What are the most surprising little cities of Europe?
May 6th, 2001, 05:51 PM
#21
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I too love Trier! It was an accident that I ended up there on my first day in Germany after a very long journey. A great place to ease into Europe. Big but not too big. <BR>I am also a fan of Mastricht in the The Netherlands. Right on the Amstel river. great walking area, very picturesque.
May 6th, 2001, 06:09 PM
#23
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I love Freiburg, Germany. It has a beautiful cathedral that dominates the historic area, the main area of interest to tourists is pretty compact, it has a nice university atmosphere, the people I encountered were quite friendly, the weather is good, it has good public transportation and easy rail and air connections with Switzerland and France, the market on the Munsterplatz is fun, and you can easily enjoy one day or a few days there without rushing around.
May 6th, 2001, 06:43 PM
#25
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We loved Brugge in Belgium. Was there last August with my husband and two children, ages 11 and 13, and we were enchanted by it. We lucked out with beautiful weather, because I understand that's rare! We went bicycle riding through the medieval town and out under the windmills. There was a big festival in town in the evening, with concerts and small theatre acts everywhere. The next day, we took a boatride through the canals. The food was wonderful and the people were very friendly. It was the highlight of our European tour through France, Belgium and England!
May 6th, 2001, 07:47 PM
#26
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I loved Brugge but that wasn't a surprise for me. I had heard so many good things about it. Some of my favorite small town surprises were Rhye (England), Delft (Netherlands), Edam (Netherlands), Dinan (France), and Camogli (Italy). Those are just a few.
May 6th, 2001, 08:27 PM
#27
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Sally, really, Spello? I thought my husband and I were the only people that had ever visited there! We were staying in Asisi for three days, and on the third day went to the train station and got on the first train going anywhere, which happened to be Spello. We got there during the siesta--everything was closed! But once it opened up, we had the best gelato of our trip, and also had a memorable experience in a shop where they spoke no English. It ended with us buying a half a round of pecorino (but not the dry stuff they sell here) and the shopkeeper pressing a small bottle of olive oil into my hand because he had deduced (by grabbing my ring finger) that I was on my honeymoon. <BR> <BR>That said, I'd have to vote for Verona as being the best surprising city. Nobody ever talks about it really, but it is truly memorable, especially if you go during opera season and go to the opera.
May 6th, 2001, 10:42 PM
#29
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Wow I'm surprise San Marino got a couple of votes as I personally thought it was a bit of a tourist trap - I guess I missed something? However I definitely second Verona & San Gimiagno which are both very charming & look like something out of a picture book as does Lake Como - breathtaking!
May 7th, 2001, 06:30 AM
#31
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On a recent trip, I discovered the small town of Bayeux, France - a very comfortable, inexpensive and friendly place. Other small towns and cities in which I instantly have felt comfortable: Salisbury, England; Avignon, France; and Garmisch, Germany. Although Munich is a nice city, I can't say I want to rush back there. The residents weren't particularly friendly. But I really enjoyed the Oktoberfest! How could one not enjoy excellent food and beer in the warm fall sunshine?
May 7th, 2001, 07:30 AM
#32
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Quedlinburg is a town in the Harz mountains, in what was East Germany. It has over 3000 old half-timbered buildings, many of which are undergoing restoration. It's an amazing place, and I'd guess it's going to be very popular once more people hear of it. See it now before it gets crowded and the prices go up. <BR> <BR>http://www.unesco.org/whc/sites/535.htm
May 7th, 2001, 09:28 AM
#34
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Sarlat and St Emilion in France. Both have been touted as must-sees, and they ARE. <BR> <BR>Oxford, England. Yeah yeah Morse and the university, but fell in love with the winding streets and wonderful shops. <BR> <BR>Salisbury, England. After the cathedral, everything should look ho-hum, but not this little town. <BR> <BR>Figueres, Spain.
May 7th, 2001, 09:51 AM
#36
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I'd like to agree with JP about Quedlinburg. It is at the tiny end of the spectrum of "surprising little cities of Europe," a a gem nonetheless. <BR>On the large end of the scale, I'd like to place Lyon, France. I was there two weeks ago and was quite taken with the place. It was to me and one other person I was traveling with like Paris without the attitude and crowds. France is not my most favorite country, but I must say I was quite smitten with Lyon! The setting on the Soane and Rhone rivers is dazzling and the history and architecture are real and fascinating. And the food!!!
May 7th, 2001, 10:04 AM
#37
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I haven't been to many, many of these places mentioned but I did love Portovenure and I adore Idar-Oberstein, Germany. They are both very small towns. In Idar-Oberstein the little country church is carved out of the side of the cliff and all the streets are straight up and down. The tale goes that the prince had to carve out the church himself as a penance because he killed his brother over a woman. He did it but it took him all of his long life to finish. The church only holds about 30 people comfortably. It is also where the German jewelry industry mines many of its semi-prescious stones and isn't that far from France. Some of the people there still work as jewelers and in those related businesses that require quartz and some other specialty stones.
May 7th, 2001, 02:00 PM
#39
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Sarlat comes immediately to mind, but it really is a gem. I'm also a big fan of Freiburg, Germany, though it's been several years since I was there. I loved Aarhus, Denmark, but that was MANY years ago and for all I know it could be dreadful today. Albi, Montpellier, and Nîmes, France, are very appealing. Vicenza, for the architecture alone. Toledo and Granada, Spain.
