Cities of Light

Paris’s cultural and historic significance is evident in its many noted landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower, Louvre and Arc de Triomphe.

Long a hub of French culture, cuisine and architectural splendor, Paris is one of the most romantic destinations in the world.

Center of the Champagne region, Reims offers diverse historic sites, notably Gallo-Roman ruins, medieval monuments and Reims Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A picturesque town surrounded by forests and vineyards, Trier is the birthplace of Karl Marx and a vibrant university town.

Perched on a hilltop above the city and the Moselle River, the 1,000-year-old Reichsburg Castle is Cochem’s signature landmark.

On a breathtaking stretch of the Rhine that leads from medieval Koblenz to Braubach to Rüdesheim, the 11th-century Marksburg Castle towers over the river.

Germany’s oldest university town, Heidelberg and its castle are situated in the Neckar Valley just east of the Rhine.

Würzburg is home to the Bishops’ Residenz, one of Germany’s largest and most ornate palaces and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Founded in 902, Bamberg remains a medieval-looking city known for its symphony orchestra and specialty, “smoke” beer.

One of Germany’s most renowned and intriguing cities, Nuremberg is surrounded by 13th-century walls that have many fully intact gates and watchtowers.

Few cities embody the past as authentically as Prague, the Czech Republic’s atmospheric capital.

In addition to medieval architecture, Prague is a rich repository of Romanesque, baroque and Art Nouveau buildings that stir the imagination.