Visit Uzhhorod

A medieval fortress on a rock in a canyon of the Smotrych river, the most dramatic castle in Ukraine.

Visit Lviv, a historic city in western Ukraine. Explore the UNESCO-listed Old Town with its cobblestone streets and landmarks like Rynok Square (central market square with Renaissance and Baroque townhouses) and the Latin Cathedral (Gothic church dating to the 14th century). Sample local specialties such as Lviv coffee (served in atmospheric cafes) and try Lviv syrnyky (cheese pancakes).

Visit Odessa, a historic port city on the Black Sea in Ukraine. Walk the iconic Potemkin Stairs (192 steps leading to the seaport, featured in Sergei Eisenstein's film Battleship Potemkin), explore the Odessa Catacombs (over 2,500 km of tunnels, one of the largest networks in the world), and relax at the Arcadia Beach (popular seaside district with nightlife and entertainment).

Freedom Square, one of Europe's largest, and the constructivist Derzhprom building, in Ukraine's second city.

The Habsburg 'little Vienna' of Bukovina, with a UNESCO university that was once the Metropolitan's residence.

Explore Carcassonne, a fortified medieval city in southern France. Walk the double ring of ramparts of the Cité de Carcassonne (a UNESCO World Heritage site with 52 towers), admire the Basilica of Saints Nazarius and Celsus (known for its 12th-century stained glass and Gothic choir), and cross the Pont Vieux (a 14th-century stone bridge offering panoramic views of the city).

Red-sandstone castle ruin above the old town of Heidelberg and the Neckar valley.

Belarus’s best-preserved historic centre, with two castles above the Neman.