The sights in Liverpool and the metropolitan county of Merseyside won’t jump out at you, but if you know what you’re looking at you’ll fall in love. That goes for the warehouses on the Albert Dock where exotic goods from all over the British Empire were stored, or elegant Southport, which is claimed to have …
Pennsylvania is a state rich in history with incredible nature, busy big cities, and friendly small towns. The state is divided into eleven regions, each with their own unique atmosphere and demographic. From Pennsylvania Dutch Country to Lehigh Valley to the Poconos, there are so many towns to discover. All perfect for travelers who love …
You won’t help but be awestruck by Nancy’s magnificent architecture. Place Stanislas is the centrepiece of a UNESCO site, a glorious square commissioned by the last Duke of Lorraine in the 18th century, transforming the centre of the city. Nancy’s appearance evolved again in the late-19th century when it was at the vanguard of Art …
Troyes is a renaissance city in the south of Champagne, with streets of multicoloured half-timbered houses from the 1500s. There may not be a prettier historic centre in all of France, and this is owing to a disaster. Most of these brightly-painted houses are from right after a fire in 1524 when nearly all the …
A famous motto in this eastern French region is “Comtois rends toi! Nenni ma foi!”, “Comtois, surrender! Not on your life!”. And this phrase alone gives you a sense of the landscape and the violent history of the place, where conflict was a part of life up to the mid-20th century. So it’s no shock …
There are two main strands to Pau’s past: In 1553 it was the birthplace of King Henri IV, one of France’s favourite monarchs. Go into the Château de Pau for his back-story and see the turtle shell in which he was cradled as a baby. The other thread can be picked up in the mid-1800s …
Bayonne is at the confluence of the Nive and Adour Rivers in far southwestern France, where historical regions overlap. The city could claim to be a part of Gascony, while the Basque influence is undeniable and can be seen in the bright red beams of its traditional houses and its wild celebrations during the Fêtes …
The cathedral is what springs to mind when most people think of Chartres. And for good reason, because it’s an outstanding piece of medieval heritage and listed by UNESCO . If you’re keen enough you may need half a day or more to get to the bottom of the sculpture and stained glass windows. But …
In Finistère, not far from Brittany’s far western point, Quimper is a historic city permeated with this unique region’s identity. The old town has medieval timber-framed houses with typical Breton granite at the base, and every few steps there’s a crêperie to tempt you. The 13th-century cathedral is lauded as the most beautiful gothic building …
An amazing 272 historic monuments are hiding within the walls in Vannes. And these defences are something to write home about, as they fence off almost the entire old city with powerful gates and towers. It’s hardly an exaggeration to say that you’ll be wondering what year it is when you idle along the cobbled …