For travelers who enjoy a good book or like to study the teachings of ancient thinkers, experiencing the places where those writers and philosophers lived (or died) is often at the top of their bucket lists. Here are five places to visit if you love philosophy, literature or both.
1. Davy Byrne’s Pub, Dublin, Ireland
The exterior of Davy Byrne’s pub in Dublin. Flickr. John Logue. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
The Irish capital has always been a popular European destination for visitors. Some come to Dublin to take in its historic architecture, while others go on journeys to trace their Irish ancestry. Some literature enthusiasts come for the city’s connection to James Joyce, the famed Irish author best known for his 1922 modernist novel “Ulysses.” The novel follows the story of Leopold Bloom as he wanders the streets of Dublin in a manner reminiscent of Odysseus’ journey in Homer’s “Odyssey.” In Chapter 8 of the novel, Bloom visits Davy Byrne’s pub for a Gorgonzola sandwich and some Burgundy before returning to his travels through Dublin. While Bloom is a character of fiction, the pub is not, and is still operating to this day. According to the pub’s website, Joyce frequently visited and was close to the pub’s founder, Davy Byrne. Joyce fans still stop by the pub while traveling through Dublin, enjoying a sandwich and some wine during their own Irish odyssey.
2. The Tomb of Karl Marx, London, England
The headstone of Karl Marx’s grave in Highgate Cemetery, which reads “Workers of all lands unite.” Flickr. Daniele Nicolucci. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Cemeteries aren’t usually at the top of travelers’ bucket lists, especially of those visiting London. Yet, Highgate Cemetery in north London is visited by philosophy lovers for being the resting place of one notable 19th-century thinker— Karl Marx, the controversial German philosopher best known for writing “The Communist Manifesto” and “Das Kapital.” Almost 140 years after his death, his grave is sought out by fans of his work and of the school of thought that he inspired. However, the tomb of Karl Marx is also targeted by those who disagree with his philosophy, often being subject to acts of vandalism.
3. Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library, Indianapolis, United States
The entrance to the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library in Indianapolis. Flickr. Martin Kalfatovic. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
American novelist and satirist Kurt Vonnegut is known for his darkly humorous yet oddly lighthearted stories filled with eccentric characters representative of post-World War II America. Vonnegut, who was born and raised in Indianapolis, often referenced his home state in his novels. The Rosewaters, a fictitious American political family at the center of Vonnegut’s 1965 novel “God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater,” are even from Indiana. Fitting for a Midwesterner at heart, the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library is located in Indianapolis and is dedicated to his life and works. Vonnegut fans can sit in front of a model of the typewriter he used to write his stories with, look at pictures of his life and family, and even read his numerous rejection letters from editors.
4. Plato Academy Digital Museum, Athens, Greece
The Athens skyline. Unsplash. Evan Wise.
For those with a passion for classical history, ancient epics and philosophy, there’s no city with a connection to all three like the Greek capital of Athens. The city is considered the birthplace of many philosophical schools of thought and traditions, and was home to some of humanity’s most important thinkers. Yet one museum, dedicated to the philosopher Plato, is making ancient teachings accessible for a 21st-century audience. The Plato Academy Digital Museum was built in 2015 on the ancient grounds of Plato’s academy in Athens, and features interactive installations where visitors can learn about the teachings of Plato and his role in shaping Western philosophy. One can even take a quiz to see if they have what it takes to be a student of Plato.
5. Konigsberg Cathedral, Kaliningrad, Russia
Konigsberg Cathedral, where Immanuel Kant is buried. Flickr. Anita. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Located in the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, this Gothic cathedral looms over the surrounding city, a reminder of the region’s Prussian history. It is also the resting place of German philosopher Immanuel Kant, best known for his contributions to the fields of ethics, aesthetics and metaphysics, who was born in the city when it was still part of the kingdom of Prussia. Much of Kaliningrad, which was called Konigsberg when it was part of Prussia, was destroyed during Allied air raids in World War II. The cathedral was also heavily damaged during the war, before reconstruction efforts began in the early 1990s. Kant was buried inside the cathedral after his death in 1804, and now rests in a mausoleum located to the side of the building.
Aerex Narvasa
Aerex is a current student at Occidental College majoring in Diplomacy and World Affairs with a minor in East Asian Studies. He is passionate about sharing people’s stories through writing, and always strives to learn about new places and cultures. Aerex loves finding new music and exploring his hometown of Los Angeles in his free time.