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watched live at the big screen in the Eurovision Village on the Rathausplatz. Guided city walks are being organised throughout the festival, lasting two hours and costing €15. There is even a self-guided Song Contest-themed walk – full information is on the tourist board website. It’s also a big year for Vienna outside Eurovision, as it’s the 150th birthday of its most famous street, the Ringstrasse. ‘Street’ doesn’t do this grand boulevard justice, as it’s home to many of the parks, monuments and mansions that make Vienna special, including the State Opera, Imperial Palace, National Theatre, Parliament and Stock Exchange. Visitors can walk it, bike the special Ring cycle path or take the Vienna Ring Tram. There are special guided tours of many of the public buildings throughout the year to mark the anniversary. A ‘Sound of the Ring’ cocktail has been created for the occasion, which is available at many of the city’s bars. As if that wasn’t enough, it’s also the 450th anniversary of the city’s Spanish Riding School, so there’s even more reason to see the beautiful white Lipizzaner horses give one of their choreographed performances. Fred Holidays offers two nights’ B&B at the Hotel Johann Strauss from £309, including flights from London. Find out more: wien.info fredholidays.co.uk


46 • travelweekly.co.uk — 16 April 2015


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BRUSSELS Clients who think of Abba when you say ‘Waterloo’ should already have


been packed off to Vienna; those who hear it and immediately start talking about Napoleon and Wellington should be marched off to Belgium instead. It’s the Bicentenary of the Battle


of Waterloo this year, and battle- buffs will want to book in for the re-enactment commemorations from June 19-21 – there’ll be 5,000 people, 300 horses and 100 cannons on the original site, about 10 miles south of Brussels. Tickets to the two re-enactments start at €16, and a visit to the recreated encampment sites from €7. Great Rail Journeys offers an itinerary with rail travel, accommodation, excursions and the re-enactments included. Leger Holidays has a walking tour of the battlefields on dates throughout the summer. Those who visit independently can visit the sites and the Napoleon and Wellington museums, which face off in Waterloo village. Back in Brussels itself, the Royal Museum of Army and Military History has a huge collection of Napoleonic uniforms, weapons and equipment. There is also plenty for those who are less interested in military history, from world-class art galleries to the chance to sample the Belgian staples of waffles, chips, chocolate and beer. Find out more: waterloo2015.org visitbrussels.be


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