European Grand Dames

In the region of Flanders the city of Antwerp, situated on the eastern bank of the river Scheldt and joined to the North Sea by an estuary, is a major destination of Belgium. It claims to be the ‘world's leading diamond city’ and it has every right to do so, as more than 70% of all diamonds are traded here. Due to its long and culturally rich history, the city houses buildings built in varying historical periods with an interesting variety of architectural designs. Read more about Antwerp, Belgium

The port city of Zeebrugge is a harbour town at the western end of the Belgian coast and a subdivision of the city of Bruges - one of the best preserved cities in Europe - for which it is the modern port. The new port has reinvigorated the city as an art and tourist centre for northern Europe. Upon visiting Bruges you will immediately notice that this city has always carefully cherished its architectural and artistic treasures from the past, but what makes Bruges so unique though is the way it deals with this past today. Read more about Zeebrugge, Belgium

Le Havre is a city in the NW of France, situated on the right bank of the mouth of the Seine River and 170 km from Paris. Best known for being the ferry terminal for the English Channel crossings, it should not be quickly dismissed. This city was devastated during WWII, but was rebuilt in modernist style and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. Read more about Le Havre, France

This capital and largest city of Ireland is situated on the mid-east coast at the mouth of the River Liffey. Dublin has more green spaces per square kilometre than any other European capital city, with 97% of city residents living within 300 meters of a park area. But Dublin’s greatest draw remains Dubliners themselves, both native-born and blown in. Read more about Dublin, Ireland

Nantes is the capital of the NW French region of Pays de la Loire. That said, Nantes has strong historical connections with the adjoining region of Brittany, and is the historical capital of the region (though not its official capital since the days of Napoleon). Nantes was once an important port located 50 km up the Loire River. Read more about Nantes, France

Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in SW France. It is the world’s major wine industry capital, while the historic part of the city is on the UNESCO Heritage List due to its elegant18th century architecture. It has become a sought-after destination for both tourists and cinema production crews. Read more about Bordeaux, France

Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in SW France. It is the world’s major wine industry capital, while the historic part of the city is on the UNESCO Heritage List due to its elegant18th century architecture. It has become a sought-after destination for both tourists and cinema production crews. Read more about Bordeaux, France

San Sebastian is a city and municipality located in the north of Spain, on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and 20 km south of the French border. The first sight of the shimmering scallop-shaped bay, with its crescents of golden sand and turquoise waves, is most impressive. As it is also in the autonomous community of the Basque Country, the local cuisine is unrivalled. Read more about San Sebastian, Spain

Situated on the Atlantic coast of Spain, Gijon began as a fishing village almost 3,000 years ago, and today is an important port that is an attractive combination of seafaring flavour, heritage buildings, and modern urban development. The city’s major tourist attraction is the historic fishing village of Cimadevilla, located on a peninsula that divides the port in half. Most of its streets are made of cobblestones and are barely two cars wide, reminding visitors of its historic past, as do many of the buildings that have withstood the forces of the Atlantic. Read more about Gijon, Spain

Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, lies in the western Iberian Peninsula aside the Atlantic Ocean and the Tagus River. As one of the oldest cities in the world, it is rich in Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, Modern and Post-Modern constructions. The city is also crossed by historical boulevards and monuments along the main thoroughfares. Read more about Lisbon, Portugal