Great Britain and Ireland: perhaps being island nations encouraged their inhabitants to expand the limits of their world.
Thus the English crossed the oceans and created the Commonwealth, and the Irish, in the face of economic crises over the course of centuries, emigrated to other parts of the world, such as America.
Come and discover this pan-European region now, at the beginning of the 21st century: the famous cities, richly endowed museums, unforgettable scenery, and lovable people who in turn love their culture and their traditions. The past, the present, and the future achieve a unique symbiosis in the British Isles.
Great Britain is like a bouquet of flowers, in which each bloom is a different country. England is a verdant, undulating country associated with a gentle way of life: romantic, heather-covered moors, sparkling lakes, warm and welcoming inhabitants, the ritual of “teatime”. If you’re on a quest for charm and tradition, go to Cornwall, the peninsula that almost links to the continent. Southampton will take you back to the era when the Pilgrim Fathers embarked on a voyage to what became America. Bath is an elegant holiday resort highly esteemed for its thermal and Roman baths. At Windsor, visit the residence of the Royal Family; at Cambridge and Oxford you’ll be in the very heart of English university life. If you happen to pass through in April, don’t miss the traditional rowing competition between the two universities, held on the Thames.
And of course there is London, the marvelous capital on the banks of the Thames where past and present rub shoulders beautifully.
England is the birthplace of many famous people known world-wide.: Visit Stratford-upon-Avon, whose crowning claim to fame is being the birthplace of William Shakespeare; in Liverpool, follow the Beatles trail of “A Hard Day’s Night!
To mention England is also to mention humor and eccentricity; each village has its own way of surprising you. You can attend some unheard-of races: a cheese rolling race in Stilton and the World Snail Racing Championship in Congham. You can also hunt ghosts; the Headless Horseman in Norfolk competes with Anne Boleyn, sitting with her head in her lap.
The Channel Islands (Jersey and Guernsey), scattered in the English Channel, combine the pleasures of the seaside and the countryside.
In Wales, land of Celtic tradition, you can’t help falling under the spell of the country and of the Welsh, a proud people who have always protected their culture and their nation. The jagged coastline offers vistas of hills surmounted by romantic ruins, such as Harlech Castle. In the small port town of Portmeirion, you can imagine yourself in the shoes of Number 6, hero of the series “The Prisoner”. At Caernarfon, imagine Prince Charles and all his predecessors being crowned Prince of Wales. In the interior, the Snowdonia National Park entices you to practice all the outdoor activities that you like in striking surroundings.
The symbol of Wales is worthy of its people: a dragon. However, this fire-breathing dragon also knows how to give visitors a warm welcome: Croeso i Gymru - Welcome to Wales!
Another exceptional country that is savagely beautiful and mysterious is Scotland. Everything here is extreme: the coast is wild and rough, the lochs shelter monsters, the many castles are haunted, the moors are enormous. The capital, Edinburgh, is a captivating city. Huge monuments mark this city, overlooked by a hilltop fortress. Edinburgh has the reputation of being one of the nicest cities to live in throughout Great Britain.
This legendary land has as another asset in its outlying islands, the Orkneys, the Shetlands, and the Hebrides, which offer unsullied and protected nature and extraordinary fauna. You may have the moving impression that you’re where the world began.
Regardless of when you visit, there are always interesting events: in May, Brighton holds a three-week arts festival, with art, concerts, plays, and parades. Music lovers will enjoy a good time throughout the season. From May to August, for example, the famous Glyndebourne Opera festival in East Sussex offers as much music and opera as you could wish for. If you’re in London in July, go to The Proms, a classical music festival at the Royal Albert Hall. If your steps have taken you to Wales, let yourself be swept away by all the different types of music played at the Cardiff Festival, or, in the charming little town of Llangollen, listen to Celtic music groups at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.
If you have to go to one festival in Scotland, it has to be the International Edinburgh Festival. It spawned the wildly popular Fringe Festival, which annually attracts scores of artists, both amateur and professional, who perform in halls, pubs, and churches. Excitement guaranteed!
Ireland is a combination of all these images: a wild coastline (County Donegal, the Ring of Kerry, the Cliffs of Moher) and steep regions such as Connemara along with softer landscape of a startling green, dotted with small stone walls in the middle of pastureland where sheep graze peacefully. A riot of colors awaits you: the wide range of greens against the many blues of the sea, punctuated with colorful houses.
Vestiges of many past eras are at your fingertips: visit Killarney Park, explore the Dingle Peninsula, the peat bogs, and the famous lakes of Connemara.
Northern Ireland is worth exploring via the superb panoramic route from Antrim to the amazing Giant’s Causeway. The glens immerse you in natural beauty: the deep gorges hollowed from the rock hide incredibly romantic rivers and waterfalls. When you arrive at the Giant’s Causeway, a long line of huge, perfectly symmetrical basalt rocks, ask yourself if the site is really the result of earthquakes over many centuries, or if you prefer the legend that says the giant Finn MacCumhail built himself a road to suit his size in order to wage war in Scotland.
Whether in Dublin, Londonderry, Galway, or one of the smaller towns, it’s in the pubs that you’ll meet the Irish, friendly people who, over a beer and between games of darts, will tell you their stories. Very quickly, you’ll be intoxicated by the sound of traditional music and the festive atmosphere.
In March, participate in the Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations, the national Irish holiday that lasts for a week and is full of parades and concerts. It’s another great way to get to know the Irish.