5 Amazing Places To Visit You Have Probable Never Heard Of.

I am very lucky to have a job which involves a huge amount of travel around Europe, and occasionally a bit further. During these travels I have been to many amazing places that are not so well known or visited by western tourists, we all know of the delights of Rome or Paris, the spectacular architecture of La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona and the many historic and wonderful places in my own capital city of London. So I wanted to highlight some other amazing places that are not so well known but are well worth visiting.

Mamyev Kurgan (Volgograd, Russia)

I have been to Russia many times over the last decade and Mamayev Kurgan is quite simple an incredible place. It is a dominant height outside of the city of Volgograd (Formally Stalingrad) and is a memorial park to this most devastating of battles from the second world war. The park is dominated by a huge statue of a lady know as the "The Motherland Calls" this incredible statue was unveiled in 1967 and at the time it was the largest sculpture in the world standing 85 meters or 279 ft in height from the tip of her sword to the top of the plinth she stands on.

The park is much more than the statue though, throughout the park are other smaller sculptures, landscaped gardens, a church and a circular auditorium with a hand holding a torch bearing an eternal flame, on the wall of this auditorium a plaques holding the names of the fallen soldier's from the battle for Stalingrad. A visit to this park can be a sobering experience as you look at the number of these names and wonder about the futility of war and the sacrifice made by these men in the fight against the Nazi regime.

The city of Volgograd itself is fairly typical of other Russian cities, there are nice cafes and restaurants and it is pleasant to walk along the Volga River, there is also a large museum housed on the site of the only building to survive this battle which is also worth visiting.

Lake Baikal (Russia)

Another entry from Russia is the serene lake Baikal a freshwater lake located in Siberia close to the city of Irkutsk. This lake is huge, it contains 22 - 23% of the worlds surface freshwater and contains a volume of water greater than the North American great lakes combined. With a maximum depth of 1642 meters it is also the worlds deepest lake and is home to many species of plants and animals which exist nowhere else in the world. I visited here a few years ago in springtime and spent a late afternoon and evening here, it is a very peaceful and tranquil place fully deserving it's UNESCO world heritage status.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Baikal

Upsalla (Sweden)

Upsalla is on my list as i only visited recently and I enjoyed my trip there very much, it is Sweden's 4th largest city with a population of approx 150,000 it's also relatively close to Stockholm so if you are visiting the capital then it is well worth a daytrip. It has been Swedens ecclesiastical centre since the 12th century and is home to the country's archbishop. There are many historical sites in and around the city including the huge Upsalla cathedral overlooked by a castle but my reason for selecting this city was that it really has a nice atmosphere, there are loads of trendy bars and cafes dotted around the city centre, good shops and plenty of green spaces.

Ohrid (Macedonia)

As Macedonia is a landlocked country Ohrid and the lake of the same name is one of their main tourist areas, this small city is an old, historic and beautifully tranquil place which once contained 365 churches. I visited in early autumn and was impressed by the history of the city with it's many old buildings and narrow streets. The lake was calm and beautiful with many inviting restaurants and cafes along it's edge. A short walk from the centre and overlooking the city is the ruins of Samuels Fortress which has spectacular views over the lake and city.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohrid

Koh Samed / Ko Samet (Thailand)

For my last entry i have chosen the Island of Ko Samet Thailand which is not to be confused with the much more well known island Ko Samui. This little island is just a beautiful place to get away for a few days or longer, with it's lovely beaches and relaxed pace. I visited a few years ago now and travelled to the Island in a speedboat from Rayong, landed on a wonderful crescent beach found a room in a small hotel and stayed for 4 nights. At night the local restaurants put blankets out on the beach with small cushions and tables and a troop of local fire dancers entertained the tourists.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ko_Samet

If your still reading then i thank you getting this far and if you have any questions then leave them in the comments and i'll answer them.