The beguinages of Flanders and the Netherlands are always oases of calm and stillness, where you might still expect to see an old beguine mumbling her prayers in a doorway. Two of Ghent’s three beguinages have been included on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Although the Old St Elizabeth Beguinage, in Begijnhofdries in Ghent, is no longer enclosed by a wall, making it simply part of the city, it still has a unique atmosphere. Today the Old St Elizabeth Beguinage is known as ‘holy corner’, a place of religious tolerance, because it has no less than three different churches: one is Roman Catholic, one is Orthodox and the other is Protestant. From bleachfield to orchard This open beguinage grew into something of a ‘beguine city’ in the 13th century, with a church, the ‘Grootjuffer’s House’, an infirmary, a chapel, more than a hundred houses for beguines, a bleachfield (a field where linen was laid out to bleach) and an orchard. After the French Revolution, with increasing industrialisation, the inhabitants moved to their new beguinage in Sint-Amandsberg in 1873.

Steamboat Ski Resort offers a variety of activities year-round. During the winter, enjoy world-class skiing and snowboarding on their famous Champagne Powder. In the summer, explore over 50 miles of hiking and biking trails or take a scenic gondola ride up Mt. Werner. With dining options and activities for all ages, Steamboat Ski Resort is a great destination any time of year.

Åsnen was made a national park in March 2018, which means that the nature in the surroundings is unique and of international interest. The national park is about 1,868 hectares large, and 75% of the area is water. The main entrance is situated by the bridge Sunnabron near the narrow that leads to the largest island in Åsnen, Sirkön. Hiking paths leads to Bjurkärr. Bjurkärr has one of Sweden’s most valuable broad-leaved deciduous forests, since it is very rich in species. The bird life is rich and you can find unusual insects, moss and lichen here. The other entrance to the national park is situated by the left shore of Åsnen and near the mountain Trollberget. Here you can find leaflets about the national park and also both broad-leaved deciduous trees and conifer trees such as pine and fir trees. Additionally, there is a shore by the lake and wetland forest, all in the same small area. Some places in the national park have toilets, fire places and resting places. Some have paths marked with different colours and a wooden deck near the lake where you can unpack your basket with Swedish fika and just enjoy the view of Åsnen, with all its lakes and water.