The Welsh capital of Cardiff is the eleventh-largest city in the UK and has long been the cultural and commercial heartland of Wales. Although the nation of Wales often conjures up images of expansive sheep-filled valleys and lonely castles on uninhabited peaks, the bustling capital of Cardiff is anything but quiet and remote. Though there … Read more
The capital of Brittany in northwest France, Rennes is recognised throughout the country as a city of art and culture. Named the most liveable city in France by news magazine L’Express, it manages to successfully combine a long history with modern innovation. From medieval streets to modern museum spaces, here are the 15 best things … Read more
The capital of Denmark is a forward-looking place, known for its green lifestyle, cutting-edge food scene and innovative design. The layout of the Inner City goes back to the reign of Christian IV (1577-1648). He was responsible for Copenhagen’s canals, defensive ramparts and lasting monuments like Rosenborg Castle and the Round Tower, which is Europe’s … Read more
The second-smallest and most densely-populated country in the world is renowned as a tax haven, priding itself as a louche playground for the planet’s wealthiest people. Monaco is packed tight against the Mediterranean by high coastal hills, giving it a dramatic profile that can’t be mistaken for anywhere else. The principality has reclaimed a whole … Read more
A sun-kissed southern French city, Montpellier lies between Perpignan and Marseille. It lies approximately ten kilometres inland from the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean Sea, which is a result, it’s said, of the risk of pirate attacks on this area of coast when the city was founded in the tenth century. Now one of the … Read more
The city of Bordeaux is like its wines – rich, colourful, complex, and ever-so desirable. Situated on a meander in the River Garonne in southwestern France, in Bordeaux life flitters between the left and right banks of the river, bistros tucked into attractive side streets, Europe’s largest public square, and submarine docks repurposed for a … Read more
Nudging the border with Belgium at the northern corner of France, Lille lies in French Flanders, having been territories of both England and Spain during its long history. When its traditional industries, including mining, came to an end in the post-war period, Lille was considered a little drab. However, the city was given a new … Read more
Up there with the loveliest capitals in the world, Prague is a city of Baroque palaces, Gothic spires, stately squares, winding cobblestone streets and a castle of simply colossal proportions. Under Holy Roman Emperor, Charles IV in the 14th century this was the third largest city in Europe, behind only Rome and Constantinople. The impact … Read more
Unique among French cities in having spent as much of its history within German territory as it has a part of France, Strasbourg is the main population centre in Alsace, eastern France. Boasting an unusual Franco-German culture as a result, Strasbourg is awash with attractions, from its Gothic cathedral to the glass and steel architecture … Read more
On a peninsula sticking out into the Baltic and constellated by 315 islands, the capital of Finland is a laid-back and youthful seaside city. You may already know that this is one of the most liveable places in the world, where you can sample the Finnish way of life by venturing out into the forest, … Read more