SIGHT-SEEING EUROPE -
VIEWS FROM THE TOP
Stair-mastering Old Europe - Observation Towers
The
simplest and nearly universal, but unwritten rule of European touristing
is go to a strange city and climb something tall. Perhaps it’s
in the genetic make-up of the species. A survival mechanism to seek
the high ground for advantage against thine enemies. But more likely
it’s human nature to just want to see the view. And almost
every significant city on the European continent
has at least one or often several opportunities for viewing the rooftops
and surrounding landscape, from the steel engineering idol of the
Eiffel Tower in Paris to the more parochial stone masonry of the
Duomo clock tower in Florence.
The
question confronting the ardent birdseye view seeker is whether to climb
or take an elevator.
For
the old or hobbled, the choice is obvious. Most European cities
have a modern radio-tv tower with an observation deck, and many of the
larger ones, restaurants and other amenties. Berlin’s tower is
almost a city to itself. Munich’s TV tower located at the Olympiastadt,
overlooks the Olympic 
stadium park from the 1972 Munich games.
But for those liking the sweaty breath-robbing thrill
and history of
climbing a thousand winding worn
stone steps, find
a church bell tower. Some spectacular views
of Hamburg’s
vast harbor (Europe’s largest) can be seen from the bell
tower of the Michaelskirche (see Hamburg's
Landmark)
and from the tower in Prague, the march of medieval urban redevelopment
is clearly demarked by
the
obvious
disregard
for 16th century building codes to keep new development from blocking
the old.
Or
just forget the stairs and elevator, for a circular lift on a great
wheel, stand in queue for the London Eye. The most popular high view
sight-seeing venue
in Europe
along
London's Thames waterfront. (see London
Eye on the Thames) or the Prater Wheel in Vienna made
famous from the Thrid man movie (see Vienna's
Prater Giant Ferris Wheel). © Bargain
Travel Europe
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