Prague is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and is among the most visited cities on the continent (according to euromonitor ranks 21st among the cities of the world, with more than 6 million visitors in 2013, more than Las Vegas, Beijing or Moscow). Though it suffered one large bombing raid during World War II, it largely escaped the utter destruction, which befell so many European cities during that period and emerged largely intact. Some highlights: the Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral, the Old Town Square with the Astronomical Clock, the city hall, Charles Bridge, and much, much more. In 1992 the extensive historic center of Prague was included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. According to Guinness World Records, Prague Castle is the largest ancient castle in the world.

Dresden has a long history as the capital and royal residence for the Electors and Kings of Saxony, who for centuries furnished the city with cultural and artistic splendour. The city was completely destroyed by the controversial Allied aerial bombing towards the end of World War II. The impact of the bombing and 40 years of urban development during the East German socialist era have considerably changed the face of the city. Some restoration work has helped to reconstruct parts of the historic inner city, including the Katholische Hofkirche, the Semperoper and the Dresdner Frauenkirche. Since the German reunification in 1990, Dresden has re-emerged as a cultural, educational, political and economic center of Germany.

As the most fascinating city in Poland Cracow has a special flair and the sheer number of historical sites is just amazing: 140 churches and 5,500 protected historic buildings. The 700 year old castle, Wawel, is the most important historic site in Poland, as it is where all the kings were crowned and buried. The city square is one of the largest in Europe and certainly one of the most beautiful. And these are only a few major attractions!

The “Paris of Central Europe” is not only Hungary’s capital and the gravitational center of the country in terms of history, culture and business, it is also one of the most beautiful and interesting cities in all of Europe. Its splendid location, its wealth in art and architecture, and its long and exciting history give Budapest its distinctive atmosphere. You can spend your day marveling at the beautiful, stylish buildings from the late 19th century, visit a museum or two, climb to one of the many viewpoints in the hilly western part of the city or just stroll along the Danube River. Highlight your day by attending a performance at the Hungarian State Opera House, a memorable event in the city’s most beautiful building.
You might as well spend the day at Gerbaud, the famous 150 year old café at Pest’s busiest square or go shopping in Europe’s biggest shopping mall (over 400 shops). Another popular pastime in Budapest is “taking the waters” in one of the numerous thermal baths. The city boasts 118 thermal springs, and some of them were used by the Turks in the 16th century. The Parliament building in Budapest resembles the one in London not by chance, but was intended by the architect as a tribute to the first democracy.

The smallest High Alpine mountain range in the world is a paradise for hikers and climbers. There are ten peaks of 8,500 ft or more, the highest one being Gerlachovsky stit at 8,711 ft. Because there are no roads in but only around the mountains the Tatras are a quiet and unspoiled refuge for people who want to enjoy pure nature.

Auschwitz has become a symbol of the Holocaust that is known throughout the world. The Nazis occupied Poland in September 1939, changed the name of the city of Oswięcim to Auschwitz, and set up a huge concentration camp of the same name in 1940. During the following years Auschwitz grew and eventually consisted of three main parts and over 40 sub-camps.
Initially, Poles were imprisoned and perished in Auschwitz, later Soviet prisoners of war, Gypsy (Roma) and prisoners of other nationalities were also held here. Beginning in 1942, Auschwitz became the site of the largest mass murder in human history, which was committed against the European Jews by the Nazis. The majority of the Jewish men, women and children deported to Auschwitz were sent to their deaths in the gas chamber. Over 1.1 million people were killed.
Those who remained in Auschwitz were liberated by Red Army soldiers on January 27, 1945. Now Auschwitz is a State Museum and part of the UNESCO World Heritage List to remind future generations of this cruel part of world history.

With its spectacular castle, narrow, cobblestoned streets and elegant old town square, Český Krumlov looks like a pocket-sized Prague. Renaissance and baroque buildings enclose the meandering arc of the Vltava River, housing riverside cafés and bars. Following architectural neglect during the communist era, the undeniable fairy-tale beauty of Český Krumlov is radiant again, with thoughtful restoration transforming the heritage buildings lining the narrow lanes into cozy restaurants and classy boutique hotels. The UNESCO included Český Krumlov on their World Heritage List in 1992; today it is the Czech Republic’s second busiest tourist town after Prague.

The monastery was constructed, as Cistercian houses often were, in a river valley, in this case in a bend of the River Kamp. Numerous buildings were erected, and the church, chapter-room, and dormitory were blessed in 1159, though the entire monastery was not completed until 1218. Zwettl Abbey soon became one of the most important monasteries in the order. The abbey's famous Baroque library contains over 60,000 volumes, 500 incunabula, and 420 manuscripts, the most famous of which is the Zwettl Stiftungsbuch. The community now consists of 23 monks, who have care of fourteen incorporated parishes. The monastery makes its living from a forest of about 2,500 hectares, a fish farm of 90 hectares, a farm of 110 hectares and the vineyards of Schloss Gobelsburg with about 35 hectares.

Dense forests, green meadows, rapid rivers and crystal-clear lakes, that’s the Bohemian Forest. The Germans call it Böhmerwald, the Czech Sumava. Combined with the Bavarian Forest on the other side of the border this is Central Europe's largest forest complex. No big cities, no industry, no traffic, only pure nature; you and your bike.