NEUR

A diamond center, a magnet for fashionistas, a European cultural hub and mecca for brewmeisters – Antwerp is a multifaceted jewel. Meet the Rubens, van Dycks and van Eycks that fill its world-class museums. Admire the two oldest printing presses in the world at the sublime Museum Plantin-Moretus, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Wander through one of the world’s most beautiful train stations and down the nave of the Antwerp Cathedral, where religious paintings by Rubens and other Flemish masters are on display.

Perhaps no single edifice has had more impact on a city than the Guggenheim Museum of Bilbao. Designed by renowned architect Franck Gehry and opened in 1997, the massive, billowing, titanium-clad structure reflects the city’s revitalized relationship with the river that runs through it, and the modern collection within the museum is as impressive as the exterior. Other worthwhile museums include the Museo de Bellas Artes and the Euskal Museoa, devoted to Basque culture.

Located in southwestern France, Bordeaux is a handsome 18th-century city with stately buildings, broad avenues and historic public squares. Highlights include the majestic gate known as Porte de Bourgogne, the stained glass windows of Bordeaux Cathedral, the 12th-century Romanesque basilica and the impressive Hôtel de Ville, or City Hall. But no visit to Bordeaux is complete without an acknowledgment of what makes this region of France known worldwide – wine! Wine lovers everywhere will recognize appellations such as Pauillac, St. Emilion, Margaux and Sauternes.