fairy tale and magical lore abound at this “Green Castle” located in famous St.Georges Forest in the Czech Republic. From 1869 forward, it was the private rural manor of the Thurn-Taxis royal aristocratic family of Germany. What’s most exciting about Chateau Mcely Spa and Forest Retreat is that it’s the Czech’s first 5 Star Green/Eco hotel and only the second Eco hotel in the entire European Union.

Once a dilapidated chateau, the newly remodeled (2006) castle, in the town of Mcely has been reconstructed using “green principles” such as a heating system that relies on the combustion of waste wood chips! In addition, captured rain water is used for watering the English garden, energy is derived from renewable sources, and food waste is used to support local farm production. They use candles in many public rooms instead of electric lights and ask guests to conserve water as if it was a rare spice. It’s nice to be able to say that there are too many “Eco” aspects of this hotel to list!

Upon check-in at the hotel, one is greeted with a welcome cup of tea prepared exclusively from local herbs. Its obvious that the staff are proud to work in such a healthy and harmonious environment. While they do ask the guests to participate in being green during their stay, the hotel’s green efforts do not interfere in any way with the 5 star service and convenience that so many hotels claim is a problem in the “green” world. The company’s motto is, “We make a difference in the world by making a difference in yours”. A lesson or two could be learned from this retreat about how well a truly “Eco” hotel can be run.

If you are staying in Prague and want a 2-3 day getaway into Old Bohemia, then the Mcely Chateau is the place for you. Only a one hour drive from Prague, this is a local weekend hot spot. Book in advance (there are only 23 rooms and suites) and prepare to be spoiled! This retreat boasts too many activities to enjoy in one stay. The hotel comes complete with a spa center, afternoon tea, Alchemist Club (17th century cellar serving elixirs), 5 star restaurant, game park, and horseback riding. You may not know which to explore first!

You may want to book the relaxing Honey, Silk and Pearls (Oh My!) Spa treatment/massage - followed by cognac and chocolate souffle. Are you booking your plane ticket yet?
If you must leave your home-away-from-home at Chateau Mcely there are several nearby attractions to visit; quaint villages, castles and labyrinths of Loucen a Detenice or The Bedrich Smetana Museum.

With an abundant, interesting history and breathtaking scenery, the Czech Republic has so much to offer travelers. But a visit to this Eco friendly chateau stands out as place you will always remember and want to come back to.

Rothenburg, or more correctly Rothenburg ob der Tauber , is a picturesque Bavarian town that seems almost suspended in time. A centuries old city wall encapsulates charming medieval buildings that attract tourists and locals alike.

The city is very popular among tourists and thus is easily accessible via bus provided by various travel agencies. However, to avoid the masses of tourists, a day trip to Rothenburg is best during the morning or evening. In general, the city is most popular during the summer months. Try to visit in late April or early May for cooler weather and fewer crowds. The city can be accessed by train, as Rothenburg’s station is but a short walk from the city center. Be sure to buy tickets for Rothenburg ob der Tauber, as Germany has many towns named Rothenburg. Many visitors rent cars and drive to the city, cruising along the famous Romantic Road. Either way, Rothenburg is easily accessible and very pedestrian friendly.

The entire city can be seen in a day; walking from one end of town to the other takes but fifteen minutes. If you decide to spend a few days, try Hotel Eisenhut in the Town Hall Square, or Hotel Villa Mittermeier, situated near the city center, but away from the main tourist drag. Villa Mittermeier also boasts a great restaurant, featuring international fare with regional German influences.

A speciality of the city is the Schneeballen (snowballs), a pastry made of fried dough and dusted with powdered sugar or dipped in chocolate. Many bakeries lure hungry visitors with their window displays of Schneeballen and other sweet treats.

The city has numerous historic sites worth exploring and many visitors begin in the Market Square. Guided tours in English are offered by the city tourism office for a nominal fee. They run approximately ninety minutes and meet in the Market Square at 2:00 p.m. One can also take a self-guided tour of the city walls, wandering along the cobblestone streets and occasionally ascending the steep staircases built into the wall.

St. Jakobskirche, on Klostergasse, is the most famous church in Rothenburg, most notably for its 15th Century wooden altar made by Würzburg sculptor, Tilman Riemenschneider. It is exquisitely carved and the earliest piece attributed to the artist. There is a small entrance fee and English tours are available at the church every Saturday at 3:00 p.m.

The city contains many museums of various focuses, from toys to torture. The Medieval Crime Museum, on Burggasse, is the most famous and proclaims itself the most important museum of German legal history. Much of the exhibition space devotes itself to displaying the various torture methods and means utilized by Germany, so it is best reserved for those who can stomach such subject matter. A more lighthearted destination is the Dolls and Toys Museum on Hofbronnengasse. The largest private collection of toys in the country is on display here, from doll houses to model trains. The Imperial City Museum, near St. Jakob’s, houses art and artifacts from Rothenburg’s past. All manner of items from the centuries old city can be seen here.

Shopping is a popular tourist attraction in Rothenburg, as well. Art, linens, toys, jewelry and souvenirs are all available here. Perhaps most famous is the Käthe Wohlfahrt, a shop selling only Christmas decorations throughout the year.

Christmas is a huge celebration in Rothenburg, as in many other Bavarian towns. Every year the city hosts the Reiterlesmarkt, a Christmas market that runs from late November through December 23rd. Artisans set up shop and sell Christmas related items; delicious foods are offered, mulled wine is sipped, and candlelight processions can be viewed.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a movie set kind of a town; perfectly preserving its medieval past while catering to 21st Century visitors. While in Bavaria, it is well worth taking a day-long detour to enjoy this hamlet while snacking on some Schneeballen and perhaps buying a few German trinkets.

If you go 45 minute train ride and a short bus ride can drop you smack in the middle of an ancient burial ground.  Gamla Uppsala, Old Uppsala, makes for a wonderful day trip from Stockholm for anyone hoping to get a glimpse of ancient Swedish history.

Gamla Uppsala is best known for its religious connotations.  Depending on which medieval Nordic historian you believe, Gods such as Odin and Freyr lived in Gamla Uppsala.  In the 17^th century, a Swedish historian even managed to “prove” that Gamla Uppsala was at the center of the lost city of Atlantis.

Today, there are no signs of Odin, or Atlantis for that matter, but the three royal burial mounds from 6^th century still dominate the landscape.  Take the time to follow the path around the burial sites.  Admire the landscape that inspired claims of divine inhabitants and lost cities.

For a more in depth and historical look at the mounds, visit the museum.  The Gamla Uppsala Museum has odd opening hours so be sure to check their website if you’re hoping to learn more about the burial site.