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Rick Steves' Europe
Chartres, France: Pure Gothic Cathedral
A great side trip from Paris is the city of Chartres — and its famous cathedral, arguably Europe’s best example of pure Gothic architecture. It was built quickly, so the cathedral has a unity of architecture, statuary, and stained glass that captures the spirit of the Age of Faith like no other church.
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Highlights of Paris: Eiffel Tower; Seine cruise; neighborhood markets, a nighttime joyride.
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Rivers and canals of France’s Burgundy region; gourmet meals; fine wine, natural beauty.
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Seductive Venice; cultured Florence; charming hill towns; eternal Rome; Naples; Sicily.
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Warsaw's heavy history and lively bustle; red-brick Toruń; Malbork Castle; maritime Gdańsk.
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Kraków's grand square, Wawel Castle, communist-era Nowa Huta; sobering Auschwitz-Birkenau.
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The ultimate road trip; Lake Mývatn; Eastfjords; lagoons and waterfalls; Westman Islands.
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The vibrant capital; Blue Lagoon; Golden Circle's majestic nature; Snæfellsnes Peninsula.
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The turbulent century and its rule-breaking art—Picasso, Surrealism and edgy architecture.
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Shimmering Impressionist canvases by Monet and Renoir, plus Van Gogh, Gauguin and more.
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Roaming Europe, we admire stately Neoclassical buildings and dramatic Romantic paintings.
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We marvel at Baroque’s over-the-top churches, palaces, bubbly fountains, and theatric art.
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From Portugal to Germany, booming economies and new technologies produce exquisite art.