Metropolises & Fairytale Towns

Basel is a city of particular contrasts. In the city on the border of Switzerland with Germany and France, visitors experience the unique combination of more than 2000 years of history with modernity. In the cityscape of Basel, historical buildings from the 15th century complement each other with the most modern architecture to form an exciting, yet harmonious overall picture. The city's main landmark is the 800-year-old Basel Cathedral. Directly behind the cathedral, one can enjoy a magnificent view of the old town and the famous Mittlere Brücke (Middle Bridge) over the Rhine from the Palatinate. The Red Town Hall and the Spalentor are also not to be missed during a visit to the city. Last but not least, the approximately 40 museums of Basel are an attraction for art and culture lovers from all over Europe..

Basel is a city in northwestern Switzerland on the Swiss, French and German borders. It is located on the bend of the River Rhine and benefits from a Mediterranean climate. It is the third most populated city in Switzerland and has been the commercial hub for Swiss arts and culture since the Renaissance. In 1967 the people of Basel voted to acquire two paintings by Picasso, who was so moved by the Basel people that he donated 3 paintings and a study to the city's Kunstmuseum (Museum of Fine Arts). Visit the Augusta Raurica, one of the largest Roman archaeology parks in Switzerland, and enjoy a river crossings over the River Rhine by non-motorised ferries. During the summer months, time is spent outdoors, either swimming in the River Rhine, dining al fresco, enjoying open air concerts, cinema, street parties and festivals. Basel is home to over 20 restaurants that have won GaultMillau or Michelin awards, and boasts Switzerland's largest collection of theatre shows, including modern contemporary dance, touring and puppetry theatre.

Although large parts of the city were almost completely destroyed during the Second World War, Breisach has a variety of beautiful sights. St. Stephen's Minster, the symbol of the city, fascinates with its well-known treasures. The vivid Rhine Gate, which has been modified into a museum, convinces with the historical town history. If that doesn't convince, an extensive tour visiting romantic and historic churches will. Culture lovers come here at their expense.

Breisach is a town located in Southwest Germany on the French border. The town is situated in the Rhine Valley on the banks of the river Rhine and dates back over four thousand years. Breisach and its history can be experienced through the City History Museum, which houses a permanent exhibition taking you from Stone Age through the Celtic, to the Romans and Middle Ages, right up to modern day. St Stephen's Cathedral is home to the city’s famous art treasures, the wheel wells, which are housed in the neighbouring Radbrunnenturm with the forty one metre deep water well. The cathedral is also home to many other treasures including the High Altar of Master HL and wall paintings by Martin Schongauer as well as High Gothic and Roman architecture. A visit to the Blue House, the former Jewish Community Centre, is highly recommended. Now owned by the Friends of Former Jewish Community House Breisach it exhibits memorials to Breisach’s Jewish heritage.

From the first minute, the French Strasbourg enchants with colorful half-timbered idyll, Wilhelminian splendor architecture,new trendy neighborhoods and exciting museums. Even a short visit has a long-term effect thanks to the many inspirations! In the picturesque district of La Petite France, the moment can be enjoyed perfectly with a tarte flambée, before the imposing cathedral with stained glass windows and archways invites you to travel back in time to the Gothic period. Those who are free from giddiness should definitely take the 332 steps up to the viewing platformhere to see the Vosges and the Black Forest in the distance.

From the first minute, the French Strasbourg enchants with colorful half-timbered idyll, Wilhelminian splendor architecture,new trendy neighborhoods and exciting museums. Even a short visit has a long-term effect thanks to the many inspirations! In the picturesque district of La Petite France, the moment can be enjoyed perfectly with a tarte flambée, before the imposing cathedral with stained glass windows and archways invites you to travel back in time to the Gothic period. Those who are free from giddiness should definitely take the 332 steps up to the viewing platformhere to see the Vosges and the Black Forest in the distance.

The city of Mannheim is located on the Rhine, directly opposite Ludwigshafen in Baden-Württemberg. The castle is the landmark of the city and is located not far from the river. But also the water tower and in February the street carnival are known for the city, which is located only a few kilometers from Heidelberg. Particularly attractive are the squares in which the city center is laid out. The city center is large with numerous shopping opportunities and enough cafes to stop

Mannheim, Germany, is a dynamic city known for its distinctive grid layout and vibrant cultural scene. Located at the confluence of the Rhine and Neckar rivers, it features the impressive Mannheim Palace and the lush Luisenpark. The city's modern architecture contrasts with its historical roots, while its thriving arts scene includes theaters, museums, and music festivals. Mannheim is also a key industrial and commercial hub, making it a blend of cultural richness and economic vitality.

The picturesque town of Rüdesheim is located directly on the Rhine in Hesse and has many attractions, such as the famous Drosselgasse, where there are numerous wine bars, but also a castle and a torture museum, where medieval torture instruments and the history of the Inquisition are exhibited. A cable car goes up to the Niederwald Monument, which is located above the town. From here you can take a beautiful hike through pristine woodlands and then come to the chairlift that leads directly to Assmannshausen. This is also located on the Rhine.

The picturesque town of Rüdesheim is located directly on the Rhine in Hesse and has many attractions, such as the famous Drosselgasse, where there are numerous wine bars, but also a castle and a torture museum, where medieval torture instruments and the history of the Inquisition are exhibited. A cable car goes up to the Niederwald Monument, which is located above the town. From here you can take a beautiful hike through pristine woodlands and then come to the chairlift that leads directly to Assmannshausen. This is also located on the Rhine.

Koblenz already impresses with its unique location at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. The first port of call when visiting the city should therefore also be the so-called "German Corner" with its imposing Kaiser Wilhelm monument. Since 2002, it has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Upper Middle Rhine Valley". A beautiful view of Koblenz and its two rivers opens up during a visit to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. Perched 120 meters above the Rhine, the 16th-century fortification is the second largest fortress still standing in Europe. Spectacular is already the ascent in a gondola of the cable car..

Located in the West of the country, Koblenz is one of the oldest cities in Germany. It is situated on both banks of the river Rhine, at its confluence with the Moselle River. The beginnings of Koblenz can be traced back to its military beginnings around 8 BC. The city is rich in its history and heritage and is easily explored on foot. Take the cable car crossing over the river Rhine for spectacular aerial views or enjoy the city from the one thousand year old fortress, Ehrenbreitstein. The upper middle Rhine Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its unique landscape can be enjoyed and discovered through the interactive multimedia journey at the Romanticum. Historical and architectural sites of interest include Stolzenfels Castle, the Electoral Palace of Koblenz and Old Town. From the romantic winding streets and small squares of Old Town, stroll through the alleyways from the Church of the Holy Virgin to the St Kastor Basilica and enjoy the picturesque buildings and squares along the way. Koblenz is also very popular for its Riesling and strong Spatburgunder wines since the Romans introduced it two thousand years ago.

Cologne is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, which is one of the few cities in the Federal Republic of Germany with over a million inhabitants. The Cologne Cathedral is the landmark of the city, which is located directly on the banks of the Rhine and the main train station. A cable car runs across the Rhine, providing a fantastic view of the city. The local zoo and stadium are a real attraction for young and old. The carnival is an important part and is just as much a part of it as a typical brewery.

Cologne is a city in western Germany located across the Rhine river. It is the oldest in Germany, dating back 2000 years and is considered the region’s cultural hub. The city is known for its iconic landmark of the twin-spired Cologne Cathedral set against the reconstructed Old Town buildings. When in Old Town, visit the historic Old Town Hall and the Roman Church Great St Martin, or take time out and sit at one of the traditional breweries and enjoy the scenery around you. Historical sites such as the Roman Dionysus mosaic and the medieval Overstolzenhaus are worth a visit too. Another iconic sight in Cologne is at Hohenzollern Bridge. Here, local and tourist couples affix padlocks to the railings of the bridge and swear their loyalty to each other, they then throw the key into the Rhein to ensure everlasting love. Cologne is home to over 30 stages providing cabaret, free ensembles, theatre and dance and also celebrates its openly gay culture.

Amsterdam is one of those cities that every traveler should have visited at least once in his life. No wonder, millions and millions of tourists flock to the city on the canals every year to enjoy the flood of sights and cultural offerings. The best way to discover Amsterdam is by taking a boat ride along the canals or a walk along the unique canals. Art lovers will be immediately drawn to one of the world-famous museums, such as the Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk Museum or the Van Gogh Museum. Party people will find their happiness in the nightlife and red light district De Wallen. And beer drinkers should by no means miss the Heineken Experience.

Amsterdam combines the unrivaled beauty of the 17th-century Golden Age city center with plenty of museums and art of the highest order, not to mention a remarkably laid-back atmosphere. It all comes together to make this one of the world's most appealing and offbeat metropolises in the world. Built on a latticework of concentric canals like an aquatic rainbow, Amsterdam is known as the City of Canals—but it's no Venice, content to live on moonlight serenades and former glory. Quite the contrary: on nearly every street here you'll find old and new side by side—quiet corners where time seems to be holding its breath next to streets like neon-lit Kalverstraat, and Red Light ladies strutting by the city's oldest church. Indeed, Amsterdam has as many lovely facets as a 40-carat diamond polished by one of the city's gem cutters. It's certainly a metropolis, but a rather small and very accessible one. Locals tend to refer to it as a big village, albeit one that happens to pack the cultural wallop of a major world destination. There are scores of concerts every day, numerous museums, summertime festivals, and, of course, a legendary year-round party scene. It's pretty much impossible to resist Amsterdam's charms. With 7,000 registered monuments, most of which began as the residences and warehouses of humble merchants, set on 160 man-made canals, and traversed by 1,500 or so bridges, Amsterdam has the largest historical inner city in Europe. Its famous circle of waterways, the grachtengordel, was a 17th-century urban expansion plan for the rich and is a lasting testament to the city’s Golden Age. This town is endearing because of its kinder, gentler nature—but a reputation for championing sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll does not alone account for Amsterdam's being one of the most popular destinations in Europe: consider that within a single square mile the city harbors some of the greatest achievements in Western art, from Rembrandt to Van Gogh. Not to mention that this is one of Europe's great walking cities, with so many of its treasures in the untouted details: tiny alleyways barely visible on the map, hidden garden courtyards, shop windows, floating houseboats, hidden hofjes(courtyards with almshouses), sudden vistas of church spires, and gabled roofs that look like so many unframed paintings. And don’t forget that the joy lies in details: elaborate gables and witty gable stones denoting the trade of a previous owner. Keep in mind that those XXX symbols you see all over town are not a mark of the city's triple-X reputation. They're part of Amsterdam's official coat of arms—three St. Andrew's crosses, believed to represent the three dangers that have traditionally plagued the city: flood, fire, and pestilence. The coat's motto ("Valiant, determined, compassionate") was introduced in 1947 by Queen Wilhelmina in remembrance of the 1941 February Strike in Amsterdam—the first time in Europe that non-Jewish people protested against the persecution of Jews by the Nazi regime.