From Lutetia to Joan of Arc !!!!!!^^"

Paris might still be a swamp today if it weren’t for Julius Caesar. In the third century BC, the Parisii, a Gallic tribe, settled into an area they called Loukteih (the Celtic word for “a marsh”), where they established a fishing village on the banks of the Ile de la Cité. The various Gallic tribes throughout the region were constantly engaged in war with each other. In 52 BC Julius Caesar put an end to the bickering once and for all at the battle of Alésia, where his armies defeated the Gauls, who had united briefly and unsuccessfully under Vercingétorix. As part of the Roman Empire, Loukteih was given the Latin moniker “Lutetia” (or Lutèce in modern French), and soon became an important Roman province.

Roman Influence

Extending the original settlement onto the Left Bank of the Seine, the Romans constructed roads, arenas, the vast catacombs under Mont-parnasse, and thermal baths (now part of the Cluny Medieval Museum). Protected from the Germanic tribes to the east of the Rhine, the Parisii thrived during the Pax Romana (Roman Peace). As the locals became more educated and urbanized, the seeds of a highly cultured French civilization were planted. When Julian the Apostate, Prefect of the Gauls, became the new Roman Emperor in 360 AD, he renamed the city Paris (Civitas Parisiorum, City of the Parisians).

Early Christians

In 451 AD, Attila and a half-million of his Huns set their sights on Paris after successfully laying waste to Rheims and Metz. The Parisians started packing their bags to flee the city, only to be stopped by a young Christian girl named Geneviève, who convinced them to hold their ground and pray. Whether it was the prayers or the lack of a good map, Attila never made it to Paris, and Geneviève was later named the city’s patron saint. Meanwhile, Germanic tribes continued their invasions into Gaul, led by the Visigoths and the Franks. In what may be construed as revenge for the Romans’ treatment of Saint Denis, Geneviève converted Clovis, King of the Franks, to Christianity. After his baptism in Rheims in 508 AD, he proceeded to defeat the Roman governor of Gaul and established Paris as the capital of his Frankish kingdom. (He wouldn’t be the last king to convert to Catholicism for a throne in Paris.) The Merovingian Dynasty – and the kingdom of France – was born.

UNLUCKY PARIS

During the troublesome Hundred Years War, Parisians had other problems to deal with besides the English occupation. In 1348 the city was hit by famine and the plague. At the height of the epidemic, over 800 Parisians died daily. In 1380 the plague returned, followed by another famine in 1395. Paris flooded twice, in 1410 and 1428. The English brought the smallpox with them in 1422, and hungry wolves managed to enter the city during the winter of 1423. Two years after Charles VII ended the English occupation, over 50,000 Parisians died from yet another bout of the plague, known now as the Black Death. By 1438 the population of Paris was less than half its size before the start of the Hundred Years War.

England & France
In order to avoid any further grabs at the throne by powerful lords, the Capetians wisely centralized the administration of the kingdom, establishing France’s civil service system with Paris as its center. They also made sure that the king owned the most land, and refused to let the Papacy in Rome push them around. This didn’t keep the English from gaining their first major foothold in France in 1152, when Louis VII’s arranged marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine ended and she immediately wed Henry of Normandy, a.k.a. King Henry II of England. It was King Philippe Auguste (1180-1223), using his friendship with Henry II’s estranged son Richard the Lionheart, who was able to reclaim the French lands lost in Normandy and the Loire. Under Philippe Auguste the capital’s streets were paved, the city walls were fortified, cathedrals were constructed, and a fortified castle was built on the Right Bank, which would later become the Louvre. The Latin Quarter was born on the Left Bank with the opening of the University of Paris in 1215 and the Sorbonne in 1253, attracting notable scholars such as Abélard and St. Thomas Aquinas.
The Capetian dynasty ended in disaster when Philippe IV (“the Fair”) died in 1314, quickly followed by his three sons – “the cursed kings” – within a few years. Only his daughter Isabelle survived, giving birth to a son. This is where things get confusing. Isabelle’s husband was Edward II of England, which meant the only grandson of Philippe IV of France was England’s King Edward III. The French lords therefore put forth their preferred candidate for the throne, Philippe IV’s nephew, Philippe de Valois, and the Hundred Years War started. If it had simply been a matter of the French vs. the English, it might not have lasted as long, but it wasn’t that simple. As the Valois lost battle after battle (and even one king) to the English, things weren’t looking any better for the French on the domestic front. The merchants’ Provost of Paris, Etienne Marcel, led a bloody uprising against Charles V, and dukes from the Armagnac and Burgundian families began fighting among themselves for power when it became clear that Charles VI was mad. The English took the opportunity to side with the Burgundians in 1408, and were given control of Paris while the dauphin (the crown prince, the future Charles VII) took refuge in Bourges. This was where the famous young peasant girl, Joan of Arc (Jeanne d’Arc), got involved. She rallied the dauphin’s troops and managed to win a few battles, but was wounded during the failed siege of Paris in 1429. The six-year-old Henry VI of England was crowned king of France a year later at Notre Dame. Captured by the Burgundians in 1431, Joan was turned over to the English and burned at the stake in Rouen for heresy. In the end, her martyrdom boosted French determination and, by 1436, Charles VII finally defeated the English (and their Burgundian cohorts) at Montereau, then returned triumphantly to Paris. The Hundred Years War (which actually lasted over 120 years) was finally over.

Cooperation initiatives in Europe !!!!!^^"

Cooperation initiatives in Europe

Paris counts on sharing best practices with its partners in the European Union. European capitals face the same issues: improving quality of life, the efficiency of public services, local self-government, etc.

Paris' cooperation in Europe

Paris gives extra emphasis to sharing experiences and best practices with its counterparts in the European Union through bilateral cooperation agreements. Paris City Hall is developing long-term partnerships, designed to better meet the challenges of urban management. This is with one aim in mind: to reach concrete, tangible initiatives the benefits of which must be directly felt by Parisians.

Sharing social housing practices with London, thoughts on environmental issues with Copenhagen, etc.

In 2005, Paris undertook new cooperation agreements, in particular with Copenhagen, capital of Denmark, on the role of bicycles in the city and on the environment, and with Vienna (Austria) regarding an exchange of civil servants in the fields of Human resources and the modernisation of administrative services. Cooperation with Prague, based on risk prevention, has been particularly fruitful. By helping the capital of the Czech Republic to prevent flooding, Paris City Hall employees discovered an ingenious system which alerts the public in real time through mobile phone networks. Paris is now exploring this option. The capital has also furthered exchanges with Berlin regarding urban planning and with London regarding social housing.

Eating habits in France !!!!!!^^"

One of the greatest French treasures is undoubtedly their rich cuisine. French people try to find as many occasions as possible to spend some time at the table, with their family and friends to enjoy the taste and flavor of good food and drinks. What may appear surprising is the fact that France's reputation for food is not based on long-term traditions but rather on constant change. Good eating habits are a relatively new experience for French people as little as 200 years ago about 80% of the population consisted of farmers who ate mainly bread and cereals. This way of eating had been popular in the country since ancient times. The situation started to change in the middle of the nineteenth century with the rise of the aristocracy, when food became a symbol of social position. In the times when great numbers of people suffered from the lack of food, the type of food one ate and offered to guests started to play a crucial role in establishing one's social status.

Now the situation in France as well as in many other European countries is much different. People use a lot of canned or frozen foods for weekdays but it's worth mentioning that cooking evenings or weekend meals prepared from fresh ingredients are still popular. Street markets are still popular among some of the population, where they buy fresh vegetables, meat and fish several times a week, but to be honest the majority of those products are bought at hyper or supermarkets nowadays.

French people usually start their day with a light breakfast consisting of bread or cereals, coffee, fruit or croissants. Their second meal is lunch, that is consumed between noon and 2PM and dinner is the last meal of the day. A typical meal consists of appetizers, usually raw vegetables or salads, a main dish, that is meat or fish with vegetables, pasta, rice or fries, some cheese and quite often with dessert (fruit or cake).

When we think of the drinking habits of France we immediately associate France with wine. The culture of drinking this liquid is quite strongly rooted in the nation, although wine consumption has lessened with time. However there are still people who drink wine daily. Beer has become quite a popular drink, especially among young people. There are also other popular ones, such as pastis, an aniseed-flavored beverage drunk with cold water, or cider which is quite popular in the northwest.

Restaurant cuisine in France can be clearly divided into three categories; cuisine bourgeoise, cuisine du terroir and cuisine nouvelle.

Cuisine bourgeoise includes all the classic French dishes that have become popular over the whole of France, especially among the affluent classes. These dishes focus mainly on rich, cream-based sauces and involve some complex cooking techniques that are generally associated with French cuisine. This category makes use of haute cuisine, a very complex approach to food preparation and kitchen management. This type of cooking is often served abroad as ‘French cuisine' and is viewed by many as a typical French way of eating, not really a true representation as it's very often reserved for special occasions, while everyday meals are much simpler in preparation.

Cuisine du terroir consists mostly of regional specialties, paying more attention to quality of local products as well as traditional recipes. Many dishes that are included in this category aren't considered to be typically French as in many cases regional cooking styles are quite different from the dishes served in French restaurants all over the world.

Cuisine nouvelle or nouvelle cuisine developed in the 1970s as a reaction to traditional cuisine. The characteristic features of this category are: shorter cooking times, lighter sauces and dressings and smaller portions offered in a decorative manner. Cuisine nouvelle is a modern style that is inspired by techniques and combinations from abroad (especially Asia) and has a huge impact on cooking styles around the world.

The three aforementioned trends of cooking visibly dominate French society. More and more people are starting to appreciate cuisine du terroir with its traditional and sometimes almost forgotten flavors. ‘Fusion' cuisine which makes use of a combination of international cooking styles is not so popular in France and it's difficult to find restaurants that serve this type of food. It's not easy to find vegetarian restaurants in France either as vegetarianism is not very widespread in this country.

Versailles !!!!!!!^^"

Transportation from Paris to Versailles


RER from Paris to Versailles
The RER C runs every 15-20min from central Paris to Versailles, and costs 6EUR RT.

Take the RER C from any central Paris stop (Gare d'Austerlitz, St Michel-Notre Dame, Musee d'Orsay, Invalides, Pont de l'Alma or Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel) to Versailles Rive-Gauche (last stop for trains with headsigns starting with "V").

The RER from Paris to Versailles takes roughly 40min each way.

To get from the RER C station to the Palace of Versailles, exit the station and cross the street, turn right, and then take a left on Rue de Paris to the Versailles Palace gates.

Trains from Paris to Versailles
Trains run regularly from Paris Gare Montparnasse train station to Versailles-Chantiers and from Paris Gare Saint-Lazare train station to Versailles-Rive Droite. Both stations are in Versailles, but are farther from the palace than the RER station. The train takes roughly 30min each way.

Buses from Paris to Versailles
Bus line 171 goes from Pont de Sèvres in Central Paris (the end of line 9 on the metro) to Versailles-Place d'Armes.

Driving from Paris to Versailles
Take the ring road that runs around the periphery of Paris, then take the A13 autoroute toward Rouen and follow the signs to Versailles. The trip takes around 30min each way.

Information about the Palace of Versailles, tickets, and discounts

Café Solo !!!!!^^"

Restaurant / Bar: Café Solo in Dieppe France By Linda Thalman April 2009 Update - originally September 2008

Every time we're in Dieppe we stop by the Café Solo.

It's at the foot of the castle and we usually bike there from our apartment. It takes all of 5 minutes at most. Café Solo opened in August 2008 and we discovered it just a few days after their inaugural evening.

What a warm welcome from the very first time and we are now unconditional regulars at the Solo.

From their web site:

Si l’on dit que Café Solo est conçu comme un appartement, c’est pour que chacun puisse se sentir à l’aise, que l’on puisse découvrir, après un couloir tapissé de CD, une pièce à l’écart donnant sur un jardin au pied du Château-Musée.

La conformité des lieux facilitait la conception de recoins afin que chaque table ne se sente pas importunée par la table voisine. Le respect de la tranquilité de l’autre a toujours été la logique du Café Solo. Cela n’empêchera pas de se retrouver ou de s’interpeller dans les soirées thématiques qu’organiseront parfois les patrons du lieu.

Tout ce monde particulier qui est simplement le nôtre, gentil, bon-enfant et respectueux vous pourrez tous le decouvrir au 19 rue de Sygogne à Dieppe, de 18 h à minuit et plus. C’est un hâvre de paix et de découverte.

Thanks so much Didier, Thierry and Daniel for the warmest of welcomes, great service and music.

Note: Didier passed away in mid-February 2009. We miss him ever so much.

Paris, France !!!!!^^"

Walking arm in arm, passing by the elegantly decorated shop displays, pausing only to look into your partner's eyes, the romance has firmly taken hold. With the Eiffel Tower creating a dramatic backdrop, you lean in for a kiss just as the fireworks illuminate the sky. Are the fireworks real, or just an after-effect of the romance of Paris, France? You be the judge.

A city filled with cultural significance, designer innovations, artistic expressions and architectural marvels, Paris is one of the most satisfying vacations you can experience. Filled to the brim with art displays, museums, trendy shops, iconic landmarks and delicious restaurants, it's really no wonder why so many people love visiting this gorgeous city. If Paris, France is on your short list of vacation options this year, then here's what you can expect during your visit.

Traveling to Paris,

FranceYour flight to Paris, France will have you arriving in one of the two major airports that serve the city -- the Charles de Gaulle International and Orly International Airports. Charles de Gaulle is northeast of the city while Orly is located to the southwest. Both airports are about 40 minutes from the city of Paris. Prices for flights into Paris can be found online and you can compare departures and airlines to ensure the best deal on your tickets.

The Hotels of Paris,

FranceParis, France is home to some truly gorgeous hotels. From the posh elegance of the Westin and the InterContinental Le Grand Hotel to the more affordable accommodations of Grand Hotel Nouvel Opera and Eiffel Capitol, vacationers of every income level are assured a comfortable room well within their budget. Due to the popularity of the city's attractions, if you wish to have a room with a stunning view that’s close to the famous landmarks, then you would be advised to plan your trip early. Use the Internet to check room availability and rates of the hotels that interest you. This is where you will ultimately find the best deals on Paris France hotels. If you discover that the rooms are all reserved, just call the hotel and ask their recommendation for an alternative hotel.

The Restaurants of Paris,

FranceParis, France is home to some of the most innovative cuisine in the culinary world today. Visitors can enjoy the tastes from trendsetting fine dining establishments like Gérard Besson and Au Bélier d'Argent to casual eateries and cafes like Aux Villes

The Marais !!!!!!!^^"

The Maison Européenne de la Photographie is free on Wednesday after 5; the Mémorial de la Shoah and the Maison de Victor Hugo are always free, as are the extensive permanent collections of the Musée Carnavalet and the Musée Cognacq-Jay. The Atelier Brancusi, a small exhibition space at the Centre Georges Pompidou,is always free while the museum itself, along with the Musée Picasso and the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature, is free the first Sunday of the month (like all national museums). The Eglise St-Merri has free, weekend classical music concerts.

From swampy to swanky, Le Marais has a fascinating history that continues to evolve. Like an aging pop star, the quartier has remade itself many times, and today retains several identities: the city's epicenter of cool with hip boutiques, designer hotels, and art galleries galore; the hub of Paris's gay community; and, though fading, the nucleus of Jewish life. You could easily spend your entire visit to Paris in this neighborhood, there is that much to do.

"Marais" means marsh and that is exactly what this area was until the 12th century when it was converted to farmland. In 1605, Henri IV began building the Place Royale (today's Place des Vosges, the oldest square in Paris), which touched off a building boom, and the wealthy and fabulous moved in. Despite the odors—the area was one of the city's smelliest—it remained the chic quarter until Louis XIV moved his court to Versailles, trailed by dispirited aristocrats unhappy to decamp to the country. Merchants moved into their exquisite hôtels particuliers (private mansions), which are some of the city's best surviving examples of Baroque architecture. Here you can see the hodgepodge of narrow streets that so vexed Louis Napoléon and his sidekick, Baron Haussmann, who feared a redux of the famous barricades that revolutionaries threw up to thwart the monarchy. Haussmann leveled scores of blocks like these, creating the wide arrow-straight avenues that are a hallmark of modern Paris. Miraculously, the Marais escaped destruction, though much of it fell victim to neglect and ruin. Thanks to restoration efforts over the past half century, the district is enjoying its latest era of greatness and the apartments here—among the city's oldest—are also the most in demand, with beaucoup charm, exposed beams, and steep crooked staircases barely wide enough to fit a supermodel. (Should you be lucky enough to find an elevator, don't expect it to fit your suitcase.) Notice the impressive portes cochères, the huge doors built to accommodate aristocratic carriages that today open into many sublime courtyards and hidden gardens.

The 4e arrondissement, the Marais's glitzier half, is sandwiched between two opposite poles—the regal Place des Vosges in the east and the eye-teasing modern masterpiece Centre Georges Pompidou in the west. Between these points you'll find most of the main sites, including the Musée Picasso, the Maison Européenne de la Photographie, and the Musée Carnavalet, which is the best place to see how the city evolved through the ages. To tour an exquisitely restored 17th-century hôtel particulier, visit the excellent Musée Cognacq-Jay (like the Carnavalet, admission is free) or wander into the manicured back garden of the magnificent Hôtel de Sully . To the north, the quieter 3e arrondissement is a lovely neighborhood to explore. Techies will appreciate a stop at the Musée des Arts and Métiers, Europe's oldest science museum.

Paris's Jewish quarter (or Pletzel in Yiddish) has existed here in some form since the 13th century and still thrives around the Rue des Rosiers, even as hip boutiques encroach on the traditional bakeries, delis, and falafel shops. Not far away is the beating heart of the gay Marais, radiating out from Rue Vieille du Temple, along the Rue St-Croix de la Bretonnerie to Rue du Temple, where you can find trendy cafés and shops, and cool nightspots aimed at gays but welcoming to all.

The 3e arrondissement half of Le Marais, north of Rue des 4-Fils, has evolved into one of the most interesting areas to explore. Here you can find art galleries, trendy boutiques, many by small designers, and funky cafés and bars off the tourist track. This is one of Paris's most in-demand areas to live, and finding an apartment to rent—most of them small walk-ups—is a rarity. Wander up Rue de Bretagne, the main drag, with its newly widened sidewalks, and stop at the Marché des Enfants Rouges (No. 39)—the oldest covered market in Paris selling the usual fruits, vegetables, meats, some prepared foods, and wine (open Tuesday through Sunday). Pop into one of the art galleries occupying former industrial spaces and mansions around the Rue Charlot. Across the street is the 19th-century iron-and-glass Le Carreau du Temple, a former clothes market slated to open in 2012 as a performing arts and sports center. This is the site of the former Templar Tower, where Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette were imprisoned before their date with the guillotine (Napoléon later razed it).

Strasbourg Cathedral !!!!!!^^"

Strasbourg: Where France and Germany Collide
Cathedral, Cuisine and Christmas Market are Main Attractions

Strasbourg is the ultimate European city. It has flavors of both France and Germany, and sits right on the border of the two countries. It's picturesque "la Petite France" neighborhood looks like something straight out of a fairy tale book, a riverfront neighborhood with timbered buildings accented by colorful flower boxes.

The home of the European Parliament, this often-overlooked and surprisingly cosmopolitan destination hosts France's oldest Christmas market and features a stunning cathedral. In fact, Strasbourg has often changed hands between the French and Germans over the centuries.

The Black Forest and the legendary Rhine River are just at or beyond the city's edge. There are several wonderful daytrips here into France's Alsace or Germany.

Germany or France?

It can be hard to discern which country you are truly in while visiting. The signs are in both languages. Beer and wine are both tremendously popular. It's common to find dishes like sauerkraut, but spelled in French ("choucroute").
The architecture is distinctly German, yet the Ill River winds a Venice-like path through the city, and plays host to many cruise tours of the city.

Memorable cuisine

This is one of the best areas in France when it comes to delectable cuisine, and that's saying quite a bit considering this is, well, France. The dishes here have a boldness that is reminescent of the German roots, while there is attention to quality and detail that is the epitome of the French gourmet philosophy.

Strasbourg Cathedral is one of Europe's most beautiful example of gothic architecture. The stunning pink sandstone facade is quite unique and breathtaking. Be sure to wander inside, where intricate carvings captivate. Each day at 12:30 p.m., visitors can see the circa-1800s astrological clock with its lengthy show. The cathedral is also a hub of activity, with shops and restaurants nearby. The courtyard out from hosts the city's immensely popular Christmas market.

Jardin du Luxembourg !!!!^^"

Paris: Forever in My Thoughts

Honest tips and comments-no kissingA in return for rating points as some have been doing...

What a long time to wait to revisit Paris, but some things are unforseen. Better late than never and all of that stuff...We finally got the reward ticket issues together and booked Air France almost losing our reservations thanks to AF deleting them & our reserved seats! Must have been an omen because this trip the taxi drivers were nuts and tried to be rip off artists as well as the entire hotel staff were let out of the mad house as they were all schizophrenics. So do not stay at Grand Hotel de l'Univers unless you want to be treated badly (and strangely) although I heard that they are trying to rectify this as well as their other oddities (e.g. elevator that's wacko and power that shorts when the lights and TV are on at the same time as you use their hairdryer). Thanks for allowing clients to comment about your properties, Best Western. Better have them get their acts together lest they drive away tourist money in these horrible economic times!!!^^"

Anyway, some good came out of the visit: the weather was fab (we had one overcast day and the rest were sunny and downright warm for March-NO rain!). And the St. Germain location was fine. Les Deux Magots for a late night meal was a godsend-fantastic servers and not out for any tips just plain considerate, kind waiters. Now why can't the hotel and taxi personnel behave like that?

Was a mixed feeling trip spoilt upon arrival by our hotel staff, but Paris is Paris and that made it all right. But let's see where else we can venture besides Paris.

Art of FRENCH !!!!!^^"

"Victory of Samothrace" Samothrace (island in the North Aegean Sea) Circa 190 BC

For the Greeks, the goddess of Victory (Nike) was a beautiful young woman endowed with wings. This exceptional monument, raised upon the isle of Samothrace, set in a niche overlooking the sanctuary of the Great Gods, celebrates success at sea. The goddess stands on the prow of a galley, resisting the gusty storm, her right arm undoubtedly held high. It was an ex-voto of the Rhodians for a victory won at the beginning of the 2nd century BC: the attitude and the animated draping prefigure the reliefs for the altar of Pergamum.

"Venus de Milo" Melos (the Cyclades islands) Circa 100 BC

In spite of lacking attributes, the size and the attitude of this statue allow its identification as a goddess: Aphrodite, often represented half nude, or Amphitrite, goddess of the sea, venerated on the island of Melos. The style is characteristic of the late Hellenistic period, which revives classical themes while innovating. Thus the slipping drapery on the hips entails a closed stance and introduces an instancy to the figure. It hides the joint between the two blocks of marble that were sculpted separately, as were the left arm and leg, according to an utterly new technique.

The Mona Lisa (1479 - d. before 1550) also known as La Gioconda 1503-1506

If Vasari is correct, the portrait which Leonardo took to France, that was acquired by Francois I, was of the Mona Lisa, who in 1495 married Francesco di Bartolomeo di Zanoli del Giocondo. The title "La Gioconda" would thus derive from this notable Florentine's surname. But in Italian "gioconda" also means a light-hearted woman. With a lasting effect on Italian art, this portrait stood for an ideal. The smile that gives her life is, however, a feature of many of Leonardo's figures. Several scholars have concluded that the portrait was worked on over a long period, starting around (1505-1506 in Florence, and it was finished during the course of Leonardo's peregrinations in Milan or Rome.

Europe’s greatest train stations !!!!!!!!^^"

In Europe’s great cities, a station can be a destination in itself. Take a later train and discover these ‘railway cathedrals’.

Lonely Planet review

If you use the tube for any length of time, chances are you'll pass through King's Cross St Pancras station, in which case you should rise to the surface and check out this fabulously imposing Victorian Gothic masterpiece, which was built as a hotel by the renowned architect George Gilbert Scott in 1876.
The train shed behind the façade has been converted into the stunning new St Pancras International, now departure point for HS1 (or Eurostar) high-speed services to Paris, Brussels and Lille.

Gare de Lyon, Paris

Gare de Lyon station remains a wonderful example of belle époque architecture, complete with the astonishingly ornate Le Train Bleu brasserie, surely the finest restaurant in any station anywhere in the world. Check out the nude statues symbolising Navigation, Steam, Electricity and Mechanics perched out front.

Centraal, Antwerp

Don’t be fooled by the modesty of Brussels’ Midi Station: the Belgians do grandiose terminals as well as any European country. Prince among them is Antwerp’s recently renovated Centraal Station, a marble-and-glass terminus known as the Railway Cathedral. It’s hard to know where to look here - at the giant dome, the vaulted ceiling or the dramatically sweeping main staircase. Centraal Station is also home to a diamond gallery with thirty shops, a nod to the city’s jewellery-dealing heritage.

Santa Lucia, Venice

Such is the impact of the first view of Venice on exiting this station that some visitors (me included) have been known to walk back into this 1950s station building and stroll out into the sunshine again and again. The magic is instant. Venice suddenly becomes a reality, complete with its car-free soundtrack of vaporetto engines and the shouts of tour groups wandering across the canal quayside. Hot and sticky in summer and usually busy, the station is the gateway to one of the world’s wonders, and even though its 1950s halls and platforms are in need of a brush-up it remains one of the continent’s best places to pass through by train.

Keleti, Budapest

Those passionate about the golden age of British engineering (and who isn’t?) should tarry a while outside Budapest’s palace-like Keleti (eastern) station and admire the statues of James Watt and George Stephenson. These diligent inventors refined and perfected steam engine technology, ushering in the golden age of railways.

Hlavní, Prague

Among the many things that took travellers’ breath away when Prague emerged from behind the Iron Curtain in the 1990s was the dramatic entrance to the city. Hlavní nádraží is one of many art nouveau gems in the city, even if its glory is obscured from the rest of town by a main road. The station’s lavishly decorated lobby and ornate ceilings create a superb first or last impression, and the terminus is slowly emerging from a major renovation.

Santa Maria Novella, Florence

The kind of place you wait for someone who never turns up, Florence’s Santa Maria Novella is a slightly surreal introduction to what is, for most visitors, a few days bingeing on timeless Florentine art, architecture and food. This is a Fascist building, built with Mussolini’s approval. Everything from signal boxes to station clocks are resolutely modernist. The platform-side memorial to Jews deported from here to concentration camps is a reminder of the more chilling consequences of Fascist rule in Italy.

Rautatieasema, Helsinki

When a station has a lounge reserved exclusively for the use of the President you know it’s a bit special. Clad in Finnish granite and fronted with iconic statuary, Helsinki’s main train station was brightened up in 2000 by the installation of a glass roof.

São Bento, Porto

Visitors to Portugal are often surprised by unexpected and spectacular murals made with blue azulejo tiles, and the wall displays at Porto’s São Bento station are so dramatic as to be a tourist attraction on their own. Jorge Colaço’s work covers the walls of the station and depicts great scenes from Portugal’s history. Grab a bench and let those custard tarts digest while taking in the scene.