Unexplored European Treasures
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Bieszczady, Poland
The Bieszczady mountain range is the ‘forgotten corner’ of Poland. Bieszczady National Park is packed with trails and has a slew of mountain hostels. If you’re on a mission, the only way to go is off-road, easily organized through Bieszczady Adventure Team in Lesko, the ‘gateway to the Bieszczady’. Expect the unexpected in this magical world of mountains, meadows and primeval forest: abandoned onion-domed churches that would look more at home just over the border in Ukraine; peat reserves complete with quicksand; a pair of sooty charcoal burners taking a break (with vodka) from the heat; and always little reminders (droppings mostly) that boars, wolves and brown bear are watching you trying to watch them.
Gotland, Sweden
When Stockholmers want to escape, they go to Gotland, an island remote enough to feel like a complete getaway. Boats sail daily from Nynashamm, delivering you to Visby, a UNESCO World Heritage city where you can point your camera at random and get a postcard shot. Pop into a ruined church or three and visit Gotlands Fornsal, a history museum full of runestones and bashed-in Viking skulls. Then hire a bike and pedal out of town along Gotlandsleden, the paved trail that circles the island. You’ll pass beaches, fields, and little white churches, but do stop at the cafes to eat saffron pancakes with jam and cream. My favourite bit is Faro, the lonely mini-islet at Gotland’s northern tip, where Ingmar Bergman spent his last years.
Alex is a blogger and travel writer. He writes about everything from exotic destinations to beautiful hotels. He also writes a blog for Coupon Croc .
