Dubbed the ‘Venice of the North’ due to its impressive, UNESCO-listed canal system and its location in North Holland, Amsterdam is a truly exciting holiday destination. This is one of the most extensive historic city centres in Europe, playing host to approximately 7,000 registered historic buildings dating back to medieval times. The Museum Quarter brims with priceless works by Dutch Masters, with the occasional Picasso and Warhol thrown into the mix. The upmarket Jordaan area boasts trendy contemporary art galleries, charming boutiques, and world-class restaurants while the 17th-century Canal Ring is dotted with traditional canal houses and prestigious mansions, quaint drawbridges, and some of the city’s premier nightlife spots. Gorgeous parks and botanical gardens and the landmark 22-floor lookout add further romance to the city.
Located in western Belgium, in the province of West Flanders, Ypres is a dignified place with a weighty history, and will appeal most to those looking to deepen their understanding of the tragedies of World War I. Most of its sights are spread between its lovely centre - full of charming chocolate shops and local brew houses - and its scenic, though sombre, countryside, which active travellers will find makes a great cycling circuit. Key sights include the Menin Gate Memorial, the Flanders Fields Museum and the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917, all of which feature moving memorials to the hundreds of thousands of lives lost near Ypres during the closing stages of the Great War. Meanwhile, sights such as the reconstructed Lakenhalle (Cloth Hall) and Leperse Vestingen (the city’s ancient fortifications) link the city with antiquity.
Set in Normandy, France, on the Orne River in the department of Calvados, Caen has charms in spades - fairytale chateaux and fine wines; beautiful gardens and compelling historical sites; superb shopping and sparkling nightlife. While away the days at local markets loaded with pungent cheeses and sumptuous fresh produce, absorbing the architectural wonders of the Chateau de Caen and the Abbaye aux Hommes, or chatting with locals at the city’s lively cafes and bars. History buffs will enjoy a guided tour of the beaches where battles raged on D-Day in 1945, as well as a visit to the Caen Memorial Museum, which allows an evocative glimpse into Normandy’s epic role in World War 2. The nearby town of Bayeux boasts one of the region’s greatest cultural treasures, the enormous Bayeux Tapestry, depicting the invasion of Normandy by William the Conqueror.
Situated in northern France, Arras, the capital of the historic Artois region, boasts extraordinary heritage architecture, a thriving culinary scene, and an array of interesting art galleries. The town’s two most famous locations are its Grand Place (main square) and Heros Square. Surrounded by Flemish Baroque houses and lined with lively shops, cafes, and galleries, the squares provide wonderful spots to spend leisurely afternoons. Make sure to see the Town Hall, belfry, and the Abbey of St. Vaast arts museum. Other highlights include the wealth of Art Deco buildings, the impressive Quartier des Arts performance venue, the historic Les Boves tunnel network, used in both world wars, and several UNESCO war sites. Make sure to try the Andouillettes (a type of traditional sausage) and the Coeurs d'Arras, little heart-shaped gingerbreads.
With the River Seine gently meandering through this incredible city in northern central France, the captivating, romantic city of Paris has been described in just about every possible way and is a dream destination for people the world over, boasting many famous landmarks, a rich history and idyllic Parisian scenes at every turn. The city features monument-lined boulevards, fascinating museums, classical bistros, bohemian art nouveau cafes, creative wine bars, stylish boutiques, and art galleries. Must-see attractions include: the impressive Gothic Notre Dame Cathedral, the world-renowned Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and the Arc de Triomphe standing guard over the glamourous Champs Elysees Avenue. Don’t miss the opportunity to sample infamous French cuisine at an array of enticing ‘boulangeries’, ‘patisseries’, and ‘fromageries’.
