Since this is a month when we celebrate the woman, I thought this text might give you some good ideas to beautifully surprise the woman you love. It’s a personal selection – different museums and castles in Europe, some not very famous but all of them special and wonderful to be discovered with ”your half”. From Villandry Castle in France, with its astonishing gardens, to Christmas Museum in charming Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Germany, from Toy Museum in Funchal, capital of Madeira Island to spectacular Venaria Reale in Italy or Old Denmark-Open Air Museum in Copenhagen, and a few more, all are wonderful to see together, get emotions, enjoy romantic walks in some of them, history or magic in others. Trips to be offered as gifts for both heart and eyes – hope to give you some interesting ideas.
In Romania, my native country, March is considered to be “woman’s month”, starting with “Martisor”, a tradition I had written about more HERE, continuing with the 8-th of March, International Women Day. That’s why, up to the 8-th of March, you will find some special texts on Special Stories, written thinking about the woman – unique, special, deserving to be valued, appreciated and loved. This is the second text – a personal selection of museums and castles extremely suitable to be discovered with the woman you love – hope you will find some good travel ideas here.
Austrian Open Air Museum Stübing
Absolutely charming this place – perfect to spend here a whole romantic day together. Located about 20 kilometers from city of Graz, is the largest and only national open-air museum in Austria. The 65-hectare museum offers you the possibility to see historical objects and old houses from all the federal states of Austria. The historical buildings are arranged geographically as in Austria from east to west.
When we visited it, during summer, we also found some local craftsmen working inside the museum – you could admire them working and buy some of their creations. A particular mention for the old school – very interesting to see, and also for the rustic restaurant inside – excellent traditional food, serving and atmosphere. More about the museum on their website, HERE
Castle and Gardens of Villandry – France
I’ve read about these gardens before visiting – but what you discover there is absolutely spectacular, for me way more beautiful than much more famous gardens of Versailles Castle.
Located on Loire Valley, 147 kilometers from the city of Orleans, the Castle dates from the Renaissance and each owner, including Jerome Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon I, helped to make Villandry one of the most beautiful castles of the Loire. More about the castle on their website, HERE
German Christmas Museum – Rothenburg ob der Tauber
I would be able to live a life in a place like this – seriously now, I don’t think there’s any woman willing to leave that place without insistence. The history of Christmas and in particular its different decorations since its beginnings up until the mid-20th century are presented in a permanent exhibition which is open all year round.
Also, a lot of handmade decorations are exposed and can be bought. Christmas trees, toys, music, everything turns it into a fairy-tale atmosphere – you will love it, I’m sure! Also, the small medieval town of Rothenburg od der Tauber is absolutely charming and worth seeing – you can spend a whole beautiful, romantic day in there. More about the museum on their website, HERE
Frilandsmuseet in Copenhagen – Denmark
I loved walking along and discovering this museum – which is, by far, the most beautiful village museum I had ever seen. Dating since 1897, it is one of the largest and oldest open air museums in the world.
Old Denmark- Open Air Museum is a place where you enter a different world: the countryside of historic Denmark. It is not difficult to imagine yourself transported centuries back in time, strolling along the gravel roads and visiting the fully-furnished homes of the people of the past, such as the peasant, the wealthy miller, the village weaver or the inmates of the poorhouse. More about the museum on their website, HERE
Reggia di Venaria Reale – Italy
Located approximately 15 kilometers from Torino, UNESCO Heritage, this is one of Italy’s five most visited cultural sites.
The monumental palace, that extends over 80,000 square metres of floor space, is surrounded by highly spectacular gardens. Seen from above, the Reggia and the Gardens cover a surface of 950,000 square metres of unencumbered architecture and parkland. You just can’t leave – you only wish to explore every corner of beauty, color and life! And it’s such a romantic place – one day to be visited and certainly worth it! More about it on their website, HERE
Toy Museum in Funchal, Madeira
A beautiful place to visit for the smiling child in every woman – it’s wonderful when we keep a childish part in ourselves and the pure joy of those years. I forgot my age in this small, charming museum – it’s not the only toy museum I had seen but certainly the most beautiful.
It’s actually a private collection of antique toys which belonged to José Manuel Borges Pereira, and other pieces from private collections. This collection comprises about 20,000 national and international manufactured toys dating from the late 19th century until modern times. A particular emphasis is given to the collections composed of dolls, toy soldiers, miniatures, cars and games. More about the museum on their website, HERE
Norsk Folkemuseum in Oslo, Norway
I love open-air museums, so I couldn’t have missed this one – and it’s a wonderful experience! A beautiful place to discover with “your half” on a sunny day, walking for hours, enjoying every part of it – it’s authentic and absolutely charming! It shows how people lived in Norway from 1500 to the present through its collections from around the country, and is Norway’s largest museum of cultural history.
The 160 buildings in the Open-Air Museum represent different regions in Norway, different time periods, as well as differences between town and country, and social classes. The Gol Stave Church dating from 1200 is one of five medieval buildings at the museum. The contemporary history is presented through exhibitions and documentation projects. Permanent indoor exhibitions include folk art, folk costumes, toys and Sami culture. There is also a variety of temporary exhibitions and audience programs all year round. More about the museum on their website, HERE
Juliet’s House in Verona – Italy
Well, this is certainly a very commercial place – but you can’t miss it if you get to Verona! And it’s certainly a place to visit with the woman you love – the legend is everywhere! In fact, I think that’s what attracts because historically things are a little bit different – but once you got there it really doesn’t matter anymore.
So, you can take many many pictures, touch the famous breast of the statue in the garden, visit the house and, mandatory, take pictures in and of the famous balcony where everyone will stay for the “kissing picture”, of course! More about it HERE
Palace and Botanical Gardens in Balcik – Bulgaria
It might not be extremely popular, but it’s a wonderful place to see, especially in summer, you will love those spectacular gardens and the sea view.
The complex appeared as a summer residence of the Romanian Queen Maria (1875-1938). The palace was designed by Italian architects and construction works started in 1924. As part of the residence, in 1926 the Swiss botanist Jules Jani designed and built a park complex. Twenty nine years later, the Sofia University “Saint Kliment Ohridski “ created at this place a botanical garden with an area of 65 decares. Today, it has more than 2.000 plant species from 85 families and over 800 genera. More about it HERE
Skansen Museum in Stockholm – Sweden
The world’s oldest open-air museum, showcasing the whole of Sweden with houses and farmsteads from every part of the country, Skansen is a must-see and a beautiful place to discover together with the one you love.
I loved not only the old houses but also the old workshops where, for instance, you can make a clay pot on an old, traditional wheel – and other similar experiences. Take at least one full day here, also – beautiful and worth seeing! More about the museum on their website, HERE
PHOTOS FROM PERSONAL ARCHIVE
Do you know a very special place? A place where things are made with love, from heart, with good skills, respect and lot of care? A place with a story and with a heart beyond it? Tell me about it and let’s tell the others its beautiful story. Write me at specialstories00@gmail.com, here, on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
