Colmar, France

With a charming country-town atmosphere and a strong historical heritage, Colmar is not only “the most Alsatian town in Alsace”, and the wine capital of the region, but also a place for the fairytale believers.

This dreamy place has a very privileged location near Germany and Switzerland, between the Vosges mountains and the Rhine, between Strasburg and Mulhouse. There is also a special TGV route between Colmar and Paris. The best way to explore the Colmar is by taking long walks through the old city center and admiring its well preserved architecture.

Landmarks include the Dominican Church, Maison des Tetes, Unterlinden Museum (featuring historic artifacts and paintings by Renoir and Picasso) , the Bartholdi Museum (dedicated to the sculptor Frédéric Bartholdi, who designed the Statue of Liberty and who was born here). Little Venice is a part of the city built on picturesque canals and also a great place to taste the Alsatian cuisine.

Le Moulin de l'Abbaye Hotel

The Moulin de l'Abbaye sits in the heart of the beautiful village of Brantôme, known as the "Venice of the Périgord". Nestled alongside the original mill-pond, this spot is one of the most delightful places in the Dordogne. The mill itself is wreathed in ivy, and looks out over the 16th century masterpiece that is the right-angled bridge, the Pont Coudé, which links the abbey, founded in 769 by Charlemagne, with the monastery garden as well as the medieval tower, the Renaissance pavilion and the abbey itself.