6 GREAT BUT LESS OBVIOUS CITIES IN EUROPE

MEtude - Europe has a lot to offer. And yet we often go always to the same cities as London, Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona... The next five cities are certainly well worth a visit too.

1. Valletta

Valletta is the capital from the archipelago Malta in the Mediterranean Sea.

Een bericht gedeeld door Thierry Hanan Scheers (@thierry_hanan.scheers) op 20 Jan 2017 om 12:31 (PST)

FACT
Valletta was one of the earliest sites inscribed by UNESCO on the World Heritage list.

DO
The Valletta peninsula is only a couple of kilometres in length and so the ideal way is to do everything on foot also allowing one to make use of the atmospheric stairs throughout this steep city. However, the city is built on a ridge, and is steep in parts (requiring walking up and down stairs in some places), which can be tiring.

TIP
You can take a spectacular walk along the sea around the outside of the city walls.

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2. Trier

Trier is the oldest city in Germany and also the oldest diocese north of the Alps.

Een bericht gedeeld door Thierry Hanan Scheers (@thierry_hanan.scheers) op 20 Jan 2017 om 12:31 (PST)

FACT
Trier is rich in ruins from the Roman Empire protected by UNESCO.

DO
Certainly visit the Market Square (Hauptmarkt) of Trier. It is one of the most beautiful city squares in Germany. On the square is the Market Cross (Marktkreuz), which dates back to 958. The square has beautiful buildings in different styles. The whole is dominated by the Saint Gangolf's Church (consecrated in 1459).

TIP
Visit the amphitheatre just outside the city. There's also a scenic view up the hill by the amphitheatre where you can see the entire city.

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3. Liège

Liège can be considered as the cultural capital of Wallonia, the French-speaking part of Belgium.

Een bericht gedeeld door Thierry Hanan Scheers (@thierry_hanan.scheers) op 20 Jan 2017 om 12:31 (PST)

FACT
Liège has been an important city since the early Middle Ages, when it was the capital of the Principality of Liège, which would remain an independent state until the French Revolution in 1789.

DO
Liège might not be the typical tourist destination, but you will be surprised to find a city with a special character and friendly, open inhabitants who enjoy their lives there. As is the case in the rest of Belgium, finding a good meal is no problem in Liège. Definitely taste the Liège meatballs.

TIP
Visit the architectural jewel and impressive Liège-Guillemins railway station.

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4. Wrocław

Wrocław is a city in Central Europe in southwestern Poland.

Een bericht gedeeld door Thierry Hanan Scheers (@thierry_hanan.scheers) op 20 Jan 2017 om 12:31 (PST)

FACT
Wrocław is also the historic capital of Silesia, a historical region in what's now Poland, Czech and Germany.

DO
Wrocław is a very pedestrian and bicycle-friendly city, helped in part by its street grid pattern and marked bike lanes. The centre, clustered mostly around the Old Town and Downtown, is completely navigable by foot.

TIP
The University of Wrocław is a Baroque architectural gem, the main faculty building was built between 1728 to 1739 on the banks of the Oder, and today dominates the Old Town's riverside.

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5. Malmö

Malmö the third largest city of Sweden, is a port city on the southern tip of the country.

Een bericht gedeeld door Thierry Hanan Scheers (@thierry_hanan.scheers) op 20 Jan 2017 om 12:31 (PST)

FACT
Malmö was originally a Danish city. Around 1300 the city started to grow strongly and was of great economic importance, especially in the 16th century. In 1658 the city was transferred to Sweden.

DO
Take some walk in the centre. At the heart of Malmö lie three squares, called Gustav Adolf's Square (Gustav Adolfs torg), the Big Square (Stortorget) and the Little Square (Lilla torg). Stortorget and Lilla Torg are directly connected at one corner, and a pedestrians only shopping street connects them with Gustav Adolfs torg.

TIP
Visit Emporia, the biggest shopping mall in Scandinavia.

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6. Maastricht

Maastricht is the southernmost city in the Netherlands within walking distance of Belgium and cycling distance of Germany.

Een bericht gedeeld door Thierry Hanan Scheers (@thierry_hanan.scheers) op 20 Jan 2017 om 12:31 (PST)

FACT
Maastricht is an especially popular tourist destination in the Netherlands because of its historical old centre and broad shopping possibilities.

DO
Perhaps one of the best sights of Maastricht is simply to admire the two town squares in the centre of the city; The Vrijthof, which features the massive Saint Servaas Church and Saint Jan's Cathedral; and The Markt, which features the Town Hall and on Wednesdays and Fridays, markets.

TIP
Visit the Saint Pietersberg Caves, a local marlstone mine with over 20,000 passages dug out over centuries, used as shelter during sieges and bombings. Boats runs from the city centre with commentary pointing out interesting landmarks along the way.

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TEXT
Thierry Hanan Scheers

PICTURES
Header: Dreamstime.com
Other: Thierry Hanan Scheers

MORE ABOUT
Belgium, Germany, Malta, Netherlands,
​Poland, Sweden, MEtude, travel

Thierry Hanan Scheers

#traveller #backpacker #storyteller

Thierry Hanan loves to travel without something to plan in advance and let everything just be what it is. Thierry Hanan has no fears to leave just on foot or by hitchhiking. Destination? Somewhere, nowhere and everywhere.