Not all cities in popular tourist countries have interesting attractions. The locals feel resentful that capitals and ancient cities have plenty to see, while they have nothing. However, the most resourceful ones don’t complain but create new attractions by hand. Books, Hollywood, and common misconceptions help them in this endeavor.
Sherlock Holmes’ House
The genius detective Sherlock Holmes is just a talented creation of Arthur Conan Doyle. Therefore, his house is merely a museum. Neither Holmes, nor Mrs. Hudson, nor Dr. Watson ever lived there. Every child knows that.
However, a lesser-known fact is that the Sherlock Holmes museum is not located at 221B Baker Street but at 239 Baker Street. The address Doyle mentioned in the books does not actually exist on that street.
Bridge on the River Kwai
One of Thailand’s main attractions, topping the list of local historical tours. After all, who wouldn’t want to see the bridge built by prisoners of war, the same one from David Lean’s film of the same name! But here come two deceptions.
First, the bridge built by the POWs was blown up in 1944. Tourists are shown only a replica, built by regular workers with modern technology, for money, and without suffering.
Second, the river is not called Kwai but Mae Klong. Furthermore, the film “The Bridge on the River Kwai” was never filmed in Thailand. If you want to walk in the footsteps of the director’s glory, head to Sri Lanka.
Piz Gloria Panoramic Restaurant
If you are lucky enough to visit one of Switzerland’s most beautiful peaks—Schilthorn—you’ve probably heard guides telling you that episodes of the film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service were filmed in the panoramic restaurant there. It’s hard to forget a luxurious rotating restaurant that offers a breathtaking panorama.
But don’t rush to pay for a cup of coffee where George Lazenby, as James Bond, allegedly filmed. In fact, the scenes were filmed in a Hollywood studio, and the restaurant was built after the movie was shot.
Juliet’s Balcony
Juliet, like Sherlock Holmes, never existed, but that doesn’t stop fans of the young Capulet from bringing flowers and notes to Juliet’s balcony in Verona, Italy.
It’s quite strange that a balcony was chosen to attract tourists. In Shakespeare’s play, Juliet never stepped out onto a balcony to meet Romeo, contrary to many modern theatrical interpretations. She asked Romeo not to swear by the moon while standing on a terrace, but never on a balcony.
Shangri-La
In 2001, the Chinese county of Zhongdian was renamed after the fictional land described in James Hilton’s novel Lost Horizon—Shangri-La. Considering the abundance of Eastern temples and the stunning mountain landscapes, this kind of deception to attract tourists is met with gratitude.
Dracula’s Castle
The Romanian Bran Castle, located between Muntenia and Transylvania, is shown to tourists as the residence of Vlad III, better known as Count Dracula. However, the real Prince of Wallachia never lived in this castle.
Nevertheless, the writer Bram Stoker, who revived the prince’s fame and imbued him with mystical powers, was inspired by Bran Castle for his books. The castle itself was built with local funds and used for defense. Later, it became a royal residence.
Sleepy Hollow
Sometimes, city residents don’t want to profit from tourists, but the tourists persist. That was the case with Sleepy Hollow, formerly North Tarrytown. Tourists visiting Westchester County, New York, repeatedly asked to be taken to Sleepy Hollow, the town featured in Washington Irving’s book and Tim Burton’s eerie film.
When tourists discovered that no town by that name existed, they were so disappointed that the mayor had to rename the town to satisfy tourist demand. And it worked: Sleepy Hollow quickly became the county’s most popular attraction.
