Travel is very important to us as a family, it's something my father was passionate about and growing up we luckily had the chance to travel to quite a few places, always visiting the major museums to take in the history and culture. Travel really is a form of education and is a chance to bring history to life, as much as we love to read there is something special about seeing things like the Mona Lisa in person. Becky from Baby Budgeting did a fantastic post recently on destinations to take your kids to educate them and with my two obsessed with Castle and historical landmarks I thought I would share 5 great destinations to teach your children history.
1. South Wales, United Kingdom
I feel very lucky that I live in a country that offers such an array of historical landmarks, you may be surprised to hear that Wales has more castles than any other country in Europe! So you are really spoilt for choice if you decided to visit this small but action-packed part of the UK. Of course there are castles dotted around all of Wales but the South has some very impressive ones including Caerphilly Castle which is the largest Medieval as well as Castle Coch and Chepstow Castle to name a few.
2. Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Angkor Wat is somewhere that is very high on our bucket list and I've heard is a great place to take children on a history lesson. It is the largest religious monument in the world and it attracts archaeologists and budding historians from all over the world. The temple complex takes up 400km in the province of Siem Reap and the temples were originally built as Hindu monuments before it became a religious area for Buddhists. There are more than 50 temples with the tallest tower being 213 metres tall. It is considered one of the New 7 Wonders of the World and there are plenty of great places to stay near the complex.
2. Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Angkor Wat is somewhere that is very high on our bucket list and I've heard is a great place to take children on a history lesson. It is the largest religious monument in the world and it attracts archaeologists and budding historians from all over the world. The temple complex takes up 400km in the province of Siem Reap and the temples were originally built as Hindu monuments before it became a religious area for Buddhists. There are more than 50 temples with the tallest tower being 213 metres tall. It is considered one of the New 7 Wonders of the World and there are plenty of great places to stay near the complex.
3. Yorkshire, England
The English county of Yorkshire is well known for its many beautiful and historical towns which are brimming with Viking and Roman historical monuments. Visit the Jorvik Viking Centre in York to see a stunning recreation of Viking life, and don’t forget to have a look at the gothic-style York Cathedral which has beautiful ceilings.
Visit Aldborough to see the 1st Century site of the city of Isurium. You can trek in Yorkshire Dales National Park and see ancient buildings like the 12th-century Bolton Abbey Estate. A few other places to visit are the York Castle, Royal Armouries Museum, Scarborough Castle and Bempton Cliffs. If you have time, you could also explore other historical areas in England; there is plenty of child friendly accommodation and attractions to keep your kids entertained throughout the country and I highly recommend you check out Babyfriendly Boltholes, a Welsh-based family -.
4. Pompeii, Italy
Another one for the bucket list, I have been to Venice and Milan but have always wanted to visit Pompeii which was destroyed by the eruption from Mt Vesuvius in 79AD. The city dwellers were all killed and preserved perfectly in ash. You can still see bodies of people and animals, pottery, furniture, glassware, and art from this time period. There are also some buildings and original streets that remain. Although visiting this ancient historical site is a little morbid and perhaps suitable for slightly older children is does provide a fascinating insight into what life was like nearly 2,000 years ago.
5. Prague, Czech Republic
Prague, the stunning capital city of the Czech Republic and one of my favourite places in Europe. The city is filled with cobblestone streets and alleys, historic buildings, and many areas of historic significance. Explore the Old Town where you can see Wenceslas Square and the medieval Astronomical Clock.
Walk across the pedestrianised Charles Bridge and see the beautiful statues of Catholic saints. Explore the stunning beauty of St. Vitus Cathedral and its outer buildings. Visit the National Museum which was built in 1818 to view the nearly 14 million items that are on display here.
