Autorondreis "De geheimen van de Balkan"

About the destination: Munich, located at the river Isar in the south of Bavaria, is famous for its Word-class museums, beautiful parks, the annual Oktoberfest beer celebration and architecture. The beautiful public buildings and monuments are testaments to the imperial aspirations of the Wittelsbach family, rulers of Bavaria from the 12th to the 20th century. Although it was heavily damaged by allied bombing during World War II, many of its historic buildings have been rebuilt and the city center appears mostly as it did in the late 1800s including its largest church, the Frauenkirche, and the famous city hall (Neues Rathaus). An odd mix of proud traditionalism and avant-garde culture will keep you interested and active and the town does stay up until all hours, with its many students and earthly Bavarian joie de vivre.

About the destination: Rijeka, located on Kvarner Bay, an inlet of the Adriatic Sea, is Croatia’s largest port. The city retains some traces of his past, and is a charming place to visit as it has a great architecture in the old parts of the city, as well as some very interesting places to go. Korzo, the old part of the city, is dominated by the City Tower. The tower was originally a gate from the sea into the old town. It has a crest of the double headed eagles holding an urn of flowing water, the symbol of Austria. The tower has several Baroque style features form various time. St. Vitus' Church is the big draw of the old town in Rijeka. It is a unique Baroque rotunda of monumental dimensions inspired by the Venetian church St. Maria della Salute. The most impressive part of the church is the large crucifix on the altar. Korzo is the very heart of the town and numerous cafés welcome you for a drink on shaded terraces. The views from the Trsat castle sitting on top of the highest hill is magnificent. It reflects the large city size, as well as the wonderful building structures. Trsat stairs lead to the famous centre of pilgrimage, the Franciscan monastery. Walking west you will reach Trsat Castle, which has a long heritage, and was the original settlement of Celtic tribes. Beneath the castle there is the old church of St. George, Sv. Juraj, which, for centuries, has been the parish church of Trsat. The town of Rijeka has been well known for its carnival festivities since the Middle Ages. The carnival festivities take place mainly on Korzo. The colourful parade of masks can be seen every year on the last Sunday of carnival festivities in Rijeka.

About the destination: Within the boundaries of this heavily forested national park, 16 crystalline lakes tumble into each other via a series of waterfalls and cascades. The mineral-rich waters carve through the rock, depositing tufa in continually changing formations. Clouds of butterflies drift above the 18km of wooden footbridges and pathways that snake around the edges and across the rumbling water.

About the destination: Šibenik is a historic town in Croatia, located in central Dalmatia where the river Krka flows into the Adriatic Sea. Šibenik is a political, educational, transport, industrial and tourist center of Šibenik–Knin County. MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS • St James' cathedral. It is the main sight. It is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. It has a beautiful baptistery worth seeing it, and the curiosity is it has been built with stone only, without any kind of binder. • Bunari. ""Bunari"" or, literally, ""wells"", is a complex of water reservoirs, built in 15th century for city's water supply. • Medieval monastery St. Laurence's garden.

About the destination: Neum is a city and capital of the municipality of the same name in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The most important activity of Neum is tourism. It is the only coastal town of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Its coastline is only 24.5 km and is the only access of the country to the Adriatic Sea, although it has no control over the sea, so it can not build any port. The long southern coastline of Croatia is interrupted by the small corridor of Neum. In fact, the coastal road linking Dubrovnik with the rest of Croatia passes through Neum.

About the destination: Kotor is a coastal town in Montenegro. It is located in a secluded part of the Gulf of Kotor. It is located on the Bay of Kotor (Boka Kotorska), one of the most indented parts of the Adriatic Sea. Together with the nearly overhanging limestone cliffs of Orjen and Lovćen, Kotor and its surrounding area form an impressive and picturesque Mediterranean landscape. Kotor is part of the World Heritage Site dubbed the Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor. MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS • Old Town. The Old Town is the most famous part of Kotor, where the Kotor history, culture, and tradition are being preserved. They are complemented with the multitude of narrow streets, squares, and markets. The main and the biggest square is Trg od oruzja (Square of arms). The old town of Kotor today is considered to be the best preserved medieval urban entity in the Mediterranean. • Maritime Museum. The memories on those long gone sailing days and years, the successes of the famous Kotor seaman, artists, ship builders, crafts man, states man, and diplomats, intermediaries between west and east, are kept in the Maritime museum, which is housed in the baroque palace Grgurin. • The Island Gospa od Skrpjela. The Island Gospa od Skrpjela is one of two gorgeous islands in Kotor Bay, which are situated in the bay across from Perast. That island is also called ""the island of the dead captains"". The Island Gospa od Skrpjela is an artificial island, made by seaman from Perast and Kotor, who on their big sail boats brought in large boulders.

About the destination: Albania is one of the last secrets to discover for tourism and travelers, a country with great natural and spiritual wealth, which spent more than 50 years of the 20th century completely isolated from the rest of the world. Being the border with Montenegro just 20 kilometers from Ulcinj, we do not hesitate to include in our route visiting Shkoder, one of the most important and most influential cities in Albania, in fact, it is the second largest in the country.

About the destination: Durres (alb. Durrës), the second largest city of Albania (161,800 inhabitants, 2008 estimate), is the most ancient city and one of the most economically important as the biggest port city. The beaches of Durrës are local hotspots for many Albanians and are an important part of tourism in Albania. The city was colonized by the colonists from Corinth and Korkyra in 627 B.C. It was named Epidamnus, which later became Dyrrachium. Between the 1st and 3rd centuries Durres was an important port and trading centre on the Via Egnatia trading route, between Rome and Byzantium (Istanbul). After a great number of earthquakes, much of ancient Durres sank into the sea or collapsed and was subsequently built over. The most important object is the amphitheatre with 15,000 seats, dating back to the 2nd century AD. In the middle ages was Durres coveted by many different intruders from all over Europe. The fact that this city has been inhabited throughout its history, means that very little of the ancient city has been excavated, as it exists under the newer buildings. However the archeological museum is well stocked and presented. The famous Roman orator, Cicero called Durres an admirable city, while the poet Catullus called it the tavern of the Adriatic. Today the city is well known for the beach resort of Durres with sandy beaches and warm sea waters. It is about 10.5 km long and is frequented by Albanian and foreign tourists from May until October

About the destination: Berat (Albanian pronunciation: [ˈbɛ:rat], definite Albanian form: Berati), is the ninth largest city by population of the Republic of Albania. The city is the capital of the surrounding Berat County, one of 12 constituent counties of the country. By air, it is 71 kilometres (44 miles) north of Gjirokastër, 70 kilometres (43 miles) west of Korçë, 70 kilometres (43 miles) south of Tirana and 33 kilometres (21 miles) east of Fier. Geographically, Berat is located in the south of the country surrounded by mountains and hills including Tomorr on the east that was declared a national park. For a total length of 161 kilometres (100 miles) the Osum River runs through the city before it empties into the Seman River within the Myzeqe Plain.

About the destination: Tirana è di gran lunga la città più grande dell'Albania e il suo centro amministrativo, culturale, economico e industriale. Oggi è una città interessante e affascinante, con una vivace vita notturna. Tirana è dove la vecchia e la nuova Albania si incontrano. C'è un'imponente moschea ottomana e il suo imponente minareto vicino a Piazza Skanderbeg, la piazza principale di Tirana. La costruzione della Moschea Ethem Bey iniziò nel 1798 e fu terminata nel 1821. Chiusa sotto il regime comunista, la moschea ha riaperto come luogo di culto nel 1991. Guarda gli affreschi all'esterno e nel portico che raffigurano alberi, cascate, case ottomane e ponti, motivi raramente visti nell'arte islamica. Il centro di Tirana è una deliziosa area di ampi viali alberati e grandi piazze, popolata da un'architettura brutalista indimenticabile ea volte estremamente colorata. Ha anche alcuni grandi esempi di realismo eroico e socialista, come l'enorme murale sulla facciata del Museo di Storia Nazionale. Tirana è una città affascinante e capitale di un paese affascinante. È molto rilassante, con persone amichevoli e ospitali, alcuni ottimi ristoranti e una vivace vita notturna. Puoi praticamente vedere tutto ciò che la città ha da offrire in un giorno o due, ma è un ottimo posto per partire per esplorare i luoghi vicini, come Durazzo e Kruja.

About the destination: Ohrid (Macedonian: Охрид ) is a city in North Macedonia, the seat of Ohrid Municipality. It is the largest city on Lake Ohrid and the eighth-largest city in the country, with over 42,000 inhabitants as of 2002. Ohrid once had 365 churches, one for each day of the year, and has been referred to as a "Jerusalem of the Balkans". The city is rich in picturesque houses and monuments, and tourism is predominant. It is located southwest of Skopje, west of Resen and Bitola. In 1979 and in 1980 respectively, Ohrid and Lake Ohrid were accepted as Cultural and Natural World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Ohrid is one of only 28 sites that are part of UNESCO's World Heritage that are Cultural as well as Natural sites. The earliest inhabitants of the widest Lake Ohrid region were the Enchele, an Illyrian tribe and the Dassaretae, an ancient Greek tribe based further East in the region of Lynkestis. According to recent excavations this was a town as early as of king Phillip II of Macedon. They conclude that Samuil's Fortress was built on the place of an earlier fortification, dated to 4th century BC. During the Roman conquests, towards the end of 3rd and the beginning of 2nd century BC, the Dassaretae and the region Dassaretia were mentioned, as well as the ancient Greek city of Lychnidos (Greek: Λυχνιδός). The existence of the ancient Greek city of Lychnidos is linked to the Greek myth of the Phoenician prince Cadmus who, banished from Thebes, in Boeotia, fled to the Enchele and founded the town of Lychnidos on the shores of the modern Lake Ohrid.The Lake of Ohrid, the ancient Greek Lacus Lychnitis (Greek: Λυχνίτις), whose blue and exceedingly transparent waters in antiquity gave to the lake its Greek name; it was still called so occasionally in the Middle Ages. It was located along the Via Egnatia, which connected the Adriatic port Dyrrachion (present-day Durrës) with Byzantium. Archaeological excavations (e.g., the Polyconch Basilica from 5th century) prove early adoption of Christianity in the area. Bishops from Lychnidos participated in multiple ecumenical councils.

About the destination: Skopje is the capital and largest city in the Republic of Macedonia, as well as its political, cultural, economic and academic centre. Skopje is a new city, though one exhibiting architectural creativity. A major trade centre during the Roman and Ottoman Empires, the city was almost completely destroyed by a 1963 earthquake. There are reminders of Skopje’s past which, together with its contemporary wonders, deserve a look. Skopje is located on the upper course of the Vardar River and is a major north-south Balkan route between Central Europe and Athens. Overlooking the city is a large fortress that dominates the skyline over the Old Town. The Kale Fortress is on the highest point of the city and overlooks the river Vardar. After the earthquake of 1963, only a few restored walls, the main gateway and two towers remained. The present-day ruins date back from the 10th century enlargement of the fort under Tsar Samoil. One of the most famous landmarks in Skopje is the Kameni Most, or Stone Bridge. It straddles the river in the middle of town close by the city’s central square,Macedonia Square, and is something of a city icon, being featured on the town crest. The Old Bazaar or Carsija is a very interesting part of the city and is its oldest part. The Carsija is separated from the city by The Stone Bridge. During the daytime, it is a hustling community of craftsmen creating leather, copper and clothes, restaurants, café and bars, and interesting cultural sites, including churches, mosques and museums. In the evenings, the bars and restaurants are busy with customers and live music is played. There is a large concentration of cafes along the river from Macedonia Square, which seem to be full of almost unbelievably fashionable people eating and drinking. Affordable and refreshingly accommodating, Skopje is a city of many cultures and is well worth a visit.

About the destination: Belgrade, a city of very tumultuous history, is one of the oldest cities in Europe. It was laid in ruins some sixty times, but it always rose back to its original glory. This city with a turbulent history is a vibrant party town that has charmed many visitors over time. The city lies on the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers and it where west meets east, socialist blocks are squeezed between art nouveau masterpieces, and remnants of the Habsburg legacy contrast with Ottoman relics. In the old part of town, Stari Grad, is where you find the largest part of the architectural, cultural and historical heritage of Belgrade. The National Museum of Serbia, the Ethnographic Museum and the city’s most important museum, the Residence of Princess Ljubica, are all located in the Old Town. Belgrade's top sight, Kalemegdan Fortress, is also situated in the old town above the confluence of the Danube and the Sava rivers. Kalemegdan is a huge park and fortress complex and offers a lot to see for people interested in old castle ruins or those who want to stroll and relax in a park. The grounds of the park are full of ruins, monuments, several museums and a couple of other places of interest. Don't forget to take a look at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, and the statue of Pobednik, one of the symbols of Belgrade. Belgrade is a very vivid city, there are lots of bars, pubs, cafes and other places to hang out. The city has an exuberant cultural life, there are about 50 theatres, two major opera houses, heaps of museums, galleries, literary evenings, cultural centres and libraries. And to top it all off, Belgradians are so friendly, hospitable, chatty, warmhearted and with a great sense of humour, one can hardly feel a stranger here, somehow you blend in inevitably and you can easily find company, even if you don't seek for it.

About the destination: Munich, located at the river Isar in the south of Bavaria, is famous for its Word-class museums, beautiful parks, the annual Oktoberfest beer celebration and architecture. The beautiful public buildings and monuments are testaments to the imperial aspirations of the Wittelsbach family, rulers of Bavaria from the 12th to the 20th century. Although it was heavily damaged by allied bombing during World War II, many of its historic buildings have been rebuilt and the city center appears mostly as it did in the late 1800s including its largest church, the Frauenkirche, and the famous city hall (Neues Rathaus). An odd mix of proud traditionalism and avant-garde culture will keep you interested and active and the town does stay up until all hours, with its many students and earthly Bavarian joie de vivre.