The "country town" of Colmar in Alsace is sweet and charming. The colorfully painted traditional…read morehouses, canals, displays and atmosphere cast a fairy tale spell over the town and is said to be the inspiration behind Disney's Beauty and the Beast. One of my companions remarked that Howl's Moving Castle is modeled after Colmar as well. So maybe you can get a picture in your mind. You must visit to see for yourself. The half-timbered houses, the cobblestone streets, the canals (Little Venice), the historic center -- this is a very lovely town and one of the highlights of our trip. Also, we visited in December and the Christmas markets were in full swing. I'm sure that summer would be a great time to visit, but Colmar is especially magical during the Christmas season. Be prepared for crowds.

Taking a break from the big cities, Colmar is a charming gem in the Alsace region of France…read more Arriving a few days before the Christmas markets start, I find the hotel I'm staying at and the town itself busily building up it's appearance. It's a seasonal thing. But do they really need to? The town is like a medieval setting in a Disney movie! The architecture of timbered wood, houses with pointy roofs and even little nooks with Disney characters is amazing! This town has all levels of dining establishments: fine dining to snack nooks. It's the combination of French and German influences that make this region different from others in France. I just visited the Musée Underlinden. It's impressive for the Triptyque altar pieces on display. A surprise is the size of this museum (quite large!) as well as a Claude Monet piece and other better known French artists. The Petite Venise neighborhood is filled with canals which have flatboat rides cruising down the waterways. 5-star picturesque! If you happen to travel to Eastern France, I highly recommend a stay in Colmar. It's one of the nicest small towns I've seen in my travels!

I don't need too many words for Riquewihr, just take a look at my photos. This is a charming and…read moreinteresting little city to visit. Definitely worth making a trip to see! On my river cruise we went to many small villages and tourist towns, however Riquewihr really shines!

This was a colorful, charming town on the Alsace Wine Route. Our cruise took an excursion to both…read moreColmar and Riquewihr, and these beautiful towns, with cobblestone streets and half-timbered houses are straight out of a fairy tale. Colmar is the inspiration for Howl's Moving Castle, as well for Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Riquewihr was a smaller town, but every bit as delightful, and both towns were decorated for Christmas when we visited in December.

You cannot miss the character these fresh water runnels add to the city. Take off your shoes and…read morerelax.

it s really nice with the little canals of water running through the streets of the old part. It…read morereally gives it character. I did stupidly think that Die Bächle was one specific little well or something at first.

My favorite city in Switzerland, Basel is both a big city and a small one. It's a major metropolis…read morefilled with culture, entertainment, restaurants and history. It is super easy to get just about anywhere via tram that runs all day with an interval of less than ten minutes between. Cell service is excellent throughout the city, too! Great museums including the Tinguely and the Kunstmuseum. Fabulous craft beers. It's close to the Alsace region of France so the wine shops are plentiful and relatively inexpensive. Christmas markets run from the end of November to early January. Fabulous access via rail with SBB, SNCF and DB from other major cities in Europe. And the EuroAirport has access to all the major European hub cities. Basel as a city dates back to the fourth century thanks to a fort built here by the Roman army and a church in 346. City walls started in 1230 and there was the usual antisemitic massacre in 1349. Basel joined the Swiss Confederacy in 1501 and the SBB railway station was built in 1907. Bombed by allied forces during WWII, but after the war, the city rebuilt and culture returned. Today, it is vibrant, cosmopolitan and exciting. It's not Zürich or Geneva. It's Basel! [Review 21237 overall - 84 in Switzerland - 202 of 2024.]

Love Basel - I don't feel like it gets as much love or attention as other cities in Switzerland,…read morebut it is a wonderful blend of nearby cultural influences making a unique local flavor. It is a fairly large city but still feels intimate at times; I never felt overly crowded by people. Very walkable coupled with solid public transportation options throughout makes it easy to explore all Basel has to offer!

This has always been one of my favorite local landmarks when visiting Belfort. This statue was…read moredesigned by Architect and Sculptor, Frederic Bartholdi, same architect who designed the Statue of Liberty in New York City.

From the owner: Symbolique 22 mètres de long pour 11 de hauteur. Le monument qui identifie la ville de Belfort à…read moretravers la métropole est visible tout au long de l'année au pied du château. Bartholdi, son créateur, l'a dédié à la bravoure de la jeune cité, après trois sièges en moins d'un siècle dont le plus célèbre, celui de 1870, a permis à la ville de ne pas être rattachée à la Prusse comme le reste de l'Alsace.

This is a picturesque area in Strasbourg on the Grande Ile, and recognized as a UNESCO World…read moreHeritage Site since 1988. It was named "Petite France," as it was the hospital area where the soldiers with the "French Disease" were sent in the 15th century (actually syphilis). The district was rebuilt after WWII and you can see the half-timbered house from the 16th & 17th centuries, with narrow streets, canals and bridges. This charming area is referred to as the Venice of the North, and when we visited in December, it was festively decorated for Christmas.

This must be the best part visiting Strasbourg, France!…read more There are so much to see, shops, Notre Dame of Strasbourg, Tanner's Guild. We didn't eat here for lunch or dinner, we have a boat to go to and they're FREE. We did a walking tour here! We like Strasbourg in general, not just that area, but because it was the center of the European Union and many other European organizations. Influenced by both German and French architecture and has a fascinating history. What we like most about it were the storks nest, LOTS & LOTS of them. They keep coming back at the same nest, during spring, and fly south for the winter.

Niederdorf is the area of Zurich across the Limmat river from Lindenhof and Schipfe. It's more…read moretouristy in terms of shopping and there is more of a nightlife in this area. Unfortunately, that means it is also more expensive. It's definitely an area to check out, and is not too far from the old town hall, Grossmuenster cathedral, University of Zurich, or a couple of museums. 80/2025

Located in old town Zurich, this is a wonderful place to walk around and look at the shops, eat…read moredinner, grab a drink, and see some local landmarks. With plenty of restaurants, you are bound to find a place with good food and great atmosphere! The options are endless. Multiple shops line the street, from designer labels, to old antique shops that sell Swiss knives. The old river runs along side the street, as well as some popular church's, including the Grossmünster Church. The area has beautiful architecture, and during the holiday season, is lined with Christmas lights. As we walked along, we enjoyed window shopping, ending with a good dinner. Definitely a good way to spend the evening.