Autorondreis Midden Europa

About the destination: Regensburg, in Bavaria, Germany, is one of Germany's oldest towns, founded by the Romans in 179 A.D. Today Regensburg is a prosperous city of about 137,000 inhabitants, 3 universities and many landmarks, most dated to the Middle Ages such as the Cathedral of St. Peter, Old City Hall and Imperial Diet, and the Stone Bridge. Since July 2006 the old city of Regensburg has been a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city center is reasonably compact and mostly pedestrianized, so is best explored on foot. The main attraction of Regensburg is its excellently preserved medieval city center with the cathedral and the stone bridge being the highlights. As one of the few cities in Germany largely undamaged during the Second World War, Regensburg boasts the largest preserved medieval city center in Germany. It is sometimes called "the northernmost city of Italy" due to the lively places and streets with lovely outdoor cafes during summer, as well as the large number of Italian-style medieval merchant houses and towers. The historic center lies next to the river Danube, and crossing the medieval stone bridge into the town provides a perfect entrance to the city.

About the destination: Budapest is known as one of Europe’s most stunning cities. It may be thanks to its impressive surroundings, the Danube River that divides the city, the Buda hills to the west and the Great Plain to the east or due to its varied and beautiful architecture: Renaissance, Byzantine, Neo-Classical, and Art-Nouveau buildings coexist in perfect harmony. Its extensive World Heritage Site includes: the banks of the Danube, Buda Castle Quarter, Andrassy Avenue, Hero’s Square, and the Millennium Underground Railway. To top that, the city has 80 geothermal springs, the world’s largest water cave system where visitors can indulge in a relaxing bath. Budapest became a single city in 1873, occupying both banks of the river Danube, to the west there is Buda and Pest lays at the east. Both sides of the city have very different personalities. Buda is the quiet section of the city. Walking around Buda, travelers will be able to inspect the Castle Quarter and explore the narrow cobbled streets that lead to the Fishermen’s bastion with its fairytale towers, which represent the 7 tribes that existed in the city in the 9th century. This decorative fortification is located atop the Buda Castel Hill and offers the best panoramic view in Budapest. The eastern side, Pest, is where all the action takes place. This section of the city has a fin-de-siècle feel to it and nearly every building has some interesting or unusual detail. Visitors will be invited to take long strolls on its wide boulevards filled with all sorts of shops or enjoy a well-deserved coffee in its grand coffee houses. Pest is home to the parliament building and the Dohari street synagogue, the largest synagogue in Europe. The scars of WWII are still present in the city, bullet holes and shrapnel scorings left over from the Second World War and the 1956 Uprising are still visible in some of the facades, painful reminders of this grey period of history. There are several tributes honoring the Hungarian Jews that lost their lives, as the poignant Shoes on the Danube memorial or the Raoul Wallenberg Holocaust Memorial Park. This side of the river is also considered the cultural heart of the city with numerous art galleries and with more opera, concerts and ballet performances than there are days of the week. The capital’s best restaurants are found in Pest too, and it’s here the nightlife wrestles with until the early hours as well. For a unique drink try a Ruin Pub, Budapest’s network of bars in disused buildings that include former tenement houses, factory buildings and community centres. Budapest has combined all its influences and overcome its complex history to shape its own character, and sure it did it right.

About the destination: Timișoara is the capital city of Timiș County, in western Romania. One of the largest Romanian, with a population of 319,279 inhabitants. Timișoara is considered capital city of the historical region of Banat. It is the main social, economic and cultural centre in the western part of Romania. MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS • Piaţa Victoriei (Victory Square or Opera Square). It's the symbol of the Romanian revolution. Here you can find The Metropolitan Orthodox Cathedral, The Opera House, The City Hall, The Philharmonic, The Banat Museum and beautiful palaces built at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. • Piaţa Unirii (Union Square). With its beautiful palaces and all the coffee houses it is the old city's center. Here you find The Catholic Dome, The Baroque Palace (now a beautiful art gallery), The Serbian Church and other important buildings • Piaţa Libertăţii (Liberty Square). Located between Piata Unirii and Piata Victoriei is a small square with old buildings. Here you can find the old City Hall and the beautiful St. Nepomuk's Statue. • The Bastion. Part of Timisoara's old defensive walls. The Bastion is located near Piata Unirii, it has been recently renovated. • Parks. Timisoara is known in Romania as the City of Parks. Important parks you can visit are: Botanical Park, Rose Park, Central Park, Children's Park. • Piaţa Traian (Traian Square). This is also a part of the old city, but is more quite like a separated neighborhood, often called Fabric, due to his old factories around that used to run from old times. The buildings are beautiful, but be careful. Try not to visit the area at night. Nearby you can find Timisoreana brewery and the Setup Venue Club. • The Village Museum. Located near Padurea Verde (The Green Forest). Here you can discover the Romanian tradition. • The Zoo. Located in the same area as The Village Museum, it's a small zoo, but your children will love it. • The Museum of the Revolution.

About the destination: Sighișoara is located on the Tarnava River in Mures county, in the historic region of Transylvania. Founded in the 12th century, Sighisoara still stands as one of the most beautiful and best-preserved medieval towns in Europe. Designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, this perfectly intact 16th century gem with nine towers, cobbled streets, burgher houses and ornate churches rivals the historic streets of Old Prague or Vienna for atmospheric magic.

About the destination: Brasov is a beautiful city located in the heart of Romania. It is surrounded by the stunning Carpathian Mountains and boasts a rich history and culture that will leave you in awe. One of the main attractions of Brasov is the iconic Black Church, which is one of the largest Gothic churches in Eastern Europe. It is a must-see for anyone visiting the city, as it not only offers a glimpse into the country's religious history but also provides breathtaking views of the city. For those who enjoy the great outdoors, Brasov is also the perfect destination. The city is surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains, which offer a range of outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, and mountain climbing. The views from the top of the mountains are simply breathtaking and offer a unique perspective of the city. Brasov is also home to a number of museums, galleries, and cultural events that showcase the country's rich history and culture. The city's Old Town is a charming area filled with narrow streets, colorful buildings, and traditional Romanian architecture. It is the perfect place to wander around and soak up the local atmosphere. Overall, Brasov is a wonderful destination for anyone looking to experience the beauty and culture of Romania. Whether you are interested in history, nature, or simply relaxing in a charming setting, Brasov has something for everyone.

About the destination: Bucharest is a really beautiful city, featuring impossible mixture of different architecture styles; one can see Gothic and Greek Orthodox constructions alongside Stalinist monuments neighbouring post-modern apartment buildings of concrete and glass. Unlike other cities, the street structure is not square-parallel, but rather star-like, so streets go like star beams from round circuses, thus forming blocks of different shapes. During the 50's, Bucharest was known as Little Paris because of the French influence on the landscape and lifestyle of Bucharest. Traces of this period remain in the architecture of the city centre, in the profusion of outdoor cafes, and even in the Arcul de Triumf, a modest replica of Paris’ Arc de Triomphe. Downtown of Bucharest is comprised by the space between the Victoriei Square, where the Romanian Government is and the Unirii Square, where the grand boulevard that leads to the Parliament Palace, starts. Near Unirii Square there is also the old city centre, the Old Princely Court and iconic streets like Lipscani, Selari, Covaci, Gabroveni are situated. The area today contains an assortment of middle 19th century buildings, ruins of the Wallachian princes' medieval court, churches, bank headquarters, a few hotels, clubs, restaurants and shops. Narrow cobblestoned streets retain the names of the ancient guilds that resided on them. The area was mostly renovated and is now a place of gathering for the young generation of the city. Revolution square is a double square that houses the Romanian Athenaeum, the National Library, the Senate building and the old Royal Palace that is now the Museum of Art. There is a tall monument in the centre of the square in memory of those who died during the revolution. Bucharest is a city of parks. Wander through well-groomed central Cişmigiu Garden or huge Herăstrău Park. For the Bucharesters, they’re not just refuges from the summer heat, but focal poits for much of the city’s social life. Elderly pensioners, young lovers, football fans, and backgammon and chess whizzes are everywhere. Come join the fun.

About the destination: Baia Mare is an important city in Romania's Maramure district of Maramure. It has a population of 148,263. Before the signing of the treaty of Trianon, between 1940–1944, Baia Mare was part of Hungary. Baia Mare has a sister city: Hollywood, Florida.

About the destination: Zakopane is a very popular winter resort and summer getaway town in the Tatra mountains. Zakopane is rather like a large village, with wooden folk cottages adjacent to Art Nouveau houses that remain from the town’s popularity at the end of the 19th century. There are plenty of museums in the town, the most significant and oldest being The Tatra Museum. There is also the Natural History Museum of Tatra National Park and biographical museums of famous Polish artists.

About the destination: Potsdam is the capital of Brandenburg and borders Berlin. The town has population of approx. 159,000. It is widely known for its castles and landscape as a World Heritage Site. Potsdam is more than 1000 years old. The attractions of Potsdam are the palaces and gardens, witnesses of the history of this city that has earned a reputation as a cultural and scientific center. The most important sites to see in Potsdam are: • Park Sanssouci - This immense park outside Berlin in the city of Potsdam is on the UNESCO World Heritage list, along with all its outbuildings, including Schloss Sanssouci, a fabulous rococo palace with amazing interiors. • The New Garden hosts the Marmorpalais and the Palace Cecilienhof. • Holländisches Viertel - Right in the middle of Potsdam are the "Dutch Quarters", built in the 18th century. The quarters consist of 134 red brick houses, divided into four blocks. • Alter Markt, the old market is the historic city center. • New Market, the new market is an original preserved market square from the 18th century. • Park Babelsberg is a beautiful park with a gothic-style castle. It is also part of the World Heritage site. • Potsdam Museum at the Dutch District. • Altes Rathaus Changing exhibitions at the old town hall. • Gemäldegaleria. The beautiful collection of paintings at the Sans Souci Palace. • Chinese Tea House, a pavilion built in the 18th century Chinese style , fashionable at the time.