Spike Island is Europe's leading tourist attraction.

Uosdwis R. Dewoh · 04-10-2017 08:17PM

Deleted User wrote: »

I just read his list.

He slipped Clonmel and Blarney in there! I think he may have been trying to take the proverbial.

Blarney is lovely in my opinion.

grogi · 04-10-2017 11:05PM

Uosdwis R. Dewoh wrote: »

Blarney is lovely in my opinion.

It is lovely. And bloody pricey...

Now try to look objectively what it is. A well maintained park with bits of botanic garden here and there. And a so-so castle in the middle, with a well known legend.

Have you seen Heidelberg or Malbork Castles? Have you been to Carcassonne? That is something that make you feel that 'WOW' thing... Blarney is... well... just lovely...

Whispered · 05-10-2017 11:13AM

Carcassonne absolutely blew my mind. We came upon it totally by accident too. Wanted to go to Paris but left it last minute to book flights and the price difference to fly there was huge. So we went on the spur of the moment without doing any research.

The only place that compares for me was Ronda in Spain. Two of the most beautiful places I've ever been.

server down · 06-10-2017 11:22AM

When it comes to castles, you don't have to just see one and say "Thats the best castle, no need to see others". Same with churches, or country houses. And of course blarney castle has given a phrase to the English language, that is its brand.

Some people prefer ruined castles, or older castles, to functioning or newer ones. German castles tend to be later builds or reconstructions. The disney castles of Germany are either relatively new or reconstructed (of course Disney used German castles as a model). Carcassonne looks like it was reconstructed in the 19th C.

Cahir looks like a proper medieval castle, designed for defence. Carrickfergus is my favourite in Ireland. In those castles you are in the medieval keep, and on the same ramparts as the original people who lived there.

BionicRasher · 06-10-2017 12:55PM

Spike is not a castle

server down · 06-10-2017 01:22PM

BionicRasher wrote: »

Spike is not a castle

Thanks. The conversation had moved on.

BionicRasher · 06-10-2017 01:58PM

server down wrote: »

Thanks. The conversation had moved on.

Respectfully - the conversation and OP is about Spike and not about various beauty spots around the world. Its gone way off topic now.

Spike is a totally different type of attraction to a castle. Its a multitude of things all which have a story and is a attempting to have up to 100,000 visitors each year.

I believe its a great attraction. As to if its the best in Europe I am not sure. But I presume they really made an effort to be nominated and then they most likely did a lot of leg work to get as many votes as possible.

Best of luck to them

whisky_galore · 06-10-2017 02:59PM

Uosdwis R. Dewoh wrote: »

Blarney is lovely in my opinion.

Lovely, that's about all. Overhyped and overpriced, for what it is.

Whoever thought up that kissing stones rubbish was a genius.

Spike is a quite different sort of attraction, it's a wonder Cork has pretty much ignored the river and harbour up to recently, there's the makings of a serious maritime type museum what with all the old buildings down around the Custom House/Docks like what Bristol and other places have done, maybe even connect them all up with a river based cruise. Fitzgerald Park Museum is a bit small and remote from the city centre. Of course they'd prefer to make more glass box offices down there instead.

Spike Island is Europe's leading tourist attraction.

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