Spa - Belgium

 We all know the word spa and what it means but some people may not know that there is a place behind the name. Spa, the Belgium city in the province of Liège, whose name became an eponym for mineral baths with supposed curative properties, is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations, being renowned for its natural mineral springs, and production of "Spa" mineral water. 

Known as the “Pearl of Ardennes”, its healings springs, the pouhons, have been frequented since the 16th century and by the late 1700s Spa was a popular meeting place for the nobility and European bourgeoise, being known as the Café of Europe.

In 2021, Spa became part of the transnational UNESCO World Heritage Site the Great Spa Towns of Europe. 

I was still missing this site but I was lucky to tag Gerda again and she sent me this nice card with a matching stamp.

 

 Edit. Thill, S. A., Bruxelles

The Pouhon Pierre-le-Grand houses a mineral water source particularly famous because frequented by Tsar Peter the Great. Designed by the architect Victor Besme and built in 1880 it was renovated in 2009-2012 and now houses the tourist office spadois. - in: https://www.visitacity.com

Fraueninsel - Germany

 My penpal Tanja, from Germany, spent a few of her summer holidays in Bavaria, before heading to Croatia. In Bavaria she has been to Chiemsee lake and explored it's islands. 

With 80 km² and 64 km of shoreline, Chiemsee is the largest Bavarian lake, popularly known as the “Bavarian Sea” and is considered the most beautiful lake for swimming in Germany.

 

Huber GmbH & Co

Fraueninsel island, together with Herreninsel, forms the smallest municipality in Bavaria with approx. 230 inhabitants. With a total of 256.8 ha. it is also Bavaria’s second smallest municipality in size. Fraueninsel is a car-free area and the second largest of the three islands. It takes about 20 minutes to walk its circumference. It is densely populated, with the “islanders” predominantly living from fishing, gastronomy, crafts and holiday room rentals. The center of Fraueninsel is the 1200 years old abbey, Frauenwörth, the pilgrimage site for Irmengard, the patron saint of Chiemgau, with her convent church and the Carolingian wall-painted gatehouse, which is the oldest building in Southern Germany. - in: https://www.gstadt.de

Brno - Czech Republic

 Heidi has also been to Czech Republic, again, and she stayed in Brno 4 days. She said it was a long stay in a boring city. I kind of agree with her. I've also been to the city and I've to say that of all the places I visited in the country, Brno was the city I liked the least. At I liked the most was it's location, perfect to visit a few places nearby. 

 

Foto: Lucie Vilímovská

Kraví hora is large park with an amazing view of Brno. 

It offers quite a lot of options for relaxing not far from the city centre. A major part of this hill is covered by private gardens that you can walk among via narrow paths. The Brno Observatory and Planetarium is located on the top of the hill and features an interesting science trail with freely accessible attractions, such as a 3D scanner, telescopes, and planetary scales. The slope under the observatory is often occupied by people who come to relax, have picnics, and enjoy sports. If there’s snow, it’s a perfect place to go sledging; when the wind is blowing, a lot of locals come kite flying with their kids. There is a public barbecue set nearby and a biotope pond under the slope, not far from the functionalist Church of St Augustine. - in: https://www.gotobrno.cz