In the city of Lugano, in Canton Ticino, southern Switzerland

 "Because the world is so full of death and horror, I try again and again to console my heart and pick the flowers that grow in the midst of hell." -- Hermann Hesse, the German-born Swiss poet, novelist and painter

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(in southern Switzerland) Lugano, the largest city in Ticino canton, lies along Lake Lugano, northwest of Como; to the south is Mount San Salvatore, and to the east is Mount Brè. (Most of Lake Lugano (63%) is held by Switzerland, in an area where the lake is one of the country’s popular tourist attractions.) First mentioned in the 6th century, Lugano was occupied in 1499 by the French and taken in 1512 by the Swiss. The center of the Lugano canton of the Helvetic Republic from 1798 to 1803, it was then included in the newly formed Ticino canton and, with Locarno and Bellinzona, was one of the three cantonal capitals until 1878. In 1888 it became the seat of a bishop with jurisdiction over Italian-speaking Switzerland. (During the struggle of 1848–66 to expel the Austrians from Lombardy, Lugano served as the headquarters for the Italian nationalist leader Giuseppe Mazzini.)

+ Positioned on the lake with the Alps at its back, Lugano offers visitors a little bit of everything. Ride a cable car up Monte San Salvatore or Monte Bre for great panoramas of lake, rivers, mountains, and red-roofed buildings. Explore the city's churches, cathedrals, and the expressive and colorful Piazza della Riforma. Sample some slow-cooked Ticinese cuisine, explore the lake on a boat. or spend the day at the lido with its Olympic-sized pool.

+ Ticino’s lush, mountain-rimmed lake isn’t its only liquid asset. The largest city in the canton is also the country’s third-most-important banking center. A vivacious city, it has posh designer boutiques, bars, and pavement cafes huddling in the maze of steep cobblestone streets that unwind at the edge of the lake and along the flowery promenade. (The opening of its LAC Arts Center has enhanced its cultural stakes.) The peaks of Monte Brè and Monte San Salvatore, above the lake, provide awesome views deep into the Alps, and attract lots of hikers and mountain bikers during the warmer months.

 + Since 1882, Lugano has been an important stop on the Gotthard Railway, the trans-alpine line from northern Switzerland to the canton of Ticino. The railway brought a decisive contribution to the development of tourism and more generally of the tertiary sector which are, to this day, predominant in the economy of the city. Today, Lugano's primary sources of revenue are tourism and international finance, but there is some industry here, including the manufacture of chocolate, silk, and machinery. (The city is Italian in both appearance and character.) Its main landmarks are the 13th-century Cathedral of San Lorenzo, the former Franciscan Church of Santa Maria degli Angioli (with frescoes by Bernardino Luini), and the Villa Favorita in the suburb of Castagnola (housing one of Europe’s greatest private art collections).

In the city of Murcia, southeastern Spain

 Francisco Salzillo y Alcaraz, a sculptor, was the most representative Spanish image-maker of the 18th century. He worked mainly on religious themes, making hundreds of pieces that are distributed throughout the Region of Murcia and some in bordering provinces. The Spanish Civil War (in the 1930s) caused the destruction of many of his works. Salzillo founded the so-called Murcian School of Sculpture, which has remained effective to the present time, because his followers have perpetuated the iconographic and stylistic models that he established. (A museum in Murcia is dedicated to Salzillo.)

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(in southeastern Spain) The city of Murcia, capital of Murcia province and autonomous community, is found at the confluence of the Segura and Guadalentín rivers in a fertile, irrigated area known as the huerta (orchard land). The site was settled before the Roman occupation of southern Spain in the 3rd century BCE. (As Mursīyah, it was first mentioned in the histories and chronicles of the Muslims.) According to the Arab geographer Yāqūt, it was founded in 825 CE by the Umayyad emir of Córdoba, ʿAbd al-Raḥmān II, who made it a provincial capital. After the fall of the caliphate of Córdoba in 1031, the city came under the control of Almería and then of Valencia, until 1063 when its ruler, ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Ṭāhir, declared the kingdom of Murcia independent.

+ The capital of the province of the same name, Murcia is one of the least visited and little-known cities in Spain, despite being the seventh largest in terms of population size. Tucked in between the regions of Almería and Alicante, set inland from the coastal towns, Murcia has much to offer to those who do decide to visit the city. A sizeable but laid-back provincial capital, Murcia has interesting sights and a pleasant, strollable center. The city also has plenty of landmarks to linger over -- from Moorish gardens to the ornate architectural blend of Plaza Cardenal Belluga. (Mediterranean valleys, mountains, and coastlines beckon from further afield; while annual festivals bring a buzz to the entire region.)

+ Like Valencia, Murcia is famous for its huerta, a surrounding zone of market gardens dating back to Moorish times, which supply the city's restaurants with excellent fresh produce and drive a thriving tapas scene. The Segura River divides the city of Murcia into an older, northern sector and a more modern, southern sector. The 14th-century Gothic-style Cathedral of Santa María was restored in the 18th century. (It contains the fine 16th-century chapel of the Vélez family.) In the Hermitage of Jesus (Ermita de Jesús) are the majority of the Passion sculptures of Francisco Salzillo, which attract many visitors during Holy Week. (The University of Murcia was founded in 1915.) Murcia is also a communications and agricultural-trade center for the surrounding areas along the Segura River. (The city’s silk industry, which dates from Moorish times, still exists.)

At the Keukenhof Park, in the town of Lisse, Netherlands

 “Just living is not enough," said the butterfly, "one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.”

― Hans Christian Anderson, The Complete Fairy Tales
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(in western Netherlands) At this time of year, the Netherlands (as a whole) is usually carpeted in beautiful tulips, which normally attracts a huge number of visitors. The town of Lisse lies in the center of the flower fields between Haarlem and Leiden. With Hillegom, it is one of the two great commercial centers of the Netherlands’ bulb-growing district. It is also the site of the State Bulb School and Laboratory. The annual flower exhibition (from March to May) is held on a former country estate around the 17th-century De Keukenhof Castle, with its gardens that cover 65 acres (~26 hectares).

+ Lisse, in South Holland, is known for the Keukenhof Park and the surrounding tulip, hyacinth, and daffodil fields in the park's gardens. Just one kilometer to the west of Lisse, Keukenhof, the world’s largest bulb-flower garden, boasts more than seven million bulbs and a total of 800 varieties of tulips. It normally attracts around 1.5 million visitors during its eight-week season, when its fields and planted displays of multicolored tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths are in bloom. Visitors can rent bikes outside the gardens or take a cruise from Keukenhof's windmill to view the "Garden of Europe," which is in full bloom year in April and May, when the tulips that have become symbolic of Holland are in their peak season. The gardens and pavilions here display spectacular collections of not only tulips, but also hyacinths, daffodils, orchids, roses, irises, lilies, and other flowers.

+ Dating back to 1857, Keukenhof is found in the heart of what is called the Bollenstreek, or bulb region of South Holland. A large flower parade through this region, called Bloemencorso Bollenstreek, is one of the largest in the world. (By the time the Keukenhof season concludes this year, since many travel restrictions have been relaxed, the flower exhibition is expected to have received more visitors than usual, from all across the globe.)

+ The history of Keukenhof dates back to the 15th century. Countess Jacoba van Beieren (Jacqueline of Bavaria) gathered fruit and vegetables from the Keukenduin [kitchen dunes] for the kitchen of Teylingen Castle. (Keukenhof Castle was built in 1641 and the estate grew to encompass an area of more than 200 hectares.) Landscape architects Jan David Zocher and his son Louis Paul Zocher, who also designed Amsterdam's Vondelpark, redesigned the castle gardens in 1857. That park, in the English landscape style, still constitutes the basis of Keukenhof. In 1949 a group of 20 leading flower bulb growers and exporters came up with the plan to use the estate to exhibit spring-flowering bulbs, signaling the birth of Keukenhof as a spring park. The park opened its gates to the public in 1950 and was an instant success. (2022 is the 73rd edition of Keukenhof.)

At the Basilica Palladiana, in the city of Vicenza, Italy

 “For us to go to Italy and to penetrate into Italy is like a most fascinating act of self-discovery.” – D. H. Lawrence

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(in Italy) The city of Vicenza, in the Veneto region at the northern base of the Monte Berico, straddles the Bacchiglione River. Approximately 60 kilometers (~37 miles) west of Venice and 200 kilometers east of Milan, Vicenza’s history dates back to pre-Roman times, but it’s a Renaissance figure, Andrea Palladio, with whom the city is most associated. (When Palladio left his native Padua, few would have guessed the humble stonecutter would, within a few decades, transform not only his adoptive city but also the history of European architecture. His genius would turn Vicenza and its surrounding villas into one grand UNESCO World Heritage Site). One of the preeminent figures in Western architecture, Palladio built more than 20 buildings here, including the Basilica Palladiana, the Palazzo Chiericati (home to Vicenza’s museum and art gallery), the Teatro Olimpico and many other palaces and villas.

+ Vicenza is traversed by the Bacchiglione and Retrone rivers, at the eastern end of the valley between the Monti Lessini and the Monti Berici (which connects Lombardy with Veneto), northwest of Padua. Originally a settlement of the Ligurians or Veneti, it became the Roman Vicetia and, after the barbarian invasions, the seat of a Lombard duchy. In 1164 it formed part of the Veronese League against Frederick I Barbarossa and continued through the 13th century to struggle against the imperial power and local tyrant lords. It was ruled by the Scaligers from 1311 until it passed to the Visconti (1387) and in 1404 to Venice, whose fortunes it afterward shared. Although the city suffered widespread destruction in World War II, it has been largely restored.)

+ Depicted here is the Basilica Palladiana -- or the Palazzo della Ragione -- which was built in the 16th century and was designed by Andrea Palladio (the most lauded Western European architect of the last 500 years who is also officially recognized as the Father of American Architecture). The city's most famous building, the massive structure is located on Piazza dei Signori, which is the main square of Vicenza. (There was an ancient clock tower from the earlier building which can still be seen today.) Now a popular venue for world-class exhibitions, the Palladian Basilica is capped with an enormous copper dome reminiscent of the hull of a ship. The building, modeled on a Roman basilica, once housed the law courts and Council of Four Hundred. Palladio was fortunate to have secured the commission in 1549 (it took his patron 50 years of lobbying the council), which involved restructuring the original, 15th-century palazzo and adding a double order of loggias, supported by Tuscan and Ionic columns topped by soaring statuary. (The building is also home to the elegant Museo del Gioiello and its dazzling collection of historic and contemporary jewelry.)

In the city of Dubrovnik, a port of Dalmatia, Croatia

 “If you want to see paradise on Earth, come to Dubrovnik.” -- George Bernard Shaw

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(in Croatia) The city of Dubrovnik, a port of Dalmatia, is found on the southern Adriatic Sea coast. One of loveliest places on the Dalmatian coast, it is known as the “Pearl of the Adriatic.” Dubrovnik occupies a promontory jutting into the sea under Mount Srdj; the port’s sea fortifications rise dramatically from the water’s edge. The city was founded about 614 as Rausa, or Ragusium, by Roman refugees fleeing the Slav and Avar sack of Epidaurus, to the southeast. A colony of Slavs soon joined the Romans here, and from an early date the city formed a link between two great civilizations. After the fall of Rome, Dubrovnik was ruled by the Byzantine Empire. From the 9th to the 12th century it defended itself against foreign powers, and in the period 1205 to 1358 it acknowledged Venetian suzerainty. In 1420, when Dalmatia was sold to Venice, Dubrovnik remained a free city in all but name. For centuries the people of Dubrovnik were able to preserve their city-republic by skillful maneuvering between East and West.

+ In 1667 an earthquake destroyed parts of the city and killed as many as 5,000 residents. (The republic did not regain its prosperity until the Napoleonic Wars.) Napoleon I subjugated Dubrovnik in 1808, and the Congress of Vienna (in 1815) gave Dubrovnik to Austria; in 1918 it was incorporated into Yugoslavia. Many of Dubrovnik’s historic buildings suffered damage in 1991–92 during Croatia’s struggle for independence, but much of the old city has since been restored.

+ The city walls, mostly a double line, have long been a source of pride for Dubrovnik. The walls were erected by the 16th century and run a course of about 1,940 meters in length, encircling most of the old city, and reach a maximum height of about 25 meters. Along its course and within the walls lie several towers and fortresses, as well as numerous historic monuments. Beyond the walls are many villas surrounded by gardens. (The basic city plan dates from 1292, when the port was rebuilt following a fire.) The Stradun {main street), with beautiful late-Renaissance houses on each side, runs along a valley that, until 1272, was a marshy channel dividing the Latin island of Ragusa from the forest settlement of Dubrovnik. No motor vehicles are allowed inside the walls, and, except for the Stradun, the Old Town is a maze of picturesque narrow streets, many of them steep and twisting. Two 14th-century convents stand at the ends of the city; the Franciscans guarded the western gate, while the Dominicans kept the eastern. The Rector’s Palace was the seat of government of the Dubrovnik Republic. Other notable structures include numerous fortresses, a 16-sided fountain and bell tower, and a 15th-century Jewish synagogue that is among the oldest in Europe. (The island of Lokrum is famous for its gardens and orange groves; it also includes a fortress and monastery.)

In the city of Meissen, in the federal state of Saxony, eastern Germany

 "To walk through the ruined cities of Germany is to feel an actual doubt about the continuity of civilization. For one has to remember that it is not only Germany that has been blitzed. The same desolation extends, at any rate in considerable patches, all the way from Brussels to Stalingrad." -- George Orwell, ‘Future of a ruined Germany' (published in 1945)

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(in southeastern eastern Germany) The city of Meissen, in the federal state of Saxony, is found on the Elbe River about 25 kilometers (~16 mi.) northwest of Dresden. Like so many places all over Europe, the city has managed to survive more than a thousand years of disruptive military, political, religious, and cultural turbulence (not to mention persistent plagues). Today, Meissen is often called the "cradle of Saxony." It grew out of the early West Slavic settlement of Misni, inhabited by the Glomacze tribe (Polabian Slavs inhabiting areas in the middle Elbe valley), and was founded as a German town by King Henry I (the Fowler) in 929. The Diocese of Meissen was founded in 968, and Meissen became the episcopal see of a bishop. The Catholic bishopric was suppressed in 1581 after the diocese accepted the Protestant Reformation (in1559), but re-created in 1921 with its seat first at Bautzen (a town in eastern Saxony on the Spree River), and now at the Katholische Hofkirche in Dresden.

+ In the year 968 Meissen had also become the seat of the margravate of Meissen. A market town by 1000, Meissen passed to the Duchy of Poland in 1002 under Boleslaw I the Brave, afterwards into hands of Henry II a few months later and to the House of Wettin in 1089. Meissen was chartered in 1205, when it was a bastion of the German colonization of the Slavic lands east of the Elbe. (Indeed, the town was at the forefront of the Ostsiedlung, or intensive German settlement of the rural Slavic lands east of the Elbe.) In 1241, the town was attacked in the Mongol raid on Meissen. (The Mongol force under Orda Khan defeated Meissen's defenders and much of the town was destroyed.) The Mongols withdrew from Germany after the death of Ögedei Khan, sparing the region from further destruction (i.e., for a while). Although Meissen became capital of the Electorate of Saxony in 1423, the the capital was moved to Dresden in 1464. In 1759, the Austrians defeated the Prussians at the Battle of Meissen.) During World War II, a subcamp of Flossenbürg concentration camp was located in Meissen.)

+ Meissen is now perhaps best known for the manufacture of porcelain (the production of which dates from the early 18th century), based on extensive local deposits of china clay (kaolin) and potter’s clay (potter’s earth). Other ceramics are also manufactured, and wine is also produced. The city is dominated by a group of 13th- and 14th-century Gothic cathedral structures (including the Gothic Meissen Cathedral and the Meissen Frauenkirche {Church of Our Lady]) -- and by Albrechtsburg castle.

In the Alpine town of Lauterbrunnen, in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

 "Gesang der Geister über den Wassern" (Song of the Spirits over the Waters) is a 1779 poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. It may be best known in the English-speaking world through a musical setting of 1820–21 by Franz Schubert, as a song part for men's voices and low strings.

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(in Switzerland) The Bernese Oberland ("Bernese Highlands") is the highest and southernmost part of the Swiss canton of Bern, and one of the canton's five administrative regions. It constitutes the Alpine region of the canton and the northern side of the Bernese Alps, including many of its highest peaks. The region essentially coincides with the upper basin of the Aare, which includes Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, the two large lakes of the region. The many side valleys of the Bernese Oberland include a large number of Alpine villages, many of them being tourist resorts and connected by mountain railways to Spiez and Interlaken. The Lötschberg, a major north-south axis through the Alps, links the region with both the capital of the canton, Bern, and its southern neighbor, the canton of Valais.

+ Featured here is the Alpine town of Lauterbrunnen, in the Bernese Oberland, with chalet-style houses and small village churches. Its natural surroundings include towering rock faces, mountain peaks, flowery meadows, and some of the tallest free-flowing waterfalls in Europe. Lauterbrunnen is found in one of the most impressive trough valleys in the Alps (between the imposing rock faces and mountain peaks). 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 very name "Lauter Brunnen" ("many fountains" or or more accurately, “Loud Springs”) reflects the magnificence of this landscape. There are 72 waterfalls in the Lauterbrunnen Valley, the most famous being the Staubbach Falls (pictured here, at sunrise). Plunging some 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," while he stayed at the parish house near the Staubbach Fall waterfall.) (An impressive aspect of this waterfall is that the water is free-falling off the cliffs, sending clouds of mists into the air; on a windy day, the drifting mist is almost lost in the wind before it reaches the rocks below.

+ The valley town of Lauterbrunnen serves as the launching point for some of the most popular excursion destinations in the Jungfrau region. A rack railway links Lauterbrunnen with the sunny terrace of Wengen on the eastern flank of the Lauterbrunnen Valley and the Kleinen Scheidegg, the station where you change trains for the onward journey to the Jungfraujoch ("maiden saddle"), connecting two major peaks of the Bernese Alps: the Jungfrau and the Mönch.

In the historic county of Inverness-shire, United Kingdom

 “There's no place on earth with more of the old superstitions and magic mixed into its daily life than the Scottish Highlands.”

― Diana Gabaldon, Outlander
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(in the northernmost city in the United Kingdom) The city of Inverness, in the historic county of Inverness-shire, is the long-established center of the Scottish Highlands. It lies at the best crossing place of the River Ness, which flows from Loch Ness at the east end of Glen Mor along the river and the Caledonian Canal at the juncture of route system of northern Scotland. Inverness was the capital of the Picts under King Brude, who was visited and converted by St. Columba around 565. By the 12th century Inverness had become a burgh nestling under the castle attributed to King Malcolm III (Malcolm Canmore), which remained a royal residence and fortress for centuries. The present 19th-century castle, on the site of a fortress destroyed in 1746 by the Jacobites, overlooks the river and houses law courts. The few old surviving buildings include the old Town Cross, the Town Steeple (formerly a prison), the old High Church, and St. Andrew’s Cathedral.

+ Inverness lies near two important battle sites: the 11th-century battle of Blàr nam Fèinne against Norway (which took place on the Aird), and the 18th century Battle of Culloden (which took place on Culloden Moor). The city is located within the Great Glen (Gleann Mòr) at its northeastern extremity where the River Ness enters the Beauly Firth. A settlement had been originally established here by the 6th century (at the latest) with the first royal charter being granted by Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim (King David I) in the 12th century. (Inverness and Inverness-shire are closely linked to various influential clans, including Clan Mackintosh, Clan Fraser and Clan MacKenzie.)

+ Although Inverness was founded in the 12th century, due to its violent history few buildings of historical significance have survived. Much of the older part of the city dates from the period following the completion of the Caledonian Canal in 1822. The broad and shallow River Ness, famed for its salmon fishing, runs through the heart of the city, which is great for exploration by foot. Its visitors can easily make their way from the lovely river to historic Inverness Castle and St. Andrews Cathedral -- and beyond to the events at Eden Court and the busy Victorian Market. It’s also an ideal base for exploring the Highlands, with the mysterious Loch Ness (and famed local resident Nessie) Culloden Battlefield, and the Bronze Age Clava Cairns just a short drive away.

+ With its great location on the river at the northern end of Great Glen, Inverness can seem a bit crowded with visitors in summer, most of them intent on monster hunting at nearby Loch Ness. However, the city itself is worth a visit in its own right, to stroll along the River Ness, take a cruise on Loch Ness -- and enjoy the local cuisine in one of the city's excellent restaurants.

In the city of Valencia, eastern Spain

 Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar was a Castilian knight and warlord in medieval Spain. The Moors called him El Cid, which meant the Lord, and the Christians, El Campeador, which means "The Champion" in modern Spanish, but is literally translated as "The Battlefielder" or "Battlefield Master" in Old Castilian. After his death, El Cid became Spain's celebrated national hero and the protagonist of the most significant medieval Spanish epic poem, El Cantar de Mio Cid. (To this day, El Cid remains a Spanish folk-hero and national icon, with his life and deeds remembered in plays, films, folktales, songs, and video games.)

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(in eastern Spain) The city of Valencia, capital of Valencia province and the autonomous community of Valencia, was the historical capital of the former kingdom of Valencia. On the Mediterranean coast at the mouth of the Turia (Guadalaviar) River, it is surrounded by orchards in a region known as the Huerta de Valencia. The earliest mention of the site (Valentia) was by the Roman historian Livy, who stated that the consul Decimus Junius Brutus Callaicus settled the soldier veterans of the Lusitanian leader Viriathus here in 138 BCE. It later became a prosperous Roman colony.

+ Taken by the Visigoths in 413 CE and in 714 by the Moors, it became the seat of the newly established independent Moorish kingdom of Valencia in 1021, which extended from Almería to the Ebro estuary. From 1089 until the final capitulation of the city in 1094, the kingdom was fought for by the Spanish soldier-hero El Cid, who eventually secured it from the Moorish Almoravids. It remained in the hands of El Cid, after whom it was sometimes called Valencia del Cid, until his death here in 1099. The Moors recovered the city (and kingdom) in 1102. In 1238 James I of Aragon added Valencia to his dominions, but the kingdom continued to be administered separately, with its own laws and parliament. In 1479, with the other countries of the Aragonese crown, the kingdom was united with Castile under the monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella, resulting in a long period of peace during which the city developed rapidly and the arts prospered. The first Spanish printing press is said to have been set up there in 1474, and during the next two centuries the city was the seat of the Valencian school of painting. During the Spanish Civil War it was the loyalist capital from 1936 to 1939.

+ Valencia has been called the city of the 100 bell towers, of which the most outstanding are the Gothic Miguelete Tower, adjoining the cathedral, and the hexagonal Tower of Santa Catalina, a fine example of Valencian Baroque style. The most important church is the cathedral, La Seo, situated in the ancient city center. Begun in the 13th century, it represents several styles -- its three doorways are respectively Romanesque, Baroque, and Gothic -- and it possesses many works of art, including two large religious paintings by José de Goya y Lucientes (better known as Goya).

in the city of Dijon, capital of the Côte d’Or department, in east-central France

 Burgundy is a peaceful, and a traditional rural region in the heart of France. It has a rich past, a strategic location, and a naturally advantageous setting, both of which have significantly contributed to its global reputation for fine wines, gastronomy, and architectural wealth.

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(in east-central France) The city of Dijon, capital of the Côte d’Or department and of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, is found some 203 miles (~326 kilometers) southeast of Paris at the confluence of the Ouche and Suzon rivers. At the foot of the Côte d’Or hills to its west and near a plain of fertile vineyards, the city has many old buildings, some dating back to the 15th century. It has always been a regional transportation hub and was known in the 9th century as Castrum Divionense. In 1015 Robert I, duke of Burgundy, chose it as the capital for his newly founded duchy, but only with the second ducal dynasty (of Valois from 1364–1477) did the city begin to flourish. Musicians, artists, and architects were attracted here by the patronage of the ducal court. The city retained its role as a provincial capital after the duchy of Burgundy had been annexed by Louis XI of France in 1477, and the Burgundy Parliament met there regularly. Dijon was most prosperous in the 18th century, when it was also an intellectual center of France.

+ Dijon remains a major communications center today, a role reinforced by the development of the French motorway network, which has greatly improved accessibility. Most employment is in service activities, reflecting the city’s importance as an administrative, commercial, and tourist center. Dijon’s rich architectural heritage, its museums, its staging of festivals and events, and its facilities for conferences and exhibitions have contributed to the growth of tourism. Originally favored by decentralization during the 1960s, the city now features a diversified industrial structure; industries include food products, pharmaceuticals, electronics and electrical equipment, vehicle components, plastics, and optical instruments. Celebrated Dijon food products are mustard, gingerbread, and vinegar; chocolate and liqueurs are also produced.

+ The buildings of the palace of the dukes of Burgundy (pictured here) are located in the center of the old city. The original medieval palace was largely rebuilt and extended in the 17th and 18th centuries. The palace is now the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) and contains the Musée des Beaux Arts. The tombs of Philip the Bold and John the Fearless, both dukes of Burgundy, are found here. A psychiatric hospital now stands on the site of the Chartreuse de Champmol, a Carthusian monastery founded by Philip the Bold in 1383, but the doorway of the chapel and other fine vestiges remain from the original building. (This monumental palace overlooks Place de la Libération, the magnificent central square of the historic center of Dijon, dating from 1686.)

In the seaport city of Nice, southeastern France

 "Derive happiness in oneself from a good day's work, from illuminating the fog that surrounds us." -- Henri Matisse

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(in southeastern France) The seaport city of Nice, capital of the Alpes-Maritimes department, in the Provence–Alpes–Côte-d’Azur région, is located on the Baie des Anges, 20 miles (32 km) from the Italian border. Sheltered by beautiful hills, this leading resort city of the Côte d’Azur (or French Riviera) was founded by the Phocaeans of Marseille (a colony of Greek mariners) around 350 BCE. The site was conquered by the Romans during the 1st century CE, after which it became a busy trading station. The town was held by the counts of Provence during the 10th century, and in 1388 came under the protection of the counts of Savoy, who held it until 1860. Nice was ceded to France by the Treaty of Turin in 1860.

+ Striking a balance between a seaside resort and a cosmopolitan city, Nice serves as a convenient base for vacationers on the French Riviera. The city's pleasant climate, rich culture, lively Old Town district -- and marvelous shoreline bordered with grand hotels -- have made it a popular travel destination since the late 18th century, The city’s intense light, interesting architecture, and colorful marketplaces have long attracted artists, including Matisse and Chagall -- and there are more museums in Nice than in any French city (except Paris). For a city with roots that date back to the 4th century BCE, it exudes quite a surprisingly contemporary vibe, thanks to recent efforts to modernize the city’s infrastructure. From an updated transportation system to pedestrian-only plazas lined with shops and restaurants, Nice is easy to explore (and savor).

+ In the cultural capital of the French Riviera, set on the Baie des Anges, the deep blue waters of the Cote d’Azur make a dramatic setting for elegant Nice. Breathe in the fresh Mediterranean air as you stroll the famous Promenade des Anglais, be charmed by the quaint streets of Old Town, or get a panoramic view of the whole city from atop Castle Hill. Indulge in classic Provençal dishes and wines in one of the city’s intimate cafes or bustling brasseries. Don’t pass up the chance to experience the French Riviera’s glitz and glamor by taking day trips to Saint Tropez and Monaco -- or by joining a group to go clubbing "in the cool, cool, cool of the evening."

+ Depicted here is the cultural center of Nice, the Place Masséna, which is the city’s largest square and the main gathering place for community events and seasonal festivals. Surrounded by 17th-century structures, it links the Old Town quarter with the city’s commercial district. After rebuilding a tramway transportation system, the square was designated a pedestrian-only zone, and an art installation by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa was installed here. It consists of sculptures atop tall pillars scattered around the plaza. (A large fountain featuring a statue of Apollo stands as the centerpiece of the square.)