Prague – Czechia 

In the heart of Bohemia, Prague's history resonates strongly with that of Europe and democracy. Capital of the Czech Empire under Charles IV in the 14th century, Prague was a leading cultural and religious center. It maintained this status until the end of the 17th century, and its rich artistic past - pictorial, sculptural, literary and architectural - bears witness to this. When Czechoslovakia was founded in 1918, Prague became its capital. In 1968, under the Communist regime, Prague saw the emergence of an attempt at "socialism with a human face" through the Prague Spring. Crushed by Warsaw Pact troops, this abortive initiative did not prevent the inhabitants from leading the Velvet Revolution in 1989. Since then, the free city has gone from strength to strength. In 1992, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its remarkable architecture, the "epic poem of architecture" described by the Czech poet Rilke. He would have been amazed to see that Renaissance, Gothic, Baroque and Art Nouveau buildings would soon be rubbing shoulders with Cubist and contemporary works, such as Frank Gehry's famous ‘Dancing House’. Art, architecture and history lovers will never be disappointed in Prague. If you're more into gastronomy, Czech cuisine is largely inspired by Italian cuisine, with the added bonus of excellent local wines and probably the best beer in Europe. To soak it all, you'll also want to try a few bramboraks, potato pancakes with garlic and marjoram that melt in your soul. At All Saints' Day, the cemeteries are decked out, as in Mexico, with a multitude of flowers and candles. Milan Kundera, a Czech writer, describes this phenomenon in The Unbearable Lightness of Being: "In the evening, the cemetery is full of small lit candles, you'd think the dead were giving a childish ball. Those country cemeteries against the blue backdrop of the hills were as beautiful as a lullaby”. In winter, when the 100 church towers are covered in snow, Prague is the very definition of Christmas magic. All the more reason to brave the cold and visit out of season!