At the Castle Hill, in the city of Budapest, the capital of Hungary

 Budapest, like Prague, has enchanted writers, thinkers, creative souls, and philosophers for ages.

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(in Budapest, the capital of Hungary, and seat of Pest megye (county) The city is the political, administrative, industrial, and commercial center of Hungary. The site has been settled since prehistoric times and is now the home of about 20% of the country’s population.

+ Once called the “Queen of the Danube,” Budapest has long been the focal point of the nation and a lively cultural center. The city straddles the Danube River in the natural setting where the hills of western Hungary meet the plains, stretching to the east and south. It consists of two parts, Buda and Pest, which are situated on opposite sides of the river and connected by bridges.

+ Although the city’s roots date to Roman times and earlier, modern Budapest is an outgrowth of the 19th-century empire of Austria-Hungary, when Hungary was three times larger than the present country. Its reduction in size after WWI did not prevent Budapest from becoming, after Berlin, the second largest city in central Europe. The capital, as the seat of government and the center of Hungarian transport and industry, now dominates all aspects of national life. Tens of thousands of commuters converge on Budapest daily, more than half the country’s university students attend school in the city, and about half the country’s income from foreign tourism is earned here.

+ At the center of the Carpathian Basin, Budapest lies on an ancient route linking the hills of Transdanubia (Hungarian: Dunántúl) with the Great Alfold (Great Hungarian Plain). The Danube was always fordable at this point because of a few islands in the middle of the river. The city has distinct topographical contrasts: Buda is built on the higher river terraces and hills of the western side, while the considerably larger Pest spreads out on a flat and featureless sand plain on the river’s opposite bank.

+ Budapest stood apart from the relatively drab capitals of the other Soviet-bloc countries; it maintained an impression of plenty, with smart shops, good restaurants, and other amenities. The dissolution of the Soviet bloc and Hungary’s transition away from socialism brought Budapest new opportunities for prosperity and an influx of Western tourists (along with the stresses of transition to a more Western-style economy). The city, including the banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter, and Andrássy Avenue, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987.

+ Depicted here is Castle Hill, a kilometer-long limestone plateau towering 170 meters above the Danube. It contains some of Budapest’s most important medieval monuments and museums. Below it is a long network of caves formed by thermal springs.The walled area consists of two distinct parts: the Old Town to the north, where commoners once lived, and the Royal Palace to the south, the original site of the castle built by Béla IV in the 13th century and reserved for the nobility.

At the mountain of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps and Western Europe

 From France’s largest city to its largest natural landscape, there is no question that the towering giant of Mont Blanc has to be seen to be believed.

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(In  the Alps, Mont Blanc, meaning "white mountain") lies along the French-Italian border and reaches into Switzerland) It is the highest mountain in the Alps and Western Europe, and the highest mountain in Europe outside the Caucasus mountains. Located on the Franco-Italian border, It is the second-most prominent mountain in Europe, after Mount Elbrus -- and the 11th most prominent mountain in the world. It extends southwestward from Martigny, Switzerland, for about 25 miles (40 km). The summit is in French territory. Surrounding the massif are the Graian Alps (south), the Chamonix Valley and Savoy Alps (west), the Pennine Alps (northeast), and the Valley of Courmayeur (east).

+ Glaciers cover approximately 40 square miles (100 square km) of Mont Blanc Ice streams stretch from the central ice dome down to below 4,900 feet (1,490 meters). The Mer de Glace, the second longest glacier in the Alps, reached the elevation of 1,250 meters in 1930. At the beginning of the 17th century, glaciers advanced to the bottom of the Chamonix Valley, destroying or burying cultivated land and dwellings. (Since that time, the glaciers have periodically advanced and retreated.)

+ Jean A. Deluc in 1770, and, later, Horace Bénédict de Saussure first drew attention to Mont Blanc’s distinction as western Europe’s highest mountain. That designation stirred adventurers to climb the peak. The summit was conquered in 1786 by Michel-Gabriel Paccard, a doctor from Chamonix, together with Jacques Balmat. Paccard’s achievement, one of the most important in the history of mountaineering, was overshadowed by de Saussure’s ascent the year after.

+ If you’ve got one European long-distance hike on your bucket list, it may well be the Tour du Mont Blanc. Views over sparkling glaciers, Alpine prairies, and lots!) of cheese await anyone who embarks on this border-crossing trek. Circling the largest peak in the Alps, Mont Blanc, the trail covers 170km (105 mi.), climbs more than 10,000 meters (32,800 ft.) in cumulative altitude, and weaves through three Alpine countries Typically, the route begins and ends in Les Houches, France, and follows a counterclockwise loop around the mountain range. (Every dream feels far away -– until one starts to break down what needs to be done to do to achieve it. Here’s what it takes to hike or run the Tour du Mont Blanc.

+ The Mont Blanc massif is also popular for outdoor activities like hiking, climbing, trail running, and winter sports like skiing, and snowboarding. The most popular climbing route to the summit of Mont Blanc is the Goûter Route, which typically takes two days. The three towns and their communes that surround Mont Blanc are Courmayeur in Aosta Valley, Italy; and Saint-Gervais-les-Bains and Chamonix in Haute-Savoie, France. The latter town was the site of the first Winter Olympics.

In the historical town of Bojnice, near the city of Prievidza, east Slovakia

 Slovakia is a hidden gem in the heart of Europe, where you can explore diverse and stunning landscapes, ancient castles, and authentic culture. Whether you are looking for adventure, history, or relaxation, you can hike through the rocky plateaus and streams of Slovenský Raj, one of the country's most scenic national parks. Slovakia is also green oasis of Europe, where you can discover the beauty and charm of this underrated destination.

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(on the Nitra river in east Slovakia, near the city of Prievidza) Bojnice is a historical town, situated just below the Bojnice Castle, .with a population of around 5,000. Bojnice is best known for its popular tourist attractions, among them being the largest zoo in Slovakia and the Bojnice castle (shown here), and generally for being one of the oldest spa towns in Slovakia.

+ Bojnice lies in the upper Nitra river valley, under the Strážov Mountains. It is located close to the city of Prievidza, with which it shares a common public transport system. Other major cities nearby include Žilina 60 kilometers (~37 miles) to the north and Trenčín 65 kilometers to the west.

+ Just gazing at fairy-tale Bojnice Castle stirs fantasies of knights and maidens in even the world-weariest travelers. Blushing sandstone towers and crenellated turrets make this romantic castle the most visited in Slovakia. Only foundations remain of the original 12th-century fortification, but an early-20th-century reconstruction by the Pálffy family took inspiration from the castles of France’s Loire Valley, lifting Bojnice to the neo-baroque splendor that stands today. {If you are hungry before or after a castle tour, Alej is a better choice than the food stalls around the castle.)

+ Prievidza, four kilometers (2.5 miles.) to the east of Bojnice Castle, has bus connections to Žilina and Bratislava. From the Prievidza bus station, regular local buses run to Bojnice.
(For additional atmosphere, book a few days ahead for a night tour and consider visiting during the International Festival of Ghosts & Spirits.)

+ The town of Bojnice is most known for its castle, first mentioned in 1113 and originally built as a wooden fort; it was over time built as a stone castle and in the 20th century in the Romantic style. Today, it is a popular tourist attraction. The castle has appeared in many international films and a well-known international festival of spectres takes place there every year. {It is built on travertine rock with a natural cave.)

+The Bojnice zoo was founded in 1955. In 2006 it had 355 different species and more than 1,800 animals. Bojnice is also known for its spa. The therapeutic springs were mentioned in 1549 for the first time. Today they treat patients with disorders of the locomotor system, with rheumatic diseases, post traumatic conditions, conditions after orthopaedic disturbances of the spine of adolescents, neurological diseases, and occupational diseases.

In the island of Hvar, a Croatian island located in the Adriatic Sea

 Hvar is vaguely shaped like the profile of a holidaymaker reclining on a sunlounger, which may be appropriate for the sunniest spot in the country -- and its most luxurious beach destination.

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(in the Southern Adriatic Sea, off the Dalmatian coast in southern Croatia) Hvar, a Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea, lying between the islands of Brač, Vis, and Korčula, is about 68 km (~42 mi.) long, with a high east–west ridge of Mesozoic limestone and dolomite. The island of Hvar is unusual in the area for having a large fertile coastal plain, and fresh-water springs. Its hillsides are covered in pine forests, with vineyards, olive groves, fruit orchards. and lavender fields in the agricultural areas. The climate is characterized by mild winters, and warm summers with many hours of sunshine.

+ Hvar's location at the northeast center of the Adriatic sailing routes has long made this island an important base for commanding trade up and down the Adriatic, across to Italy and throughout the wider Mediterranean. It has been inhabited since prehistoric times, originally by a Neolithic people whose distinctive pottery gave rise to the term Hvar culture, and later by the Illyrians. The ancient Greeks founded the colony of Pharos in 384 BCE on the site of today's Stari Grad, making it one of the oldest towns in Europe. They were also responsible for setting out the agricultural field divisions of the Stari Grad Plain, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In medieval times, the town of Hvar rose to importance within the Venetian Empire as a major naval base. Prosperity brought culture and the arts, with one of the first public theaters in Europe, nobles' palaces, and many fine communal buildings.

+ The 16th century was an unsettled time, with the Hvar Rebellion, coastal raids by pirates, and the Ottoman army from the mainland, resulting in some unusual fortified buildings on the northern shore to protect the local population. After a brief time under Napoleonic rule, the island became part of the Austrian Empire, a more peaceful and prosperous time. On the coast, harbors were expanded, quays built, fishing and boat building businesses grew. At the same time, the island's wine exports increased, along with lavender and rosemary production for the French perfume industry.

+ The port town of Hvar on the island of Hvar, part of the Split-Dalmatia County, in Croatia. It is situated on a bay in the south coast of the island, opposite the other nearby towns of Stari Grad and Jelsa. By the 19th century, the port of Hvar was no longer a military base, and The Hygienic Society of Hvar, celebrating 150 years in 2018, took the economy of the town and the island in a new direction. As one of the earliest "tourist boards" in Europe, it was founded in 1868 with the purpose of providing "good care for visitors". Today, the town has a variety of hotels, galleries, museums, and exhibitions, including the Arsenal, Loggia, the Croatian Institute, and the Hvar Heritage Museum.

In the port city of Bastia, on the French island of Corsica

 Corsica, France

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(in the northeast of Corsica at the base of the Cap Corse, between the sea and the mountain) Bastìa, a community in the department of Haute-Corse, in Corsica, France, is located in the northeast of the island of Corsica at the base of Cap Corse. It has the second-highest population of any community on the island, after Ajaccio -- and is the capital of the Bagnaja region (and of the department.)

+ The port city of Bastia is located 35 km (22 mi) from the northern tip of the Cap Corse, 50 km (31 mi.) west of Elba, an Italian island, and 90 km (56 mi.) away from continental Italy, which can be seen when visibility is excellent.

+ In terms of geography, Bastia is defined by its position between the sea and the mountain. The city is located on the Eastern side of the "Serra di Pignu", a 960 meter (3,150 ft.) mountain. This steep mountain and several hills in the city shape a relief typical of the Cap Corse. This pronounced landscape caused the city to develop mostly on a coastal band about 1.5 km (1 mi,) wide.Because Bastia is a port, the sea has a significant role in the spatial organization of the city. Bastia now possesses three different ports. The old port ("Vieux Port" in French and "Portu Vechju" in Corsican), located in a remarkable and narrow cove, offers good natural shelter against the climatic hazards of the sea. Thus, it was at the core of the initial development of the city. Today, many pleasure and fishing boats are still there, but it is not as economically vital than the other more modern ports (although its touristic and aesthetic charm almost makes the old port the official emblem of the city). Indeed, many cafés, bars and restaurants have moved to its docks, access to which is granted by the city for pedestrians only during summer evenings.

+ A bit more to the north is located the commercial and ferry port. As a major economic asset of the city, the "port de commerce" is the pulse of the city. It is even more so during the summer when ferry arrivals and departures of thousands of passengers and cars can sometimes cause long traffic jams along the north–south axis, the national road RN193. In front of the commercial port, the large Saint-Nicolas square represents the heart of the city. Just north of the commercial port, the Toga marina, named after a city neighborhood, is a harbor for leisure boating activities like sailing and yachting. There are also some bars, restaurants and night clubs on its docks.

+ Thus, Bastia is organized on a relatively narrow north–south axis which can make access to the city center difficult under some conditions. Nowadays, the city center is mainly composed of the "citadelle," the stronghold, also called Terra-Nova, with the Genoese Governors' Palace, the old port and port quarter and the market plaza, and finally the ensemble of buildings along the "Boulevard Paoli," the main commercial street of the city (which lies from the Justice Court to the Avenue Maréchal Sebastiani.)

In the Island of Maderia, the main island of the Madeira archipelago, an autonomous region of Portugal

 “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.” — John Donne

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(on a Portuguese archipelago of volcanic origin in the North Atlantic Ocean) Beezy Madeira is an eponymous island in the Madeira Islands. The capital city of Funchal was settled in the 15th century and is a colorful collection of gardens, religious sites, and tourist attractions.
+ Portugal’s most enchanting island is a place that keeps all its subtropical holiday promises. Pearl of the Atlantic, island of eternal spring…Madeira well deserves its fanciful nicknames and the affection visitors and locals alike feel for this volcanic island.

+ Should you be looking for a subtropical paradise with stunning natural beauty and rich cultural heritage, Madeira Island may be the perfect destination for you. This island offers a variety of attractions, from lush forests and volcanic peaks to charming towns and sandy beaches. You can explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Laurisilva, the largest surviving laurel forest in the world, or admire the colorful flowers and exotic fruits at the art deco Mercado dos Lavradores. You can also visit the Quinta das Cruzes, a historic manor house with a museum and a chapel, or stroll along the Old Zone, a revitalized area with street art and traditional restaurants. Whether you are looking for adventure, relaxation, or culture, Madeira Island has something for virtually everyone.

+ The Madeira Islands are comprised of two inhabited islands, Madeira and Porto Santo, and two uninhabited groups, the Desertas and the Selvagens. . Administratively, they form the autonomous region of Madeira. The regional capital, Funchal, (shown here) is located on Madeira Island,

+ Madeira Island, the largest of the group, has a coastline of about 90 miles (144 km), and rises in the center to Ruivo Peak (6,106 feet [1,861 meters] above sea level). The greater part of the interior above 3,000 feet (900 metres) 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. . 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.Banana plantations and vineyards now predominate. (By the early 21st century, tourism had made major inroads.)

In the city of Biarritz, on southwestern France’s Basque coast

 “The French air cleans up the brain and does good – a world of good.”

— Vincent Van Gogh
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(In the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department of the  Nouvelle-Aquitaine région, in southwestern France) Swimming in turquoise waters, sipping rosé at sunset, breathing in scents of lavender: The South of France is the embodiment of French glamour and sophistication. The area includes idyllic locations such as Biarritz (featured here), which is a resort town whose wild beaches are hugely popular with surfers, royals, and celebrities (you might also recognize it from Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises).

+ The region’s mild climate, the variety of beaches and scenery, and the town’s luxurious tourist accommodations continue to draw an international clientele, but the exclusive upmarket image of Biarritz has changed in recent times. Tourism is more diversified, with the organization of festivals, conference facilities, and a center for thalassotherapy (the use of seawater, algae, mud, and other marine items as therapeutic treatment). A promenade runs between the sandy beaches of the Grand Plage, facing northwest, and the Côte des Basques. The beaches are split by a rocky promontory, and the town is a popular resort for windsurfers and surfers, who descend on Biarritz in July when it conducts a surfing festival and hosts the European longboard championships. The folklore and traditions of the Basques of the district are an added attraction.

+ Featured here is Biarritz, a beautiful town by by the sea where guests love feeling the cool sea breeze as they stroll around. (It lies along the Bay of Biscay, adjacent to Bayonne and Anglet and 11 miles [18 km] from the Spanish border.) They can also visit the Biarritz Aquarium, which features an Art Deco architecture while housing several engaging exhibits. Aside from this, the town also has an iconic rock formation called Rocher de La Vierge.

+ Once a small fishing village, Biarritz was made fashionable after 1854 by Napoleon III and his Spanish empress, Eugénie. The British are largely responsible for its growth as a winter residence. Visited by Queen Victoria, Edward VII, and Alfonso XIII of Spain, Biarritz began to call itself “the queen of resorts and the resort of kings.”