A weekend trip to Ghent is simply not complete without a visit to the mysterious ‘Castle of the Counts’. This important sight in Ghent is a castle with a very turbulent past, closely intertwined with the complex—often stormy—political and social history of the city. It is the only remaining mediaeval castle with a moat and largely intact defence system in Flanders. Your visit to the Castle of the Counts will give you a complete picture of heraldic culture in the 12th century. The gatehouse, ramparts, keep, count’s residence and stables are open to visitors. Be sure to go up the long spiral staircase to the museum of torture devices on the top floor of the Castle of the Counts. Here, you will find a unique collection of instruments for torture and coercion, as well as a collection of weapons. The Castle of the Counts also hosts all kinds of cultural activities, events and activities, for example during the Ghent Festivities. It is also a popular place to get married for Ghent’s locals. Let’s not forget the time the Castle of the Counts was occupied by protesting students in 1949! Explore the castle during your weekend trip in Ghent and find out all about the ‘Battle of the Castle of the Counts’. The keep, symbol of the Counts’ power Go back in time inside this majestic fortress. Its history goes back to the time of the Roman occupation, when there was already a settlement on a sand bank by the River Lys. After a brief period of Viking plundering, the Counts of Flanders converted the earlier wooden constructions into a keep (living quarters) in the Middle Ages, with ramparts built entirely of stone, replete with 24 towers. The imposing building with its military architecture was a symbol of the Counts’ power in the turbulent city of Ghent. Do you want to dig deep into the history of Ghent? This is where you need to be. Ghent, full of charming history and modern vibrancy.

Find out how people once lived on Gotland at one of Sweden’s biggest open-air museums. Here you can meet farmers, fishermen, crofters, stone workers, craftsmen, school teachers and paupers in houses and on farms dating from the mid-17th century to the end of the 1920s. The Play House has toys and games from olden times, and young and old can walk on stilts, make log-house puzzels and toss the caber. You will find the dates of markets, tournaments, and other fun events at:

Close to the Saint-Enogat beach, to the north of Dinard, you can challenge your friends to a tournament of mini golf on a course overlooking the ocean. After a tough game, guests can enjoy a light snack or a refreshing drink at the small café with sea view.

Distance in Australia is a whole other thing to compared what you are probably used to, and Uluru (or Ayer's Rock) is approximately 450 km southwest of Alice Springs — considering the vast distances existing in Oz, that is practically nothing. The large sandstone formation is pretty much in the middle of nowhere, in the pristine vastness of nature. The ground is sacred to the Aṉangu, the Aboriginal people in this area.