Windsor Castle, England

Possibly one of the most famous castles in Europe is Windsor Castle in England, which has been the home of British royalty for centuries. The castle is surrounded by 13 acres of land and features a fortification, a palace, and a small town. These days the castle features a Georgian and Victorian design based on a medieval structure, with Gothic features. As you would expect in any home of a monarch (君主), famous art pieces feature within the castle. Being one of the three official residences of the Queen, it is still fully operational and attracting tourists is not its main purpose. Visitors can expect to visit State Apartments as well as the St George’s Chapel and witness changing of the Guard.

Mont-Saint-Michel, France

Few places in the world are as magical as the Mont-Saint-Michel in France. The awe--inspiring island located where Normandy and Brittanymeet is otherworldly (超世俗的) and unique. Even though not technically a castle, it would be difficult for anyone to deny its magnificence. What sits on top of the island is a medieval monastery attracting pilgrims for centuries. The legend tells that bishop Aubert from a nearby town was ordered by Archangel himself to build a church on top of the island. The scenery surrounding the island is everchanging as the tides of the bay can recede (后退) quickly, revealing a completely different view. During the low tide, the island can be reached on foot, and hundreds of tourists visit each day. Museums, parish church, and the abbey are open for visitors.

Eltz Castle, Germany

Eltz Castle has steadily become one of the most-photographed castles on Instagram with many landscape photographers choosing to capture it during the eerie (怪异的) hours of the day. The castle sits on top of a hill surrounded by a thick forest, adding to the mysterious feel. Due to its secluded position, it feels worlds away. Just like many medieval castles, Eltz Castle has seen its fair share of conflict but was never destroyed over the centuries. Interestingly, Eltz Family has possession of the castle to this day.

Bran Castle, Romania

Bran Castle is approximately 2500 feet high and rises from between surrounding trees. It overlooks the beautiful village of Bran, and the several towers and turrets (塔楼) give it a mysterious mood. Nowadays tourists can visit the castle and wander through the narrow stairways leading to 60 timbered (木质的) rooms, interesting, many of them connected by underground passages.

Do you want to boost your ATAR, a rank which indicates the overall achievements of all Year 12 students in Australia, and get a preview of university life? When you join the Deakin Accelerate Program, you’ll get a head start by completing two first-year university units while you’re still a high school student.

How Deakin Accelerate Program works

You’ll study two first-year university units through the program. If you choose to study and experience university life on campus, you’ll attend classes and conferences during the day. Or if studying online is more accessible for you, complete the program online in your free time at school or after hours when it suits you.

No matter how you choose to study, you’ll benefit from our online learning platform, which allows you to access classes, workshops, resources and more. Whether you’ re using your desktop, tablet or mobile, you’ll have access to course content all year round and get answers in real time.

After successfully completing your Accelerate units, you’ll gain credits which you’ can put towards a related Deakin university course. Plus, there is no charge for that.

Apply to the Deakin Accelerate Program if you’re:

·a high achiever with above-average Year 11 results;

·looking for an extra challenge in high school;

·a self-starter who can work independently;

·keen to make a head start on your university degree.

To be qualified for the program, you must:

·be completing Year 12 in 2024;

·meet the high school subject requirement;

·attain a minimum average grade of 65% across your subjects.

For more information about the Deakin Accelerate Program, you can read our FAQs or get in touch using our online inquiry form.

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Best Books to Make Your 2022 Happier, Brighter and More Creative

To discover nature

Today’s urban living makes it easy for us to feel divorced from nature. Like so many others, we are feeling the call of the wild. Urban Wild by Helen Rook is out in February and full of positive suggestions to help you discover wildness on your doorstep. The month-by-month format is such a great tool for discovery and will tell you exactly what to look out for each season. Melinda Salisbury’s The Way Back is a change on the traditional monthly almanac (历书) and a truly modern guide back to natural rhythms, which is designed for those who feel most removed from the old ways and cycles.

To go in for sports

Finding an exercise that you enjoy — one that you want to stick to because it’s so much fun — is a surefire way to have you bounding into the year. Take a stroll with 52 Ways To Walk. Annabel Streets digs into the science and romanticism of walking and explores the good things that can happen with this one small act. And the classic Running Like A Girl is still a hugely inspiring book that will make you want to pull your sports shoes on before you’ve finished chapter two.

To find your creativity

From its tiniest details to its most dramatic events, your story is a sacred gift. But how do you find and tell that story? Nikesh Shukla’s new book Your Story Matters is out on March 17 and it’s full of writing inspiration to help you with your own stories. Julia Cameron’s classic The Artist’s Way turns 30 this year. Her program for creative recovery begins with the Morning Pages, a daily writing ritual of three pages of stream-of-conscious, and the Artist Date, a dedicated block of time to nurture your inner artist.