At the Schloss Neuschwanstein (Neuschwanstein Castle), in southeastern Germany

 There are no rules of architecture for a castle in the clouds. --Gilbert K. Chesterton

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(near Füssen, in southeastern Germany,in the Bavarian Alps) Schloss Neuschwanstein (Neuschwanstein Castle), which translates to "New Swan Stone" castle, is not only one of the most famous castles in Germany, but arguably in the world. Appearing through the mountaintops like a mirage, Schloss Neuschwanstein was the model for Disney’s Sleeping Beauty castle. King Ludwig II planned this fairy-tale pile himself, with the help of a stage designer rather than an architect. He envisioned it as a stage on which to recreate the world of Germanic mythology, inspired by the operatic works of his friend Richard Wagner. The most impressive room is the Sängersaal (Minstrels’ Hall), whose frescos depict scenes from the opera Tannhäuser.

+ Built as a medieval castle, work started in 1869 and, like so many of Ludwig’s grand schemes, was never finished. For all the sums spent on it, the king spent just over 170 days in residence. Completed sections include Ludwig’s bedroom, dominated by a huge Gothic-style bed crowned with icarved cathedral-like spires; an artificial grotto (another allusion to Tannhäuser); and the Byzantine-style Thronsaal (Throne Room) with a mosaic floor containing over two million stones. The painting opposite the (throneless) throne platform depicts another castle dreamed up by Ludwig that was never built . (For a great view of Neuschwanstein and the plains beyond, walk 10 minutes up to Marienbrücke (Mary’s Bridge), shown here, which spans the spectacular Pöllat Gorge over a waterfall above the castle. (It’s said Ludwig enjoyed coming up here after dark to watch the candlelight radiating from the Sängersaal.)

+ The castle’s throne room, which still did not contain a throne at the time of Louis’s death, is modeled after a Byzantine basilica; stars decorate its blue vaulted ceiling, which is supported by red porphyry columns. Louis was a patron of Richard Wagner, and paintings throughout the castle depict the legends that inspired the composer: the life of Parsifal in the Singers’ Hall; the Tannhäuser saga in the study; and Lohengrin in the great parlour. Despite remaining unfinished, Neuschwanstein Castle became one of the most popular tourist attractions in Europe, receiving about 1.3 million visitors each year. It also served as inspiration for Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle.

+ Neuschwanstein was built in a time when castles were no longer necessary as strongholds, and, despite its romanticized design, Louis required it to have the newest technological comforts. structure is complete with a walled courtyard, and an indoor garden. Neuschwanstein is equipped with running water, flush toilets and hot water in the kitchen and baths, and has a central heating system. The dining room is serviced by an elevator from the kitchen three stories below. Louis also ensured the castle was connected to telephone lines, though very few people had phones then.

In the seaport city of Barcelona, capital of the Catalonia autonomous region, in northeast Spain

 Barcelona is a seaside city with boundless culture, fabled architecture and a world-classdining scene.

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(in the capital of the Catalonia autonomous region, in northeast Spain) The seaport city of Barcelona, Spain’s largest port and second largest city (after Madrid), is the country’s principal industrial and commercial center, as well as a major cultural and educational center. It was allegdly founded in the 3rd century BCE by the Carthaginians or the Phoenicians, and it was later ruled by the Romans and Visigoths. It was captured by the Moors around 715 CE, but it was retaken by the Franks under Charlemagne in 801 and made the capital of the Spanish March (Catalonia). After Catalonia united with Aragon in 1137, Barcelona became a flourishing commercial center and the rival of Italian ports. In the 19th century it was a cauldron for radical social movements and Catalan separatism. It was the loyalist capital in 1937–39 during the Spanish Civil War; its capture by Francisco Franco brought the collapse of Catalan resistance and Catalonia’s reintegration into Spain. Modern Barcelona is known for its handsome architecture, including buildings by Antoni Gaudí.

+ When it comes to history, art, and architecture, Barcelona delivers. There is Gaudí’s iconic Basílica de la Sagrada Familia, the Picasso Museum, and the Gothic Quarter. Yet, look beyond the landmarks and busy mercados (markets) and you will notice how nature steals the show (the city is literally surrounded by it.) On one side there are gorgeous sandy beaches that give the neighboring Balearic Islands a run for their money, and on the other, the Serra de Collserola mountains, home to Parc de Collserola (one of the biggest city parks in the world}. It may be the reason bike culture is big here: Numerous bike lanes make it easy to get around the Catalan capital. Spend a low-key afternoon cruising the revamped La Rambla (you will want to walk your bike once you hit the pedestrian-only drag) and stop for tapas and sangria.

+ Barcelona is famous for its Modernista architecture, including the iconic buildings of Antoni Gaudí. His masterpiece is the mighty cathedral La Sagrada Família (depicted here), which remains a work in progress close to a century after its creator’s death. It’s a bizarre combination of crazy and classic Gothic touches intersect with eccentric experimental flourishes and improbable angles. Even half completed, it is a modern-day wonder.Of course, there is much more to the Catalonian capital than its most famous church. Barcelona heaves with restaurants, art museums, and history-steeped neighborhoods ⁠(not to mention its incredible beaches).

+ The city borders on the municipalities of Santa Coloma de Gramenet and Sant Adrià de Besòs to the north; the Mediterranean Sea to the east; El Prat de Llobregat and L'Hospitalet de Llobregat to the south; and Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Sant Just Desvern, Esplugues de Llobregat, Sant Cugat del Vallès, and Montcada i Reixac to the west.

In the city of Copenhagen, capital city of Denmark

 Copenhagen is the epitome of Scandi cool, modernist lamps light New Nordic tables, bridges buzz with cycling commuters and locals dive into pristine waterways.

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(in the capital city of Denmark) Copenhagen was once a Viking fishing settlement, but beyond the remains of a very old castle, museums dedicated to the famous raiders, and narrow streets between canals, you will find that Copenhagen is a modern city. Its colored houses of Nyhavn (shown here), Tivoli Gardens, and an old mermaid statue still draw lots of visitors.

+ Situated on the islands of Zealand and Amager, it is separated from Malmö, Sweden, by the Øresund strait. The Øresund Bridge connects the two cities by both rail and road.

+ Originally a Viking fishing village established in the 10th century in the vicinity of what is now Gammel Strand, Copenhagen became the capital of Denmark in the early 15th century. During the 16th century, the city served as the de facto capital of the Kalmar Union and the seat of the Union's monarchy, which governed most of the modern-day Nordic region as part of a Danish confederation with Sweden and Norway.

+ Copenhagen is now home to the University of Copenhagen(the oldest in Denmark}, the Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen Business School, and the IT University of Copenhagen.

+ During the 16th century, the city served as the de facto capital of the Kalmar Union and the seat of the Union's monarchy that governed most of the modern-day Nordic region. The city prospered as the cultural and economic center of Scandinavia during the Renaissance, and by the 17th century, it had become a regional center of power, serving as the heart of the Danish government. During the 18th century, Copenhagen endured a plague outbreak and launched redevelopment efforts that included the building of the Frederiksstaden district and the establishment of institutions like the Royal Theater and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. In 1807, the city was bombarded by a British fleet during the Napoleonic Wars.

.+ After World War II, the development of housing and businesses were along railway routes from the city center. (The city's Metro serves central Copenhagen.)

+ Since the turn of the 21st century, Copenhagen has seen much urban and cultural development, as a result of considerable investment in its institutions and infrastructure. The city is now the cultural, economic, and governmental center of Denmark, and one of the major financial centers of Northern Europe; With its Stock Exchange, Copenhagen's economy has also developed rapidly in the service sector, Since the completion of the Øresund Bridge, Copenhagen has been integrated with the Swedish province of Scania and its largest city, Malmö, thus forming the Øresund Region. With bridges connecting its several districts, the city of Copenhagen is yet characterized by parks, promenades, and waterfronts. which are quite popular with its many tourists.

In the French Riviera (or Côte d'Azur), the Mediterranean coast of southeastern France

 Queen Victoria’s deathbed words included: “If only I were in Nice, I’d get better.”

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(in southeastern France on the Côte d’Azur of the Mediterranean Sea, near the Italian border) The city of Nicewas founded by Greeks (ca. 350 BCE; it was conquered by Romans in the 1st century CE and became a trading station. It was held by the counts of Provence in the 10th century. In 1388 it passed to the counts of Savoy. The city was ceded to France in 1860. (Sheltered by beautiful hills, Nice is the leading resort of the French Riviera.)

+ The deep blue waters of the Cote d’Azur are the dramatic backdrop for Nice, the cultural capital of the French Riviera, set on the Baie des Anges (Bay of Angels). Stroll, bike, or rollerblade the famous Promenade des Anglais, a palm-tree-lined, four-mile stretch that runs along the Mediterranean. A hike up Castle Hill offers up incredible panoramic views, while a walk through the pretty streets of Old Town delivers on cute cafés, a famed flower market, and busy brasseries serving delicious Provençal food. It’s easy to see why Nice was a haven for painters like Marc Chagall and Matisse, and if you need a break from Nice’s endless sun, you can visit local museums highlighting their work. .

+ Visitors tend to feel chipper here, strolling the Promenade des Anglais with unfiltered light spangling the Bay of Angels. For 200 years, it has created pictures for painters (Matisse, Chagall), a setting for sybarites and shadows for well-heeled decadence. It still does, while retaining its Latin soul in a Vieux Nice labyrinth pulsing with commerce.

Because of its beauty, its history, its architecture. and its natural spaces, the city of Nice made its entry into UNESCO in July 2021. Indeed, the capital of the Côte d’Azur has seen its name inscribed on the World Heritage List as “Riviera Winter Resort City,” which includes the Promenade des Anglais, also the tree-lined districts of Cimiez and Mont-Boron, the villas and hotels spread throughout its districts, the vegetation that is both local and exotic, as well as the urban planning and architecture that have shaped the city through two and a half centuries of tourist activity.. From palaces to baroque monuments, the Old Nice will give you its diversity and richness.
Sites to see: the Palais Lascaris, the Palais de Justice, the Palais des Rois Sardes, the Palais Communal Masséna, the former Senate, the Cathedral of Sainte-Réparate (and the Chapelle de la Miséricorde) and, the municipal galleries.

+ Other places to see include sites of Cimiez, its arenas and its thermal baths. Also, Greek traces and vestiges of the Middle Ages, on the hill of the Castle and under the Garibaldi square. Stroll about the beautiful residences like the Château de l’Anglais and the Château de Valrose. Visit the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of Saint-Nicolas with its icons, woodwork and exceptional frescoes. See also the Hotel Le Négresco (one of the ten best palaces in the world), Le Régina or Le Grand Hôtel.

In the Tuscany regio of Italy

 With its lyrical landscapes, world-class art, and a superb farmer's kitchen, the Tuscan experience is in symbiosis with its land.

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(in the Tuscany region of Italy) This region is a touchstone of art, food, and culture. Made up of stunning countryside and distinguished cities, Tuscany is an escape for gastronomes, cognoscenti, and Italian Renaissance fans. A bike tour through olive groves and vineyards is a way to breathe in the fine atmosphere: rolling hills blanketed with vineyards and olive trees, medieval towns, the Mediterranean coast, and delicious cuisine lure visitors, who when they think of Tuscany, the first images that come to mind may be cities like Florence or Pisa. Yet, Tuscany has been home to many influential artists and scientists. Think of Dante Alighieri, Giovanni Boccaccio, Giotto, Brunelleschi, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Galileo Galilei. The Etruscan reign lasted until 351 BCE, when Rome conquered them. The Roman Empire brought peace to the region, as well as new technologies such as aqueducts and sewers. Former Etruscan settlements were colonized, and new Roman towns were founded. The urban plan was always based on that of a military camp: square-shaped with streets in an orthogonal grid. If you look at the map of cities like Florence, Lucca, or Pistoia, you can see the square grid of the original Roman town in the city center.

+ The Roman Empire collapsed in the 5th century, after which Tuscany had to cope with many invasions, and it came under the rule of the Ostrogoths and Byzantines. By the 12th century, the area had lost its unity. Most Tuscan cities gained independence and were ruled by different aristocratic families. The Florentines became the bankers of southern Europe while also excelling in other areas, such as silk production. Siena and Lucca also became wealthy for their textile manufacturing. At the same time, the Pisans benefited greatly from their location near the sea and maritime trade routes. After Pisa lost the Battle of Meloria against Genoa, the city began to lose its power. Meanwhile, Florence bought up Arezzo. This way, the Florentines gained enough regional strength to take Pisa under their control.

+In the Renaissance period, the family that benefitted from Florence's wealth was the Medici family. The House of Medici, an Italian banking family, made their initial wealth from trading textiles. The Grand Duchy of Tuscany enabled Florence to grow: by buying the island of Elba and annexing Siena. In the light of these expansions, Pope Pius V declared Cosimo Grand Duke of Tuscany in 1569. In 1737 the last Medici, Gian Gastone, died; thus making the House of Medici extinct. Francis Stephen of Lorraine (and his descendants ruled the grand duchy until 1859 (except during the Napoleonic period).

+ After the Second Italian War of Independence, a revolution evicted the last Grand Duke. In 1864; Florence became the capital of the Kingdom until 1871, when Rome became the Kingdom's new capital.

In the port city of Bordeaux, southwestern France

 "Most of the guests who stay here wouldn’t know the difference between Bordeaux and Claret." --John Cleese

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(in a city on the river Garonne in the Gironde department of southwestern France) A port city, Bordeaux is the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture of the Gironde department. Its inhabitants are called "Bordelais" (masculine) or "Bordelaises" (feminine). (The term "Bordelais" may also refer to the city and its surrounding region.)

+ The Bordeaux Metropolis is the fifth most populated metropolitan council in France after those of Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Lille. Bordeaux is a world capital of wine: many châteaux and vineyards stand on the hillsides of the Gironde, and the city is home to the world's main wine fair, Vinexpo. Bordeaux is also one of the centers of gastronomy and business tourism for the organization of international congresses. It is a central and strategic hub for the aeronautics, military and space sector, home to international companies such as Dassault Aviation, Ariane Group, Safran and Thalès.

Bordeaux is an international tourist destination for its architectural and cultural heritage with more than 362 historic monuments,making it, after Paris, the city with the most listed or registered monuments in France. The "Pearl of Aquitaine" has been voted European Destination of the year in a 2015 online poll. The metropolis has also received awards and rankings by international organizations such as in 1957, Bordeaux was awarded the Europe Prize for its efforts in transmitting the European ideal.

+ Lying on the Garonne River above its junction with the Dordogne, Bordeaux has long been noted for its wine production. As Burdigala, it was the chief town of the Bituriges Vivisci, a Celtic people. Under Roman rule it was capital of Aquitania province. As part of the inheritance of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Bordeaux became English in 1154 on her husband’s accession to the English throne as Henry II. It enjoyed great prosperity through a thriving trade with the English until it was united with France on the English defeat in the Hundred Years’ War (1453). As a Girondin center, it suffered severely in the French Revolution. In 1870, during the Franco-Prussian War, the French government was transferred to Bordeaux, as it was again in 1914 at the outbreak of World War I. Its university, founded in 1441, educated such figures as Montesquieu.

+ After many years of hard work, the "Sleeping Beauty" has awoken from its slumber. The city is beautifully restored and has an ultra-modern public transport system. The “Port of the Moon” is also now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Stone Bridge, with its 17 arches, crosses the Garonne, offering pedestrians a lovely view over the docks and harbor. Take a stroll through old Bordeaux in the Triangle d'Or and stop at Place des Quinconces, France’s largest public square. (The city of Bordeaux is an ideal base for exploring the wine region’s great sights and tastes.)

In the town of Sintra, western Portugal

 Located on the top of the Sintra mountains, a few kilometers from Lisbon, the Pena Palace is like the Crown Jewel, awakening feelings of mystery, discovery, and charm:

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(in western Portuga) The town of Sintra constitutes three parishes of Lisbon (Santa Maria e São Miguel, São Martinho, and São Pedro de Pennaferrim) and is within the much larger Sintra municipality, on the Portuguese Riviera. Sintra is situated on the northern slope of the rugged Sintra Mountains. An area of former royal summer residence, Sintra possesses a beauty that was celebrated by Lord Byron in his poem Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage, and English author Robert Southey referred to Sintra as “the most blessed spot on the whole inhabitable globe.” (Sintra was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995.)

+ Rising from a thickly wooded peak and often enshrouded in swirling mist, Palácio Nacional da Pena is a confection of onion domes, Moorish keyhole gates, writhing stone snakes and crenellated towers in pinks and lemons. It is considered the greatest expression of 19th-century romanticism in Portugal. A 19th-century castle, partly an adaptation of a 16th-century monastery and partly an imitation of a medieval fortress, was built for Queen Maria II by her young German consort, Ferdinand II. The castle stands on the top of a hill in the Sintra Mountains above the town of Sintra, and on a clear day it can be easily seen from Lisbon and much of its metropolitan area.

+ Ferdinand of Saxe Coburg-Gotha, the artist-husband of Queen Maria II, and later Dom Ferdinand II, commissioned Prussian architect Ludwig von Eschwege in 1840 to build the Mouresque-Manueline epic (and as a final flourish added an armored statue representing a medieval knight overlooking the palace from a nearby peak). Inspired by Stolzenfels and Rheinstein castles and Potsdam's Babelsberg Palace, a flourish of imagination and color commenced.

On the extensive grounds of the castle, Ferdinand created the Parque da Pena, a series of gardens and walking paths that incorporated more than 2,000 species of domestic and nonnative plants. Loosely adopting the conventions established by the English garden movement in the 18th century, the park incorporates natural elements throughout, adapting to the area’s rugged terrain rather than reshaping it. On another peak is Castle dos Mouros, which was built by the Moors in the 8th and 9th centuries. The 15th-century royal palace, a mixture of Moorish and debased Gothic architecture, is in the Old Town section of Sintra. The palace served as a refuge for the royal family during the summer months, when Lisbon could become uncomfortably hot, and during times of plague. Although damaged in the earthquake of 1755, the palace was painstakingly restored, and in the 21st century more than 400,000 tourists visited it each year. (These buildings and the nearby Monserrate Palace and its park are among the best examples of landscape gardening on the Iberian Peninsula.)

In the city of Timisoara, the capital city of Timiș in Western Romania

 Eastern Europe's "Little Vienna" Is A Cultural Melting Pot With A Youthful, Vibrant Atmosphere:

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(in the capital city of Timiș County, Banat, and the main economic, social and cultural center in Western Romania); charming, it is often referred to as “Little Vienna;” Indeed, Austrian influences are evident in the architecture, food, and culture. Timisoara, the largest city in western Romania, grew around the site of Castrum Regium Themes (Castri de Thymes), an ancient Roman crossroad fortress. in 1241. Timisoara was invaded and partially destroyed by the Tatars. In 1552, the Turkish armies conquered Timisoara and kept the town under their authority until 1716, when the region of Banat came under Austrian rule. Soon after the Habsburg Empire took over the region, from the Ottomans, the new governor of Banat, General Mercy, commisioned a bastion with strong walls, towers and gates. The Swabians (skilled craftsmen from Swabia, southern Germany} helped transform Timisoara into a commercial and manufacturing town. Austrians, Germans, Jews, Serbians, and Hungarians all left their mark during the two centuries of Austrian domination of Timisoara. The charm of Timisoara lies in its distinct architectural character, ample green spaces, and vibrant cultural life. Timisoara is home to year-round musical and theatrical performances, art galleries, museums, restaurants and cafes, and a buzzing nightlife.

+ Timisoara was the first city in Europe and second in the world, after New York, to use electricity to illuminate its streets. Some of the monuments in the heart of the city afford panoramic views, while the many parks in this "city of flowers" provide an idyllic spot to take a break from sightseeing.
Timişoara is also the birthplace of the 1989 Romanian Revolution, which ended the dictatorship of Nicolae Ceauşescu and paved the way for democracy.

In the tidal island of Mont-Saint-Michel, mainland commune in Normandy, France

 A magical island topped by a gravity-defying abbey, the Mont-Saint-Michel and its Bay count among France’s most stunning sights.

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(in Manche departement, of the Normandy région in  France, off the coast of Normandy.) Mont-Saint-Michel, a rocky islet and famous sanctuary, lies 41 miles (66 km) north of Rennes and 32 miles (52 km) east of Saint-Malo. Around its base are medieval walls and towers, above which rise the clustered buildings of the village with the ancient abbey crowning the mount. (One of the more popular tourist attractions in France, Mont-Saint-Michel was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979 (as was its breathtaking bay).

+ Mont-Saint-Michel is almost circular (about 3,000 feet [900 meters] in circumference) and consists of a granite outcrop rising sharply (to 256 feet [78 meters]) out of Mont-Saint-Michel Bay (between Brittany and Normandy). Most of the time it is surrounded by vast sandbanks and becomes an island only when the tides are very high. Before the construction of the 3,000-foot causeway that connects the island to land, it was difficult to reach because of quicksand and very fast-rising tides. The island was originally called Mont-Tombe but became known as Mont-Saint-Michel in the 8th century, when St. Aubert, bishop of Avranches, built an oratory there after having a vision of the archangel St. Michael. It soon became a pilgrimage center, and in 966 a Benedictine abbey was built there. In 1203 it was partly burned when King Philip II of France tried to capture the mount. He compensated the monks by paying for the construction of the monastery known as La Merveille (“The Wonder”).

+ The island, which was fortified in 1256, resisted sieges during the Hundred Years’ War between England and France (1337–1453) and the French Wars of Religion (1562–98). The monastery declined in the 18th century, and only seven monks were living there when it was dissolved during the French Revolution (1787–99). It became a state prison under Napoleon I and remained a prison until 1863. In 1874 it was classified as a historic monument and restored. The abbey church that towers over the island has an imposing 11th-and 12th-century Romanesque nave and a choir in Flamboyant Gothic style (built 1450–1521). The church is built over three crypts. The exterior walls of the Gothic monastery La Merveille (built by 1228) combine the powerful characteristics of a military fortress and the simplicity of a religious building. The story of how the mount came to be a great Christian pilgrimage site dates back to the early 8th century. From 966 onwards, the dukes of Normandy, followed by the French kings, supported the development of a Benedictine abbey on Mont-Saint-Michel. Monastic buildings were added throughout the Middle Ages, one vertiginous wing in particular being nicknamed the Marvel. (The Abbey of the Mont-Saint-Michel became a renowned center of learning, attracting some of the greatest minds and manuscript illuminators in Europe.)

In the island of Madeira, autonomous region of Portugal, is an archipelago comprising 4 islands

 Madeira: A Paradise of Nature and Culture

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(on a Portuguese archipelago) Breezy Madeira is an eponymous island in the Madeira Islands, a Portuguese archipelago. The capital city of Funchal was settled in the 15th century and is a colorful collection of gardens, religious sites, and tourist attractions like the thatched-roof Madeira Story Center. Hike to the summit of Pico Ruivo and you will feel like you have climbed through the clouds. Unwind over a glass of Madeira wine, an historic fortified beverage that’s musky and subtly sweet.

+ The Madeira Islands, an archipelago of volcanic origin in the North Atlantic Ocean belonging to Portugal, comprises two inhabited islands, Madeira and Porto Santo (and two uninhabited groups, the Desertas and the Selvagens.) The islands are the summits of mountains that have their bases on an ocean floor, that forms the autonomous region of Madeira.

+ Madeira Island, the largest of the group, is 34 miles (55 km) long, has a maximum width of 14 miles (22 km) and a coastline of about 90 miles (144 km), and rises to the Ruivo Peak (6,106 feet [1,861 meters] above sea level). The greater part of the interior above 3,000 feet (900 meters) is uninhabited and uncultivated; communities of scattered huts are usually built either at the mouths of ravines or upon slopes that descend from the mountains to the coast.

+ Porto Santo Island is about 26 miles (42 km) northeast of Madeira. Its main town, Vila de Porto Santo, is locally called the Vila. At each end of the island are hills, of which Facho Peak, the highest, reaches 1,696 feet (515 meters).

+ The Desertas lie about 11 miles (18 km) southeast of Madeira and consist of three islets: Chão, Bugio, and Deserta Grande, along with the Prego do Mor off the north end of Chão Island. (Rabbits and wild goats live on the poor pasture and attract occasional hunters to once-inhabited Deserta Grande.) The Selvagens, or Salvage Islands, are three uninhabited rocks located 156 miles (251 km) south of Madeira, between the latter and the Canary Islands. The largest has a circumference of about 3 miles (5 km).

+ Agriculture has long been the dominant activity of Madeira and Porto Santo islands. Crops historically grown on the islands include sweet potatoes; gourds of various kinds; kalo, or taro, introduced from the Pacific islands; most of the culinary vegetables of Europe; cereals; sugarcane; and various fruits, such as oranges, lemons, guavas, mangoes, loquats, custard apples, figs, pineapples, and bananas. Banana plantations and vineyards now predominate, and bananas and the Madeira wine are among the most important exports. Other economic activities include sugar processing, fishing, and handicrafts such as woodworking, wickerwork, and embroidery (the last of which was introduced to Madeira in the 1850s by Elizabeth Phelps, the daughter of an English wine shipper). By the early 21st century, tourism had made major inroads.

+ Dolphin & Whale Watching in Madeira:

In the region of Provence, located in the southeastern part of France,

 Gallic charm in the south of France:

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(in the historical, cultural, and governmental region, in southeast-coastal France) Provence is a region of France that offers a dazzling variety of attractions for travelers. From the Roman theater of Orange to the Gothic palace of the popes in Avignon, you can discover the history and culture of this ancient land. You can also enjoy the natural beauty of Provence, with its lavender fields, olive groves, and rocky cliffs. Or you can relax on the beaches and glamorous resorts of the Côte d'Azur, the French Riviera. Whether you are looking for art, adventure, or romance, Provence has something for everyone. Be sure to visit some of the museums in Provence, where you can explore the secrets of the underground or the underwater world.

+ For some, the landscapes of Provence are a French fantasy come true. Provence seems to sum up everything enviable about the French lifestyle: great food, hilltop villages, legendary wines, bustling markets and a balmy climate. For decades, it's been a hotspot for holidaymakers and second-homers, inspired by the vision of the rustic good life depicted in Peter Mayle's classic 1989 travelogue, A Year in Provence.

+ For others the pastoral landscapes of Provence are a French fantasy brought to life. Provence seems to sum up everything enviable about the French lifestyle: fantastic food, finewines, and long, balmy evenings, perfect for enjoying the good life. For decades, the villages of Provence have been hot spots for vacationers inspired by a dreamy vision of rustic living.
Seek out the postcard-perfect view of lavender fields and medieval cloisters at the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque -- or grab an espresso among the students hanging out in Aix-en-Provence. (Whatever you do, eating, drinking and living well will surely be on the menu.)

+ This region of France extends from the left bank of the lower Rhône to the west to the Italian border to the east; it is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the south. It largely corresponds with the modern administrative region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and includes the departments of Var, Bouches-du-Rhône, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, as well as parts of Alpes-Maritime and Vaucluse
+ The largest city of the region, and its modern-day capital, is Marseille (depicted here):

+ Historically, Provence was part of Roman Gallia Transalpina. With the breakdown of the Roman Empire in the late 5th century, Provence was invaded successively by the Visigoths, Burgundians, and Ostrogoths. It came under the rule of the Franks ca. 536. During the 13th century it was involved in the Albigensian Crusade. It was united with the French crown in 1481. The language of Provence, Provençal, was important in medieval literature, and Provence’s Romanesque architecture was an outstanding cultural achievement of the Middle Ages. (In 1790, during the French Revolution, it lost its political institutions and was divided into several départements.)

In the city of Dresden, the capital city of the German state of Saxony

 "At Dresden on the Elbe, that handsome city, Where straw hats, verses, and cigars are made, They’ve built (it well may make us feel afraid,) A music club and music warehouse pretty." – Heinrich Heine

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(on the banks of the lovely Elbe River, the German city of Dresden is lush and green, filled with forests and gardens and parks) Dresden originated as the Slav village of Drezdzany, meaning “Forest Dwellers on the Plain,” on the Elbe’s north bank. First mentioned in 1216, the town on the south bank was founded at a ford by Margrave Dietrich of Meissen as a German colony. The Slav settlement on the north bank, although older, was known as New Town and the later German town on the south bank as Old Town.

+ In 1270 Dresden became the capital of Margrave Henry the Illustrious, and after his death it belonged to the king of Bohemia and the margrave of Brandenburg until it was restored about 1319 to the margraves of Meissen, who chartered it in 1403. The electors Augustus I and Augustus II modernized the city in the Baroque and Rococo styles in the late 17th and 18th centuries, rebuilding New Town and founding Friedrichstadt, northwest of Old Town. The Treaty of Dresden (1745), between Prussia, Saxony, and Austria, ended the second Silesian War and confirmed Silesia as Prussian. Two-thirds destroyed in the Seven Years’ War (1756–63), Dresden’s fortifications were later dismantled. In 1813 Napoleon I made the town a center of military operations and there won his last great battle. Dresden’s prosperity grew rapidly during the 19th century, accelerated by the completion of railways connecting the city to Berlin and Leipzig.

+ Before World War II, Dresden was called “the Florence on the Elbe” and was considered one of the world’s most beautiful cities due to its architecture and art treasures. During the war, however, it was almost completely destroyed by massive bombing raids.

+ After the war, the city undertook rebuilding of the Zwinger, the Saxon royal palace, and the Baroque buildings around the palace and creating a new city in the area outside. Much of the city was subsequently reconstructed with modern buildings, broad streets and squares, and green open spaces, with the aim of preserving as far as possible the character of the old city.

+ Dresden's story is one of rebirth. Allied bombing leveled the city in 1945, but in the decades since the end of the war, renovations have restored the historical core into the vibrant city it was in the 18th century. Dresden’s urban rebirth continued with a second phase of renovations of the Altmarkt (central square) to include more accessibility and climate protection measures. The project reopened in time for the 2023 Striezelmarkt, one of the oldest and largest Christmas markets.

+ Since German reunification in 1990, Dresden has once again become a cultural, educational and political center of Germany. Dresden is now one of the most visited cities in Germany with 4.7 million overnight stays per year.

In the county of Cambridgeshire, England

 "In the course of my travels, the belief that everything worth knowing was known at Cambridge gradually wore off."

-- Bertrand Russell
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(in the county of Cambridgeshire, England) Cambridge, a city and non-metropolitan district, is the county town of Cambridgeshire and is located on the River Cam, 55 miles (89 km) north of London. Cambridge became a trading center during the Roman and Viking ages. The first town charters were granted in the 12th century, although modern city status was not officially conferred until 1951. The city is well known as the home of the University of Cambridge, which was founded in 1209 and consistently ranks among the best universities in the world. The buildings of the university include King's College Chapel, Cavendish Laboratory, and the Cambridge University Library, one of the largest legal deposit libraries in the world. The city's skyline is dominated by several college buildings, along with the spire of the Our Lady and the English Martyrs Church, and the chimney of Addenbrooke's Hospital. {Anglia Ruskin University, which evolved from the Cambridge School of Art and the Cambridgeshire College of Arts and Technology, also has its main campus in the city).

+ Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology Silicon Fen or Cambridge Cluster, which contains industries such as software and bioscience and many start-up companies born out of the university. The Cambridge Biomedical Campus, one of the largest biomedical research clusters in the world, includes the headquarters of AstraZeneca and the relocated Royal Papworth Hospital.

+ Cambridge also produced the first "Laws of the Game" for association football and was the site of the first game, held at Parker's Piece. (The Strawberry Fair music and arts festival and Midsummer Fair are held on Midsummer Common, and the annual Cambridge Beer Festival takes place on Jesus Green.)

+ In the 19th century, Cambridge expanded rapidly. The Inclosure Acts of 1801 and 1807 enabled the town to expand over surrounding open fields and in 1912 and again in 1935 its boundaries were extended to include Chesterton, Cherry Hinton, and Trumpington. The railway came to Cambridge in 1845 with the opening of the Great Eastern Railway's London to Norwich line.

+ From the 1930s to the 1980s, the size of the city was increased by several large council estates. The biggest impact has been on the area north of the river, which are now the estates of East Chesterton, King's Hedges, and Arburys.

+ During World War II, Cambridge was an important center for defense of the east coast. The town became a military center, with an R.A.F. training center and the regional headquarters for Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Hertfordshire, and Bedfordshire established during the conflict. The town itself escaped relatively lightly from German bombing raids. In 1944, a secret meeting of military leaders held in Trinity College laid the foundation for the allied invasion of Europe.

At the iconic Duomo di Milano, in the city of Milan, capital of Lombardy in Northern Italy

 Milan is Italy's city of the future, a fast-paced metropolis where money talks, creativity is big business, and looking good is an art form.

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(in the capital of Lombardy in Northern Italy) A breathtaking stalwart of the Milan skyline, the history of the city's Duomo (depicted here) spans more than six centuries of worship. The cathedral’s construction began back in 1386 at the peak of Gothic design but was not truly completed until the mid-20th century. Over the decades, a succession of Italy's greatest architects, engineers, and artists worked on the magnificent structure. (Even Leonardo Da Vinci sketched some designs for a proposed domed tower, though they never made it off his drawing board.)

+ Milan sits right at the heart of Italy's fashion, design, and architecture scene -- so much so, in fact, that creatives from all over the world come here every year for events like Salone del Mobile (the Milan Furniture Fair) and Milan Fashion Week. (And the scenery and sights truly live up to the hype.)

+ The iconic Duomo di Milano is the world's largest Gothic Cathedral. The amazing mosaics and glass vaults of the Scala Opera House and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (not to mention museums and galleries like Pinacoteca di Brera), are also popular attractions. As an added bonus, Milan's food scene has really grown over the last decade. Now, you can not only find regional classics, but you can also explore a variety of solid international flavors, including Chinese, Middle Eastern, and Ethiopian fare. (Milan is also the birthplace of the negroni sbagliato -- so don't skip a chance to get one straight from the source.)

+ In addition to clothing design, Milan is a world center of design in general. Several small, high-quality businesses specialize in furniture design, graphic design, and other design areas. The design industry remains central to the Besana in the Brianza area north of the city. Another noteworthy part of the city’s services sector is communications. Milan is home to Mondadori, Italy’s large publishing group, as well as the newspapers Corriere della Sera and La Gazzetta dello Sport and the newsmagazine L’Espresso. In addition, Milan is the capital of private television in Italy, dominated by the media empire of Silvio Berlusconi, an entrepreneur who has served as Italy’s prime minister several times. His media group, with its headquarters in Milan, has spawned a series of specialized industries linked to private television, such as advertising, dubbing, photography, and filmmaking. Milan’s position as the electronic media center of Italy has been augmented by the rapid growth of high-technology industries, including telecommunications, data processing, software production, and Internet design.

+ Indeed, Milan remains the base for some of the world’s most prolific designers, world-famous artworks, and breathtaking monuments. (Milan is also a great vantage point to Northern Italy’s most impressive scenery.)

In the city of Lausanne, capital of Vaud canton, western Switzerland

 “Switzerland is a country where the mountains whisper and the lakes sing.” – Lord Byron

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(in western Switzerland, on the northern shore of Lake Geneva) Lausanne, the capital of Vaud canton, is surrounded by vineyards, rolling down a trio of hillsides to the lakeshore; Switzerland’s fourth-largest city, Lausanne is a vibrant city on the shores of Lake Geneva, where visitors can enjoy stunning views of the Alps and explore its rich cultural heritage. As the Olympic capital, Lausanne hosts the Olympic Museum and the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee, as well as many sports events and festivals. They can also visit the historic Old Town, where one can admire the Gothic cathedral, the elegant City Hall, and the castle of the former bishops.

+ The ancient Celtic Lausonium, or Lausonna, was originally on the shore of the lake southwest of the present city. During the invasion of the Alemanni (ca. 379), the inhabitants took refuge in the hills above, building a settlement on the site of the present Cité district. The bishops, princes of the Holy Roman Empire from the 12th century, retained their temporal powers until 1536, when Lausanne was conquered by the Bernese, who introduced the Protestant Reformation. (Lausanne became the capital of the new Vaud canton of Napoleon’s Helvetic Republic in 1803.)

+ In 1964 the city was the site of the Swiss National Exhibition, held every 25 years in a different Swiss city. Historic buildings 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; and the Cty Hall. The castle is the only vestige of the 13th-century residences of the bishops. The Château Saint-Maire, the former bishop’s castle, is now the seat of the cantonal government. More-recent landmarks are the Palais de Rumine, the main building of the university, which also houses the cantonal museums, and the federal court of justice, seat of the Swiss Supreme Court.

+ 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. The headquarters of the International Olympic Committee are at Lausanne, and an Olympic Museum, surrounded by a public park, opened in 1993. Lausanne is also the site of the Federal Polytechnic Institute (founded in 1853) and of the annual national fair Comptoir Suisse.
(The city is also an important tourist and convention center.)

+ The most important geographical feature of the area surrounding Lausanne is Lake Geneva (Le Léman in French).

At the Luxembourg Castle, in the Luxembourg City, the capital of Luxembourg

 The City of Luxembourg has a little bit of everything, and for such a small country, it is packed with a history spanning more than a thousand years.

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Luxembourg, also known as Luxembourg City, is the capital of Luxembourg and the country's most populous commune. The city lies at the heart of Western Europe It contains Luxembourg Castle, established by the Franks in the Early Middle Ages.

+ Luxembourg is now ranked by the IMF as having the highest GDP per capita in the world. It is one of the de facto capitals of the European Union (alongside Brussels, Frankfurt, and Strasbourg), as it is the seat of several institutions, agencies, and bodies, including the Court of Justice of the European Union, the European Court of Auditors, the Secretariat of the European Parliament, the European Public Prosecutor's Office, the European Investment Bank, the European Investment Fund, and the European Stability Mechanism, Eurostat. The Council of the European Union meets in the city for three months annually.

+ The city has long been a place of strategic military significance. The first fortifications were built as early as the 10th century. By the end of the 12th century, as the city expanded westward around the new St. Nicholas Church (today the Cathedral of Notre Dame), new walls were built that included an area of 5 hectares (12 acres). the Burgundians under Philip the Good conquered Luxembourg. which became part of the Burgundian, and later Spanish and Austrian empires and under those Habsburg administrations Luxembourg Castle was repeatedly strengthened so that by the 16th century, Luxembourg itself was one of the strongest fortifications in Europe. Subsequently, the Burgundians, the Spanish, the French, the Spanish again, the Austrians, the French again, and the Prussians conquered Luxembourg.

+ During the French Revolutionary Wars, the city was occupied by France twice: once, briefly, in 1792–93, and, after a seven-month siege, Luxembourg held out for so long under the French siege that French politician and military engineer Lazare Carnot called Luxembourg "the best fortress in the world, except Gibraltar", giving rise to the city's nickname: the "Gibraltar of the North."

+ After the Luxembourg Crisis, the 1867 Treaty of London required Luxembourg to dismantle the fortifications in Luxembourg City. Despite Luxembourg's efforts to remain neutral in WWI, it was occupied by Germany on 2 August 1914. Luxembourg City was the scene of an attempted communist revolution; on 9 November 1918. In 1940, Germany occupied Luxembourg again; the city was liberated on 10 September 1944. After the war, Luxembourg remains the seat of the European Parliament's secretariat, as well as the Court of Justice of the European Union, the European Court of Auditors, and the European Investment Bank. Several departments of the European Commission are also based in Luxembourg. (The Council of the EU meets in the city for the months of April, June and October annually.)

In the city of Strasbourg, capital of the Bas-Rhin departement of the Grand Est région in eastern France

 Early in World War II, the collapse of France in 1940 was followed by the second German annexation of Alsace-Lorraine, which was again returned to France in 1945.

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(in the Grand Est region of eastern France, at the border with Germany in the historic region of Alsace) The city of Strasbourg, capital of the Bas-Rhin departement of the Grand Est région in eastern France lies 2.5 miles (4 km) west of the Rhine River on the Franco-German frontier.

+ The city was originally a Celtic village, and under the Romans it became a garrison town called Argentoratum. It was captured in the 5th century by the Franks, who called it Strateburgum, from which the present name is derived. In 842 Charles II (the Bald), king of the West Franks, and Louis II (the German), king of the East Franks, took an oath of alliance here, the Serment de Strasbourg, a text of which is the oldest written document in Old French. After a struggle for power between its citizens and the bishops in the Middle Ages, Strasbourg became a free city within the Holy Roman Empire.

+ The city of Strasbourg is traversed by the Ill River, which divides and surrounds the Grand Île (Big Island) on which the Old Town and most of the city’s famous buildings are situated. The island was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988. Strasbourg’s 11th–15th-century Cathedral of Notre-Dame, damaged in 1870 and again in World War II, has been carefully restored. Built of red Vosges sandstone, it is a harmonious edifice despite the variety of its architectural styles. It has an asymmetrical facade (mainly 13th century) with fine sculptured portals and only one tower, which has a tall (455 feet [139 meters]) and graceful 15th-century spire. Some of the cathedral’s sculptures, together with vestiges from other old French churches, are exhibited in the Maison de l’Oeuvre Notre-Dame, next to the cathedral. The 18th-century Château des Rohan, a former episcopal palace, houses three museums. The La Petite district of the city has several well-preserved old streets with wooden houses, as well as some picturesque canals.

+ Strasbourg is one of the de facto four main capitals of the European Union (alongside Brussels, Luxembourg and Frankfurt), as it is the seat of several European institutions, such as the European Parliament, the Eurocorps, and the Ombudsman of the European Union. The city is the seat of many non-European international institutions such as the Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine and the International Institute of Human Rights. It is the second city in France in terms of international congress and symposia, after Paris. Strasbourg is immersed in Franco-German culture and although violently disputed throughout history, has been a cultural bridge between France and Germany for centuries, especially through the University of Strasbourg, currently the second-largest in France, and the coexistence of Catholic and Protestant culture.

In the city of Donostia-San Sebastián, located in the Basque Autonomous Community of Spain

 The Basques are very likely the earliest inhabitants in all of Europe, even predating the Celts and the Romans.

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(on the coast of the Bay of Biscay, 20 km (12 mi.) from the France–Spain border) Officially known by the bilingual name Donostia / San Sebastián is a city and municipality located in the Basque Autonomous Community of Spain. The city is located in the north of the Basque Country, on the southeastern coast of the Bay of Biscay. San Sebastián has three beaches, Concha, Ondarreta, and Zurriola, and is surrounded by hilly areas: Urgull (adjacent to the old part of the city), Mount Ulia (extending east to Pasaia), Mount Adarra (south of the city) and Igeldo (overlooking Concha Bay from the west). San Sebastián lies at the mouth of the Urumea river.

+ Framed by golden beaches and lush hillsides, San Sebastián has undeniable allure, from its dining scene to its grand architecture and packed cultural calendar. A coastal city in Spain. San Sebastian is well known for Playa de la Concha and Playa de Ondarreta beaches that offer bay views of sunset and sunrise and popular restaurants. San Telmo Museum exhibits contemporary Basque culture, arts, and history with permanent and temporary exhibitions for visitors. Urgull is a hill on the ocean setting and displays military structures and promenades with outstanding bay and city views.

+ The layout of the modern city center was built up until 1914 (when the first phase finished) reflecting a Parisian Haussmannian style. The arcades of the Buen Pastor square were modelled upon those of the Rue de Rivoli, while the Maria Cristina Bridge was inspired by the Pont Alexandre III that crosses the Seine. The Estación del Norte train station standing directly across the bridge was inaugurated in 1864, after the arrival of the railway to San Sebastián. Its metallic roof was designed by Gustave Eiffel.
Donostia–San Sebastián, Spain, first mentioned in a document of 1014, was granted a charter of rights and privileges by Sancho VI (the Wise) of Navarre about 1160–90. It was formerly the summer residence of the Spanish royal court. The Old Town and harbor occupy an isthmus between the mainland and Mount Urgull, on whose summit stands the 16th-century Mota Castle. The well-planned modern town extends across both banks of the Urumea and to the fine beaches on La Concha bay, site of the famous regattas that take place on the Feast of St. Sebastian (January 20). In the Old Town are the Gothic church of San Vicente, the Baroque church of Santa María, and the former convent of San Telmo , now a museum with a Basque ethnographic section. The new town has the notable neo-Gothic cathedral of El Buen Pastor (“The Good Shepherd”).

+ Aside from tourism, the chief sources of income are the manufacture of cement, chemicals and metallurgical products. The service sector and tourism now dominate the city’s economy. La Concha beaches attract thousands of visitors annually, as do annual international jazz and film festivals.

In the city of Bologna, historic capital of the Emilia-Romagna region, in northern Italy

 "Bologna is celebrated for producing popes, painters, and sausage."

-- Lord Byron
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(in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy) The city of Bologna, capital of the Emilia- Romagna region in northern Italy, is north of Florence, between the Reno and Savena rivers. It lies at the northern foot of the Apennines, on the ancient Via Aemilia. Originally the Etruscan Felsina, it was occupied by the Gallic Boii in the 4th century BCE and became a Roman colony and municipium (Bononia) around 190 BCE. It was subject to the Greek exarchate of Ravenna (in the 6th century) and then passed to the papacy. It was occupied by the Visigoths, Huns, Goths, and Lombards after the barbarian invasions. Following a feudal period, Bologna became a free commune when the emperor recognized its rights in the early 12th century. The conflict between the Guelfs and the Ghibellines (two parties in medieval Italian politics) led to the city’s domination by a series of signori (lords) -- the Pepoli, Visconti, Bentivoglio -- before it was incorporated into the Papal States by Pope Julius II in 1506. Thereafter it enjoyed more than three centuries of peace and prosperity. (Papal rule was interrupted only by a brief period of French control before Bologna was united to the Kingdom of Italy in 1860.)

+ Fusing haughty elegance with down-to-earth grit in one colonnaded medieval grid, Bologna is now a city of two intriguing halves. One side is a hard-working, high-tech city located in the super-rich Po valley where suave opera-goers waltz out of regal theaters and into some of the nation's finest restaurants. The other is a bolshie, politically edgy city that hosts the world's oldest university and is famous for its graffiti-embellished piazzas filled with mildly inebriated students swapping Gothic fashion tips.

+ The driving sectors of the regional economy are: agriculture (vegetables, cereals -- the famous DOP potato from Budrio), breeding (pigs and cattle) and small and medium industry in the food, mechanical, ceramic and electronics.
Bologna is also of paramount importance as a road and rail center through which must pass most traffic between central and southern Italy and the north. Until World War I the city was chiefly dependent upon agriculture based on the surrounding fertile plain. Although still an important agricultural market and food-processing center -- the city is cited as the source of the popular tomato-based meat sauce for pasta known as Bolognese.

+ Bologna is quite famous for having the oldest university in the Western world. Aside from being known to have a vibrant student population, it is also famed for its exquisite food, traditional brick terracotta-roofed architecture, and porticos, theater, and nightlife. Santuario di Madonna di San Luca, Torri degli Asinelli e Garisenda, Piazza Maggiore, and Quadrilatero are also notable.(If you are not fluent in Italian, do not worry because English is widely spoken especially by the local student population.)

In the city of Melk is best known for the Baroque Benedictine monastery named Melk Abbey, Lower Austria

 Melk is a town that offers a rich experience for travelers of all interests and seasons.

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(in the Austrian state of Lower Austria, next to the Wachau valley along the Danube River) The city of Melk is best known as the site of a Baroque Benedictine monastery named Melk Abbey. Melk was first mentioned as Medilica in 831 in a donation of Louis the German (the name is from a Slavic word for "border." The area around Melk was given to Leopold I, Margrave of Austria, in the year 976 to serve as a buffer between the Magyars to the east and Bavaria to the west. In 996 mention was first made of an area known as Ostarrîchi, which is the origin of the word Österreich (German for Austria). The bluff that holds the current monastery held a Babenberger castle until the site was given to Benedictine monks from nearby Lambach by Leopold II, in 1089. Melk received market rights in 1227 and became a municipality in 1898.

+ Here you can marvel at the impressive Melk Abbey, a masterpiece of Baroque architecture that dominates the skyline and houses a museum, a library, and a church. You can also explore the quaint streets and squares of Melk, where you can find cozy cafes, shops, and cultural events. For a taste of nature and history, you can visit the nearby Schloss Schallaburg, a Renaissance castle with a museum and a garden, or take a cruise along the Danube River and enjoy the views of the vineyards, castles, and villages.

+ The Forsthaus, which accommodates the city archives and the tourist information office, is the starting point of most tours. Beside the Forsthaus the Zaglauergasse meets with the Wiener Straße. After several meters, the Wiener Straße opens to the affectionately restored Rathausplatz, which got its name from the Rathaus (Town Hall) built in 1575. The facade of the Town Hall was redesigned 150 years ago and the highly elaborate entrance door, made of wood and copper, is the Town Hall's most outstanding feature. To its left is the former Lebzelterhaus, which dates back to 1657 and is now a pharmacy. The Kolomanbrunnen market fountain, which is a gift from the abbey to the city, is in the center of the Rathausplatz. On the top of the fountain the statue of St. Koloman can be seen.

+ The hidden Haus am Stein ("house at the rock") is the oldest building of Melk, built during the 15th century. Its facade is covered by a protected ancient vine. At the arm of the Danube river, parts of the former city walls and the Round Tower can be recognized. Following the Nibelungenlände and passing the Salzhof, visitors reach the Schiffsmeisterhaus (ship master's house) with its high water level marks on the facade. (The Danube reached 15.8 meters above the usual water level in 1501. The Haus auf dem Stein ('house on the rock') was built less than 50 years after this high water disaster.

+ The church court is dominated by the Gothic Pfarrkirche (parish church). About five kilometers (3.1 mi.) south of the city is the renowned Renaissance castle Schallaburg.