Int he resort town of Gstaad, in the Bernese Oberland region of the Swiss Alps

 This distinguished town in southwestern Switzerland offers a lifestyle of leisure.

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(You might want to make your own way to Gstaad, which was once described by Julie Andrews as "the last paradise in a crazy world" -- to learn why the town has become such a popular destination in the German-speaking section of the Canton of Bern, the thriving Swiss Capital). Featured here is the town of Gstaad, which is part of the municipality of Saanen -- and is known as a major ski resort and a popular destination among the international jet set. During the Middle Ages it was part of the district of Saanen belonging to the Savoyard county of Gruyère. The core of the town developed at the fork in the trails into the Valais and Vaud cantons. By the 13th-14th centuries, it had an inn, a warehouse for storing trade goods, and oxen to help pull wagons over the alpine passes . The St. Nicholas chapel was built in the town in 1402. After the Eagle Ski Club opened in 1957, there were soon more than 1,000 hotel beds in the region. The residents, hoteliers, shopkeepers and tourist offices helped Gstaad get international attention. They supported the construction of ice rinks, tennis courts, swimming pools, ski jumps, and ski and hiking areas. The first ski lifts at Funi opened in 1934-44 and were followed by a number of gondolas, ski, and chair lifts.

+ The Gstaad Palace opened in 1913 as the town's first luxury hotel. In 1942 the Saanen-Gstaad airfield was opened for military and civil aviation. Helicopter rides were added later and in 1980 balloon flights became available as well. Most of the modern resorts and small hotels here are built out of wood (and retain traditional design elements). The Gstaad Polo Club was founded in 1992, and the Gstaad Yacht Club in 1998.

+ The Gstaad Palace opened in 1913 as Gstaad's first luxury hotel. In 1942 the Saanen-Gstaad airfield was opened for military and civil aviation. Helicopter rides were added later and in 1980 balloon flights became available as well. Most of the modern resorts and small hotels are built out of wood and retain traditional design elements. The Gstaad Polo Club was founded in 1992, and the Gstaad Yacht Club in 1998. Soon after the hotel's inauguration, WWI broke out in Europe, inhibiting the Palace's success at first. It saw growth in the 1920s but was again hampered by the Great Depression. During WWII, a vault in the hotel's cellar was used to safeguard money and other valuables held by the Swiss Bank Corporation (aka, UBS). After the war, the hotel became a favored vacation spot for royalty. In the 1950s, it drew many prominent entertainers.

+ Gstaad attracts many visitors in the summer as well as Winter. People come to attend the international events held during the summer months, whether that be world-class sporting competitions like the Swiss Cup, the Hublot Polo Gold Cup, and the Swatch Beach Volleyball Major, or popular cultural events like the Menuhin Festival or Country Night Gstaad.)

In the city of Zagreb, capital of Croatia

 Zagreb is a city with a rich history dating from Roman times. The oldest settlement in the vicinity of the city was the Roman Andautonia, in today's Ščitarjevo.

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(in the capital city of Croatia) Zagreb is found on the slopes of Medvednica Hill to the north and the floodplain of the Sava River to the south. The historical record of the name "Zagreb" dates from 1134, in reference to the foundation of the settlement at Kaptol in 1094. Zagreb became a free royal city in 1242. In 1851, Janko Kamauf became Zagreb's first mayor. Zagreb comprises a consolidated city-county; most of its 17 districts lie at a low elevation along the Sava valley, but northern and northeastern city districts, like Podsljeme and Sesvete are in the foothills of the Medvednica mountain.

+ Zagreb got its start as two medieval fortress towns atop hills overlooking the Sava, and was reborn in the Baroque period as a center of business on routes connecting Central Europe to the Adriatic Sea. Zagreb is now the heart of contemporary Croatia’s culture, art, sports, and academics, but its history is not forgotten. The unique blend of medieval towers, 19th century palaces, open-air markets, and ancient cathedrals, make Zagreb -- where I resided for nearly four years in the mid1990s -- a fascinating city to explore.

+The city has a beautiful medieval "old city" appearance, with buildings and cobblestone streets that are typical of Central European towns. In the north of the country, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb stands near the international border between Croatia and Slovenia at an elevation of about 158 meters (518 ft.) above sea level. (The population of Zagreb's urban agglomeration is slightly above a million people.) Zagreb’s Old Town consists of two medieval settlements on the hill: Grič, the civil settlement, which was renamed Gradec (“Fortress”) when it was encircled by walls that were built to defend against the Mongols in the 13th century; and Kaptol, the ecclesiastical settlement, which was fortified in the 16th century. These two towns continued as rival entities until the 19th century, when a spate of new building joined them together and expanded south onto the Sava floodplain, with a rectilinear new town of squares and public buildings. The city experienced rapid growth from 1860 to 1914. Its expansion in the 20th century proceeded eastward and westward, and after 1945 new residential construction went up on the south (right) bank of the Sava river. (North of Medvednica Hill is the Zagorje region of woodlands, vineyards, attractive villages, and ancient châteaus.) The transport connections, the concentration of industry, scientific and research institutions (and industrial tradition) underlie its leading economic position in Croatia. Zagreb is the most important transport hub in Croatia: here Central Europe, the Mediterranean, and Southeast Europe meet, making the Zagreb area the center of the road, rail, and air networks of Croatia.

In County Kerry and the province of Munster, in southern Region, Ireland

 One of Ireland’s most beautiful heritage and tourist spots, Killarney in County Kerry is famed in song and story. -- Jane Walsh

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(in County Kerry in Ireland's Southern Region, and the province of Munster.) Named after the Ciarraige who lived in part of the present county. Kerry faces the Atlantic Ocean and, typically for an Eastern-Atlantic coastal region, features many peninsulas and inlets. The county is bounded on the west by the Atlantic and on the north by the River Shannon. Kerry is one of the most mountainous regions of Ireland and its highest mountains are all part of the MacGillycuddy's Reeks range.

+ Just off the coast are a number of islands, including the Blasket Islands, Valentia Island, and the Skelligs. (Skellig Michael is a World Heritage Site, famous for the medieval monastery clinging to the island's cliffs). The county comprises the extreme west point of Ireland, Dunmore Head on the Dingle Peninsula. The most westerly inhabited area of Ireland is Dún Chaoin, on the Dingle Peninsula. The River Feale, the River Laune, and the Roughty River flow through Kerry, into the Atlantic.

+ Kerry's highest mountains, Carrauntoohil, Beenkeragh, and Caher, are part of the MacGillycuddy's Reeks range. Just off the coast are a number of islands, including the Blasket Islands, Valentia Island, and the Skelligs. Skellig Michael is a World Heritage Site, famous for the medieval monastery clinging to the island's cliffs. The county contains the extreme west point of Ireland, Dunmore Head on the Dingle Peninsula, or including islands, Tearaght Island, part of the Blaskets. The most westerly inhabited area of Ireland is Dún Chaoin, on the Dingle Peninsula. The River Feale, the River Laune, and the Roughty River flow through Kerry, into the Atlantic.

+ A popular tourist destination, Kerry is bordered by County Limerick to the northeast and County Cork to the south and southeast. The county town is Tralee although the Catholic diocesan seat is Killarney (featured here), which is one of Ireland's most famous tourist destinations. The Lakes of Killarney, an area of outstanding natural beauty, are located in Killarney National Park. The Reeks District is home to Carrauntoohil, Ireland's highest mountain at 1,039 meters. The tip of the Dingle Peninsula is the westernmost point of Ireland.

+ Killarney was first made popular by Queen Victoria who visited Killarney in 1861, staying at Muckross House. The local newspaper described her stay at the Muckross mansion thus: "An entire section of the mansion has been set apart for the royal family so that all their apartments communicate without the necessity of passing into the corridors to be used by other occupants of the house. The Queen will live here in privacy, and from the windows of her rooms, she can walk into delightful grounds, which will be kept private during her stay at Muckross House. The Queen will live here in privacy, and from the windows of her rooms, she can walk into delightful grounds."

In the seaport city of Nice, in southeastern France

 With its mix of real-city life, old-world opulence, year-round sunshine, vibrant street life and stunning seaside location, no place in France compares with Nice.

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(in the cultural capital of the French Riviera in southeastern France) The seaport city of Nice, a Mediterranean tourist center, and capital of the Alpes-Maritimes department of the Provence–Alpes–Côte-d’Azur région, is located on the Baie (bay) des Anges, 20 miles (32 km) from the Italian border.

+ Founded by a colony of Greek mariners around 350 BCE, the city of Nice was conquered by the Romans during the 1st century CE, and became a trading station. The town was held by the counts of Provence during the 10th century, and in 1388 passed under the protection of the counts of Savoy, who held it until 1860, when Nice was ceded to France by the Treaty of Turin.

+ The Paillon River separates the new town to the west from the Old Town, the harbor, and the commercial district to the east. The Old Town stands at the western base of a granite hill known as Le Château. The harbor, begun in 1750, is now used mainly by ferry services to Corsica and by sailing craft. The most striking part of the new town is the Promenade des Anglais, which originated in 1822 as a path along the shore, stretching 2.5 miles (4 km) along the waterfront.

+ Nice has a long history of tourism both in summer and winter, and it is one of the city’s principal economic activities. Apart from the beaches and yachting harbor, tourism is stimulated by Nice’s cultural facilities, shops, and architectural heritage. In addition, many events and festivals are organized each year, notably the Carnival of Nice, but also including the open tennis tournament.

+ The city is nicknamed Nice la Belle, meaning "Nice the Beautiful," which is also the title of the anthem of Nice. Through the ages, Nice has changed hands many times. Its strategic location and port significantly contributed to its maritime strength.

+ The natural environment of the Nice area and its mild Mediterranean climate came to the attention of the English upper classes in the second half of the 18th century. In 1931, the city's main seaside promenade, the Promenade des Anglais ("Walkway of the English"), was inaugurated by Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught; it owes its name to visitors to the resort. These included Queen Victoria along with her son Edward VII who spent winters here, as well as Henry Cavendish, who discovered hydrogen.

+ The clear air and soft light have particularly appealed to notable painters, such as Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse, Niki de Saint Phalle and Arman. Their work is commemorated in many of the city's museums, including Musée Marc Chagall, Musée Matisse and Musée des Beaux-Arts. International writers have also been attracted and inspired by the city. Frank Harris wrote several books including his autobiography My Life and Loves in Nice. Friedrich Nietzsche spent six consecutive winters in Nice, and wrote Thus Spoke Zarathustra here.

In the seaport city of Stavanger, northwestern Norway

 Stavanger, Norway, is famous for its Pulpit Rock. It is as much an iconic tourist spot as it is a landmark with magnificent fjord views.

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(in southwestern Norway) The seaport city of Stavanger lies on the east side of a peninsula, with the Norwegian Sea on the west and Gands Fjord on the east. Stavanger became the seat of a bishopric in the 12th century, when the Cathedral of St. Swithun was built. Although it received a royal charter as a trading town in 1425, Stavanger grew slowly. After the Protestant Reformation, its bishopric was transferred to Kristiansand in 1682, but a new Lutheran bishopric was established in 1925.

+ Shipbuilding and shipping are now the city’s main economic activities, together with the refining of North Sea oil, first drilled in 1971. Stavanger became the center for all service activities connected with Norway’s burgeoning North Sea oil and gas industry. The Norwegian Canning Museum is one of several local museums that together constitute Museum Stavanger. Among the others are the Norwegian Petroleum Museum, Stavanger Museum, Stavanger Maritime Museum, and Stavanger Art Museum. Stavanger is also the site of the Kongsgård Grammar School (formerly a royal residence) and the Valbergtårn Watchtower. The Cathedral of St. Swithun, with its Norman and Gothic architecture, is another popular tourist attraction.

+ Stavanger, one of Norway's oldest cities, emerged in the 12th century during a period of population and urbnization growth in much of northern Europe. The archaeological and historical sources about the city's early development are sparse. Yet, It stands out as an important area from early times, as a desirable foothold for the monarchy and the church, as both needed a strong foothold in the southwest coastal area. In North Jæren, a traditional district in Norway's Rogaland county, rich archaeological material suggests that the chiefs held considerable power from the early Iron Age. Stavanger had a natural harbor and was, with Jæren in the south, strategically important to the county of the east as well as to the shipping route along the western coast and the fertile Ryfylke Islands in the north.

+ Clearly, Stavanger was known as a church city throughout the Middle Ages, up to the Reformation. (The cathedral, the bishop, and canons of the monastery had been large landowners.) Recession of the city began with the loss of people in rural areas, as a result of which the revenues of the cathedral and the bishop fell dramatically due to reduced rental income. In 1537 the bishop's and the monastery's estate (and property) was confiscated by the king.

+ Stavanger is now known as Norway's "Oil City" due to its importance in oil exploration in the North Sea (since the 1970s). Stavanger's old center has some of the most beautiful and best-preserved wooden buildings anywhere in Norway, many dating back to the 18th century. It's all very pretty, and in summer the waterfront comes alive in the best port-town style.

In the city of Ljubljana, capital of Slovenia

 “In recent years, I have made it a habit to visit on the Feast of Corpus Christi ... Despite the nice, warm weather of early summer, it seemed as fresh snow had fallen, as the green slopes looked as if covered by sugar ... Multitudes of white daffodils covered all the mountain meadows. -- Julius Kugy

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(in one of Europe's greenest and most liveable capitals) Ljubljana, the economic, political, and cultural center of Slovenia, is located on the Ljubljanica River. The city lies in central Slovenia in a natural depression surrounded by high peaks of the Julian Alps. In summer, cafes set up terrace seating along the river; it almost feels like a nightly street party.

+ Cut through the gardens of Tivoli Park to the National Museum of Contemporary History for a history of modern Slovenia.

+ Slovenia, wedged between Austria and Italy, has always been proud of its unique heritage. The capital, Ljubljana (shown here), is a great example of this blend of German, Mediterranean, and Slovenian culture. The Old Town is a blend of Baroque, Renaissance, and Art Nouveau buildings, watched over by a medieval castle.

(in one of Europe's greenest and most liveable capitals) Ljubljana, the economic, political, and cultural center of Slovenia, is located on the Ljubljanica River. The city lies in central Slovenia in a natural depression surrounded by high peaks of the Julian Alps. In summer, cafes set up terrace seating along the river; (it almost feels like a nightly street party).

+ Cut through the gardens of Tivoli Park to the National Museum of Contemporary History for a lesson on modern Slovenia. A walled Roman encampment was built here in the mid-1st century BCE by Roman legionnaires and developed into the settlement of Emona (Iulia Aemona), though the area had been settled earlier by the Veneti, the Illyrians, and the Celts, beginning about 1000 BCE. Sitting on the route to Pannonia and commanding the Ljubljana Gap, the strategically located city was destroyed by Attila in the mid-5th century. The Slovene Slavic tribes, migrating westward, rebuilt it in the 12th century, when its name was recorded first as Laibach (1144) and then as Luvigana (1146).

+ In the late 13th century, rule passed to the Habsburgs, and in 1335 Ljubljana became the capital of the Habsburg-Austrian province of Carniola. From 1461 Ljubljana was the seat of a bishop. Taken by the French in 1809, it became the government seat of the Illyrian Provinces. The completion of the southern (Vienna-Trieste) railway line in 1849 stimulated the cultural growth of this city, which became a center of Slovene nationalism under Austrian rule.

+ Foreign rule ended in 1918, when Ljubljana and Slovenia became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (later Yugoslavia). In 1941 Italian troops occupied the city. After World War II, Ljubljana underwent significant industrialization and modernization. In 1991, when Slovenia gained its independence, Ljubljana became the national capital.

In the city of Frankfurt, Germany

 "A man sees in the world what he carries in his heart."

-- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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(in the birthplace of German democracy) Frankfurt is now more famous for its bankers, and the skyscrapers they have funded. A hub from the very beginning (the name comes from a river ford used by the Franks who went on to conquer France), Frankfurt's airport offers flights to more destinations than any other, and you can seemingly take trains anywhere from here, too. This is one of Germany's most diverse cities, even when its famous trade shows aren't in town, yet next to the skyscrapers you'll find the restored Old Town that served as the brief capital of a democratic Germany during the failed 1848 revolutions, and remains a reminder of Frankfurt's time as one of the Holy Roman Empire's prime cities.

+ Frankfurt (as it is also known) is located in what was a swampy portion of the Main valley, a lowland criss-crossed by channels of the river. (The oldest parts are therefore to be found on the higher portions of the valley, through which passed the Roman road from Mainz to Heddernheim.) The Odenwald and Spessart ranges surrounded the area, lending a defensive advantage, and many placenames show that the lowlands on both sides of the river were originally wooded. The oldest part of the the old city center, is the Cathedral Hill (Domhügel), on an island created by arms of the Main. Only from the west could it be reached by foot without getting wet; this, together with its location at a ford, gave it military and economic advantages.

+ There is plenty to see and do in this 2,000-year-old city. The gothic Saint Bartholomeus Cathedral is a perseverant structure, having been destroyed and rebuilt twice since its 14th century construction. Catch a screening at the German Film Museum, stroll the exhibit halls of one of Frankfurt’s many galleries, or climb to the top of the Main Tower for sweeping 360-degree views of the city.

+ Glinting with glass, steel, and concrete skyscrapers, Frankfurt-on-the-Main (pronounced "mine") is unlike any other German city. The focal point of an urban area of 5.5 million, "Mainhattan" is home to one of the world’s largest stock exchanges and the headquarters of the European Central Bank; it also hosts some of the world's most popular trade fairs, attracting thousands of travellers.

+ Frankfurt's airport offers flights to more destinations than any other, and you can take trains most anywhere from here, too. This is one of Germany's most diverse cities, even when its trade shows aren't in town, yet next to the skyscrapers you'll find the restored Old Town that served as the brief capital of a democratic Germany during the failed 1848 revolutions, and remains a reminder of Frankfurt's time as one of the Holy Roman Empire's prime cities.

+ Discover the city's famed highlights and hidden gems, from Frankfurt's its old opera house, St. Paul's Church, through to the cathedral and the beautifully reconstructed new "Old Town."

In the city of Oldenburg, an independent city in the state of Lower Saxony, Germany

 The Lower Saxony (state) of Germany is the country’s second largest state in size; it occupies an important band of territory across the northwestern part of the country. It is bordered by the North Sea and the German states of Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg to the north and by the states of Mecklenburg–West Pomerania to the northeast, Saxony-Anhalt to the east, Thuringia and Hessen to the south, and North Rhine–Westphalia to the southwest. The Netherlands borders Lower Saxony to the west.

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(in an independent city in the state of Lower Saxony, Germany). Situated at the junction of the Hunte River and the Küsten Canal, which links the Hunte and Ems rivers, some 25 miles (40 km) west of Bremen, Oldenburg lies at the eastern approach to the North Sea coastal district of Leer, East Friesland (Ostfriesland). First mentioned in 1108 and chartered in 1345, it became the seat of the counts and dukes of Oldenburg in the 17th century. From 1918 to 1946 the city was the capital of Oldenburg state. There is shipping with Bremerhaven at the Weser estuary and with the Ruhr district (and Oldenburg is a center for conventions, exhibitions, and sporting events). Landmarks include the grand ducal palace , which now houses a state museum of art and culture, and the Lamberti Church. Oldenburg also has other museums and art galleries, a state theater, and botanical gardens. It is the seat of the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg (which was founded in 1973).

+During the French annexation (from1811–1813) in the wake of the Napoleonic war against Britain, it was also known as Le Vieux-Bourg in French. The city is the place of origin of the House of Oldenburg. Before the end of the German Empire (in1918), it was the administrative center and residence of the monarchs of Oldenburg.

+ Archaeological finds point to a settlement dating back to the 8th century. The first documentary evidence, in 1108, referenced Aldenburg in connection with Elimar I (also known as Egilmar I) who is now commonly seen as the first count of Oldenburg. The town gained importance due to its location at a ford of the navigable Hunte river. Oldenburg became the capital of the County of Oldenburg (later a Duchy (from 1774–1810), Grand Duchy (1815–1918), and Free State (1918–1946)) -- a small state in the shadow of the much more powerful Hanseatic city of Bremen.

+ In the 17th century Oldenburg was a wealthy town in a time of war and turmoil and its population and power grew considerably. In 1667, the town was struck by a disastrous plague epidemic and, shortly after, a fire destroyed it. The Danish kings, who were also counts of Oldenburg at the time, appeared to have little interest in the condition of the town and it lost most of its former importance. In 1773, Danish rule ended. Only then were the destroyed buildings in the city rebuilt in a neoclassicist style. (German-speakers usually call the neoclassicist style of that period klassizistisch.)