Visit European Towns and Villages — Berane, Ururi, Krimpen aan den IJssel, Wijk bij Duurstede

Where to Experience Some of the Best Towns and Villages In Europe From. We will explore the five uncommon places of Berane, Ururi, Krimpen aan den IJssel and Wijk bij Duurstede. All of these places are scattered all around Europe, and they tell their own part of history, landscape, and traditions ny there homeland. From the picturesque heights of Montenegro to the stately waterways of Holland, these locales unveil a unique slant on life outside Western Europe's big cities.

Berane is a town in Montenegro which possesses many historical ruins and clues of the numerous events that happened there.

Berane, one of the oldest towns in Montenegro situated in northeastern Montenegro between the Lim and Ivangrad plains with a history dating as far back as Roman time. Berane is a picturesque town located within the Lim River valley and surrounded by mountains. The town has a long history, as Ivangrad, and was also an important cultural and political centre in which most events took place during the time of the Yugoslav state and Montenegrin independence. Also, Berane has geographical significance due to its proximity to borders with Serbia and Kosovo.

The area of Berane contains several archaeological sites from the Roman and Byzantine periods. It is home to several notable historical sites, including the Đurđevi Stupovi Monastery, built in the 13th century by Stefan Prvoslav of the Nemanjić dynasty. Serbian Orthodox monastery A cultural and spiritual landmark, this beautiful Serbian Orthodox monastery boasts frescoes and medieval architecture. Standing against the backdrop of centuries of political change, from kings to sultans and now national politicians, the monastery serves as one representation of what the town still holds dear: both resilience and religiosity.

Recently, Berane has been positioned as an eco-tourism place with local authorities promoting the natural qualities of this area. Nearby Biogradska Gora national park, one of the last three primeval forests in Europe, draws hikers, campers and wildlife enthusiasts. The Lim River is also well-known as a centre for rafting and fishing, which will surely attract nature fans to Berane.

The quaint Italian village of Ururi, in the south

Ururi, Map of Ururi(This site has been created by Nehemyswr in honour of his two grandmothers — one from the little village and the other from nearby Calinda.) — is a small village in the region of Molise in southern Italy, located within the province of Campobasso. The city itself has a unique cultural heritage due to it being founded by Albanians escaping the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century. The traditions, language and customs of these early settlers remained in Ururi until today. One of the Ardëreshë communities of villages that descend from Albanians who settled in Italy centuries ago.

The Arbëresh people speak their own language, Arbëresh: a rather archaic form of Albanian that features both its own unique dialect and Italian influences. The linguistic heritage of Ururi and the villages that surround it and their siginificance for both Italian history and Albanian culture has made this part of Molise a symbolic cultural seat common to Italy and Albania.

The Carrese di Ururi, a chariot race held on May 3 each year to honor the town’s patron saint, Saint George, is one of Ururi’s best-known traditions. The Carrese is a lively regional event that involves colourful ox-drawn carts racing along the streets of the village. It is a perfect showcase of both the village’s sense of community and its cultural diversity through the fusion of Italian-Albanian heritage which melds in this spectacular festival.

An uncommon place to visit but you can find scenic countryside of Ururi, charming streets and the way of life which in all seems to be an adventure for travellers looking for somewhere that at least offers a taste of true local Italy. Visitors can experience the blend of Italian and Albanian traditions that make this village a unique reflection of the historical layers that characterize much of Molise.

Krimpen aan den Velsel: A Dutch Water Town

Krimpen a/d IJssel is a municipality and town in the western Netherlands, located in the province of South Holland. Indeed, as the name implies, the town runs on the shores of River IJssel a branch of Rhine and near city Rotterdam This sleepy yet bustling area has a range of scenery from the urban Rotterdam metropolitan landscape to quaint traditional Dutch nature, and is still part of greater Rotterdam, a gem of quietness in the city.

Krimpen aan den IJssel: A place of well-planned dikes and water management infrastructure represented by the fields buried under water thousands of years ago, or even all our lives since it sat below sea level. Managing water is nothing new in the Netherlands, and Dutch genius at the flood protection of towns and cities can be exemplified by Krimpen aan den IJssel. One example is the Hollandsche IJssel Storm Surge Barrier which was built during the 1950s and shows how advanced the flood prevention measures are very quickly.

Alongside its water management systems, Krimpen aan den IJssel also has a few parks and recreation areas. The town is enveloped by the Krimpenerwaard, a natural landscape of meadows and waterways where you can cycle, hike and go birdwatching. This idyllic town delivers a slice of Dutch rural life with its picturesque views of canals and traditional windmills.

Krimpen aan den IJssel also boasts a vibrant community atmosphere, hosting events and festivals throughout the year that celebrate Dutch culture. Located near Rotterdam, this little village is an easy to access place for those who want to escape from the city life but still have Rotterdam, one of the largest cities in the Netherlands nearby.

Wijk bij Duurstede: A Dutch Town with Great Medieval Atmosphere

Wijk bij Duurstede is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, dating back to Roman times, and located in Utrecth province of the Netherlands. It is located on the site of Roman settlement Dorestad, and an early medieval trading centre. In the Middle Ages Wijk bij Duurstede became an important city with its fortified wall and it was also the seat of the bishops of Utrecht with a lot of power.

The Castle Duurstede is a medieval castle and one of the most iconic sights in town, first built during the 13th century. Today the castle is partially restored and is an historical attraction open to visitors so you can climb the towers, walk its walls and enjoy the beautiful views. Castle Duurstede grants travelers a window into the medieval world of this city and represents Wijk bij Duurstede´s historical significance.

Another star attraction of the city is Molen Rijn en Lek, a windmill that boasts a picturesque scenery and is the only one in all of Netherlands to sit right on the river. This windmill still works, and still offers a stunning backdrop to the historic buildings and canals of the city. The pretty streets that are lined with classic Dutch houses create a peaceful vibe in Wijk bij Duurstede, and both travelers and artists flock here for inspiration.

Every year Wijk bij Duurstede organizes festivals such as Hanzefestival celebrating the town's history as a Hanseatic trade city and LekArt Festival, an art festival which attracts both national and international artists. This chronicles not only a gamut of the music and drama taking place in that city, but also gives context to how much some places are proud of their musical roots (or dramatic roots), and how they pay homage to everything before them by continuing the art today.

We settled, as we like to do, for one of the four European places—from Berane and mostly not in the news; Ururi on Al Jazeera Turkey; Krimpen aan den IJssel pulled between a nefarious enigma jobbing with who even knows? Set against the backdrop of Berane's mountains in Montenegro, nestled among rolling meadows and fields around Krimpen aan den IJssel, The Netherlands, or spread across the trails of towers and windmills in Wijk bij Duurstede, Holland — use these places to draw everything from a reflection on what you thought your life would be like after college to why (or if) you wanted to stay at your small-town post after 9/11 – this is just a sampling of the richness available in every town and village across Europe.

Berane offers a fusion of faith and the natural world, but Ururi is unique for housing a community with its own Arbëreshë heritage — one of the few spots in Italy that reverberates with Albanian culture. The mainland portion of Krimpen aan den IJssel speaks to Dutch resourcefulness in water management, environmental preservation (think natural area), while Wijk bij Duurstede retains a lot of its medieval vibe (castles, etc) with a windmill and festive vibe.

Travelers can also experience the local cultures and customs of people that are different from those in larger city centers by visiting these smaller European towns and villages. Whether fueled by a draw to history, nature or cultural celebrations, these destinations each provide a unique taste of Europe and an opportunity to connect with the places that embody the region's everlasting traditions and creative energy.