Basel is the global center of the pharmaceutical industry, but most travelers visit for the world-famous ART Basel festival, as well as the numerous art galleries, iconic architecture and museums.
Qatar invites discovery through both its modern ambition and traces of its desert heritage. In Doha, the Museum of Islamic Art, designed by I. M. Pei, rises over the waterfront to display centuries of calligraphy, ceramics, textiles, and metalwork. Nearby, the National Museum of Qatar presents the nation's story through exhibits and architecture shaped like the desert rose. Each space offers both insight and reflection.
Reading, a historic town in Berkshire, England, offers a blend of cultural heritage and modern attractions. Known for its rich history, Reading boasts landmarks such as the Reading Abbey, founded in 1121 and once one of the most important monastic sites in England. The Abbey’s ruins are a fascinating site for history enthusiasts, providing a glimpse into medieval architecture and the town’s monastic past.
Bran, a small village nestled in the Carpathian Mountains of central Romania, is best known for its medieval fortress commonly referred to as “Dracula’s Castle.” While the connection to Bram Stoker’s fictional character is loose at best, Bran Castle continues to draw travelers with its striking towers, stone walls, and position on a rocky cliff. Originally built in the 14th century to defend against invading forces, the castle has passed through royal hands, most notably Queen Marie of Romania.
Bizerte is a coastal city in northern Tunisia, situated on the Mediterranean Sea around a lagoon and a network of canals connecting the city with Lake Bizerte. It is known for its working fishing harbour, historic waterfront, and proximity to some of northern Tunisia’s most important natural areas.
Boppard, the pearl of the Rhein, gets its nickname from the fact that it is situated on part of a horse-shoe ben in the Rhein, resembling a pearl in an oyster shell. This bend is one of the most severe anywhere on the Rhein, so much so that the town frontage faces due north while the vineyards, one the same band face due south. The bend is also known as the "bendiest bend on the Rhein." Boppard is an old town, founded in Roman times, with much evidence of its early beginnings carefully preserved.
As well as having many attractions of its own, Boppard is an ideal base for which to explore this part of Germany, in particular "The Valley of the Lorelei". The city of Koblenz is just thirteen minutes away by train and Mainz is just forty minutes. If you like walking in forests, you have but a ten minute walk to be there.
Other Popular Destinations in Germany
Cologne
This cultural capital and university city holds more than 2,000 years of history and is the cultural hub of Germany. Marvel at the gorgeous twin-spired Cologne Cathedral, known for its gilded medieval reliquary and sweeping river views, or lose yourself in one of Colonge's many museums for a few hours. Cologne boasts of having most pubs per person in Germany, so make sure you sit down for a refreshing regional Kölsch beer during your travels!
Passau
Passau sits on the confluence of the Danube, the Inn and the Ilz, so it is fitting that it is known as "the Dreiflüssestadt", which means the “City of Three Rivers.” The historical center offers a cathedral, churches and museums to explore, and the embankment is perfect for a romantic stroll.