7 Must-Visit Destinations for History Buffs
Sometimes, the wine just isn’t enough. Well, no, actually, it usually is. But it’s always nice to add a bit of historical flavour to a jaunt abroad. These cities (and region, in one stand-out example) are the nuclei of European history; the must-visit destinations for anyone with an insatiable love of history.
Florence
Florence: the shining jewel of Italian culture, birthplace of the Renaissance and “Athens of the Middle Ages”. It is a city permeated by history, and often finds itself at the top of the to-do list for the more historically-minded traveller. Established by the Romans in 59 B.C., the city flourished in its early years – but it was the Italian Renaissance, from the 14th to the 16th centuries, which really put Florence on the map. Today, the results of the Renaissance are everywhere – from the architectural wonders of Florence Cathedral, the Palazzo Vecchio and the Ponte Vecchio stone bridge (which is one of the few in the world to still have shops constructed along it, as was common in the Middle Ages) to the legendary galleries and museums dotted around the city. Chief amongst these is the legendary Uffizi Gallery, which sits in the middle of the historic centre of the city and houses works by da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Giotto and so, so many more. All the places on this list are truly wonderful, but we’re tempted to say that, when it comes to cultural history, it quite literally doesn’t get better than this.
Go on, go there: https://www.smoothred.com/wine-tour-regions/europe/italy/tuscany-wine-tours/
Paris
Well, arguably, at least. Paris’ history, from its early flourishing under the Roman Empire to its conquest by Nazi Germany only 75 years ago, is as fascinating as it is volatile. Despite a history as bloody as you’d expect from a capital city in Western Europe, Paris has grown into one of the world’s most significant cities, and, nowadays, you could live in the city for a decade and still never quite experience all of its historical treasures. From the Bastille to Notre Dame to the Eiffel Tower to the Champs Élysées (and these, of course, are only a handful of the most iconic), there’s not a street nor building in central Paris that isn’t steeped in history. For visitors after something more tangible, of course, there’s always l’Eglise du Dome (Napoleon’s final resting place), the Louvre (come on, you should know – it’s the Louvre) or, if you’re a Woody Allen-esque lover of 1920s Paris, the Shakespeare & Co. bookstore on the Left Bank – the second iteration of a shop that was once the favourite haunt of Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce and Ezra Pound (amongst others) and today counts first editions of some of the world’s most famous books amongst its collection.
Throw in some wine tasting and you’re sorted: https://www.smoothred.com/wine-tour-regions/europe/france/paris-wine-tours/
Champagne
Yes, we know Champagne isn’t a city. There are two places in the region which stand out in particular as places of historical interest, however, and we couldn’t just include one. First you have Reims, the largest city in Champagne, crowning site of the French Kings, location of the German surrender in 1945 and home to the magnificent Palace of Tau. And that’s to say nothing for the many châteaux situated in and around the city; little pieces of early modern history dotted across Reims. Second is Troyes – instantly recognisable for the 16th century timbered architecture and hôtel particuliers which can be found throughout the city. You’ve also got your wealth of museums and churches that are typical of French cities, of course, but it’s the visual splendour of Troyes which solidifies its place on this list.
And we can help you see it: https://www.smoothred.com/wine-tour-regions/europe/france/champagne-wine-tours/
Carcassonne
Carcassonne, in Languedoc-Roussillon, has its fair share of stuff to see and do for history fans – the Basilica of St. Nazaire, Carcassonne Cathedral, the Pont Vieux over the Aude – all pretty fascinating stuff. That’s not why it’s here, though. It’s here because of the Cité. The Cité of Carcassonne is a medieval citadel built in the Roman period and improved throughout history, and today is a hotchpotch of different architectural styles from almost every century of the last thousand years. From afar, it looks like something straight out of a fairy tale, as 3km of fortified walls and 52 towers dominate the skyline. The fortress was impregnable, which perhaps attests for its survival and longevity (though the restoration efforts of Eugene-Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century can’t have hurt), and walking through its streets today is no dissimilar experience to walking them 500 years ago.
Walk through those streets today: https://www.smoothred.com/wine-tour-regions/europe/france/languedoc-roussillon-wine-tours/
Bordeaux
Only Paris has more sites of national interest than Bordeaux. Bordeaux is a city the history of which is intertwined with the wine trade, and the exportation of the stuff made it a global trade centre in the 18th century. Today, it is home to 362 monument historiques, over a dozen museums, the prestigious Opéra National de Bordeaux and one of the largest centres of 18th Century architecture in Europe (a shining example of which is the iconic Place de la Bourse). Bordeaux is also home to the Place des Quinconces (the largest city square in Europe), the Pont de Pierre, built by Napoleon, the thousand year old Bordeaux cathedral and even the remains of a 2nd century Roman amphitheatre.
Veni, vidi, vinum: https://www.smoothred.com/wine-tour-regions/europe/france/bordeaux-wine-tours/
Turin
Let’s talk architecture for a moment, because Turin has a hell of a lot of it. Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Neo-Classical, Art Nouveau – whatever the style, if it reached Italy, it was built in Turin. From the grandiosity of the palatial city centre (a lasting remnant of the Kingdom of Savoy) to the quaint, cobbled streets of Borgo Dora and everything in between, Turin is perhaps one of the greatest cities in the world for anyone with even a vague appreciation for the aesthetics of architecture. If that doesn’t grip you, though, there’s always the city’s museums – including the Egyptian Museum, which houses one of the largest collections of Egyptian relics and antiquities outside of Egypt – or even the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, home of the Shroud of Turin, which does (albeit very rarely) occasionally go on public display.
Who knows? Maybe it’s on public display right now (it isn’t): https://www.smoothred.com/wine-tour-regions/europe/italy/piedmont-wine-tours/
Barcelona
Barcelona, like Paris, is a leading global city, and as such is hardly lacking in historical sites and sights. It was a Roman colony a few thousand years ago (we’re starting to think you’d really struggle to find somewhere that wasn’t), and since then has become the heart of Catalonian culture. The Gothic Quarter is the centre of the old city of Barcelona, and is populated by a host of Roman and medieval buildings. For fans of more recent history, examples of modernista architecture (which appeared towards the end of the 19th century) can be found all over the city – such as Gaudi’s Park Güell or his masterpiece, the Sagrada Família. Construction began on that particular building in 1883 and is scheduled for completion in 2026 – in its own way, the Sagrada Família is a piece of living, ongoing history; something truly unique.
Our tours may not be pieces of history, but they sure are unique: https://www.smoothred.com/wine-tour-regions/europe/spain/barcelona-wine-tours/
