Germany Travel

Wurzburg, Germany - Travel Photos by Galen R Frysinger,Sheboygan, Wisconsin Wrzburg Marienberg Wrzburg , city in southwestern Germany, in Bavaria, on the Main River. It is a railroad junction, an industrial center, and the commercial hub of an agricultural region noted for its vineyards. The leading manufactures of the city include wine and beer, machinery, scientific instruments, paper, pianos, chemicals, and textiles. colorful parish church Among the architectural landmarks in Wrzburg are a Romanesque cathedral, rebuilt after receiving severe damage in World War II (1939-1945), which contains works by the sculptor Tilman Riemenschneider; Neumnster Church, a chiefly Romanesque structure with an 18th-century baroque facade; a 15th-century stone bridge spanning the Main; the Marienberg fortress atop the Leistenberg, which was the episcopal residence from 1261 to 1720, and which now houses a museum with an extensive collection of Riemenschneider's works; the Julius hospital (founded 1576); and the large rococo episcopal and ducal palace (1720-1744). the old bridge (1373 - 1543) The city is the site of a university (1582); the physicist Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen discovered X rays in 1895 while he was a professor in Wrzburg. The painter Matthias Grnewald was born and completed much work in the city. Julius hospital (founded 1576) its courtyard Memorial to its benefactors famous for its wine production First used as a fortification by Celts, the city was the site of the martyrdom of Saint Kilian, Christian missionary, in 689. Wrzburg was founded by Christianized Franks, and in 741 it became an episcopal see. In front of the New Residence the statue of the Bishop is looking at his older residence (Marienberg) in the background. the new residence rococo episcopal and ducal palace (1720-1744). as seen from the garden the Bishop's crest in the residence chapel the Baroque pulpit the Baroque ceiling In succeeding centuries the bishops of Wrzburg were prominent also as temporal princes, and they controlled a substantial area. The bishopric was secularized in 1801, assigned to Bavaria in 1803, and transferred to Ferdinand III, the dispossessed grand duke of Tuscany, in 1805. It passed to Bavaria in 1815. During World War II the city sustained extensive damage from air raids, but its historic buildings have been reconstructed. sculpture in the residence garden Population of Wurzburg (1990 estimate) 125,589. Returnto Germany page Returnto Europe page Returnto People and Places

Spain Travel

Freelance Spain - Travel Facts Spain Destination Spain DESTINATIONS AT A GLANCE Want to discover one of the world's favorite countries? Here are some basic facts for the traveler in Spain. When to go In general, late spring and late summer-early autumn are the best times for traveling in Spain. Fair weather is practically guaranteed, and the countryside is at its best. High summer is stiflingly hot in most inland areas, including Madrid and the inland cities of Andalusia such as Seville and Crdoba. Big cities, especially Madrid, empty during August, with many shops and restaurants closing, though a visit then does have advantages, such as light traffic (you can even find a parking space). Summer weather is milder along the Mediterranean coast, but July and August in popular resorts such as the Costa del Sol are best avoided unless you like crowds. Summer along the northern coast of Spain, from the Basque Country to Galicia, can be very pleasant. Winters along the Mediterranean coast are generally mild, but expect occasional heavy rains - alternating with long spells of glorious sunshine - any time between October and April. In inland areas, winter temperatures can reach below freezing and snow is is not infrequent. Bear in mind Spain's fiestas when planning a trip - be it to go to them, or to avoid them. During major fiestas such as the San Fermin bull runs in Pamplona or the April Fair in Seville, hotel rates double and even so rooms must be reserved months in advance. Getting There Practically all transcontinental flights land at Madrid's Barajas airport, so you will need to book an extra flight if you want to travel by air to another destination in Spain. Air fares between North America and Europe are highly competitive. You might find it cheaper to fly to Spain via another European country. Rates between Great Britain and any number of destinations in Spain are especially worth checking out. Rail communications between the rest of Europe and Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia and Seville are very good. There are also regular ferries between southern England and northern Spain. Major cities in Spain are well connected to continental Europe and each other by motorway. Entry Formalities If you are a citizen of a European Union country, all you need to enter Spain is a national identity card. In the case of the United Kingdom, which does not issue such cards, you'll need a passport. Visas for stays of no longer than 90 days are not required for travelers from the United States, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, but South Africans do need to apply for a visa before they leave. Language A knowledge of Spanish will enrichen a trip to Spain, but you can get by perfectly well with English in the major destinations. Spaniards are in general friendly and tolerant towards foreign visitors. Getting Around Spain is a big country - the second largest in western Europe after France - so don't expect to "do Spain" in a week. Flights between Spanish cities are frequent, but the fares tend to be high. Iberia, Spanair and Air Europa are the major operators. Train service between the larger cities is excellent, and irreproachably punctual, but slower in the case of smaller regional cities. The bus is an inexpensive alternative. Driving in Spain Renting a car is a reasonably-priced option, and by far the best way to travel if you want to enjoy Spain's rich and varied countryside. The major international car hire firms operate in Spain; local companies usually charge somewhat cheaper rates. In any case, it is usually a better bet to reserve and pay for your rental car from home, before you leave. To rent a car you have to be over 21 and have a valid driver's license. Your national license is valid for driving in Spain as a tourist. Major roads are generally good, though traffic can be heavy on more popular routes, especially on weekends or during holiday periods. Local roads range from good and pleasant to hair-raisingly narrow and winding. Enquire locally before embarking on a driver to a distant village, and don't take a road just because it is a reassuring color on the road map. Avoid driving in cities: it can be a nightmare experience, especially if you're unfamiliar with the city or with some of the quirkier local driving habits. Park in a guarded parking area, and take a taxi, which are very good value in Spain. In Madrid, it's worth familiarizing yourself with the excellent Metro (subway) system. Money Matters The official currency in Spain is the Euro Credit cards are widely accepted in Spain, Visa and Masters more so than American Express or Diners. Provided you know your Personal Identification Number, you can use your card to withdraw cash from ATMs in Spain. Often, you'll find the rate of exchange is more favorable than if you go to a bank or exchange bureau. When exchanging money at a bank, avoid converting small amounts at a time, as the minimum commission charged can be prohibitive. Most Spanish banks close in the afternoon, all day Saturday during summer, and all day Sunday year round. Value added tax (IVA) is charged on purchases, at a rate of 16% for most goods and services (it is 7% for hotel accommodation). If you are resident of a non-European Union country, you can get a refund of this tax on purchases over 100 Euros in certain participating shops. The refund can be claimed at the airport customs office on your departure: you can either get cash there, or have them send a check to your home address or credit the amount to your credit card. Staying in Touch To call abroad from Spain, dial the international access code (00), then your country code (such as 1 for the US, 44 for Great Britain), then the number. If you have a phone card from your home company, you can place a call by dialing your company's access number in Spain: ATT 900 990 011 MCI 900 990 014 Sprint 900 990 013 British Telecom 900 990 044 Mobile phones can be used in Spain provided they conform to the European GSM standard and the "roam" feature is activated. Hotels In general, hotels in Spain are comfortable and good value. Hotels in large cities such as Madrid and Barcelona are around twice the price as hotels elsewhere in Spain. Hotels are rated from one to five stars, which gives a rough indication of their facilities, but not of the friendliness or efficiency of the service. Fodor's guide to Spain gives good, up-to-date information on hotels in the major Spanish destinations. Hotels often offer good deals in slower periods, such as summer in Madrid. When phoning for a reservation, always ask for the room rate, and enquire regarding special offers. Spanish hotels do not normally require your credit card number to accept a reservation. For more advice on choosing where to stay in Spain, see the article by Nick Inman on Hotels in Spain , and check our Guide to Hotels in Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Granada and Seville. Electrical Current The electrical current in Spain is 200 volts, 50 cycles AC. Plugs are of the continental type, with two round prongs. American appliances require a transformer and a plug adapter for use in Spain. Have A Question? If you have a question regarding any aspect of traveling in Spain, you can obtain personalized travel information from the experts by visiting guidebookwriters.com . In addition, you can post a message in our Forum section to request information or exchange views with other travelers to Spain. For useful on-line sources of information for travelers, head for our Links section and click on "Travel". DESTINATIONS AT A GLANCE : Madrid - Barcelona - Bilbao - Granada - Seville Almera desert - La Mancha - Formentera Canary Islands: La Palma - Canary Islands: Puerto de la Cruz FREELANCESPAIN HOME Freelance Spain Showcase - Journalists - Photographers Features - Travel - People - Freelance Selections - Editor'sShortcut - Links little@spainview.com

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France Travel

Visit Paris, France - Travel in Paris - Paris Hotels Visit - Paris . com : Travel in Paris and Paris Hotels Hotels in Paris Visit our partners : Paris Hotels - Paris - Paris Hotels - Strasbourg Hotels - France Hotels - Promotion d' hotel à Paris - Riviera Cannes Nice Hotels Visiter nos partenaires : Hôtels à Paris - Vacances à Paris - Hôtels Strasbourg - Hôtels France - Hotel sur la Cote d'azur - Hotel en Alsace - Paris Reservation Hotel - booking hotel paris If you come to Paris , it is before very discovering the city and benefitting from its wonders. But how to visit Paris and benefit from a city without being able to rest the evening under the best conditions in Paris Hotels . To know in advance that you will be able to sleep in all quietude and in comfort, if not the luxury, will enable you to benefit as well as possible from your stay in Paris . The choice of Paris Hotels is thus one of the fundamental points to take into account at the time of the development of your trip in Paris . The selection of your Paris Hotels will depend on several criteria as different as your budget, the geographical localization, the nature of the Paris hotels which you wish or the comfort to which you aspire. The Paris hotels remain of course the principal form of lodging for the tourists and we propose a broad choice of them to you to allow you to reserve as of now and under the best conditions of security, your paris hotels for your next stay in Paris.

ITALY Travel Guide Overview

VirtualTourist.com - Italy Travel Guide - Pictures, Tips and Reviews Italy Travel Guide. Tips, Reviews & Photos plus Hotels, Restaurants, Activities & More in Italy member log in | join for free! | help Home Travel Guides Hotels Flights Deals NEW! Members Meetings & Events Do It Yourself Guides Forums ITALY Travel Guide Overview | Hotels | Forum | Things To Do | Top Member Pages | Deals | Members | Meetings & Events Home » Travel Guides » Europe » Italy Destinations Members Keywords Sponsored Links for Italy Marriott Hotels Enjoy stylish luxury hotels with Marriott's new rooms. Book now. Costa Rica Vacation $995 10 Day Escorted Tour, All Inclusive 53 Years. Smart Shoppers Compare. Hotels Compare Prices, View Photos & More! Low Rates Guaranteed - Book Now Vacation In Paradise Visit Atlantis, Paradise Island for the vacation of a lifetime. Cheap Hotels at Expedia Expedia Special Rates Means We Guarantee Our Low Rates on Rooms. Italy Hotel Rates City: Check-In Date: Check-Out Date: Guests: 1 2 3 4 Hotels by OneTime.com Italy Forum Join a Discussion Travelling from Florence to Venice (1 replies, 7:53 PM Dec. 26, 2005) Need traveler to Italy for school project (1 replies, 12:25 PM Dec. 22, 2005) Italian wine (21 replies, 6:32 AM Dec. 23, 2005) Be the first to reply to these questions Accommodation in Pesaro and other cities on the Adriatic coast (no replies yet) Anyone with advice on Perugia (no replies yet) Accomodations near Milan airport or bus station? (no replies yet) » All Italy Discussions » Post a Italy Discussion Travel Resources Car Rental Cruises Vacations Luggage NEW! Italy Deals Holiday fares for flights to and within Italy starting 39 euros! (2 comments, 12:17 PM Dec. 26, 2005) Train travel in Italy for as little as 10 euro (2 comments, 8:49 AM Dec. 19, 2005) 20% Rail Discount for Non-Italians (0 comments, 8:10 PM Nov. 7, 2005) » All Italy Deals » Post a Italy Deal FREE VT Deals Newsletter great deals, inside tips & no spam Popular Italy Hotels In: Rome Venice Florence Milan Verona Pisa Italy Flight Rates From: To: Departure Date: Anytime Morning Afternoon Evening Midnight 01:00 AM 02:00 AM 03:00 AM 04:00 AM 05:00 AM 06:00 AM 07:00 AM 08:00 AM 09:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM Noon 01:00 PM 02:00 PM 03:00 PM 04:00 PM 05:00 PM 06:00 PM 07:00 PM 08:00 PM 09:00 PM 10:00 PM 11:00 PM Return Date: Anytime Morning Afternoon Evening Midnight 01:00 AM 02:00 AM 03:00 AM 04:00 AM 05:00 AM 06:00 AM 07:00 AM 08:00 AM 09:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM Noon 01:00 PM 02:00 PM 03:00 PM 04:00 PM 05:00 PM 06:00 PM 07:00 PM 08:00 PM 09:00 PM 10:00 PM 11:00 PM Passengers: 1 2 3 4 Flights by OneTime.com Italy Local time: 11:43 pm Wednesday, December 28, 2005. TravelPro Sale - LuggageGuru.com Great hotels from $53/pp. Hotels in Italy Flights to Italy Map NEW! Members living here: 4,950 Member tips: 56,654 Member pictures: 93,018 Popular Destinations in Italy Rome Venice Florence Milan Verona Pisa Valeggio sul Mincio Naples Pompeii Trieste Genoa Bologna Siena Torino Bergamo Padova Lucca Palermo Sorrento Lago di Garda San Gimignano Catania Bolzano Ravenna Positano » More Destinations in Italy Regions in Italy Abruzzo Basilicata Calabria Campania Emilia-Romagna Friuli-Venezia Giulia Lazio Liguria Lombardy Marche Molise Piemonte Puglia Sardegna Sicilia Trentino-Alto Adige Tuscany Umbria Valle d'Aosta Veneto Top Pages About Italy 1. Italia Nel Cuore by croisbeauty 117 Tips 375 Pictures 2. Italia - Prego! by iandsmith 133 Tips 154 Pictures 3. The Many Faces Of Italy by deecat 88 Tips 103 Pictures 4. Beautiful Italy by sim1 84 Tips 89 Pictures 5. The Best Time To Be In Italy by Ciambella 52 Tips 69 Pictures » View all rated pages (413) » View newest pages » Build your own Italy page Tips and Photos about Italy in General Overview General Tips Tips: 1,094 - Pictures: 862 Restaurants Tips: 290 - Pictures: 161 Hotels and Accommodations Tips: 342 - Pictures: 211 Things To Do Tips: 1,647 - Pictures: 1,480 Nightlife Tips: 97 - Pictures: 58 Off the Beaten Path Tips: 496 - Pictures: 435 Tourist Traps Tips: 123 - Pictures: 63 Warnings or Dangers Tips: 228 - Pictures: 92 Transportation Tips: 324 - Pictures: 188 Local Customs Tips: 334 - Pictures: 243 Packing Lists Tips: 96 - Pictures: 48 Shopping Tips: 60 - Pictures: 40 Sports Travel Tips: 21 - Pictures: 17 » See tips about a specific place in Italy More Sponsored Links for Italy Visit the New Delta.com Low fares to Italy & other destinations. Low Change Fees! Italy Hotels View photos, maps, reviews, rates and book: pay only on check out ! Italy Villas For Rent View a comprehensive collection in the country and on the coast. Find: Destinations Members Keywords Matching: Advanced About VT | Contact Us | Site Tour | Advertising | Local Merchant Login | Travel Tools | VT Chat | VT Gear | Help User Agreement | Privacy Statement Virtual Tourist® ©1994-2005 VirtualTourist.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.