Blue Danube

Tourist attractions in Washington D.C. : The Pentagon

2015-06-08T02:18:00.001-07:00

The Pentagon is located on the old Potomac River floodplains in Arlington County, next to Washington D.C. It is headquarters of the Department of Defense and one of the world’s largest office buildings. It has about three times the floor space of the Empire State Building, which gives an indication of its enormous size. The history of the Pentagon dates back to mid 20th century. The area used to be nothing but wasteland and dumps. It was in 1941, shortly before the US entry into the Second World War, that the decision to construct a building which gathered all Defense personnel in one building was taken.

Photo by La Citta Vita

At the time, the War Department work force numbered more than 24,000 people, housed in 17 different buildings. Needless to say, the new building would have to be huge in order to fit all these people into one single building. The guidelines given was also not to provide office for the current 24,000 employees, but to have a maximum capacity of 40,000 while at the same time keeping the building less than six stories high. This, not so easy task, was solved by Engineer officer General Brehon B. Somervell and his two subordinates, who together proposed a five-sided building design. This shape is commonly known as a pentagonal shape, which has given the building its name. The construction started right away with 41,000 concrete piles and 5,5 million cubic yards of earth forming the foundation of the building.

Photo by Asten

The construction process went incredibly fast and the building stood completed in January 1943, only 16 months after the start of the construction. A normal time period for a project of this magnitude was around four years. In total, around 4,000 men were working the building in three shifts, which explains the remarkably fast completion of the building. Visitors looking at the outside of the Pentagon will see that it is rather stripped of details and other ornamentation. This is a choice the designers made, as they wanted to minimize or avoid using critical war materials when possible. For example, they used concrete drainpipes rather than metal and they eliminated bronze doors and copper ornaments. The building might look like a big block, but the fact is the Pentagon is built as five pentagonal rings, with space in between each ring to allow sunlight into the building. In the middle of the Pentagon there is even a small park.

Today, the Pentagon is almost as a city in itself. It has more than 20.000 employees and parking lots for over 8.000 cars. While in the building, they tell time by 4,200 clocks, drink from 691 water fountains and can utilize any of the 284 rest rooms. Even though the building was constructed during the early years of World War II, it is still thought of as one of the most efficient office buildings in the world. Despite its enormous size, it only takes around seven minutes to walk between any two points in the building.

Photo by USDAgov

Photo by The U.S. Army

The memorial built after the 9/11 attacks contains 184 benches, one for each victim of the attack, arranged in order of the year of birth of each individual. Each bench also carries the name of a victim with a small pool of water under it. The benches for the 59 victims on board the plane are arranged so that someone reading the name on the end of the bench will face the sky where the plane came from. The 125 benches for the victims inside the Pentagon face the opposite direction, so someone reading the name will look up and see the façade of the Pentagon where the jet hit that day.

Text Source: worldsiteguides.com

Tourist attractions in Washington D.C. : Iwo Jima Memorial

2015-06-04T10:05:00.000-07:00

The Marine Corps War Memorial, also known as the Iwo Jima Memorial is situated directly across the Potomac River from Georgetown, Washington D.C and just outside the walls of Arlington National Cemetery. The massive Iwo Jima Memorial depicts the raising of the American flag at Mount Suribachi on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima, February 23rd, 1945. The monument is based on the iconic photo taken during the Battle of Iwo Jima in the Second World War. The memorial, however, is dedicated to all Marine Corps who have given their lives in the defense of the United States since 1775.

Photo by Bernt Rostad

Even though the statue is one of the world’s largest bronze statues, standing 23 meters tall and weighing a massive 100 metric tons, great attention has been given to details. Visitors to Iwo Jima Memorial can even see the facial expressions of the soldiers raising the flag.

The island of Iwo Jima, which translates to “Sulfur Island”, is located strategically in the Pacific Ocean, 660 miles - or 1060 kilometers - south of Tokyo. The Japanese used the island as a scouting outpost which warned the mainland of incoming attacks while the American wanted to use the island for emergency landings for their long-range bombers.

Photo by desertpenguinphotos

The seizure of Iwo Jima would allow the Americans to perform sea and air blockades and give them the ability to conduct intensive air bombardment which could destroy the Japanese air and naval capabilities. The island was obviously quite important to both sides. The battle war fought over 36 days, with the Americans attacking the well entrenched Japanese soldiers, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides. The small island is dominated by an old volcano mountain on the south side, which became a strategically important mountain to hold during the battle, as it provided a view over a large part of the island.

Photo by dlm7155

The Americans captured the mountain after four days of tough fighting and symbolically raised a small American flag on the top. The flagpole was taken down and raised again later the same day, this time with a larger flag and this time the flag raise was immortalized with Joe Rosenthal’s iconic photo. The photo was shortly all over the American papers and became the symbol of the Pacific war-scene.

Photo by Ron Cogswell

The decision to construct the Iwo Jima statue and to build a memorial to the Marine Corps was taken the very same year the war was won. The project was entirely funded by donation from individuals and organizations who wanted to honor all who fought during the war. The sculptor Felix de Weldon and his colleagues worked on the project until it stood completed nine years later in 1954. The statue rests on a massive concrete base surrounded by highly polished black granite from Sweden. The memorial was officially dedicated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on November 10th, 1954; the 179th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps.

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Tourist attractions in Washington D.C. : US Air Force Memorial

2015-05-20T02:19:00.000-07:00

The US Air Force Memorial is located in Arlington County, near Washington D.C. The memorial lies at the intersection of Columbia Pike and South Joyce Street, on the grounds near the Pentagon and the Arlington National Cemetery. It is one of many in the area which honors the men and women who served the US military. This one honors the more than 54.000 men and women who have died in combat while serving the Air Force and its predecessor organizations. The Air Force is one of four service arms in the US army, together with the Marine Corps, the Navy and the Coastal Guard.

Photo by Kevin H.

The story behind this memorial began in 1992, when the newly acknowledged Air Force Memorial Foundation suggested that a memorial in honor of the Air Force personnel should be built. The plans were authorized by the current president, Bill Clinton, in 1994. The construction of the memorial began in September 2004 and finished seven months later. The official dedication was held in 2006 under presence of the then current president George W Bush, who himself previously served as an F-102 pilot, together with around 30.000 people in the audience.

Photo by Rob Crawley

The US Air Force Memorial is a beautiful piece, dominated by three tall spires, ranging from 61 to 82 meters in height. The spire structures are made of stainless steel plates with high-strength concrete filling the lower 2/3rds of each spire while the upper third is hollow stainless steel.

Photo by Official U.S. Air Force

The spires have a very modern elegant design. There is also a lot of though behind why the spires look the way they do. The spires symbolize a flying maneuver, known as a “bomb-burst”, where the planes fly close to each other upwards and then splits in different directions. Imagine that there is a plane at the top of the spires with each spire representing the jet-stream caused by the planes. Only three of the normal four contrails are depicted, as the absent fourth suggests the “missing man formation” traditionally used at Air Force funeral fly-overs.

Photo by mdesisto

Next to the spires you can see four bronze statues of the Honor Guard, made by the renowned sculptor, Zenos Frudakis, and behind them a black granite inscription wall. The wall bears inspirational quotations regarding the Air Force's three core values; “integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do”. The three spires not only represent the “bomb-burst” maneuver, but also these three core values. On the opposite side, visitors can see a free-standing glass wall depicting four F-16s flying in a missing man formation. Behind the glass stands the second inscription wall which bears the names of Air Force recipients of the Medal of Honor.

The US Air Force Memorial with its spectacular design has become another one of the many loved memorials in the area.

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Tourist attractions in Washington D.C. : Washington Monument

2015-05-18T05:48:00.000-07:00

Washington Monument is dedicated to and has gotten its name - just like the city it’s located in - from George Washington. The monument lies situated towards the western end of the National Mall area. Washington was the US General during the War of Independence and later the first president of the United States of America.

Photo by m01229

The mighty Washington Monument stands tall in an otherwise flat surrounding and dominates the landscape with its 169 meters, which makes it the highest structure in Washington D.C. Not only that, but it is also the world’s tallest stone structure and one of the world’s tallest obelisks. The obelisk is surrounded by 56 US flags, one for each state and one for each of territories of the USA. Together with the nearby Lincoln Memorial and the World War II memorial, the obelisk forms an area of not only beautiful and grand architecture, but also a source of inspiration.

Photo by joseph.gruber

The initial plan for a monument to honor George Washington was proposed in 1783 by Major Pierre Charles L'Enfant. Progress towards a memorial finally began in year 1832, the 100th anniversary of Washington's birth, when a competition for the design of a memorial was announced. The winning entry was designed by Robert Mills and the end result was the 82.000 ton heavy obelisk. The original entry did not only include the obelisk, but it was also surrounded by a circular colonnade which top would feature Washington standing in a chariot.

Photo by Peter Liu Photography

The cornerstone for the obelisk was laid on the 4th of July 1848. Construction did however stop due to lack of funds and because of the Civil War in 1856. At this time, the monument was at a height of 45 meter. The colonnade part of the memorial was at this time put aside, as the monument project had enough funding problems already. By taking a closer look at the obelisk, one will be able to see how tall the obelisk stood when the construction stopped, as there is a clear difference in the color of the stone at that level. The work later resumed from 1876 and completed in1884 when the small aluminum cap was placed on the top. The monument was dedicated on February 21, 1885 and officially opened in 1888 at which point it was the tallest building in the world.

The obelisk is built with granite and sandstone, covered by white marble walls. The monument is financed to a large degree by private donations, and when financial donation wasn’t possible, a popular alternative was instead to donate stone. For this reason, the interior walls contain several stones donated by individuals, societies, cities, States, and nations from all over the world.

Portrait of George Washington (1732–99) by by Gilbert Stuart

George Washington
George Washington was born in 1732 in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He embarked on a career as a planter and became the owner of a fairly large estate. Through his half brother, Lawrence Washington, he got involved in the military and served during the British-French war as a militia officer. After the war had ended, he quickly went back to the business life and his plantations. It was only after Britain forced more and more laws and acts over the colonies that George Washington got into politics. But when he did, he acquired a leading position right away as he was selected as a delegate to the First Continental Congress. When the first fighting began in 1775, Washington, with his military experience, his charisma and his reputation of being a strong patriot, was elected commander-in-chief for the Continental Army. Later when the war was won, he became the first United States president when he was unanimously elected in 1789.

Photo by US Department of State

Inside the obelisk there is an elevator which takes visitors to its observation point in the top. From there, visitors get a great view over the surrounding parks and Washington City. The original elevator was a steam elevator and took 20 minutes from ground level to the top. Luckily, today’s elevator will take visitors to the top in 70 seconds. As early as 1888, an average of 55,000 people per month went to the top. Today, the Washington Monument has around 1 million visitors each year and has become one of the icons of the city.

Text Source: worldsiteguides.com

Tourist attractions in Washington D.C. : Jefferson Memorial

2015-05-17T06:56:00.000-07:00

The Jefferson Memorial is located in central Washington D.C. at the south side of the Tidal Basin. It is built in honor of the third president of the United States; Thomas Jefferson. The Jefferson Monument is a remarkably beautiful building. The inside of the memorial is rather minimalistic and dominated by a large bronze statue of Jefferson himself.

Photo by lydia_x_liu

The construction began in late 1930 and stood finished 5 years later. The Jefferson Memorial was officially dedicated by President Roosevelt on April 13th, 1943, the 200th anniversary of Jefferson's birthday. The interior of the memorial is made of Georgia marble and limestone, which gives it its distinct white color. Visitors to the Jefferson Memorial will also see several inscriptions on the interior walls. These inscriptions are extracts of several famous texts written wholly or partly by Jefferson, such as “A Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom, 1777” and parts from letters Jefferson wrote to the leaders of the time. Visitors can read an extract from the Declaration of Independence on the southwest wall, the one facing the back of Jefferson’s left arm.

Photo by ehpien

Photo by bmward_2000

The project wasn’t all that popular during the construction phase. One reason was that several popular elm and cherry trees which stood on the site had been removed to make way for the new building. The Commission of Fine Arts also never actually approved any new construction on the site, which further caused controversy.

Photo by dpbirds

The memorial is one of the last American monuments built in a typical neoclassicism fashion with origin in ancient Greek architecture. The architect John Russell Pope intended the design of the memorial, loosely based on the Roman Pantheon, to reflect Jefferson’s ideals of freedom, independence, and equality. The memorial is also believed to have been inspired by one of Jefferson’s own buildings, the University of Virginia, as the two buildings copula and main entrance is very similar between. That way one can say that Jefferson contributed in the construction of his own memorial.

Photo by Zach Frailey (Uprooted Photographer)

Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was born in 1743, being the third of eight children in one of Virginia’s most respected families. Already at the age of nine, Jefferson began studying French, Greek and Latin. Through his college years he also studied mathematics, metaphysics and philosophy, finishing all classes with excellent grades. Thomas Jefferson was known for his diverse interests and high intelligence. After his father died, Jefferson inherited a dozen of slaves and around 5,000 acres where he later would build his grand estate, the Monticello.

Photo by greyloch

After finishing his studies, Jefferson began working as a lawyer while he at the same time became active as a Virginian politician. He protested against the new laws and acts the British rule imposed on the colonies. Jefferson argued that the colonists had the natural right to govern themselves. Soon after the outbreak of the American War of Independence, Jefferson was made responsible for creating the famous Declaration of Independence.

Photo by Nick Schooley

The declaration of Independence is what Jefferson is most famous for. He did however have a rich political career following his declaration, where became a Virginian Governor, later Minister to France, Vice President and finally President. After his presidency he participated in the foundation of the University of Virginia and is widely recognized for his architectural planning of the university. Jefferson died on the 4th of July 1826. By then he could look back on his life as a large land owner, political philosopher, architect, musician, book collector, scientist, horticulturist, diplomat, inventor and third President of the United States. He is by many held as the most intelligent and intellectual US president of all times.

Photo by lsmadison

Today, the Jefferson Memorial is a popular site, both for locals and for typical tourists. While some of the cherry trees in the area were removed, the majority still stands today which creates an enchanting surrounding. In 2007, it was ranked fourth on the “List of America’s Favorite Architecture” and the memorial is visited by millions of people each year.

Text Source: worldsiteguides.com

Tourist attractions in Washington D.C. : JFK Eternal Flame

2015-05-16T10:18:00.002-07:00

The John F Kennedy Eternal Flame presidential memorial is located inside Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington D.C. The cemetery is situated directly across the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. The JFK Eternal Flame is one of the centerpieces of the Cemetery. It pays honor to one of most famous of all US presidents.

Photo by aurélien.

Many visit the grave of JFK and the eternal flame to pay their respect to the former president. The eternal flame of today burns non stop. It consists of a constantly flashing electric spark near the tip of the nozzle which instantly relights the gas if the flame should be extinguished by rain, wind or accident. The fuel is natural gas and is mixed with a controlled quantity of air to achieve the color and shape of the flame.

Visitors to the grave will see JFK’s burial plaque in the ground together with his wife next to him. On the far sides, one can also see two smaller plaques. These are for the two of Kennedy’s children, who also are buried on the site. One of them, a son, was born five and a half weeks prematurely and died two days later. The other, a daughter, was dead on birth.

John F. Kennedy

John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, or “JFK” as he is also known, was born in 1917 in Brookline, Massachusetts. John was the second son of Joseph P Kennedy and Rose Fitzgerald, whose father was a prominent Boston politician. JFK however, didn’t become a politician right away. After his studies, which included several public and private schools and an international affairs degree from Harvard, John volunteered for the US Army during the Second World War. He served several years in the US Navy, first in office and then later on the field where he took part in several missions in the Pacific.

John older brother, Joseph Jr., was the one who were suppose to carry the family’s political traditions on. However, Joseph served as a pilot during the Second World War and was killed during one of his missions. Joseph’s death was one of the reasons John decided to get involved in politics. He became the 35th US President after beating Richard Nixon in one of the closest presidential races in the 20th century.

John F Kennedy was a strong believer in civil rights, which came to shape his domestic and foreign policies. He is also known for his famous speeches. During his inaugural address, he delivered the legendary; “Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country”. He was the president in a very tough era. He was facing the Cold War, with the newly erected Berlin Wall, the Vietnam War and the Cuban Missile Crises.

On November 22nd, 1963, President Kennedy was shot and killed in an open limousine during a parade on a campaign trip to Dallas. Lee Harvey Oswald, an employee of the schoolbook depository from which the shots were suspected to have been fired from, was arrested and charged with the assassination of Kennedy. He denied shooting anyone and claimed he was set up. Before any trials could be held, Oswald himself was shot at point-blank range and killed during the move to a high security prison. The motives for all these shootings are still to a large extent unknown.

It was his wife’s wish to place the eternal flame on his grave. The flame was inspired by the French Tomb of the Unknown Solider under the Arch of Triumph in Paris, which they had visited earlier in 1961. The planners who were organizing the funeral granted her request immediately and rushed to implement it. Overnight, the engineers ran a gas line to the planned grave site, fed by propane tanks from a distance. The state funeral was held on November 25th, 1963, where several heads of states were attending. At the end of the burial service, Jacqueline Kennedy lit the flame with a lightened taper.

Over the years, the JFK Eternal Flame has been visited by millions of people. It has become a symbol for JFK and what he stood for. The memorial has been the official postage stamp, with a picture of the flame together with the text: "And the glow from that fire can truly light the world".

Text Source: worldsiteguides.com

Tourist attractions in Washington D.C. : The White House

2015-05-15T02:14:00.001-07:00

The White House is located in central Washington D.C. The building is situated close to the National Mall, on a line directly north of the Washington Monument. The White House is one of the most renowned buildings in the world, as it is the working office and the home of the President of the United States. Located on the now famous 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the White House has been the seat of the US Presidential family for more than 200 years and has become a symbol for the United States and its ruling government.

Photo by Stephen D. Melkisethian

The history of the White House dates back to year 1790, when George Washington signed the Residence Act of 1790, which placed the government of the United States in Washington DC. With this, a new residence for the president had to be built. A design competition was arranged which won by an Irish-born architect named James Hoban, who beat the other eight competitors with his practical and handsome design. Being a true Irishman, Hoban’s design was inspired by the Leinster House in Dublin, Ireland, which later became the seat of the Irish parliament.

Photo by timsackton

The foundation stone of the White House was laid in 1792 and the first residents, the second US president John Adams with family, moved in eight years later. The White House has been the home for the US presidents ever since. When the third president, Thomas Jefferson, moved into the house in 1801, he had the house expanded outward by creating two colonnades which were meant to serve as stables and storage. Today, these colonnades connect the west- and the east wing with the main residential building.

During The War of 1812 against the British, the White House was set on fire by the British after a successful attack on Washington DC. The fire destroyed much of the interior and damaged the exterior. The reparation project became a question of national pride, and the building was quickly repaired and began to serve its purpose once again in 1817.

Throughout the history, the White House has been subject for several smaller renovation projects and fire in the West Wing in 1929 caused further needs for repairs. All the restoration projects and expansions of the White House took place on the old building’s wooden frame. This forced a major renovation in the mid 20th century, known as the “Truman renovation”, where almost all the interior was renovated and the wooden frame was replaced with a reinforced steel frame.

As a means of preserving the history of the White House, no substantive architectural changes have been made on the main house since the Truman renovation. Every presidential family has made some changes to their private quarters of the White House, but changes to the State Rooms must all be approved by a special committee.

Today, the White House is a complex of buildings including the Executive Residence, the home of the presidential family. Connected to the main building by the western colonnade is the West Wing; the location of the Oval Office and the the official office building. On the other side we have the East Wing which includes the office of the First Lady and White House Social Secretary. The East Wing also holds the bunker, known as the Presidential Emergency Operation Center. The complex is massive. It is made up of six stories. The building-complex covers 5100 m² and has a total of 132 rooms. There is also plenty of opportunities for leisure activities within the White House, including a tennis court, jogging tracks, a swimming pool, a movie theater, and a bowling lane. The White House is probably one of the most famous of all US structures. In 2007, it was ranked second on the List of America's Favorite Architecture, a testament to the popularity of the building.

Text Source: worldsiteguides.com

Tourist attractions in Washington D.C. : World War II Memorial

2015-05-14T08:13:00.002-07:00

The World War II Memorial is located in central Washington D.C. The memorial is situated on the famous National Mall, between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. It is dedicated to Americans who served in the armed forces and as civilians during the Second World War.

Photo by Bertrand Duperrin

The idea of creating a World War II memorial came from a man who served during the war, the veteran Roger Durbin. The process began in 1987 when he contacted a member of the House of Representatives and presented his thoughts. After a total of six years, a decision was finally reached which approved of the construction of a new monument in memorial of The Second World War.

Photo by dpbirds

The planning and fund raising began quickly after the project had been approved. The US federal government provided a share of the total sum, but the major part of the memorial was funded by donations from individuals and organizations. The location for the new memorial was long under debate, and three sites were considered. In the end, the site chosen was the one between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, at the site of the old Rainbow Pool. The pool was however not permanently removed, but incorporated into the new memorial. The construction process went, not surprisingly, smoother than the decision making process. The ground was broken in September 2001 and the memorial stood completed later in April 2004.

Photo by Mark Fischer

The beautiful World War II Memorial is full of symbolism. The center of the memorial is dominated by the Rainbow Pool, surrounded by a plaza and 56 pillars, symbolizing US states and regions. Visitors will also find two smaller arches; the northern one symbolizes the Atlantic war scene and the southern one the Pacific. The insides of the arches are decorated with large bronze eagles and bronze wreaths. On the side towards the Washington Monument one will find two small walls on either side of the entrance. These walls are decorated with bronze reliefs depicting typical scenes from the war.

Photo by cooper.gary

One of the main features of the memorial can be found on the other side, the side facing the Lincoln memorial. There visitors can find the Freedom Wall. The wall is covered with 4048 gold stars, with each star representing 100 Americans who died during the war. The symbolic effect is quite dramatic.

A minor detail, which many people who visit the site don’t even know exists, is that two “Kilroy was here”-doodles can be found on the memorial walls. The now famous sketch is believed to have been created by James J. Kilroy, an American shipyard inspector who was active during the Second World War. He marked certain areas of the ship which he had inspected with a “Kilroy was here” chalk mark, as a way of knowing which areas had been inspected and which had not. When the ships later were put into function, thousands of American troops saw the markings in which the legend of “Kilroy” grew. It quickly spread and became an internal joke and a bonding sign between American troops. The Kilroy-doodles can be quite hard to find. They are placed in a tricky spot on purpose, so finding them isn’t easy.

Text Source: worldsiteguides.com

Tourist attractions in Washington D.C. : Theodore Roosevelt Island

2015-05-13T10:42:00.002-07:00

Theodore Roosevelt Island is located in the middle of the Potomac River, next to Washington D.C. This island, and its memorial, is dedicated to the 26th President of the United States; Theodore Roosevelt. The known history of the island dates back to mid 17th century, when the Anacostia Indians had been relocated to the island.

Photo by laurabl

The island was later acquired by George Mason in the 18th century, who built a mansion and gardens on the site. The family later left the island and a fire in 1906 destroyed much of garden and the abandoned mansion. Even though the family had left long ago, the island was locally still known as the “Mason Island” and by now the wildlife of the island had once again taken over.

Photo by wallyg

The island was bought by the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Association in 1931. The congress authorized the memorial and later provided the appropriate funding in 1960. The memorial was officially dedicated in 1967. The Theodore Roosevelt Memorial is focused around a central plaza, dominated by two fountains and a five meters statue of Theodore Roosevelt. In the plaza, visitors will also be able to find four large stone monoliths with some of Roosevelt’s more famous quotations. The fact that the whole island is dedicated to Roosevelt is very suiting, as he was a true explorer and a wildlife appreciator. A visit to the island is a good way to escape the busy city life and it is unlike any other site in the area.

Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt was born into a wealthy and respect family in the mid 19th century. He studied at Harvard and gained an interest in naval affairs. After his studies, he wrote a book on the naval war against the British in 1812. He lived much of his life in New York City, but being the outdoorsman he was, he also spent time in the Badlands. Roosevelt got into politics and led the Department of the Navy but later resigned to lead a small regiment, known as the “Rough Riders”, during Spanish-American war.

After the war, Roosevelt was awarded the Medal of Honor and elected Governor of New York and later Vice President of the United States. With the assassination of President William McKinley in 1901, Roosevelt became the US President at only age 42.

Roosevelt’s world stage politics can be defined by his motto “Speak softly and carry a big stick”. He was responsible for finishing the Panama Canal and negotiated an end to the Russian-Japanese war, for which he later gained the Nobel Peace Prize. Roosevelt declined to run for re-election in 1908 and instead went on a long trip through Africa and Europe and later through South America. During the latter he contracted malaria which damaged his health.

He died a few years later at the age of 60. Theodore Roosevelt's achievements as a naturalist, explorer,hunter, author, and soldier are as much a part of his fame as any office he held as a politician. He is ranked one of the greatest Presidents of the United States in history.

Text Source: worldsiteguides.com

Tourist attractions in Washington D.C. : Arlington National Cemetery

2015-05-12T07:17:00.000-07:00

The Arlington National Cemetery is one of the very largest cemeteries in whole United States. It is located in Arlington County, near Washington D.C. The cemetery is situated directly across the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial. Veterans from all the nation's wars are buried in the cemetery, from the American Revolution through the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. In total, more than 300,000 people are buried in this cemetery, making it the second largest of all the 130 national cemeteries in the United States. The largest one is the Calverton National Cemetery, on Long Island, New York.

Photo by Arlington National Cemetery

The history of Arlington National Cemetery, also known as ANC, dates back to early 19th century. During this period, the area was known as the Arlington Plantations, owned by a step-grandson of George Washington. In the center of the plantations lied the Arlington House, which still stands as a centerpiece of today’s cemetery. The estate was later passed down to Robert E. Lee, a military academy graduate and a United States Army officer.

Photo by Tim Evanson

Photo by Ron Cogswell

During the Civil War, the hospitals and burial grounds near Washington DC became overcrowded. In 1864, Quartermaster General Montgomery C Meigs suggested that Lee’s Arlington Estate and its surroundings would be acquired and made into a cemetery for Union casualties. The acquired surroundings were also an important strategic area for the defense of Washington DC, as it lied on the opposite side of the Potomac River.

Photo by Tim Evanson

After the Civil War, an heir to Lee’s acquired property sued the government for their claiming of the land. The Supreme Court ruled in the favor of the Lee’s heir in which the land was returned. A year later, the land was sold back to the government and it has ever since been used as a national cemetery. Within the cemetery lies several memorials, often dedicated to a specific war, a specific regiment or to an individual. One can for example find a white statue dedicated to all the army nurses, known as the Nurse Memorial and the USS Maine Memorial which consists of a salvaged mast from the sunken ship USS Maine.

Photo by Tim Evanson

Near the center of the cemetery lies the Arlington Memorial Amphitheater. The marble theater was built between 1915 and 1920 as a place for honoring US soldiers. Today, state funerals and memorial days are held annually on the site. It is also the home of the Tomb of the Unknowns, also known as Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It can be found just east of the theater, on the top of a hill, overlooking Washington DC. The tomb has become one of the most popular places in the cemetery. It is the grave of unidentified soldiers from several major wars, including the First and Second World War, the Vietnam War and the Korean War. The tomb however, doesn’t only honor these specific soldiers, but rather all soldiers who died for their country but who never was identified.

Photo by Tim Evanson

Today, the Arlington National Cemetery conducts more than 6000 burials each year. The cemetery is however not only a place of grief, but also a place to remember all what these people fought for and to honor their ultimate sacrifice.

Text Source: worldsiteguides.com

Tourist attractions in Washington D.C. : The US Capitol

2015-05-10T23:27:00.000-07:00

The US Capitol is located in eastern United States, in central Washington D.C. The massive building lies situated at the top of Capitol Hill at the very eastern end of the National Mall. It is the home to both the House of Representative and the US Senate, making it one of the worlds most influential and powerful places. The Capitol, and the surrounding Capitol Hill, is often host for political demonstrations and other major events, including presidential inaugurations held every four years.

Photo by IIP Design

The history if the US Capitol dates back to late 18th century, when George Washington signed the Residence Act of 1790, which made Washington DC the capital of the United States. Pierre Charles L’Enfant was made responsible for creating a city plan for the new capital. L’Enfant chose to locate the Congress House on the crest of the hill today known as Capitol Hill. The word Capitol is a Latin word which actually means “city on a hill”.

Photo by Jeffrey

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The construction of the Capitol began in 1793, when President George Washington laid the foundation stone. The senate wing stood completed in 1800, while the House wing was completed eleven years later. By this time, the completed Capitol was only a small part of today’s building. The building was lacking its dome and it was not flanked by the outer buildings visitors can see connected to it today. The completed building didn’t last long, as the Capitol was set on fire shortly after its completion during the War of 1812 against the British. The reparation work however went smoothly which brought the building back to its former glory.

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The reparation work was followed by several expansions of the building in the mid 19th century. These expansions include the massive dome crowned by a large bronze statue known as the “Statue of Freedom”. The statue depicts a female whose right hand holds a sheathed sword and in the other a laurel wreath of victory and the shield of the United States. She stands on an iron globe encircled with one of the national mottoes; “E pluribus unum” which is Latin for “Out of many - one”.

Photo by Stephen D. Melkisethian

The architectural planning was a joint effort of several architects. The initial design was done by amateur architect William Thornton who designed it in typical neoclassical style. Thornton was inspired by the Louvre in Paris and the ancient Pantheon. The inspiration from the latter is obvious when looking at the eastern façade with its temple like entrance. The main dome was inspired by several European churches, including the great dome of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican and the St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.

Photo by Tom.Bricker

Capitol interior
While the outside of the Capitol is magnificent, the same is very much true for its inside. The inside holds several famous paintings depicting major events in the discovery of America and the foundation of the United States. The inside also holds the National Statuary Hall Collection, a collection consisting of statues donated by each state of the union. Each state has donated two statues picturing notable persons in their history. Together they form an impressive gathering of some of the most important people in the history of the states.

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As of December 2008, the Capitol also has a visitor center with an underground entrance on the east side of the Capitol. The main function of the visitor center is to serve as a more orderly entrance for visitors to the Capitol. The Capitol Visitor Center provides however much more than just an entrance. The center hosts a visitor’s theater, rooms for exhibits and dining and restroom facilities. Visitors can also find a plaster cast of the Statue of Freedom down in the underground center, next to the stairs leading up to the Capital itself. The total cost for building the underground, 3-level, 54.000 m2 Capitol Visitor Center was a stunning 621 million.

Text Source: worldsiteguides.com

USA Overview

2015-02-12T02:29:00.005-08:00

The United States of America is sometimes called "The Land of Opportunity," and in no area is that more true than when it comes to travel. The 50 individual states of America compare favourably in size and population with the various countries of Europe. The USA offers a wonderful combination of large cities, smaller towns, farmlands, forests, deserts, mountains, prairies and much more. The climate ranges from tropical to Arctic, although most of the country is temperate, with four distinct seasons.

Photo by Werner Kunz

The East coast has many cities worth discovering, such as New York, a unique melting pot of cultures with the world's most famous skyline; Boston, also known as "Bean Town"; Philadelphia, the country's first capital and an important political and cultural centre for the American Revolution. The capital city, Washington, D.C., home of the President, has more museums than one can see in a lifetime. Also worth visiting is Atlanta, a fast-growing city where the 1996 Olympics were held. Miami is one of the most popular international tourist destinations in the world. Known for its Latin Culture, never ending night life and amazing beaches. The West Coast, from the state of Washington to California, is well known for its relaxed atmosphere. Los Angeles is a micro universe. You can find everything from rags to riches, from Tinseltown to East LA. Head south to visit Orange County's Huntington Beach for the ultimate experience in Surf City USA or head to the Californian Riviera city of Laguna Beach to check out the famous art scene. LA is also home to a little thing called Hollywood.

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Two hours Southeast of Los Angeles in the Southern California Desert is the oasis known as Palm Springs. With over 350 days a year of sunshine, there is never a bad time to visit. Known as Hollywood's Backyard for its love affair with celebrities and dignitaries, it remains a favorite vacation destination year-round. It became a destination during the 1950s and 1960s when Hollywood movie stars flocked there in droves. Nowadays, the area offers entertainment for all ages, Palm Springs offers a wealth of indoor and outdoor activities. Known for its hiking, mid-century modern architecture, stunning natural beauty and sparkling pools, Palm Springs has the perfect blend of outdoor activities and casual relaxation.

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Drive north on the Pacific Coast Highway - possibly one of the country's greatest drives - to gorgeous San Francisco, one of America's nicest cities; home of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, the prison island. From sparkling beaches and fog enshrouded mountains, the "City by the Bay" offers the ultimate in a relaxed lifestyle in the middle of a big city. Travellers will find wonderful day-trips to the beaches, wine country, and deserts. Just 5 hours north of San Francisco you can visit the giant redwoods in Humboldt County, the famous fern canyon in Prairie Creek as seen in Jurassic park, and miles of untouched landscape along the coast and inland. Get away from the heat and crowded cities and enjoy the large farmers markets where you can buy local produce and other tasty locally made treats such as honey and jam. Enjoy river rafting or kayaking in our beautiful lagoons.

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Further north is Portland, Oregon. Here are the International Rose Test Garden, which has over 7,000 rose plants of approximately 550 varieties and Forest Park, the largest urban park in the United States. The city is widely recognized as a model of sustainable development and smart growth. Further north yet is Seattle, the northernmost principal city in the contiguous United States; it is even further north than Ottawa, yet has a far milder climate. The Pike Place Market is the oldest farmer's market in the United States and filled with stalls containing everything from produce to cutlery. A highly cultural city, Seattle is a major centre for the performing arts and has internationally acclaimed opera, ballet, and symphony companies. Seattle is surrounded by water and beaches, so if time permits, take a scenic ferry ride directly from the city centre to one of the many offshore islands, such as quiet, charming Bainbridge.

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Located on the shores of the Great Lakes, Chicago, the "Windy City", is where the Skyscraper was invented. Even today, downtown Chicago is the beautiful early laboratory of this new form of building. The city is also vibrant with an excellent Jazz and Blues scene, two great ballparks, good food and much more. Houston is a city that exemplifies Texas and acts as a microcosm of the state. With a dizzying array of attractions, festivals, restaurants, shopping, and local get-aways; the nation's fourth largest city is home to a wide array of sights for all to enjoy. It's also home to one of the most diverse populations in the country.
Las Vegas is paradise for anyone who likes to roll the dice. No need to go to Paris, Rome or Egypt-all the best monuments have been copied, and some would say improved, and can be found right there in the desert.
Kentucky is well known for its annual internationally known Derby Festival but is also a hidden gem for travelers interested in exploring natural artifacts; such as Mammoth Cave, the largest and longest (over 365 miles of passageways) recorded cave systems in the world. The numerous campgrounds, state parks, and recreational lakes draw cost-conscious travelers from all over the South.
Florida is popular with anyone looking for sunshine, beaches and hurricanes. Tampa, Orlando and Miami are ideal bases from which to explore the Sunshine State.
The New England States are magnificent. From land to sea, you have it made here. Magnificent beaches in the summer, beautiful foliage in the fall.
All over the country you find many excellent National Parks, which are great places to go for hiking, biking and other activities. Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon are well known, but there are many more places of great beauty in God's own country. The Appalachian trail, running from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Katahdin in Maine is unique. More than 2000 miles long, a 'thru-hiker' needs one season to walk it from end to end.

Text Source: world66.com

Tourist attractions in Washington D.C. : Lincoln Memorial

2015-02-11T03:34:00.002-08:00

The Lincoln Memorial is located in eastern United States, in West Potomac Park, central Washington D.C. While it is only one of several monuments built to honor an American president, many regard the Lincoln Memorial as the very finest one. Partly because of the beauty of the monument, but also because of the man it is built to honor. The Lincoln memorial is today a very popular place for visitors, not only typical tourists, but also many schools take field trips to the memorial in educational purpose. In total, an estimate of more than 3.5 million people visits the site each year.

Photo by Olivier Hill

The first planning of constructing a memorial to Lincoln started in two years after his assassination. However, the site for the memorial was not chosen until 1902. Congress formally authorized the memorial in 1911 and the first stone was put into place three years later on Lincoln's birthday, February 12. The monument was dedicated in 1922, with Lincolns then only surviving child, Robert Todd Lincoln, attending the ceremony.

Photo by Geoff Livingston

The Lincoln Memorial is made out of Indiana limestone and Yule marble, which gives the memorial its shining white color. The building is heavily inspired by the ancient Greek Temple of Zeus. This is not only evident because it is surrounded by massive columns, but also because it is centered around a large statue of a man sitting on a throne. In the Temple of Zeus it was Zeus sitting on the throne; in this case it’s Abraham Lincoln.

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The 36 columns are interpreted as representing the 25 U.S. states at the time of Lincoln's death, as well as the 11 Confederate states. By taking a look above the columns, visitors to Lincoln Memorial will the see name of the states inscribed in the order that each state joined the Union along with the year of their joining in Roman numerals. The names of the remaining 22 states that had joined the Union when the memorial was completed are carved on the exterior attic walls in the same manner, even though it can be hard to see from the ground. A plaque in front of the monument also honors the admission of Alaska and Hawaii in 1959.

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The Lincoln Statue
While the outside itself is very beautiful, the focus of the memorial is Daniel Chester French's sculpture of Lincoln, seated on a throne, stoically looking east over the reflecting pool towards the Washington Monument. The statue was carved from 28 blocks of white Georgia marble and stands six meters high and six meters wide. Behind the statue on the wall, visitors can read an inscription saying:

IN THIS TEMPLE
AS IN THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE
FOR WHOM HE SAVED THE UNION
THE MEMORY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN
IS ENSHRINED FOREVER

One can also find some of Lincoln’s speeches inscribed on the walls inside the memorial. On the south side visitors can find his famous speech at Gettysburg and on the other side his second inaugural speech.

Martin Luther King

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Another famous speech
This site itself has also been the place for several famous speeches. The most famous one came in 1963, during one of the greatest political rallies in US history; the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom which gathered more than 250.000 people in the area surrounding the memorial. They came to hear Martin Luther King, Jr. deliver his memorable speech,"I Have a Dream" before the memorial honoring the president who had issued the Emancipation Proclamation 100 years earlier. Visitors taking a closer look at the steps just in front of the building will see an inscription in the ground, marking where King stood when he held his speech.

Photo by MDB 28

An Overview of Abraham Lincoln's Life
Abraham Lincoln was born in 1809 on a small farm south of Hodgenville, Kentucky. He was raised in a poor home, being the son of two uneducated farmers. Abraham himself however, quickly developed an interest in studies.
While his formal education consisted of about 18 months of schooling from unofficial teachers, he still mastered the Bible, William Shakespeare's works, English history and American history. He was very much self educated, reading every book he could get his hands on. He soon developed a plain writing and rhetorical style that puzzled audiences.
This brought him into politics at the age of 23, when he became a member of the Whig party and later elected to a term is the US House of Representatives in 1846. With his unorthodox rhetorical style he made both enemies and friends and left the politics after one term and began working as a lawyer.
He later returned to politics, and this time got a much more central role, as he won the Republican Party nomination in 1860 and was elected president the same year. Lincoln’s hatred for slavery made the already strained relation between the northern and southern states even more problematic. The civil war broke out the very next year.
Throughout the civil war, Lincoln was the political leader of the Union and his leadership qualities helped shaping the Unites States to what it is today. Lincoln rallied public opinion through the powerful rhetoric of his messages and speeches. His “Gettysburg Address”, the speech he gave a few months after the Union victory at Gettysburg, is a prime example and one of the most quoted speeches in US history.
Lincoln is however most known for issuing his Emancipation Proclamation and his contribution in passing the Thirteenth Amendment which permanently abolished slavery in the US. In 1865, shortly after the war was won, Lincoln was assassinated while watching a theatre act. This made him a martyr for the ideal of national unity and he’s today one of the most famous and highly ranked of all US presidents.

Text Source: worldsiteguides.com

France Overview

2015-02-08T03:37:00.004-08:00

France is one of the top five tourist destinations in the world. It has everything that you could ever want to see on your holidays: a great city like Paris, good beaches, more monuments than any other country, lovely nature, incredible mountain scenery. France is also a very pleasant place to stay. It has good food, great wines and people enjoy their lives. And the best thing is, maybe apart from Paris, living in France does not have to be expensive.

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The North of France consists of the flatlands around the town of Lille and the Channel. The area will remind visitors in many ways of Belgium and the Netherlands. The Grand' Place in Lille for example is a lot like that of Brussels.

Paris, the city of light and its surroundings are one of the most visited areas. Paris is without a doubt one of the most beautiful cities on the planet.

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The West of France is turned towards the Atlantic Coast. In the north Normandy & Brittany have rolling hills, sandy beaches and quiet little harbour towns. Normandy & Brittany have a more rugged coast and many neolithic sites.

It has quite a distinct atmosphere from the rest of the country; you can still sense the Celtic origin of the region and its inhabitants. Nantes and Bordeaux are the biggest cities on the west coast. Bordeaux, capital of the south west, is a stylish city famous for its wines and its 18-th century architecture. The Pays Basque is the southernmost part of the Atlantic Coast of France. The resort of Biarritz is posh, but pretty.

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The eastern part of France consists of the Alsace, Lorraine, Franche Comté and Burgundy regions. The landscape has rolling hills and many beautiful cities, such as Metz, Strasbourg, Nancy and Dijon. This region produces many famous wines, including magnificent pinot noirs and chardonnays valued the world over, as well as the famous "Yellow wine" from the Jura mountain vineyard.

The Center is in many ways the most quiet part of France. But the great treasure of this region is the Loire valley , with many great castles and beautiful towns. Chartres with its famous cathedral and Tours rate among the most beautiful French cities.

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The Auvergne, centered on the Massif Central mountains that culminate at about 6000 ft, is one of the most beautiful regions of France. Much of it is upland, traversed by wild river valleys and an unspoiled natural environment. The north of the region stretches towards the flatter Loire valley. The regional capital is Clermont Ferrand, and the small city of Le Puy en Velay, with its historic churches perched on volcanic pinnacles, is one of the most surprising cities in France. The Alps are great for skiing in winter and hiking in summer. Albertville, Grenoble and Chamonix have all hosted the Olympic games. But the Alps also have nice towns to visit, such as Chambéry, Annecy or Grenoble .

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The South with its lovely nature, good food, roman ruins and of course the Riviera draws a lot of visitors every year. Towns like Orange, and Arles but also big cities like Marseille and Toulon are must sees. The Provence is dotted with pleasant small villages. In the South west of France the Dordogne is one of the most quintessential French regions. The valley is so pretty, the towns are so cute and the food is so good, that it is hard to believe that the people who live here go somewhere else for their holidays. The Languedoc has its own language and culture. In the south of the Languedoc you find the Pyrenees, a great mountain range separating France from Spain, where you can hike and ski. The towns of Toulouse and Montpellier are nice and the medieval town of Carcassone is a top destination. The island of Corsica has beautiful nature and a very special atmosphere. The Corsicans speak their own language and have a great sense of freedom.

Text Source: world66.com

South America Overview

2015-02-05T12:59:00.006-08:00

South America is a sub-continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. South America ranks fourth in area and in population, after Eurasia, Africa, and North America. From the 1530s, the indigenous inhabitants of South America were invaded by European conquistadors, first from Portugal, later from Spain, who divided it into colonies. In the course of the 19th century, these colonies won their independence.

The mixture of African, Indian and European influences have given South America a very distinct flavor.

South America has a host of marvelous attractions, with most suitable for the whole family. Travelers will find science, nature and history exhibits throughout the continent as well as a host of natural attractions, from volcanoes to cold glaciers and strange animals. The continent offers incredible pre-Columbian sights all along the Andes Mountains in Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru and Colombia. The best known of these are probably the Nazca Lines (Ica), Chan Chan (Trujillo) and Machu Picchu (Cuzco) in Peru and Ciudad Perdida in Colombia. Any city has its own important archeological findings nearby. The Inca civilization didn't leave the only archeological findings. From Colombia to Argentina, language and culture are still alive. Furthermore, in every South American country there are lots of stylish colonial churches and palaces. There is no question the lovers of architecture and history will surely find what they are looking for.

For travelers looking for an active holiday: there is good skiing in summer in Chile, Bolivia and Argentina; the biggest rainforest and the longest river in the world is in Brazil and great wildlife abounds almost everywhere. The Wadden Islands (off the coast of Ecuador) deserve a special mention here. The Caribbean is a great place to relax a bit: the coasts of Venezuela and Colombia have great beaches and very good atmosphere. Brazil has great beaches as well.

Those who are into the fast paced life of big cities have a number of cities to choose from. Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Santiago or Lima all combine modern life with a South-American touch. In South America most countries are Spanish speaking, with Portuguese-speaking Brazil as the most notable exception. Furthermore the three Guyana's (French Guiana, British Guyana and Suriname) speak the language of their former colonial masters as well as their own languages. In all of South America, native Indian languages are still spoken, but they become less frequently so. In countries like Paraguay and Bolivia the indiginous languages are (almost) dominant.

The Amazon River (Rio Amazonas) of South America is one of the longest two rivers on Earth, the Nile River in Africa being the other. The Amazon has by far the greatest total flow of any river, carrying more than the Mississippi, Nile, and Yangtze rivers combined. It also has the largest drainage area of any river system. The quantity of fresh water released to the Atlantic Ocean is enormous: 184,000 m³ per second (6.5 million ft³/s) in the rainy season. Indeed, the Amazon is responsible for one-fifth of the total volume of fresh water entering the oceans worldwide.

The Amazon Rainforest in South America encompasses 1.2 billion acres (7 million km²), with parts located within nine nations: Brazil (with 60% of the rainforest), Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. This forest represents over half of the planet's remaining rainforests. States or departments in four nations bear the name Amazonas for the Amazon. This region is home to 2.5 million insect species, tens of thousands of plants, and some 2000 birds and mammals. The diversity of plant species is the highest on earth with some experts estimating that one square kilometer may contain over 75,000 types of trees and 150,000 species of higher plants. One square kilometer of Amazon rainforest can contain about 90,000 tons of living plants. This constitutes the largest collection of living plants and animal species in the world.

South America is home to many interesting species of animals including parrots, tarantulas, snakes, and mammals. There are not many large predators in South America, but the Jaguar is one of the strongest predators in the world. Unlike the African leopard, which looks very much like a jaguar, the jaguar does not have to carry its food into a tree, because there are no other animals in South America that would challenge a jaguar. There are three animals found mainly in South America that look very different from each other, but are closely related. These are the sloth, the anteater and the armadillo. One of the most famous animals that lives in the Amazon river is the piranha fish. They are known for their sharp teeth and an aggressive appetite for meat and flesh. The largest snake in the world, the Anaconda, lives in the rivers and dense forests of South America. Brightly colored poisonous frogs live inside the forests. The camel-like Llama is another important animal that lives in South America.

The world's highest free-falling waterfall Angel Falls is located in the wilderness of Venezuela. Another important waterfall is Iguacu Falls, which is taller than Niagara Falls. The water level rises and falls with the season, but the spectacular Devil's Throat with its high-flying plume of spray is always a thrill. The fact that the newly discovered Gocta Falls in Peru are the third largest in the world, says a lot about the exoticness of the continent. The world's second highest active volcano Cotopaxi (5897m) is situated about 50 km south of Quito, Ecuador.

Text Source: Wikipedia.org

Europe Overview

2015-02-05T10:48:00.003-08:00

The old world is really quite old. Every other town in Europe is packed with monuments dating back several centuries. Little villages were once the capitals of a kingdom. The countries are small, but some of them were once the center of an empire that embraced the whole world. Europe offers more than most other regions in the world. There is hardly anything that cannot be found in one of the megacities, like London, Paris, Rome or Berlin.

Southern Europe offers great beaches and "Dolce Vita": good food, good weather, beautiful people, charming towns and cities. It is hardly surprising that Portugal, Italy, Spain, Greece and France are always top of the bill when it comes to most popular holiday destinations.

Since 1989 Central and Eastern Europe has become a very popular destination as well. Magnificent cities such as Prague , Minsk, Budapest, Belgrade, Ljubljana, Moscow, Yerevan and St-Petersburg all attract many visitors. In the heart of Europe you'll find Germany , the most populated country of Western Europe. It has romantic castles, beautiful nature, fast paced life in big cities such as Munich, Cologne and Frankfurt and great highways.

South of Germany you find the Alps. Great for skiing, but Austria and Switzerland have a lot more to offer. Vienna, the capital of Austria, for example rates as one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

The North of Europe is not as cold as you might think. In summer cities like Stockholm, Copenhagen and Helsinki are among the most pleasant places to be. The people are easy going and very friendly and cultural life is rich.

The United Kingdom, Ireland, The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands have that special island mentality that keeps you coming back. The Celtic spirit is still very much part of life in Scotland, Ireland, The Isle of Man and in Cornwall whilst the spirit of the Druids is ever present in Wales. The Channel Islands reflect their proximity to and history with Normandy & Brittany although the culture and food tends to be very British.

Text Source: www.world66.com

Austria Overview

2015-02-05T05:43:00.001-08:00

Located in central Europe, Austria is a landlocked country bordered by the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy and Switzerland. The country was a centre of power in Europe at the time when it was ruled by the mighty Habsburgs. Although today it is relegated to being a minor player in the European Union, Austria offers some of the most impressive destinations on the Continent.

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The capital Vienna was once the citadel of the Habsburgs who ruled the country for over 600 years. The city is an architectural gem and a centre of music from the medieval times. The Hofburg (Imperial Palace) and the adjoining Augustinian Church are two of the marvels of architecture. Other notable sights in Vienna include the Museum of Fine Arts, Belvedere Palace, and the Sigmund Freud Museum.

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Salzburg , the city that gave Mozart to the world, is a picturesque abode surrounded by tall mountains. Your tour of Salzburg is incomplete without a visit to the 11th-century Hohensalzburg Castle, the Museum of Fine Arts, and St. Peter's Abbey. Four kilometres to the south of Salzburg is the interesting Hellbrunn Palace whose grounds contain trick fountains and water-powered figures.

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If destinations off-the-beaten-track fascinate you, Austria has plenty of them too. Wels and Steyr are small cities worth a visit. Rust, and Gurk are some good places to explore along with the Eisriesenwelt Caves, which, incidentally, are the largest accessible ice caves in the world. Another interesting place to visit is Bad_Ischl, the famous spa, where the Austrian Emperors spend their holidays.
Austria is thronged by tourists round the year. Summer is the ideal time for sightseeing while in winter the slopes of the Alps offer ample opportunities for skiing. The Arlberg region with St. Anton or Upper Austria with Radstadt has some of the best skiing resorts in Austria. Up in the Alps, the Gemuetlichkeit of the Austrians makes you enjoy a stay in the snow, skiing or hiking.

Photo by Marcus Rahm

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History
The Austro-Hungarian Empire played a decisive role in Central European history. It occupied strategic territory containing the southeastern routes to Western Europe and the north-south routes between Germany and Italy. Although present-day Austria is only a tiny remnant of the old empire it retains this unique position.
Soon after the Republic of Austria was created at the end of World War I it faced the strains of catastrophic inflation and of redesigning a government meant to rule a great empire into one that would govern only 6 million citizens. In the early 1930s worldwide depression and unemployment added to these strains and shattered traditional Austrian society. Resultant economic and political conditions led in 1933 to a dictatorship under Engelbert Dollfuss. In February 1934 civil war broke out and the Socialist Party was outlawed. In July a coup d'etat by the National Socialists failed but Dollfuss was assassinated by Nazis. In March 1938 Austria was incorporated into the German Reich a development commonly known as the "Anschluss (annexation).

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At the Moscow conference in 1943 the Allies declared their intention to liberate Austria and reconstitute it as a free and independent state. In April 1945 both Eastern- and Western-front Allied forces liberated the country. Subsequently Austria was divided into zones of occupation similar to those in Germany.
Under the 1945 Potsdam agreements the Soviets took control of German assets in their zone of occupation. These included 7% of Austria's manufacturing plants 95% of its oil resources and about 80% of its refinery capacity. The properties were returned to Austria under the Austrian State Treaty. This treaty signed in Vienna on May 15 1955 came into effect on July 27 and under its provisions all occupation forces were withdrawn by October 25 1955. Austria became free and independent for the first time since 1938.

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Food and Drinks
Austrian cuisine is varied and hearty. It has been influenced by Hungarian, Czech, Italian and German cuisines, from which both dishes and food preparation have often been borrowed. Goulash in an example of this. Wild game is available everywhere and pork is the most popular meat. People with a sweet tooth can indulge in such classics as the Linzertorte, a flaky cake lined with currant or raspberry jam and encased by a lattice of cake dough. There's also Sachertorte, a chocolate cake made from a traditional recipe developed by Franz Sacher. Almdudler is Austria's national drink made from mountain herbs and its flavor is similar to elderflower. Drinking coffee is integral to Austrian culture as it is in other areas of Europe. It's served in a wide variety of styles in Viennese cafes.

Text Source: world66.com

Tourist attractions in Versailles : Château de Versailles

2014-12-14T04:25:00.000-08:00

Versailles is a city in Île-de-France region, located in the western suburbs of the French capital, 17.1 km (10.6 mi) from the center of Paris. It is world-widely renowned for its royal château (palace), the Château de Versailles and the gardens of Versailles, designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. When the château was built, Versailles was a mere country village. Today, it is a small city and one of France’s most popular tourist destinations. The magnificent Palace of Versailles, is truly an architectural masterpiece. It is arguably one of the very finest royal palaces ever to be built.

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The court of Versailles was the center of political power in France from 1682, when Louis XIV moved from Paris, until the royal family was forced to return to the capital in October 1789 after the beginning of the French Revolution. Versailles is therefore famous not only as a building, but as a symbol of the system of absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime. Versailles is also known for numerous treaties such as the Treaty of Paris (1783), which ended the American Revolutionary War and the Treaty of Versailles, after World War I.

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History of the Château
The site began as Louis XIII’s hunting lodge before his son Louis XIV transformed and expanded it. Following the Treaties of Nijmegen in 1678, he began to gradually move the court to Versailles. The court was officially established there on 6 May 1682. Each of the three French kings who lived there until the French Revolution added improvements to make it more beautiful. The construction and expansion of Château de Versailles was done through four distinct building campaigns over a 50 year period.

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The first campaign started in mid 17th century and was initiated because Louis was about to host a major party for the two queens of France. During this phase, the palace witnessed alterations in the both the building and gardens in order to accommodate the 600 guests invited to a party. The second building campaign started a few years later. This phase included the construction of several apartments and lodging facilities, including the classic “Grand Apartment Du Roi”. The third campaign began some 10 years later. During this phase, the Château de Versailles acquired much of the look that it has today, including the brilliant Hall of Mirrors. It was at this time, in 1682, that Louis XIV officially installed his court at Versailles. Louis XIV undertook his last building campaign at Versailles at the start of the 18th century. The fourth building campaign concentrated on construction of the royal chapel as well as some modifications in the Apartment Du Roi.

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At the end of the 18th century after the French Revolution, Château de Versailles lost its function as a royal palace. The temporary government in charge, the National Convention, arranged for the majority of the palace furniture to be either sold or rented. During the time after the revolution - with Napoleon Bonaparte, the Bourbon Restoration and the Second Empire - the palace received little attention. It was primarily used for different state events and during visits by political and royal foreigners.

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It was not until after the Second World War that the palace once again gained some attention, this time in the form of renovations. A major project was initiated in the mid 20th century in an attempt to bring back to its former glory and to once again put it on the world map. A new roof to the Hall of Mirrors was added and several chambers and apartments were restored. Additionally, a policy was established in which the French government would aggressively seek to acquire as much of original furniture and artwork as possible, as much had been dispersed at the time of the Revolution.

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Gardens of the Palace
From the central window of the Hall of mirrors the visitor look down on the grand perspective that leads the gaze from the Water Parterre to the horizon. This original perspective, which preceded the reign of Louis XIV, was developed and prolonged by widening the Royal Path and digging the Grand Canal. This vast perspective stretches from the façade of the Château de Versailles to the railings of the park. In 1661, Louis XIV commissioned André Le Nôtre with the design and laying out of the gardens of Versailles which, in his view, were just as important as the Château. The works were undertaken at the same time as those for the palace and took forty years to complete.

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The Hall of Mirrors

The Grande Galerie, as it was called in the 17th century, served daily as a passageway and a waiting and meeting place, frequented by courtiers and the visiting public. After the victory over the three united powers, represented in the Salon de la Guerre (War Room) and the gallery’s 73 meters glorified the political, economic and artistic success of France. Political success is demonstrated by thirty compositions in the arch painted by Le Brun, which illustrate the glorious history of Louis XIV in the first eighteen years of his government, from 1661 until the Peace of Nijmegen. Military and diplomatic victories, as well as reforms in view of the reorganization of the kingdom, are portrayed in the form of antique allegories. Economic prosperity is demonstrated by the dimensions and quantity of the 357 mirrors that decorate the seventeen arches opposite the windows, attesting that the new French production of mirrors, which at the time were luxury objects, is capable of stealing the monopoly away from Venice. It was here that the treaty of Versailles was signed on 28th June 1919, which sealed the end of the First World War. Since then, the presidents of the Republic of France continue to receive the official hosts of France here.

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The Battles Gallery

The biggest section in the History Galleries of Versailles is the Battles Gallery. It occupies nearly all the two upper floors of the South Wing of the Palace up to the roof. Designed and laid out beginning in 1833, it was solemnly opened on 10 June 1837 and was regarded as the highlight of the visit to the museum. Louis-Philippe brought together here 33 paintings depicting the main battles that France had fought, from the Battle of Tolbiac in 496 to the Battle of Wagram in 1809. Designed by Frédéric Nepveu, It forms a solemn and majestic arcade, divided at intervals by projecting groups of columns bearing an arch, lit by a glass roof in the vault and richly decorated with marble sculptures and painted and gilt stucco work.

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The Grand Trianon

In 1687 Jules Hardouin Mansart built the Grand Trianon, probably the most refined group of buildings anywhere in the domain of Versailles, on the site of the “Porcelain Trianon”, which Louis XIV had erected in 1670 to escape the pomp and rigid formality of court life with his mistress Madame de Montespan. Napoleon Bonaparte had the palace restored before staying here on many occasions with his second wife, Empress Marie-Louise. In 1963 Charles de Gaulle had it restored as a guesthouse for presidents of France and the northern wing, known as “Trianon-sous-bois”, was converted into an official presidential residence.

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Marie-Antoinette's estate

Opened in 2006, the Marie-Antoinette's estate reveals her private life. The Petit Trianon and its park are indissolubly linked to the memory of Queen Marie-Antoinette. She is the only queen to have imposed her personal taste on Versailles. Sweeping away the old court and its traditions, she insisted on living as she wished. In her Trianon domain, which Louis XVI gave her in 1774, she found the heaven of privacy that enabled her to escape from the rigors of court etiquette. Nobody could come there without her invitation.

Text Sources :
wikipedia.org
chateauversailles.fr
worldsiteguides.com

Tourist attractions in Paris : Moulin Rouge

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Moulin Rouge (French for Red Mill) is a cabaret close to Montmartre on Boulevard de Clichy in the 18th arrondissement of Paris. It is marked by the red windmill on its roof. The house was co-founded in 1889 by Charles Zidler and Joseph Oller, who also owned the music hall Olympia. Moulin Rouge is best known as the spiritual birthplace of the modern form of the can-can dance. Originally introduced as a seductive dance by the courtesans who operated from the site, the can-can dance evolved into a form of entertainment of its own and led to the introduction of cabarets across Europe.

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A lot of popular and international stars already performed at the Moulin Rouge stage, including Ella Fitzgerald, Liza Minelli, Elton John and Frank Sinatra who gave exceptional presentations. French celebrities also performed there like Maurice Chevalier, Jean Gabin, Edith Piaf or Yves Montand. Today, Moulin Rouge is a tourist attraction, offering musical dance entertainment for visitors from around the world.

Text Source : wikipedia.org

Tourist attractions in Paris : Tour St-Jacques

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Saint Jacques Tower is a monument located on Rue de Rivoli, which is one of the most famous streets of Paris in the 4th arrondissement. This 52-meter (171 ft) Flamboyant Gothic tower is all that remains of the former 16th-century Church of Saint-Jacques-de-la-Boucherie ("Saint James of the butchery"), which was destroyed shortly after the French Revolution.

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It was built between 1509 and 1523, during the reign of King Francis I. With a dedication to Saint James the Great, the ancient church and its landmark tower was a point that Christian pilgrims begin their journey along the Santiago de Compostela route.

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The church, with the exception of the tower, was demolished in 1793; preservation of the tower was a condition of the contract by which the church was bought for the value of its building materials. It was repurchased by the City of Paris in 1836 and declared a Monument Historique in 1862. A statue of the saint was installed on the top of the tower during the 19th century. During the Second Empire, the architect Théodore Ballu restored the tower, placing it on a pedestal and designing a small city park around it.

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In the mid 17th century, mathematician and physicist Blaise Pascal carried a barometer up to the top of the tower, conducting a variety of experiments on atmospheric pressure. Commemorating his experiments, a statue of Pascal is located at the base of the tower. A number of meteorological instruments are also placed on the roof.

^{Text Source : wikipedia.org}

Tourist attractions in Paris : L’église Saint-Eustache

2014-12-14T04:21:00.000-08:00

The Church of St Eustace is a church in the 1st arrondissement of Paris situated in Les Halles, an area once renowned for fresh produce of all kinds which was demolished in 1971.

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Construction of the current church began in 1532 on the site of an old chapel, however, the work was not completed until 1637. The name of the church refers to Saint Eustace, a Roman general of the second century AD who was burned, along with his family, for converting to Christianity. During the French Revolution the church, like most churches in Paris, was desecrated, looted, and used for a time as a barn. The church was restored after the Revolution had run its course and remains in use until today.

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The church is an example of a Gothic structure clothed in Renaissance detail. Although the architects are unknown, similarities to designs used in the extension of the church of Saint-Maclou in Pontoise (begun in 1525) point to Jean Delamarre and/or Pierre Le Mercier, who collaborated in that work. The Eglise Saint-Eustache is known for its unusual dimensions (33m tall, 105m long and 43m wide) which make it seem more like a cathedral. At the main façade, the left tower has been completed in Renaissance style, while the right tower remains a stump. The front and rear aspects provide a remarkable contrast between the comparatively sober classical front and the exuberant rear, which integrates Gothic forms and organization with Classical details.

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The beautiful stained glass windows, created by Soulignac in 1632, are probably modeled after drawings of Philippe de Champaigne. The church also contains many paintings such as Tobias and the Angel by Santi di Tito and an early work by P.P. Rubens, Pilgrims of Emmaus. A tomb designed by Le Brun holds the body of Jean Baptiste Colbert, French minister of Finance in the 16th century.

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The L'écoute sculpture by Henri de Miller appears outside the church, to the south. A Keith Haring sculpture made of silver stands in a chapel of the church in memory of the epidemic of AIDS deaths during the 1980s.

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With 8,000 pipes, the organ is reputed to be the largest pipe organ in France, surpassing the organs of Saint Sulpice and Notre Dame de Paris. The present instrument was designed under the direction of a French composer and organist, Jean Guillou and dates from 1989 and was built by the Dutch firm of Van den Heuvel retaining a few ranks of pipes from the former organ.

Text Source : wikipedia.org

Tourist attractions in Paris : Jardins de l'Observatoire

2014-12-14T04:19:00.000-08:00

The Jardins de l’Observatoire connects the Jardin du Luxembourg which is one of the most popular parks in Paris, with the Observatory of Paris. The north area of the avenue has two gardens: The Jardin Robert Cavalier de la Salle and the Jardin Marco Polo. Together, the two gardens create a long park unofficially known as Jardins de l'Observatoire (Observatory Gardens).

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The gardens lie on a part of land which was formerly occupied by Castle Vauvert constructed by King Rober le Pieux during the 11th century. The castle was offered to the Chartre monks in the 13th century but it was destructed during the French Revolution back in 1790. A portion of the land was claimed for the Luxembourg Garden and a part of it was also developed into the Avenue de l'Observatoire. During 1867, the park was established from the works of architect Jean Chalgrin. The gardens have huge lawns with four rows of chestnut trees the same of the usual classic French gardens. They provide a lot of shade for the alleys at Jardin de l'Observatoire. In there you’ll find plenty of flower beds. Also, the two gardens contain a lot of notable pieces of sculpture. The southern half of the Jardin de l'Observatoire is occupied by the Marco Polo garden which is about 1 hectare or 3 acres big.

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Another garden, the Rober Cavelier de la Salle is slightly bigger than the Marco Polo Garden and honors the French explorer in the 17th century who explored the Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes as well as the Mississippi River. It was de la Salle who claimed the Mississippi river as a territory of the French. By the axis of the park, plenty of statues and columns were planted. The said statues were made by artists from the 19th century including Gustave Grauk, Charles Gumery, Jean-Joseph Perraud to showcase the figures as honor to the journeys experienced by the explorers.

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Both gardens feature playgrounds for children as well as some ping-pong tables. Moreover, there are shaded benches in the area where it is a peaceful place to rest. By the south end of the Jardins de l'Observatoire is a beautiful fountain which is the main attraction of the place. The fountain is popular for different names like Fontaine des Quatre Parties du Monde (Fountain of the Four Parts of the World), the Fontaine de l'Observatoire or the Fontaine Carpeaux, after the main sculptor. The bronze creation was designed in 1873 and also supervised by Gabriel Davioud. The masterpiece represents Africa, Asia, America and Europe. The figure of a Chinese woman represents Asia, the white woman for Europe, a black woman for Africa and a female American Indian for America. These four figures were made by Jean Baptiste Carpeaux lays foundation for a globe designed with zodiac signs. By the center, there are prancing sea horses made by Emmanuel Frémiet. To complete the entire creation, fish and turtle statues were added to the scene.

Text Source: parisattractions

Tourist attractions in Paris : La Sainte-Chapelle

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La Sainte-Chapelle (The Holy Chapel) is a royal medieval Gothic chapel, located near the Conciergerie , on the Île de la Cité (the island in the river Seine) in the center of Paris. It is a prime example of the phase of Gothic architectural style called Rayonnant period (between c. 1240 and 1350), marked by its sense of weightlessness and strong vertical emphasis. Although damaged during the French revolution, and restored in the 19th century, it retains one of the most extensive in-situ collections of 13th-century stained glass anywhere in the world.

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Its erection was commissioned by King Louis IX of France to house his collection of Passion Relics, including Christ's Crown of Thorns ; It was one of the instruments of the Passion woven of thorn branches and placed on Jesus Christ during the events leading up to his crucifixion and was one of the most important relics in medieval Christendom.

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Louis purchased the relics from the Passion from Baldwin II, the Latin emperor at Constantinople, for the sum of 135,000 livres. The relics arrived in Paris in August 1239. They were stored in a large and elaborate silver chest, the Grand-Chasse, on which Louis spent a further 100,000 livres. The entire chapel, by contrast, cost 40,000 livres to build and glaze. Until it was completed in 1248, the relics were housed at chapels at the Château de Vincennes and a specially built chapel at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye. In 1246, fragments of the True Cross and the Holy Lance were added to Louis' collection, along with other relics. The chapel was consecrated on 26 April 1248 and Louis' relics were moved to their new home with great ceremony.

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Although the interior is dominated by the stained glass , every inch of the remaining wall surface and the vault was also richly colored and decorated. Analysis of remaining paint fragments reveal that the original colors were much brighter than those favored by the 19th-century restorers and would have been closer to the colors of the stained glass.

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The stained glass
The most famous features of the chapel, among the finest of their type in the world, are the great stained glass windows, for whose benefit the stone wall surface is reduced to little more than a delicate framework. Fifteen huge mid-13th-century windows fill the nave and apse, while a large rose window with Flamboyant tracery (added to the upper chapel c.1490) dominates the western wall. Despite some damage the windows display a clear iconographical programme. The three windows of the eastern apse illustrate the New Testament, featuring scenes of The Passion, with the Infancy of Christ and the Life of John the Evangelist. By contrast, the windows of the nave are dominated by Old Testament exemplars of ideal kingship/queenship in an obvious nod to their royal patrons. The cycle starts at the western bay of the north wall with scenes from the Book of Genesis (heavily restored). The next ten windows of the nave follow clockwise with scenes from Exodus, Joseph, Numbers/Leviticus, Joshua/Deuteronomy, Judges, (moving to the south wall) Jeremiah/Tobias, Judith/Job, Esther, David and the Book of Kings. The final window, occupying the westernmost bay of the south wall brings this narrative of sacral kingship right up to date with a series of scenes showing the rediscovery of Christ's relics, the miracles they performed, and their relocation to Paris in the hands of King Louis himself.

Text Source: wikipedia.org

Tourist attractions in Paris : Musée d'Orsay

2014-12-14T04:18:00.000-08:00

Located in the center of Paris on the banks of the Seine, opposite the Tuileries Gardens, the Musee d'Orsay was originally a railway station. It was inaugurated after two years of construction for the World Fair on July 14th, 1900.

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From 1900 to 1939, the Gare d'Orsay was the head of the southwestern French railroad network. However, after 1939, the station was to serve only the suburbs, as its platforms had become too short for the modern, longer trains that appeared with the progressive electrification of the railroads.The Gare d'Orsay then successively served different purposes. Part of it became a mailing center for sending packages to prisoners of war during the Second World War.

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In 1975, installation of a new museum in the train station was suggested by the Directorate of the Museums of France, in which all of the arts from the second half of the 19th century could be represented. The plan was accepted by the Prime Minister, Georges Pompidou and the station has finally survived from destruction and replacement by a hotel complex.

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Afterwards it was classified as a historical monument in 1978 and a competition was organized to design the new museum. A team of three young architects (Pierre Colboc, Renaud Bardon and Jean-Paul Philippon), were awarded the contract which involved creating 20,000 sq.m. of new floorspace on four floors. In 1981, the Italian architect, Gae Aulenti was chosen to design the interior of the museum. It was opened to the public by the President of the Republic, François Mitterrand on December 1986.

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Today, Musée d'Orsay displays mainly French art dating from 1848 to 1915, including paintings, sculptures, furniture, and photography. It houses the largest collection of impressionist and post-impressionist masterpieces in the world, by famous painters such as Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, Seurat, Sisley, Gauguin and Van Gogh.

Text Sources: musee-orsay.fr and wikipedia.org

Tourist attractions in Paris : Père Lachaise Cemetery

2014-12-14T04:17:00.000-08:00

Père Lachaise Cemetery is the largest cemetery in the city of Paris (44 hectares or 110 acres), though there are larger cemeteries in the city's suburbs. Père Lachaise is in the 20th arrondissement and is notable for being the first garden cemetery, as well as the first municipal cemetery. It is also the site of three World War I memorials.The cemetery is on Boulevard de Ménilmontant .

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The cemetery takes its name from the confessor to Louis XIV, Père François de la Chaise (1624–1709), who lived in the Jesuit house rebuilt in 1682 on the site of the chapel. The property, was bought by the city in 1804. Established by Napoleon in this year, the cemetery was laid out by Alexandre-Théodore Brongniart, and later extended. Napoleon, who had been proclaimed Emperor by the Senate three days earlier, had declared during the Consulate that “Every citizen has the right to be buried regardless of race or religion”.

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At the time of its opening, the cemetery was considered to be situated too far from the city and attracted few funerals. Moreover, many Roman Catholics refused to have their graves in a place that had not been blessed by the Church. In 1804, the Père Lachaise had contained only 13 graves. Consequently, the administrators devised a marketing strategy and in 1804, with great fanfare, organised the transfer of the remains of Jean de La Fontaine and Molière. The following year there were 44 burials, with 49 in 1806, 62 in 1807 and 833 in 1812. Then, in another great spectacle in 1817, the purported remains of Pierre Abélard and Héloïse d’Argenteuil were also transferred to the cemetery with their monument's canopy made from fragments of the abbey of Nogent-sur-Seine (by tradition, lovers or lovelorn singles leave letters at the crypt in tribute to the couple or in hope of finding true love).

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This strategy achieved its desired effect: people began clamouring to be buried among the famous citizens. Records show that, within a few years, Père Lachaise went from containing a few dozen permanent residents to more than 33,000 in 1830. Today there are over 1 million bodies buried there, and many more in the columbarium, which holds the remains of those who had requested cremation. A funerary chapel was erected in 1823 by Étienne-Hippolyte Godde at the exact place of the ancient Jesuit house. This same Neoclassical architect created the monumental entrance a few years later. A columbarium and a crematorium of a Neo-Byzantine style were designed in 1894 by Jean Camille Formigé.

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Though most of the people buried here had some connection with Paris, visitors will recognize some names that are decidedly not French.You'll find the graves of literary figures such as Honoré de Balzac, Victor Noir, Charles Nodier, Americans Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas, and Irish author Oscar Wilde. Musicians buried here include Bizet, Chopin, Poulenc, Rossini, and Dukas, as well as opera singers Maria Callas and Edith Piaf, dancer Isadora Duncan, and American rock and roll star Jim Morrison. Artists are among the largest group buried here in Cimetière du Père-Lachaise. They include Pissarro, Modigliani, glass sculptor Lalique, Max Ernst, Delacroix, and sculptor Cartellier. If you're an old movie fan, you'll want to locate the gravesites of Sarah Bernhardt, Yves Montand, and Simone Signoret.

^{Text Source : wikipedia}