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Art history is full of beautiful paintings with a winter theme. The whiteness of snow, muted winter light and almost a monochromatic palette fascinated painters since the Middle Ages. A year ago, I curated a winter-themed Art Blogmas. Since it was pretty successful, I’m sharing the 20 most beautiful winter-themed paintings in this article dedicated to winter in art.
Have you ever wondered how artists travelled in the past? How did they deliver their artworks, and how far did they go? The time of the Renaissance was marked by travelling, Great Geographical Discoveries, and the rebirth of Classical antique art. It’s surprising to find out how quickly one got to know artist’s work far away, even before the Internet or motor vehicles. But also how difficult it was for artists to travel. However, despite all the difficulties, those Renaissance artists were some of the first culture tourists in the world.
Brussels, the capital of Belgium, is home to more than eighty museums. From the fine arts ones to museums dedicated to natural history, musical instruments, comic books and many more. When it comes to its museums, Brussels has something for everyone. To help you choose which one to visit during your trip to the Belgian capital, here is a guide to the best museums in Brussels.
Amsterdam is one of the world’s art and culture centres. Its museums like Rijksmuseum or Van Gogh Museum are homes to famous art pieces like Rembrandt’s Night Watch, Vermeer’s Milkmaid or Van Gogh’s Sunflowers. However, if you’d like to avoid the crowds in the Dutch capital, its surrounding region is a place to go. Amsterdam area is home to some charming historic towns, fantastic museums and beautiful architecture. Find out more about what to see and do in the Amsterdam area.
With many festive events, Christmas trees all around and that cosy feeling, December is my favourite month of a year. And a big reason for it is Christmas markets. Since I love visiting them, I did a bit of research and looked for the Christmas markets organised in the Netherlands. I’ve first compiled this list four years ago, and have updated it each year since. So if you would like to visit some of them, here is your complete guide through the Dutch Christmas markets.
One of the first things coming to mind when thinking about Luxembourg is the financial sector, picturesque hills and numerous beautiful castles. However, its southern region around Esch-sur-Alzette, also known as Minett, will show you another side of Luxembourg. Its history is linked to iron ore mining and crude iron production. Being elected as the European Capital of Culture in 2022, Esch-sur-Alzette and the surrounding region will shine in a new light while connecting art, culture, European values and industrial heritage.
There aren’t many things being more British than the tradition of the afternoon tea. Being curious why ‘at half past three, everything stops for tea’, I did a bit of research to find out more about that lovely British tradition. And, of course, had an afternoon tea myself last month in London, to see what the fuss is all about.
There is something special about travelling during the autumn. The weather is still quite lovely, but many places are not as crowded as they usually are during the summertime. You can often get better deals on flights and accommodation, as well. To make your search for the best places to visit in autumn easier, I looked for some of the most beautiful autumn destinations in Europe. And have asked some of my fellow travel bloggers to help me compile the list of places in Europe to visit in autumn.
Driving in a car towards Spišská Kapitula and Spiš Castle feels like travelling back during the Middle Ages. Surrounded by dreamy hills, in the distance, all of a sudden, you see two white towers of Saint Martin’s Cathedral and a white castle above them. Same as they did during medieval times, they serve as a landmark that lets you know you’re on the right path. And while arriving closer to them, they become even more magical. It’s almost as the time stands still at that little corner of Slovakia. The charming small town of Spišská Kapitula and the Spiš Castle located next to it were my favourite places I visited in Slovakia. There is not much information online, so here is the Culture Tourist guide to Spišská Kapitula and Spiš Castle in Slovakia.