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10 Historical Attractions You Can’t Miss in Salzburg, Austria

1/31/2019

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This history of Salzburg is quit a tale, one that dates back to the Neolithic era around the 5thCentury BC when the Celts arrived to make this their home. Eventually the Romans conquered Salzburg, which at the time was name Juvavum and belonged to the Kingdom of Noricum. St. Rupert, the “Founder of the City,” arrived in the 8thCentury, and built the basilica naming it ‘Salzburg.’ This translates to ‘Salt Castle’ and throughout the centuries, Salzburg has kept its name. There are countless historical sites to see and visit, but be sure to experience some of the most notable landmarks and places in the city. ​
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Mozart's Birthhouse
Mozart is the beloved son of Salzburg. Located at Getreidegasse 9 is the birth home of Mozart. Born on January 27, 1756 in the "Hagenauer Haus," this is where Mozart's family lived for 26 years on the third floor. In 1773, the family moved the "Mozart Residence" in Marketplatz Square. His birth home became a museum in 1880 thanks to the International Mozarteum Foundation. The museum is open to the public showcasing original rooms, with the furnishings remaining as authentic as possible. Walking tours are also available.
 
Discover more about Mozart and his life in Salzburg on our recent blog, Exploring the Life of Mozart in Salzburg. 

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Getreidegasse + Goldgasse
Getreidegasse sits in the heart of Old Town and contains some of the oldest and original shops in Salzburg (that do not exist today).  House number 9 is Mozart’s birthplace. Many shops are higher end and / or corporate stores. 
 
Goldgasse is a small and narrow medieval lane that runs from Alter Markt Square to Residenplatz. The street features locally owned shops such as antique stores, bookshops and art galleries. Back in the day locals knew this by other names such as, Schlossergasse (locksmith lane), Milchgasse (milk lane) or Sporergasse (lane of the people who make horseback riding accessories).

Altes Rathaus – City Hall
This medieval four-story building was originally a burgher house. In 1407, the city council purchased the building to use as a court house.  The supposed “Golden Age” for the Rathaus occurred in the late Middle Ages and Reformation time period when civil-war like riots occurred known as Bauernkriege. At certain points in history, the Rathaus served as a night watch tower. Some claim the clock on the Rathaus is the oldest clockwork in Austria. 

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Hohensalzburg Castle
This medieval castle is a must-visit landmark in Salzburg. Not only are its roots ancient, but it features some of the best lookout points in the city. Archbishop Gebhard von Helfensteininitiated construction in 1077.  Structures originated during the Roman Empire, but further expansions occurred throughout the centuries under each ruler. Prince-Archbishop Leonhard von Keutschachexpanded the castle between 1495-1519. Notable points of interest include the bedchamber, the golden chamber and the Chapel of Archbishop Leonhard von Keutschach.

During World War I, the castle housed Italian prisoners of war. Today, it is a major tourist attraction and features a mountain-side view restaurant and scenic viewpoints overlooking the city.
  
Take the tram for a quick and easy way to reach the top. 

Nonnberg – Nunnery / Abbey
Founded between 713-715, this is the world’s oldest nunnery that’s existed without closures or interruptions. St. Rupert founded the nunnery, but his sister St. Erentrudis operated the facility. The nunnery is notable thanks to starring in the “Sound of Music.”  The nunnery has seen a few face lifts throughout the centuries to fire and damage, but it still contains a crypt with the tomb of St. Erentrudis.
 
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St. Peter's Church + Cemetery 
​This 7th Century Baroque church is one of the most beloved sites in Salzburg. Inside guests marvel at the striking Christian architecture. 
 
The cemetery is one of the most beautiful and oldest burial grounds in Europe. The grounds feature a beautiful array of flowers and decorative tombstones, for those who want to go out in style. Buried here are notable artists, scholars, merchants and locals such as Mozart’s sister, Nannerl. The cemetery also contains a Christian catacomb, which dates back to late antiquity. Found in the Mönchsberg, the entrance is adjacent to the Nannerl and Michael Haydn gravestones. After walking 48 steps is the 1178 “Gertrauden Chapel” and the next 36 steps is the “Maximus Chapel.” The cemetery and catacombs were the backdrop to the Sound of Music movie. 
 
Mozart and Haydn both have close ties with the church.  This is where the first performance of Mozart C Minor Mass took place on October 26, 1783. Still to this day, the performance takes place here during the Salzburg Festival. 

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Salzburg Cathedral
This early Baroque Cathedral is Salzburg’s most prized possession. A crypt is onsite that shows the remains of the two earlier churches built in 774 and later rebuilt in 1167. 
 
Like many Salzburg locals, the Cathedral is the place of worship that baptized Mozart and Joseph Mohr, the man who wrote “Silent Night.” The baptismal font located on the left upon entry is where his actual baptism took place. Located in the center of Salzburg, the church dates back to 774, and one of the oldest buildings in the city.

Café Tomaselli
This is Austria’s oldest coffee house. Founded in 1700, this place is also popular because Mozart frequently visited the café. According to Tomaselli.it, “The French-born Johann Fontaine obtained trade law approval to sell chocolate, tea and coffee on the 31stof march in 1700. After Fontaine's death, the café with the vaulted ceiling changed hands several times. In 1753, Anton Staiger took over the establishment. After eleven years, in 1764, he succeeded in purchasing the prestigious building on today's Alter Markt, which Carl Tomaselli later bought in 1852.”

Cemetery of St. Sebastian + St. Sebastian Church
The cemetary of St. Sebastian displays remarkable tombstones of merchants and notable locals. Some of Mozart’s family members are buried here including Mozart’s father, Leopold, Wolfgang’s wife, Constanze, as well as her second husband, Georg Nikolaus.
 

Let's Connect!
​What's your favorite historical spot in Salzburg?
 

This Lemon Tree article is now featured on GPSmyCity.  To download this article for offline reading or travel directions to the attractions highlighted in this article, go to 10 Historical Attractions You Can’t Miss in Salzburg.
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Exploring the Life of Mozart in Salzburg, Austria

1/24/2019

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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is one of the world's most prolific musicians and composers. Birthed in the beautiful Baroque city of Salzburg, one cannot visit Salzburg without feeling or experiencing the importance of Mozart in this city. A true son of Salzburg, discover the most significant landmarks of, or dedicated to, Mozart. 
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Mozart's Birthhouse
Located at Getreidegasse 9 is the birth home of Mozart. Born on January 27, 1756 in the "Hagenauer Haus," this is where Mozart's family lived for 26 years on the third floor. In 1773, the family moved the "Mozart Residence" in Marketplatz Square. His birth home became a museum in 1880 thanks to the International Mozarteum Foundation. The museum is open to the public showcasing original rooms, with the furnishings remaining as authentic as possible. Walking tours are also available.

Be to also explore the Mozart Apartment Museum, which is where the Mozart family moved to when Wolfgang was a teenager. Here visitors see four original and historic keyboards, letters and a family portrait painted after Mozart's mother passed. 

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Mozartplatz + Mozart Monument
Mozartplatz Square is in the heart of historic Salzburg. The house number eight in the square is where Mozart's wife, Constanze Mozart-Nissen, once lived. Today, one notices the plaque on the facade reminding us of her birthplace. 

The focal point of the square is the bronze Mozart Monument, which was unveiled September 5, 1842.  Johann B. Stiglmayer created the statue and Bavaria's King Ludwig I, an admirer of Mozart, donated a marble plinth, which now resides in the Salzburg Museum. 
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"Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together go to the making of genius. Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius."
​-Mozart

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Enjoying Mozartkugeln + Mozart Torte
Mozartkugel is a small confectionary treat that is pistachio marzipan and nougat covered in dark chocolate. In 1890 a local Salzburg confectioner Paul Fürst created this treat and named it after Mozart. Discover the original tastes and flavors at 
Konditorei Fürst located at Brodgasse 13. 

Many cafes and shops throughout Salzburg sell Mozartkugeln and slices of Mozart cake. I recommend Cafe Glockenspiel or Cafe Tomaselli (Alter. Markt 9), a cafe that dates back to Mozart's time. Mozart was a frequent guest and there he drank almond milk. He noted about his cafe visitations in many of his letters. Today the Tomaselli family still operates the 150 year old cafe. 
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St. Peter's Church
​This 7th Century Baroque church is one of the most beloved sites in Salzburg. This is where the first performance of Mozart C Minor Mass took place on October 26, 1783. Still to this day, the performance takes place here during the Salzburg Festival. 
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Salzburg Cathedral
Like many Salzburg locals, the Cathedral is the place of worship that baptized Mozart. The baptismal font located on the left upon entry is where his actual baptism took place. Located in the center of Salzburg, the church dates back to 774, and one of the oldest buildings in the city.  

Little Magic Flute House
This small wooden summer house is where Mozart composed portions of "Magic Flute" K 620. Supposedly he procrastinated on finishing "Magic Flute" and 
impresario Emanuel Schikaneder took him here to finish the opera. In 1873, the former owner, Prince Starhemberg, donated the home to the Mozarteum Foundation. 

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Bibliotheca Mozartiana
Located at Schwarzstrasse 26, this extensive Mozart library contains more than 35,000 books about Mozart. Established in 1841, the library contains a broad selection of European culture and music titles. The online Mozart Bibliography contains writings from all over the world about Mozart, his life and his family. 

Let's Connect! 

This Lemon Tree article is now featured on GPSmyCity.  To download this article for offline reading or travel directions to the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Exploring the Life of Mozart in Salzburg, Austria.
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The Best Historical Sites in Riga, Latvia

1/17/2019

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Riga, Latvia is a historic yet cosmopolitan city located in the Baltic. As the capital city of Latvia, Riga’s Old Town is must visit to discover the city’s history, culture and vibrancy. Riga’s roots date back to 1201 as a German had a quest to conquer Latvian natives and convert them into Christianity. Since then, Latvia has been conquered by Sweden, Germany, Russia and the Soviet Union. Old Town Riga is an illustration of European history, a battle between rulers, borders and lands. 
 
Since its independence in 1991, Latvia is on the rise and today, one of the most precious cities in the Baltic. Be sure to explore these historical sites to learn more about Latvia and its ascension over centuries of struggle and hardship. 
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House of Blackheads 
This 14th Century building originated as a guild for merchants and craftsmen who were joined by a brotherhood of banquet caterers called the Blackheads. Many Blackheads were German and banded together to protect their trading rights from robbers and pirates. Later, the brotherhood partnered with the patrician elite and rose into great power. Destroyed from a bomb raid in World War II, the House of Blackheads was rebuilt in 1999. Today, this former guild homes the President of Latvia. 

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The Three Brothers
The Three Brothers is a building complex that contains three buildings clustered together, which makes it appear almost as one structure. Legend has it that the buildings were constructed by three from one family. The oldest brother built in 1490 and was the place of manufacturing and trade. The structure is inspired by Dutch Renaissance.  The middle brother built in 1646 features a Dutch Mannerism style and contains the inscription, "Soli deo gloria!" (“Glory to God alone!”) Built in the late 17th Century, the third brother is the most narrow and smallest of the three buildings and contains the Latvian Museum of Architecture, a worth-while visit for intellectual pursuits and to discover the back courtyard.  These are the oldest medieval buildings in Riga, and where craftsmen once lived.
 
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Museum of Occupation
If you love World War II and Soviet history, visit the Museum of Occupation. Insides, visitors discover what Latvians have undergone between 1940-1991 under totalitarian regimes. From short films to real life relics, guests learn how many Latvians survived World War II by living in a forest and “taking down” the USSR with the largest protest, which included two million citizens linking hands across the Baltic. The chain linked the three Baltic capitals, Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius.
 
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Central Market
Built in 1920, this is one of the largest markets in Eastern Europe. Every day 80,000-100,000 visitors come to shop for meat, cheese, produce, desserts, household items or clothes. The market contains a mix of indoor and outdoor stalls. The large indoor hangers are actually made from 1920 zeppelins. For a traditional westerner, the market is cheap, but the prices are expensive or fair for the local’s income.
 
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The Freedom Monument
This statue towers over Old Town Riga in remembrance of the soldiers who died in the 1918-1920 Latvian War of Independence where Latvians overthrew the Russians. When Russia annexed Latvia in 1940, they nearly destroyed this monument, but saved by Soviets who believed in the importance of this landmark. 

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The Cat House
This unofficial symbol of Riga is a popular place for tourists to snap many pictures. The 1909 home contains two medieval turrets, both topped with black cats. The story is fuzzy, but these cats are symbols of a protest, or disgust, of one local man’s rejection to being accepted into the 14thCentury guild. Being part of the guild is a great honor whereas the guild rejecting someone is a massive insult. The man topped these towers with two hunched back black cats that glared at the guild. The upset guildsmen fought with the local for months. Eventually, the local turned the cat’s to glare elsewhere, but never took them down. 

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St. Peter's Church
This 13th Century Gothic - Baroque church is not only a place of history and worship, but provides the best views in town. The 130 meter tower contains an observation deck at 72 meters overlooking old and new Riga. Five times per day a Latvian folk song plays from the tower. Outside the church one notices a statue of a donkey, a dog, a cat and a rooster standing on one another. This is the same statue one sees in Bremen, Germany and is inspired by the Grimm's brothers and to the Town of Musicians of Bremen to its Germanic roots.  

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Swedish Gate + Old City Wall
Only a small portion of Riga's original city wall exists. The Swedish Gate was built in 1698 when Sweden took over the city. An interesting fact is that the apartment above Swedish Gate is where the city executioner once lived. The night before a beheading, he would place a red rose in his window. 

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Old Town Architecture
Meandering around Old Town, visitors will notice intricate details in the facades of many buildings. Keep an eye out for dates and plaques that provide historical tidbits about each building. 

What is your favorite landmark in Riga? Let us know! 


This Lemon Tree article is now featured on GPSmyCity.  To download this article for offline reading or travel directions to the attractions highlighted in this article, go to The Best Historical Sites in Riga, Latvia.
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10 Historical Sites You Can't Miss in Tallinn, Estonia

1/9/2019

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Tallinn, Estonia is a charming medieval town that dates back to 1248. Historic indeed, walking through old town is like a time warp, a trip down medieval memory lane leaving travelers wondering what life was like 500 years ago. It is one of the best-preserved old towns in Europe, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Steeped with history, these are some of the most important landmarks and sites that you do not want to miss while in Tallinn. 
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Town Wall
Border walls were an important piece of protective architecture in any medieval city. Tallinn’s wall is well preserved and is 1.15 miles (1.85km) in length and contains 20 watch towers and multiple entry gates. Guests can walk in a section of the wall, approximately 656 feet. Here you’ll gain perspective of what it was like to “watch out” for survival back in the day. But, once upon a time in the 16thCentury, the wall was 2.4 km in length with 46 watch towers. ​
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The historic Town Hall Square has served as a marketplace since the 11thCentury. Today locals and travelers enjoy plenty of street side cafés overlooking the square and some of the oldest architecture in town. The historic pharmacy is worth a visit!

Raeapteek - Town Hall Pharmacy
Believe it or not, this is one of the longest standing pharmacies still operating today in Europe. Founded in the 15thCentury, a pharmacy has continuously operated out of this exact building. An onsite museum displays historic medical tools and relics from the medieval and Renaissance eras. It is recommended to purchase claret, a German-spiced wine as a souvenir. There are not many businesses in the world that have been in operation since 1422. Holistic health is part of the Baltic culture so get ready to explore a variety of teas, tinctures and tasty treat workshops
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Olevsite Church
Towering 407 feet in the heart of Old Town square, Oleviste Church is the tallest medieval structure in town. The beautiful interior seems modest compared to the decadent Catholic churches. Built in the 12thCentury, this church best represents its Scandinavian population. Inside, guests find sweeping views of the city and the Gulf of Finland in the tower’s observation deck. 

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Katariina Käik - St Catherine's Passage
This is one of the most historic and beautiful passageways in town that connects Vene and Müürivahe Streets. The southern end features warehouses, merchants and artisans selling their crafts where the Northern end contains the remains of St. Catherine’s Dominican Monastery as well as some ancient tombstones. It is a walk back into medieval time.  

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Great Guild Hall
Built between 1407-1410, the Great Guild Hall was once a guild for merchants and artisans until 1920. Today, it is home to the Estonian History Museum. This Gothic building is in the heart of Old Town and considered one of the most marvelous pieces of medieval architecture in the city.   

Kalma Spa
Estonia and the Baltic region is known for its spa culture. They believe in herbal and esoteric healing, which much of their knowledge originates from Russian roots. Built in 1928, Kalma is one of the oldest spas in Estonia. Modest indoors, this traditional bathing house separates men and women. Inside, you’ll notice nude bathers beating each other with birch branches known as vihta or vasta. The men’s corridors feature plenty of Russian bears, drinking vodka, beating backs with branches and well, eating fish heads. The spa is a short distance to Old Town. 

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Toompea Hill
Toompea Hill hand long been the “mecca” for Tallinn’s power. Here travelers discover a myriad of churches, a medieval castle fortification and Estonia’s Parliament. Meander onward and upward on a cobblestone path to discover several viewpoints that feature some of the best views of the city. Be sure to visit St. Olav’s, a 407-foot-tall church! One interesting fact is that this church has been struck by lightning 10 times, three of which caught it on fire in 1625, 1820 and 1931. 

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Toompea Castle
Toompea Castle is home to Estonian’s parliament. In 1227-1229, the German Knights of the Sword first built a stone fortress here, and since then every ruler has used this castle as their base. Estonia’s history is unique as it has roots from Russia, Scandinavia and Finland. The castle is the military and administrative center for regional rulers from Estonia and historically once used by the Danes, Swedes and Russians. 


This Lemon Tree article is now featured on GPSmyCity.  To download this article for offline reading or travel directions to the attractions highlighted in this article, go to 10 Historical Sites You Can't Miss in Tallinn, Estonia.

Where is your favorite historical site in Tallinn? Check out our other Lemon Tree Travel blogs about Tallinn! 
The Best Historic Cafes You Can't Miss in Tallinn, Estonia
​
Tallinn, Estonia: A Walk Down Medieval Memory Lane
​
Vegan in Tallinn, Estonia: Bliss Buffet & Restaurant
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Exploring Charles Dickens' London

1/1/2019

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For those who know me, know I love Charles Dickens. Why? It's because we share the same birthdate, February 7th. The more I got to know Dickens and his writing the more I realized that he and I have the same type of mentality, not only in the world of imaginative writing, but he also advocated for the poor. He analyzed the wealthy and the peasant cultures throughout London to inspire his writing and some of his greatest pieces of work.

Though he traveled throughout England for his stories, London is the hub for many of Dickens' inspirations. Here are some of the best places to explore Dickens' London. 

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Charles Dickens Museum
Welcome to 48 Doughty Street, the London home of Charles Dickens. This is the setting where Dickens wrote Oliver Twist, The Pickwick Papers and Nicholas Nickleby, and earned international fame as one of the world's best writers. Inside guests discover the private life of Charles Dickens' family home, exploring various rooms such as the dining hall and servants quarters as well as artifacts like Dickens' writing desk, hand-written letters and autograph copies of his books. 
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Dickens and his wife, Catherine moved into the home just before Queen Victoria took reign in 1837. Three of their 10 children grew up in this home, and Charles and Catherine hosted many dinner parties with some of the period's most prominent figures. Each room boasts the beauty of Victorian living. Out back guests enjoy coffee and cake in the Victorian courtyard. The
​museum is an international research center on Dickens and contains over 100,000 artifacts. Special exhibits and workshops occur year round. 
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Charles was a fascinating creature. He walked London in search for inspiration and to obtain qualitative analysis through observing the lifestyles between the rich and the poor. He often walked 10-20 miles at a time to gain a true sense of the sights, sounds and aura of Victorian London.  
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Fleet Street
While strolling along Fleet Street, stop at Ye Olde Chesire Cheese. Although not a cheese shop in Dickens' era, this building has been a pub since 1538. Dickens frequented this pub to observe the locals, which inspired his writing for A Tale of Two Cities. What makes this pub unique is that other novelists and writers such as Oliver Goldsmith, Mark Twain, Alfred Tennyson, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, G.K. Chesterton, P. G. Wodehouse and Samuel Johnson were regulars. Some claim the vaulted ceiling pillars date to a 13th Century Carmelite Monastery. 

Lincoln's Inn Fields
The settings and legal actions that occur in the Bleak House occur in and around Lincoln's Inn Fields, which is where the lawyer Tulkinghorn lived. "Here, in a large house, formerly a house of state, lives Mr Tulkinghorn. It is let off in sets of chambers now, and in these shrunken fragments of its greatness lawyers lie in maggots in nuts."

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Covent Gardens
Located at 26 Wellington Street is the Charles Dickens Coffee shop. Here is where Charles lived and operated his newspaper, All The Year Round, on the upper levels of this corner building. The blacking factory is where Dickens worked at the age of 12. This neighborhood inspired Dickens for many of his novels like Little Dorrit, where Arthur Clennam lives in a dingy flat like Dickens once did. Dickens notes Covent Gardens in Great Expectations, The Pickwick Papers and David Copperfield. But Covent Gardens didn't always look this way. It was once a market described by Charles as, "“strewed with decayed cabbage-leaves, broken haybands. . . men are shouting, carts backing, horses neighing, boys fighting, basket-women talking, piemen expatiating on the excellence of their pastry, and donkeys braying."

The Seven Dials
In Dickens' era, The Seven Dials was a cesspool of poverty and crime. Today, its chockfull of museums, pubs and an excellent neighborhood to people watch. Dickens describes the neighborhood best in Sketches by Boz, where fictional character Boz, roams London in observation of its neighborhoods, people and customs.  

While there is so much to see in Dickens' London, be sure to add Gray's Inn and Middle Temple on the list. A self-guided tour is possible, but if you want intimate details on Dickens' life, book a Dickens walking tour. There are many short and long tours available to suit your desires and needs. 

Whats' your favorite Dickens' site in London? 


This Lemon Tree article is now featured on GPSmyCity.  To download this article for offline reading or travel directions to the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Exploring Charles Dickens London. 

Let's Connect! 
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    Elizabeth Rae Kovar is a Fitness Trainer, Author of Finding Om, Presenter, Yogi, Vegan & lover of the World. View her portfolio at www.elizabethkovar.comor health-based blog at mindbodysoul-food.com

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