When my mom came to visit me in France, I thought a great way to spend the day would be to take a day trip to the Loire Valley, known for its Renaissance castles. We booked a tour as my mother prefers planned tours and then we set off to three castles: Chenonceau, Cheverny and Chambord.

Chateau de Chenonceau

Chenonceau Castle is one of the most famous in the Loire Valley, and France, because of its location atop a small river. There’s no need to tell you that the architecture is absolutely stunning and definitely worthy of a visit. However … Continue reading

Colmar is one of the well-known gems of Alsace, the region of France that borders Germany and combines the history and culture of the two. It’s rumoured to have inspired the setting for Beauty and the Beast but whether or not it was Colmar or another Alsacian village, Colmar is definitely a town out of a faerytale.

The History of Colmar

Colmar has been around for over 1,000 years but its history has been relatively quiet. The town of Colmar grew from the era of Charlemagne to 1226, when it was made an Imperial City. What I find most interesting … Continue reading

Dinan is part of Brittany, one of the most well-known regions of France and also one of the most interesting. Not only was Brittany its own kingdom for a short time but it’s only been formally incorporated as part of France since 1532, and the area also has its own language called Breton. Sadly, not a lot is available online about Brittany and its towns (comparatively), so it was difficult deciding which town to go to in my limited amount of time. However, I chose the medieval city of Dinan and was absolutely amazed.

A Short History of Dinan

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Popular for its laid-back lifestyle, Copenhagen is a popular destination for youth. Though the city itself is relatively new at 1000 years old (yes, new) it became the Danish capital in the 14th century and is now home to hygge.

The History of Copenhagen

Copenhagen was a small fishing village until around the 11th and 13th centuries, when it became a walled town with significant economic growth. It became the capital of Denmark in 1343 – or 1416 – or 1443 – depending on the source. But it was here that the capital was established with a new … Continue reading

The first place I ever visited in Germany was actually the relatively unknown town of Aachen, a cute town near the French and Belgian borders. It’s known for being the home of Charlemagne’s cathedral and is also the hometown of Anne Frank’s mother. Though there’s a world of difference between Aachen and popular German cities like Berlin, Aachen still has a lot to offer for history buffs.

Some History of Aachen

Aachen started out as a spa town in Roman times, and it grew to be one of Emperor Charlemagne’s favourite places centuries later. Subsequently he made the town the … Continue reading

Switzerland is known for its northern parts but Ticino is tucked away in the south. The thing I love about Switzerland is that is has very strong and obvious influences from the French, Italians and Germans, yet it has its own distinct culture and identity. Ticino is essentially the part of Switzerland near Italy, with heavily Italian influences. It’s a few hours’ train ride away from Zurich but starting early, I was able to spend a day in some different towns there.

Lugano

Lugano’s a city with a tumultuous history that switches between independence, French, Italian, and of course Swiss … Continue reading

I wanted to visit Bern and Zurich so much when I was in France that when I ended up not making it, I actually flew back to Switzerland the next chance I had. And let me tell you this: I was absolutely not disappointed, and even stunned by the beauty and culture that Bern had to offer. Even though it’s the capital of Switzerland, this historic city is usually skipped for nearby places like Zurich and Lucerne, but it definitely deserves a day at the least of your time to fully enjoy what Switzerland has to offer.

The History of

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Stockholm, Sweden was always really high on my bucket list so I finally decided that I was going to visit, and even though my trip was much shorter than I would’ve liked, it was absolutely wonderful. Everyone there is really kind and helpful, and the city is filled with culture from bike traffic being a huge part of city life, to Sweden’s interesting relationship with light and nature.

A History of Stockholm

The origins of Stockholm are more obscure, and even its name meaning “log-islet” is of unknown roots. In the viking era, the main towns were Birka, Sigtuna and … Continue reading

You’ve probably seen the iconic mound of Mont St-Michel in Normandy before as it’s an architectural marvel that’s emblematic of France, and I actually went there once by myself and took my mom there a few months later. It’s definitely one of the most unique places I’ve ever been and honestly, visiting it was not what I expected. It is quite touristy but still worth the visit.

The History of Mont St-Michel

The Mont St-Michel monastery was built around 708 to be a sanctuary because of Aubert of Avranches, a bishop. He had a dream that the archangel Michael appeared … Continue reading