In the city of Lausanne, in the canton of Vaud in Romandy, in western Switzerland

 “I love Switzerland. It's so clean and cool. We don't get much snow where I live so I get real excited in Lausanne and Geneva. I'd like to buy a house there when I'm older and settle down. It's all so cute that it looks like a movie set.” — Michael Jackson

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(in the canton of Vaud in Romandy, in western Switzerland) The city of Lausanne, capital of Vaud, is found on the northern shore of Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) -- on the southern slopes of the Jorat heights, its altitude ranges from 378 meters at Ouchy, its lake port, to 2,122 feet at Le Signal, its highest point. Historic buildings here include the early Gothic Cathedral of Notre-Dame, consecrated in 1275 by Pope Gregory X in the presence of the Holy Roman emperor Rudolf I of Habsburg; the Saint-François Church, erected during the same period but partly rebuilt in the late 14th century; and the city hall (rebuilt in 1674). The castle, now housing the Historical Museum of the Ancient Bishopric, is the only vestige of the 13th-century residences of the bishops. The 15th-century Château Saint-Maire, the former bishop’s castle, is now the seat of the cantonal government. A focus of international sport, hosting the International Olympic Committee (which has recognized the city as the "Olympic Capital" since 1994), the Court of Arbitration for Sport and some 55 international sport associations, the city is surrounded by a noted wine-producing region, rolling down a trio of hillsides to the lakeshore. Lausanne rivals Geneva as the intellectual and cultural center of French Switzerland. Its university originated as a theological academy in 1537. The city was the birthplace of the noted Swiss literary figures Benjamin Constant de Rebecque, Alexandre Vinet, Juste Olivier, and Charles-Ferdinand Ramuz (and of the philosopher Charles Secrétan). Many famous European men of letters, including Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Charles Dickens, and Edward Gibbon, resided here. Today it is a haven for those who love water skiing, swimming and sailing. The town's history is evident, however, in its medieval cathedral, the museums of the Palais de Rumine, and Ouchy, the port where Lord Byron wrote "The Prisoner of Chillon" and the Treaty of Lausanne was ratified.  For great views, hike up to the Signal de Sauvabelin.

On the Baltic island of Bornholm, Denmark

 "My wife's brother has a little house on a small island in the Baltic Sea, and we go there at Christmas. The 30-minute crossing from the mainland to this island is the most terrifying cruise you'll ever take." -- Nick Frost

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(on the Baltic island of Bornholm, Denmark) The sunniest part of Denmark, Bornholm island is found in the Baltic Sea, 105 miles (169 km) southeast of Copenhagen and 22 miles (35 km) southeast of Sweden. Once a Viking stronghold, independent until the 10th century, it was controlled by Sweden and then, in the 16th century, by Lübeck (a German city of the Hanseatic League). Awarded to Sweden by the 1658 Treaty of Roskilde, Bornholm was turned over to Denmark in 1660. It was occupied by the Germans during World War II and was bombed by the Russians in 1945 to hasten the German surrender. Featured here is the town of Gudhjem on Bornholm, which is known for its stunning chalk cliffs, lush forests and pristine white beaches. Gudhjem is crowned by a windmill that stands over the sloping streets and half-timbered houses. This is Denmark’s only mountain town, built into the rocky terrain and up the Bokul mountain range. By climbing the mountain, visitors are rewarded with a dazzling view of the town, its red roofs, harbor, and the churning Baltic sea beyond.

In the city of Nantes, on the Loire River in the Upper Brittany region of western France

 “A wood that smells of the sea.” ― Nina George, The Little French Bistro

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(in western France) The city of Nantes is found at the head of the estuary of the Loire River, where it is joined by the Erdre and the Sèvre rivers, 35 miles (56 km) from the Atlantic coast, southwest of Paris. Once a busy seaport in the estuary of the Loire, Nantes was chosen in the old times by the dukes of Brittany as their historical capital. Though the city still boasts a unique architectural heritage with its magnificent Château des ducs de Bretagne, a Renaissance-style castle nestled in a fortress, a medieval quarter, and one of the highest cathedrals of France, it has been transformed in recent decades, perhaps more than any other city in France. Spirited and innovative, this artsy place was founded by Celts around 70 BCE and in 937 CE, it joined the duchy of Brittany. The Edict of Nantes, a landmark royal charter guaranteeing civil rights to France's Huguenots (Protestants), was signed in Nantes by Henri IV in 1598. By the 18th century Nantes had become France's foremost port, and in the 19th century -- following the abolition of slavery -- it became an industrial center. (The world's first public transport service, the omnibus, began operating here in 1826.)

In the city of Würzburg, Baveria region, Germany

 “Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.”-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

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(in the traditional region of Franconia in the north of the German state of Bavaria) Straddling the Main River, scenic Würzburg is renowned for its art, architecture and delicate wines. The city's highlight is the Residenz, one of Germany's finest baroque buildings, though there's plenty more to see besides. Würzburg is also the northern terminus of the Romantic Road, Germany's most popular tourist route. Set on the vine-clad banks of the Main River and embellished with beautiful baroque masterpieces and delightful Franconian wineries, this lively university city serves as a suitably picturesque starting point for the Romantic Road. Enjoy panoramic city and vineyard views from Festung Marienberg, a hulking fortress whose construction was initiated around 1200 by the local prince-bishops who governed here until 1719. "Highly" illuminated at night, the structure was only penetrated once, by Swedish troops during the Thirty Years' War (in 1631). Inside, the Fürstenbaumuseum sheds light on its former residents' opulent lifestyle. The fortress is a pleasant 25-minute walk uphill through the vineyards from the Alte Mainbrücke via the Tellsteige trail.

In the village of Longniddry, Scotland

 "Did not strong connections draw me elsewhere, I believe Scotland would be the country I would choose to end my days in." -- Benjamin Franklin

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(on the eastern coast of Scotland) Longniddry is a village found in the East Lothian region of Scotland, just east of Edinburgh. While history seekers can step back in time and discover East Lothian’s rich heritage, nature lovers can take advantage of the great outdoors and walkers and cyclists can roam to their heart’s content. Visitors of all ages will enjoy a fine day out at one of East Lothian’s many great visitor attractions. Featured here is Winton Castle, a historic building set in a large estate between Pencaitland and Tranent in East Lothian. Winton was built by the Setons following a grant of land by David I to Phillip de Sayton in 1150. (Setons are linked to Dukes and Viscounts down to mere Earls, including the title bestowed upon Robert, 6th Lord Seton, 1st Earl of Winton.) Phillip’s grandson married the sister of King Robert "The Bruce’ of Scotland." In the sixteenth century, Henry VIII had Winton burnt in an effort to impress Mary Queen of Scots, and Mary Seton was later her Lady-in-Waiting. The Seton’s tenure lasted until 1715 when they backed the Jacobites and the Earl of Winton was taken to the Tower of London.

In the city of Pécs, in southwestern Hungary

 "I am from Hungary. We are descendants of Genghis Khan and Attila the Hun." -- Zsa Zsa Gabor

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(in southwestern Hungary) The city of Pécs is found at the southern foot of the wooded Mecsek Mountains, 135 miles (220 km) south-southwest of Budapest. In 1009 Stephen I, Hungary's first king, made the town a bishopric. The name Pécs first appeared in the late 11th century. The city has a large main square with a well-preserved mosque (Ghazi Kassim Pasha), which is now a Roman Catholic church. The city’s cathedral, which was founded in 1009 on the site of an old Roman church, was extensively renovated and restored in the 1960s. Lying equidistant from the blue Danube to the east and the Dráva river to the south, on a plain sheltered from the northern winds by the hills, Pécs enjoys a microclimate that lengthens the summer and is ideal for viticulture and fruit production (as well as almonds). Surrounded by largely baroque buildings, Pécs' sloped main square is the city's hub. With the Mosque Church at the north end, the square is anchored by the Trinity Column in the center. At the southern end the porcelain Zsolnay Fountain boasts a lustrous eosin glaze and four bull’s heads. (Pécs is one of the most pleasant and interesting cities to visit in Hungary.)

Agra Fort also known as the Red Fort, in the historic city of Agra, India

 "Everywhere we went we were greeted with the Añjali Mudrā gesture and the word Namaste, indicating 'I bow to the divine in you.” ― Karl Wiggins

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(in Uttar Pradesh, India) Agra Fort, also known as the Red Fort, is a large 16th-century fortress of red sandstone that is found on the Yamuna River in the historic city of Agra, in west-central Uttar Pradesh. Established by the Mughal emperor Akbar and, in its capacity as both a military base and a royal residence, it served as the seat of government when the Mughal capital was in Agra. The structure, a contemporary of Humāyūn’s Tomb in Delhi (about 125 miles [200 km] to the northwest) reflects the architectural grandeur of the Mughal reign in India. (The fort complex was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.) Connected to another of Agra’s renowned monuments, the Taj Mahal (downstream, around a bend in the Yamuna), by a swath of parkland and gardens, the fort was commissioned by Akbar in 1565 and reportedly took eight years to construct. The walls of the roughly crescent-shaped structure have a circumference of about 1.5 miles (2.5 km), rise 21 meters high, and are surrounded by a moat. The Yamuna River originally flowed along the straight eastern edge of the fort, and the emperors had their own bathing ghats here.

In the city of Ostuni, in the province of Brindisi, in Italy's Apulia region

 “At first glance, the main display case at Dicecca today looks like a selection you'll find in any cheese shop in Puglia: tubs of milky water covering hunks of mozzarella in its many guises; strings of swollen scamorze dangling from the ceiling, bronzed by their stopover in the cold smoker; small plastic containers of creamy ricotta ready to be stuffed or eaten straight with a spoon.” ― Matt Goulding

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(in the province of Brindisi, in Italy's Apulia region) Ostuni is one of Puglia’s most beautiful cities, a tumble of white-washed buildings perched strategically atop a hill with views of the endless olive trees in the Valle d’Itria countryside, and the glimmering Adriatic Sea just eight kilometers (5 mi.) away, home to some of the region’s most exclusive resorts. Often called the White City, due to its many white-washed houses, it is also known for its labyrinthine streets, cathedral, and ancient defensive walls. Shining like a pearly white tiara, Ostuni extends across three hills with the magnificent gem of a cathedral as its sparkling centerpiece. It's the end of the trulli region and the beginning of the hot, dry Salento. With some excellent restaurants, stylish bars, and great places to stay, it has become quite a popular summer destination.

In the capital city of Brussels, Belgium

 "I have only one goal and one desire, namely to give myself a practical instruction, to get to know the world and its inhabitants. There will come times when this knowledge will be of use to me."-- Prince Leopold II (in 1854, before he ascended to the throne of Belgium in 1865)

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(in Belgium's valley of the Senne River, a tributary of the Schelde) Brussels is the administrative, commercial, and financial heart of Belgium, and the majority of services and institutions of national importance are based in the city. In addition, Brussels is a major European tourist and cultural attraction, functioning simultaneously as a regional metropolis and an international center. In the latter role, it has flourished since the city became host to the European Community (ultimately succeeded by the EU) as well as to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) headquarters. Brussels’ magnificent Grand Place is one of the world’s most unforgettable urban ensembles. Rather hidden, the enclosed cobblestone square is only revealed as you enter on foot from one of six narrow side alleys. The focal point is the spired 15th-century city hall, but each of the antique guildhalls (mostly 1697–1705) has a charm of its own. (The Grand Place is indeed one of the world’s most beautiful squares.)

In the city of Naples, on the west coast of the Italian peninsula

 "Rome is stately and impressive; Florence is all beauty and enchantment; Genoa is picturesque; Venice is a dream city; but Naples is simply fascinating." -- Lilian Whiting

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() Naples, capital of Naples province, is found 120 miles (190 km) southeast of Rome. On its celebrated bay (flanked to the west by the smaller Gulf of Pozzuoli and to the southeast by the Gulf of Salerno), the city lies between two areas of volcanic activity -- Mount Vesuvius to the east and the Phlegraean Fields to the northwest. Southern Italy’s biggest city, Naples is known for its mesmerizing mix of Old World charm and modern grit. One of the oldest cities in Europe, with lots of art, architecture, and archeology, its wood-fired pizzas also please the crowds. The historic center of Naples, a UNESCO World Heritage site, offers many more attractions: Check out the Chiesa di San Gregorio Armeno, a 16th-century Baroque masterpiece, and the Duomo, a 13th-century Roman Catholic cathedral. Explore objects from Pompeii at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli, or revel in the Rococo glory of Museo Cappella Sansevero, built in the late 1500s. End the day as locals do -- by taking a promenade while the sun sets over the lovely Bay of Naples.

 

In the federal state of Styria, Austria

 “The heartland lies where the heart longs to be. Sometimes it takes a lifetime to find the true place to plant it.” — Vera Nazarian

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(in Styria, Austria) The federal state of Styria, Austria's green heartland, is blessed with verdant grass and rich vineyards. Trout fishing, hiking, and mountain climbing are popular draws to this stunning state. The region is also renowned as a culinary destination, and for its Reisling and Traminer wines. State capital Graz (depicted here), a university city with a UNESCO-designated Old Town, lies on the Mur River between the Styrian Alps and a wide, fertile basin, the Grazerfeld, about 95 miles (155 km) south of Vienna. Austria’s second largest city is its most relaxed, and quite a heart-stealer, with abundant parkland, a sea of red rooftops and a narrow but fast-flowing river loudly gushing through its center. A beautiful bluff is the city's landmark. Architecturally, Graz hints at nearby Italy with its Renaissance courtyards and baroque palaces. Yet, there's a youthful energy here too, with a handful of modern buildings, a vibrant arts scene and upbeat, student-fueled nightlife. This extends to both sides of the Mur, although the Lend district, across from the historic center, skews a bit young and edgy.

In the city of Zadar, Croatia

 "Zadar has the most beautiful sunset in the world." -- Alfred Hitchcock

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(in Croatia) Zadar, the oldest continuously inhabited Croatian city, is found in the northwestern part of the Ravni Kotari area. The second-largest city in the region of Dalmatia, it serves as the seat of Zadar County and of the wider northern Dalmatian region. With its Roman ruins, art installations, and white-sand beach, Zadar is quite a popular resort along the Dalmatian coast, where travelers come to feast on seafood, watch dreamy sunsets, and sip cocktails at seaside bars. The former capital of Dalmatia, Zadar is located on the end of a low-lying peninsula that is separated by the Zadar Channel from the islands of Ugljan and Pašman. The inlet between the peninsula and the mainland creates a natural deep-water harbor. Old Zadar is noted its many fine churches, Roman forum, and narrow cobbled streets. St. Donat’s remarkable circular church dates from the 9th century; the 11th-century St. Mary’s Church has one of the most important church treasuries in Croatia; and the Romanesque Church of St. Krševan was consecrated in 1175. There are also the 13th-century Cathedral of St. Stošija (Anastasia), the largest and finest Romanesque church in Dalmatia, and the Franciscan church and monastery.

In the city of Sighișoara, on the Târnava Mare River in Mureș County in Romania

 “In torment, there was release.

In the darkness, there was light.
In solitude, there were companions.”
― C.C. Humphreys, Vlad: The Last Confession
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(on the Târnava Mare River in Mureș County in Romania's historical region of Transylvania) The city of Sighișoara is a popular tourist destination that is known for its well-preserved Old Town, which has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Sighişoara’s pastel-colored buildings, stony lanes, and medieval towers offer an irresistible opportunity for exploration (i.e., without digging too deeply into this beguiling place). Fortified walls encircle Sighişoara’s lustrous merchant houses, now harboring cafes, hotels, and craft shops. Lurking in the shadows of the gingerbread roofs and turrets of the Old Town, however, is the history of Vlad Ţepeş, the notorious 15th-century Wallachian prince who was allegedly born here, in a house that can be visited yet today. Ţepeş is best remembered as Vlad the Impaler, or Dracula, fueling a local industry here, of vampire-themed souvenirs. Find the courage to venture along the alleys, hike to the hilltop church, and sip coffee at cafes that are now some 500 years old. (Sighişoara also makes far a great jumping-off point to explore nearby Saxon villages, such as Viscri and Biertan.)

Eltz Castle is a medieval castle nestled in the hills above the Moselle between Koblenz and Trier, Germany

 "Without words, without writing and without books there would be no history, there could be no concept of humanity." -- Hermann Hesse

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(in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate) Nestled in the hills above the Moselle River between Trier and Koblenz in the town of Wierschem, where Burg Eltz stands on a 70-meter-high rock surrounded on three sides by the Eltzbach stream. It's one of only three medieval castles still intact on the left bank of the Rhine River. Construction on Eltz Castle began in 1157 and took nearly 500 years to be completed. Found at the head of the beautiful Moselle side-valley (the Eltz), Burg Eltz is one of Germany's most romantic medieval castles. Never destroyed, this fairy-tale vision of turrets, towers, oriels, gables and half-timber has jutted forth from the rock framed by a thick forest for all those centuries. What makes Castle Eltz particularly interesting, is that is has been owned by the same family for 33 generations, for some 850 years, and is still owned and maintained by the Eltz family today. The Eltz Forest, a nature reserve of serene beauty, full of rare fauna and flora, surrounds it. It is in the center of an attractive hiking region with the award-winning dream hike "Eltz Castle Panorama," and other walks for any level of fitness.

In the port city of Rouen, northwest of Paris, France

 "At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice he is the worst." -- Aristotle

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(on the Seine River in northwestern France) The port city of Rouen, in the Haute-Normandie région, is located about 78 miles (125 km) northwest of Paris. Normandy’s ancient capital on the Seine, Rouen is often referred to as the "city of 100 church towers.” The city is home to the Notre-Dame Cathedral, a Gothic wonder with the tallest church spire in France. Considered one of the finest Gothic churches in this country, Monet painted his famous 1892 Rouen Cathedral series here. The adjoining Archbishop’s Palace has a 15th-century facade, behind which stands the mainly 15th-century church of Saint-Maclou, a rich example of Flamboyant Gothic. The church of Saint-Ouen has a striking interior and 14th-century windows. Famous secular buildings include the late Gothic Palais de Justice (featured here) and the 16th-century Hôtel de Bourgtheroulde. The Palace of Justice was built at the end of the Middle Ages on the remains of the then Jewish quarter, which had been destroyed after the expulsion of the Jews in 1306. A splendid example of medieval civilian architecture, the Palais de Justice houses the Rouen Law Courts and was the meeting place of the Parliament of Normandy.

At the Cathedral Church of St Colman, in Cork County, Ireland

 "... Where the boys are all called Paddy and the girls called Molly Dear

Sure we'd wrap the green flag round them if we had old Ireland here...."
-- "If We Only Had Old Ireland Over Here" lyrics, by Foster & Allen
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(In Cork County, Ireland) Contae Chorcaí (County Cork) is the largest and the southernmost county of Ireland. Found in the province of Munster, it is named after the city of Cork, Ireland's second city. Featured here is the town of Cobh, built onto the slope of Great Island in Cork Harbor just 15 miles (~23 km) from Cork City. St Colman's Cathedral stands at the top of the hill overlooking the brightly colored buildings of Cobh and the dockside of the most important port of emigration in the country. The port was called Queenstown (renamed following a visit from Queen Victoria in 1849) until it reverted back to its Irish name in 1922. Cobh's long maritime history includes the world's first yacht club, the Royal Cork Yacht Club established in 1720; and, the first steamship to sail across the Atlantic, the Sirius, which sailed from Cobh in 1838. Cobh was the last port of call for the Titanic on her tragic maiden voyage and Cobh was where survivors of the Lusitania were brought after that ship was torpedoed by German U-Boats off the Old Head of Kinsale in 1915.

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At the Gravensteen, medieval castle at the city of Ghent, East Flanders in Belgium

 “All is as if the world did cease to exist. The city's monuments go unseen, its past unheard, and its culture slowly fading in the dismal sea.” ― Nathan Reese Maher

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(at Ghent, East Flanders in Belgium) The capital of East Flanders province, Ghent lies at the meeting point of the Lys and Schelde rivers in Belgium. Two canals provide access to the North Sea, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) distant. A network of smaller canals and streams within the city is spanned by more than 200 bridges. Views down the narrow cobblestone streets remain much as they were 600 years ago. Centuries-old guildhalls still stand. The Cloth Hall’s 14th-century belfry looks out over the city from a height of about 300 feet (90 meters). The Gothic cathedral of St. Bavon houses Ghent’s most famous artwork, The Adoration of the Lamb, a 15th-century altarpiece painted in many panels by Hubert and Jan van Eyck. In the church of Saint-Michel, built between 1440 and 1648, is a Crucifixion painted in the 16th century by Anthony Van Dyck. By the River Lys is the forbidding Gravensteen, the restored castle of the Counts of Flanders. A medieval castle, the current Gravensteen ("") dates from 1180 and was the residence of the Counts of Flanders until 1353.

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