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Travel insights from Jenna Buege, associate editor of The Compass
The Weird and the Wonderful of the Mediterranean, Part 2
You’ve read The Weird and the Wonderful of the Mediterranean, Part 1, now it’s time for part 2, a list even stranger than the last. Prepare yourself traveler, we are about to embark on a fabulous adventure.
France
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An architectural wonder erected by a French postman, Le Palais Ideal is a whimsical castle made of grottoes and love. Looking something like a cross between the temple of Angkor and La Sagrada Familia, Ferdinand Cheval began work on this majestic palace in the late 19th century. Cheval had little formal education and no architectural experience, making this 32-foot high and 85-foot long masterpiece all the more impressive.
Slovenia
Built into the face of a dramatic cliffside, Predjama Castle in Slovenia was virtually impenetrable in its heyday in the 13th century. In addition to serving some major architectural lewks, this majestic castle is also famous for its massive underground cave system featuring subterranean halls, flowing rivers and unique formations. For the sake of oddities, it’s also worth noting that the once ruling baron, Erazem Lueger, met an untimely end when he was shot by a single cannon while using the toilet.
Montenegro
View this post on InstagramFini les vacances..... #kotor #montenegro #catmuseum #notbelleville
Cat lovers will have to resist the urge to squeal when combatted with the cuteness overload that is Cats Museum Kotor. Not only can travelers gaze upon an array of cat art, memorabilia and history at this purrfectly unique stop, they can also play with local kittens and cats that hang around the area. Kotor’s large cat population is the aftermath of the medieval town’s history as a port city where it served as a trading spot for ships around the world. It turns out the ships had an unintentional import, cats, and lots of them. Today Kotor embraces its feline population and cats are the symbol of the city and are cared for by local residents.
Turkey
Dating back to the time of the Byzantine Empire, the Basilica Cisterns of Istanbul were rediscovered in the 1500s when a Frenchman heard locals tell tales of great underground temples. Sure enough, 30 feet beneath the ground near the ancient basilica sat an artificial freshwater lake near the size of two football fields. It’s estimated that the cistern was built in 532 A.D. and was used to store fresh water for the palace and nearby buildings. Today the cisterns are open to the public and travelers can enjoy exploring the space on elevated walkways accompanied by dramatic lighting.
Lebanon
Part of the longest cave system in the Middle East and home to one of the world’s largest stalactites, measuring 27 feet in length, the Jeita Grotto is an underground fantasy land. Dating back to prehistoric times, the Jeita Grotto appears to have been used as an ancient foundry. Today the cave’s river flows into Nahr al-Kalb, the city of Beirut’s main source of fresh water. Travelers looking to experience the magic of Jeita can explore three of the grotto’s main chambers via raised walkways or boat.
Egypt
Follow the footsteps of a whale out of water at Wadi al-Hitan, aka Egypt’s Valley of the Whales. Wadi al-Hitan is a goldmine of fossils that document the whale’s journey from land mammal to sea creature (yup you read that right, apparently whales used to have hind legs). The fossils belong to an extinct ancestor of modern whales, the archaoceti, and provide a look into the creature’s epic transition. Valley of the Whales was determined an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005.
Tunisia
If you think Hotel Sidi Driss looks like a movie set straight out of Hollywood, that’s because it is. A trip to Tunisia will transport travelers to a galaxy far, far away where they can geek out on nostalgia as they explore Luke Skywalker’s childhood home on the Star Wars’ fictional planet of Tatooine. Of course Hotel Sidi Driss isn’t actually a case of fine alien architecture but rather an example of a traditional Tunisian neighborhood. The hotel is in the village of Matmata which is rumored to date back to sometime between 264 to 146 B.C.. The region was rediscovered in 1967.
Algeria
Did you know that Cleopatra had a daughter? Princess Cleopatra Selene II was born in Egypt around 40 BC before moving to Rome and marrying Algerian prince Juba II. After successfully ruling the state of Mauretania for some time, Cleopatra Selene passed away in 6 B.C. Upon her death, the princess’ husband requested the construction of the Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania to house the remains of the royal family. The mausoleum was looted several times over the past few centuries resulting in the order to destroy it in 1555. Then, like something out of an Egyptian curse, a massive swarm of black wasps stung the men resulting in injuries so brutal some even died. It was soon after determined that the structure shouldn’t be disturbed. Tourists can visit this attraction for the steep price of one U.S. dollar.
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