In the town of Lauterbrunnen, in the Jungfrau region, Switzerland

 "Switzerland is a small, steep country, much more up and down than sideways, and is all stuck over with large brown hotels built on the cuckoo clock style of architecture." -- Ernest Hemingway

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(in the Jungfrau region of the Swiss Alps) The town of Lauterbrunnen is found in one of the most impressive trough valleys in the Alps, among gigantic rock faces and mountain peaks. Nestled between the two mountain towns of Murren and Wengen, the Lauterbrunnen Valley offers vast greenery, dozens of waterfalls, and the Swiss Alps up above. With its thundering waterfalls, secluded valleys, colorful alpine meadows, and charming mountain inns, the Lauterbrunnen Valley is one of the largest nature conservation areas in Switzerland. The name "Lauter Brunnen" (which means "many fountains") is quite indicative of the magnificence of this landscape. The valley's the most famous "fountain" is the Staubbach Falls in the Bernese Alps on the Staubbach, a stream near the town of Lauterbrunnen. Plunging nearly 300 meters from an overhanging rock face, they are one of the highest free-falling waterfalls in Europe. (In 1779, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe visited the valley, and was inspired by the roaring waters to write his well-known poem "Spirit Song Over the Waters."

In the city of Maribor, Slovenia

 "The willow tree plays the water like a harp." -- Ramon Gomez de la Serna

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(in Slovenia's second city) Maribor, the largest city of the traditional region of Lower Styria, is also the seat of the region of Eastern Slovenia. Found on the Drava River near the Austrian border, Maribor lies between the Pohorje mountains and the hills of Slovenske Gorice. Although a settlement existed here in Roman times, the present city grew from the mid-12th century around Marburg Castle on Piramida Hill. It developed as an important commercial center in the 13th century. Prior to World War I the city’s population was predominantly German. Under the command of General Rudolf Maister, Slovene and Yugoslav troops gained control of the city after that war in 1919. During World War II, Maribor was subjected to Allied aircraft bombing on some 50 occasions -- which destroyed the city’s infrastructure and industry. Eventually rebuilt after WWII, Maribor is now one of the largest industrial cities in Slovenia. Local attractions still include St. Madeleine Church, the 16th-century City Hall, and a monument recalling the great plague of 1680. Another popular attraction is a roughly 400-year-old vine (claimed locally to be the world’s oldest) from which grapes are harvested annually.

In the island of Korčula, off the Dalmatian coast, in Croatia

 “In a life of ceaseless exploration, Marco Polo pushed out the borders of his narrow medieval world.” -- Nick McCarty

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(off the Dalmatian coast, in Croatia) Rich in vineyards, olive groves and small villages, and harboring a glorious Old Town, the island of Korčula stretches nearly 47km (~29 mi.) in length. Dense pine forests led the original Greek settlers, who colonized it some 2,400 years ago, to call the island Korkyra Melaina (Black Corfu). The island was subsequently occupied by the Romans, Goths, Slavs, Byzantines, and Genoese; the kings of Hungary and Croatia and the Bosnian dukes resided here; and such powers as Russia, France, Britain, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire have held the island. It passed to Yugoslavia after World War I. Yugoslav Partisans recovered it from the Germans in 1944–45. Most inhabitants of Korčula now earn their livelihood from fishing, agriculture (grapes and olives), and quarrying (white marble). Wild jackal hunting is an island specialty. The main settlement, Korčula, stands on a rock headland near the eastern end of the island. A plague devastated the town in 1529, depleting the population. (Korčula is the reputed birthplace of the traveler Marco Polo around 1254, and is quite a popular tourist resort.)

In the city of Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania

 "They say compassion is the only voice, a gift which can help mend the broken, lift the fallen and soften the hardened.” — Aisha Mirza

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(in Lithuania) At the confluence of the Neris and Vilnia rivers, Vilnius, the capital of this country, contains one of the largest surviving medieval quarters in Europe. Its Old Town contains nearly two thousand medieval, gothic, renaissance, and baroque buildings, all centered on the neo-classical cathedral and Town Hall. Though a capital city, Vilnius feels much like an overgrown village. It is carpeted with lots of green spaces, which cover around 40% of its total area, and studded with venerable Catholic and Orthodox church spires. Featured here is Vilnius' St. Anne’s Church, a red brick structure built in the Gothic architectural style in the 1500s by the Franciscan brothers. Sharing a wall with St. Anne’s Church is the Bernardine Church and Monastery, which is also built in the Gothic style and has adornments in the Renaissance and Baroque style. (A legend in Lithuania says that Napoleon Bonaparte was so fascinated by the beauty of St. Anne’s Church, that he wanted to take it back to Paris in the palm of his hand. (During the march of the Napoleonic army through Lithuania in 1812, the church was consigned to the French cavalry forces.)

In the province of Vojvodina, northernmost part of Serbia

 "I am very interested in place, and the influences of place on characters." -- Tea Obreht, a Serbian-American novelist

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(in the northernmost part of Serbia) The province of Vojvodina is bordered by Croatia to the west, Hungary to the north, and Romania to the east. Vojvodina includes the historic regions of Bačka, between the Danube and Tisa rivers and the Hungarian border; Banat, to the east of Bačka; and Srem, to the south. The principal towns are Novi Sad, Subotica (featured here), and Zrenjanin. The city of Subotica experienced major growth during the Austro-Hungarian Empire, helped by the development from 1896 onwards of an important railway link, which encouraged many traders, artisans and financiers to settle in the city. Sugar-spun art nouveau marvels, a laid-back populace and a sprinkling of Serbian and Hungarian flavors make this leafy city – the second largest in Vojvodina a fascinating destination. Once an important and wealthy hub of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Subotica attracted some of the region's most influential architects and artists; their well preserved handiwork is today the town's biggest drawcard. It's also one of Serbia's most multicultural towns, with more Hungarians than Serbs, and a sizeable population of Croats.

In the city of Málaga, the capital of Costa del Sol, Spain

 “When I was a child my mother said to me, 'If you become a soldier, you'll be a general. If you become a monk, you'll be the pope.' Instead I became a painter and wound up as Picasso.”

― Pablo Picasso
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(in the capital of Spain's Costa del Sol) One of the world's oldest cities, Málaga, lies along a wide bay of the Mediterranean Sea at the mouth of the Guadalmedina River in the center of the Costa del Sol. Málaga is one of the foremost Spanish Mediterranean ports after Barcelona. The port’s main exports, most of which are produced in the eastern Andalusia hinterland, include iron ore, dried fruit, almonds, olive oil, oranges, lemons, olives, canned anchovies, and the famous Málaga sweet wine. Sheltered by the surrounding sierras, Málaga’s mild climate makes it a popular and internationally known resort city. Today, art is displayed everywhere in this city -- you can experience exhibits dedicated to glass and crystal, classic cars, contemporary installations, and, of course, the works of Picasso, who was born here. Wander past banana trees and beautiful fountains as you walk through Paseo del Parque, then hit the Old City to visit the Roman amphitheater, a Moorish fortress, and the polychromatic Pompidou Center. (The Guadalmedina River flows through Málaga from north to south.)

In the town of Pushkin, Pushkinsky District of the federal city of St. Petersburg, Russia

 "You’d much better stay here and wait; perhaps the storm will blow over, and the sky becomes clear; then we shall be able to find the road by the help of the stars.” -- Alexander Pushkin

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(in the Pushkinsky District of the federal city of St. Petersburg, Russia) The town of Pushkin is found some 24 kilometers (15 miles) south of the center of St. Petersburg -- and its railway station (Tsarskoye Selo). Pushkin was founded in 1710 as an imperial residence named Tsarskoye Selo ("Tsar's Village") and received the status of a town in 1808. The first public railways in Russia (Tsarskoye Selo Railways), were opened here in 1837, and connected the town to St. Petersburg. After the October Revolution (instrumental in the larger Russian Revolution of 1917–1923), the town was renamed Detskoye Selo ("Children's Village"). Its name was agin changed in 1937 to Pushkin to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the death of the Russian poet Alexander Pushkin. The town contains an ensemble of the 18th century "Tsarskoye Selo." This museum complex includes the Catherine Palace (featured here), Alexander Palace, and other buildings and associated parks. It is a major tourist attraction, and is included in the list of monuments that are protected by UNESCO.

In the town of Carcassonne, southeast of Toulouse, France

 “The first stars had kindled in a sky gone royally violet, and the moon heaved a faint silver curve over the ragged line of palaces.”

― Katherine Arden
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(in the Occitanie region of southwestern France) The town of Carcassonne is found southeast of Toulouse, near the eastward bend of the Aude River, which divides the city into two towns, the Ville Basse and the Cité. The Cité has some of the finest remains of medieval fortifications in Europe .Step back several centuries and imagine yourself in the medieval times that produced them. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, La Cite at Carcassonne is a carefully restored medieval walled city perched on a rocky hilltop above the river, bristling with zigzag battlements, stout walls and spiky turrets. Indeed, the fortified city of Carcassonne looks a bit like something out of a children’s storybook when it's seen from afar. (The youngsters might even wonder whether armed lookouts are still defending the city's towers.) Cross the river with them to explore the La Bastide neighborhood -- to discover all the charms of a French country town. The hill on which the Cité Médiévale stands has been fortified many times over the centuries – by Gauls, Romans, Visigoths, Moors, Franks and Cathars, to name a few.

In the county of Brașov, in central Romania, Transylvania

 “What comes to your mind when you think of the word Transylvania, if you ponder it at all? What comes to my mind are mountains of savage beauty, ancient castles, werewolves, and witches - a land of magical obscurity.” ― Elizabeth Kostova

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(in Brașov County, a judet [county] in Romania's Transylvania) The county of Brașov, in central Romania, occupies an area of 1,840 square miles (4,766 square km). Brașov city, the county's capital, is one of the largest cultural centers in Romania. Featured here is the Rupea Citadel in Brasov county, one of the oldest archaeological sites in Romania (the first signs of human settlements dating from the Paleolithic and early Neolithic periods). One of Transylvania’s iconic medieval sites, found midway between the cities of Brasov and Sighisoara, the medieval outpost was built by German colonists on the site of the medieval Seat of Rupea, once an important administrative unit in Transylvania. The fortress expands on three levels developed at different times (each with its own tower[s]) and distinctive features representing the military expertise at the time each level was constructed. The fortress also saved German lives at times (e.g., during internal fights with like the 14th-century conflict with King Charles Robert of Anjou of Hungary).

In the city of Dublin, capital of Ireland

 "For myself, I always write about Dublin, because if I can get to the heart of Dublin I can get to the heart of all the cities of the world. In the particular is contained the universal." -- James Joyce

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(in the capital of Ireland) The city of Dublin is found on a bay on the island's east coast, at the mouth of the River Liffey. It is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of the Wicklow Mountains range. A cultural powerhouse live with history, artistry, and spirit to spare, Dublin brings to mind literary giants, Georgian architecture -- and, a dark Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness at St. James's Gates. Many nights here are alive with pub crawls and spirited music. But the days are also full of revelry, with enchanting architecture, tucked-away bookstores, and singular museums like the Chester Beatty. Green spaces abound, such as the St Stephens Green or Iveagh Gardens. And no trip is complete without a tour of a local distillery, where you can sample local spirits like Jameson or Teeling. The city is also a living museum of its history, with medieval castles and cathedrals on display alongside the architectural splendors of its 18th-century heyday, when Dublin was the most handsome Georgian city of the British Empire.

In the city of Frankfurt am Main, Germany

 “A writer, I think, is someone who pays attention to the world." — Susan Sontag (from her speech, upon being awarded the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, at the Frankfurt Book Fair)

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(in Germany) The city of Frankfurt am Main is found along the Main River about 19 miles (30 km) upstream from its confluence with the Rhine River at Mainz. Frankfurt has long been one of Germany's most important cities. For centuries an independent city state, the many old buildings and world-class attractions and fun things to do here make this former imperial city a great place to spend a weekend break, or even longer. Evidence of its past as an important trading center is easy to find in the Old Town area. Visitors like to wander the Römerberg, a city square known for its fountain, medieval townhomes, boutique shops and galleries, and great cafés and restaurants. The square is also home to historic buildings, including the Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus) and fine old churches. As one of Germany's leading business centers, its financial district boasts enough skyscrapers to have earned the city the nickname "Mainhattan," while ultra-modern convention centers have led to it being the home of huge international trade shows, including the Frankfurt Book Fair.

In the city of Lugano, Canton of Ticino, Switzwerland

 "Hills peep o'er hills, and Alps on Alps arise." -- Alexander Pope

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(in Switzerland) The Canton of Ticino, this country's southernmost canton, lies almost entirely south of the Alps. Through the main crest of the Gotthard and adjacent mountain ranges, it borders the canton of Valais to the northwest, the canton of Uri to the north and the canton of Grisons to the northeast. The canton shares international borders with Italy as well, including a small Italian enclave. Named after the Ticino, its longest river, it is the only canton where Italian is the sole official language and represents the bulk of the Italian-speaking area of Switzerland. Bellinzona is the capital, and Lugano (featured here) is the most important city in the canton -- known for its beautiful waterfront, steep hillsides, and gorgeous lakeside views. Lugano is a vivacious city, with posh designer boutiques, bars and pavement cafes huddling in the maze of steep cobblestone streets that lead to the edge of Lake Lugano, along its flowery promenade. Popping up above the lake are the twin peaks of Monte Brè and Monte San Salvatore, both commanding astonishing views deep into the Alps and attracting lots of mountain-hikers and trail bikers -- in the warmer months of the year.

In the city of Luxembourg, in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

 “Prepare for the unknown by studying how others in the past have coped with the unforeseeable and the unpredictable.” – George S. Patton

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(in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg)  The city of Luxembourg is found on a sandstone plateau, into which the Alzette River and its tributary, the Petrusse, have cut deep winding ravines. Within a loop of the Alzette, a rocky promontory called the Bock forms a natural defensive position where the Romans and later the Franks built a fort, around which the medieval town developed. The purchase of this castle in 963 CE by Siegfried, count of Ardennes, marked the beginning of Luxembourg as an independent entity. The castle’s old name, Lucilinburhuc (“Little Fortress”), is the origin of the name Luxembourg. Majestically set across the deep gorges of the Alzette and Pétrusse rivers, Luxembourg City is one of Europe's most scenic capitals. Its Unesco-listed Old Town is a warren of tunnels, nooks and crannies sheltering some outstanding museums, as well as lively drinking and dining scenes. The city is famed for its financial and EU centers, making weekends an ideal time to visit, as hotel prices drop dramatically. (The city was subjected to bombardment by the German V-3 cannon in December 1944 and January 1945.)

At the Meteora rock formation in central Greece

 “Living in a monastery, even as a guest rather than a monk, you have more opportunities than you might have elsewhere to see the world as it is, instead of through the shadow that you cast upon it.” ― Dean Koontz

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(just outside the town of Kalabaka, at the northwestern edge of the Plain of Thessaly near the Pineios river and Pindus Mountains in the heart of northern Greece) Meteora is one of the most unique places to visit in Greece -- even in all of Europe. A rock formation in central Greece hosting one of the largest and most precipitously built complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries, Meteora is second in importance only to Mount Athos. The six monasteries (of an original 24) are built on immense natural pillars and hill-like boulders that punctuate the area. These monasteries make up one of the few UNESCO World Heritage Sites that have been given a double status (one for art and one for nature). The stunning bluffs and hoodoos that make up the complex of Meteora are spread thousands of feet above the ground, making it one of the most remote places to live and worship in the world. The monasteries date back to the 14th century and once required an intricate system of ladders and baskets to scale the sky-high rock formations they sit atop.

In the medieval market town of Ystad, Scania County, Sweden

 "Den som vill ha något gott fär söka där det finns." ("Who wants to have something good, will have to seek it where it is.")

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(in Scania County, Sweden) The medieval market town of Ystad exudes a magical allure, due to its half-timbered houses, cobbled streets, and the haunting sound of the nightwatchman’s horn. An important hub of the Swedish film industry, Ystad has the country’s oldest cinema (Biografteatern Scala), a production studio, and the Cineteket interactive film museum. (Fans of crime novels may recognize Ystad as the setting for the best-selling Inspector Wallander crime thrillers.) Significant medieval features of Ystad include Greyfriars Abbey, the Church of the Virgin Mary, and the 16th-century Latin school. Ystad was Sweden’s window to Europe from the 17th to the mid-19th century, with new ideas and inventions (including cars, banks and hotels) arriving here first. Now a terminal for ferries to Poland and the Danish island of Bornholm, the port area's transitory feel doesn’t apply, fortunately, to the rest of the city. Once you start to explore you might find the place will work its usual magic, and you'll yearn to linger longer (perchance to visit an exotic animal park or pick up some artisan handicrafts at one of Ystad’s lovely galleries or boutiques).

On the Amalfi Coast in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of Italy

 "The voice of the sea speaks to the soul. The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embrace." -- Kate Chopin

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(on the Amalfi Coast in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of Italy) Campania, on the Tyrrhenian Sea between the Garigliano (Lower Liri) River and the Gulf of Policastro, is mountainous and hilly. Tucked between two cliffs overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, the village of Atrani may be the area's best-kept secret. Due to the beauty of its alley, gardens, squares, buildings, and characteristic “scalinatelle” (stairs), Atrani has often been used as a set for film and TV commercials. Though it is part of the Amalfi Coast, it is the only town along the coast to preserve intact its antique, traditional characteristics. Its pastel colored buildings seem to be stacked one on top of another up the side of the mountains in the traditional style of the Amalfi Coast. Yet, Atrani is easy to spot from sea by its most distinctive architectural features. On one side of town the Collegiata di Santa Maria Maddalena overlooks the sea, with its yellow and green majolica tile dome and bell tower. The Amalfi Coast Road curves around the base of the church and runs through town on an arched bridge that was built in front of the town in the mid 1800s.

In the city of Marsielle, in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France

 "I am working with the enthusiasm of a man from Marseilles eating bouillabaisse, which shouldn't come as a surprise to you because I am busy painting huge sunflowers." -- Vincent Van Gogh

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(in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur in France) Located west of the French Riviera, the city of Marseille is found on the coast of the Gulf of Lion, one of the major ports of the Mediterranean Sea, near the mouth of the Rhône River. From the historic center of Marseille at the Old Port, the thoroughfare of La Canebière climbs eastward up the hill; its name is a corruption of a Latin word for hemp, recalling Marseille’s importance as a source of hemp and supplier of hemp rope in the Middle Ages. Thronged by people from around the world, La Canebière is the best-known commercial street in Marseille. Head up to the colonnade-lined Palais Longchamp (featured here) at the terminus of the Durance River. Inaugurated in 1869 as a monument to commemorate the connection of Marseille to a new waterway network, the combination large fountain-waterfall-water tower has two wings that house the city's natural history museum and Musee des beaux-arts. The surrounding Longchamp Park is listed by the French Ministry of Culture as one of the Notable Gardens of France.

At the lovely town of Trogir, on Croatia's Adriatic coast

 "The sun is couched, the sea-fowl gone to rest,

And the wild storm hath somewhere found a nest;
Air slumbers--wave with wave no longer strives,
Only a heaving of the deep survives,
A tell-tale motion! soon will it be laid,
And by the tide alone the water swayed...."
-- William Wordsworth, "By the Sea"
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(on Croatia's Adriatic coast) The lovely town of Trogir is found within medieval walls on a small island, linked by bridges to both the mainland and to the larger Čiovo Island. On summer nights people gravitate to Trogir's wide seaside promenade lined with bars, cafes and yachts, leaving the knotted, mazelike marble streets gleaming under old-fashioned streetlights. The historic town center is a pedestrianized district that is rather like an outdoor museum. Finely-carved facades, elegant churches and palaces, Renaissance gates and medieval streets reflect Dalmatian art and architecture at its best. Once the cultural center of Dalmatia, the Old Town has retained many intact and beautiful buildings from its age of glory between the 13th and 15th centuries. In 1997, its collection of Romanesque and Renaissance buildings earned it World Heritage status. Its beautiful Romanesque churches are complemented by the outstanding Renaissance and Baroque buildings from the Venetian period.