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What is a gem ?
It's a top spot, an absolute must, somewhere you love bringing friends to, a really special place - in a nutshell, the best your region has to offer.
Gems of Europe
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Travel with a difference: discover the territories of Europe


  © R. Sandraz

Where to go at the weekend, or on holiday? Rome, Berlin, the South of France… Europe abounds in destinations, each more enticing than the last.


But away from these major capitals and prestigious regions, there is another Europe every bit as delightful: the Europe of small provincial towns where time passes leisurely; where hidden churches and castles are waiting to be explored; where vineyards serve their own wine; where you can observe a mountain valley in total solitude…

 

This Europe needs to be revealed and discovered – and this is what we aim to do by unearthing the ‘gems’ of these territories of Europe.

 

What are these gems we have chosen? They are spots off the beaten track, addresses recommended by friends, original activities, or maybe just an artwork, a sensation or a flavour…

 

In this website, you will discover the first territories of Europe assembled to show you their riches: Vilafranca del Penédès in Catalonia; Dolomites and Piemonte in Italia ; the mountains of Bulgaria; ; the region of Maurienne, Narbonne, Strasbourg, the Ecrins and the Pays des Maures in France.

 

In each country, top publishing houses have collaborated with the tourist offices and local communities in these regions: Prisacom in Spain, the Touring Editore in Italy, Gallimard in France, Atlas in Bulgaria.

 

Together, they will unveil the best of these territories: attractive places to stay, culinary specialities, unusual landscapes. An array of ‘gems’, ‘jewels’, ‘pearls’ awaiting inquisitive tourists just like you. And now, set off to discover the gems of Europe.



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50 gems in the area
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2008/06/12

the spirit of charles trenet lives on

The spirit of Charles Trenet lives on
Narbonne, his native town, inspired the “singing fool” (fou chantant). Follow the guide…

2008/06/16

jean dubuffet the architect in the archbishops palace

Jean Dubuffet the architect in the Archbishops’ Palace
A striking medieval setting for the little-known monumental works by the father of Art Brut.

2009/02/03

birthplace charles trenet

The birthplace of Charles Trénet
Behind the green shutters, the poet’s soul suffuses a haven of nostalgia, with its memories...

2008/11/13

saint-tropez saint-tropez the ambassador of place lices

Saint-Tropez : the ambassador of Place des Lices
Saint Tropez would not be Saint Tropez without its petanque players. Jean-Annick Papazian is...

2009/04/30

aura maurienne solid art saint-jean-de-maurienne

The ‘Aura’ of the Maurienne region
Come enhance the biggest Land’Art solidarity-based art creation in the world in Savoy.

2008/10/06

vinos epoca

Vinos de época
La relación de la comarca del Penedès con la vid se remonta al siglo IV a.C.

2008/10/27

saint-tropez celebrity sandals the tropezienne

Celebrity sandals : the tropézienne
Gracing the feet of every self-respecting fashionista, the tropézienne was this summer's...

2008/12/15

cavour castle grinzane benso piedmont piemonte

Camillo's Castle
The castle of Grinzane is an imposing squared building, with a high tower, whose origins date...

2008/09/05

lucienne zinant and the tales of bygone days

Lucienne Zinant and the tales of bygone days
Lucienne Zinant lives in a delightfully restored farmhouse on the upper slopes of...

2008/10/27

grimaud life before the stars local heritage

Grimaud : life before the stars
What was life like in Saint Tropez before the stars arrived? Take a journey back in time in the...

2008/10/27

collobrieres archaeology historical immersion in the maures

Archaeology : historical immersion in the Maures
Bronze Age menhirs, Celto-Ligurian strongholds, the remains of Roman villas… There are numerous...

2008/12/15

sappada dolomiti belluno plodn architecture sport blockbau

Sappada. Architectures amongst Dolomites
The upper Piave river valley stands at the north end of the Veneto region and the Belluno...

2008/12/23

electric mill

How can a windmill work without sails?
For half a century, it was busy milling, sieving and sawing. We asked some older people to...

2008/10/13

castellers within vineyards

Castellers among the vineyards
Vilafranca del Penedès hosts two of the main reasons for pride of Catalan culture: wine and...

2008/10/13

penedes cava ways

Penedes cava's ways
Cult of grape vines and the tradition on a walk through the major wineries in Vilafranca

2008/12/23

pioneer hydroelectricity

Gilbert Planche, the father of hydroelectricity
In the centre of L’Argentière-la Bessée stands a bust with the finest pair of moustaches in...

2008/04/09

new seat for canon sarkozy

A new seat for canon Sarkozy
One of the stalls in the cathedral of Saint Jean de Maurienne Cathedral is waiting to accommodate...

2008/12/23

industrial tourism white coal hydroelectric power plant visit dams reservoirs water penstock vallouise plant claux

Les Claux hydroelectric plant and the cult of water
High walls decorated with blind arcades, a grand nave crowned by a steeple… No, it's not a long...

2008/12/16

belluno dolomites alps venice veneto piave capital buzzati

Belluno, the capital of the Dolomites, and its story teller
Belluno is the local capital for the Dolomites region.

2009/04/30

city below the city drains wastewater paris sewers

A city below the city
Have you ever wonder what was happening to the water emptied out of the sink, flushed out of the...

2008/12/23

passion waldensian

The headstrong Waldensians
The Pyrenees had the Cathars, and the Alps the Waldensians. Forced to flee to the upper valleys...

2008/10/27

saint-tropez the bravade the pride of saint tropez

The Bravade: the pride of Saint Tropez
Upholding a tradition five centuries old, once a year, the heart of Saint Tropez beats to the...

2009/01/08

monumental vilafranca

Monumental Vilafranca
A stroll along the Catalan Gothic architecture without moving the center of the capital del Penedes

2009/04/30

misfortune greatness vaux-le-vicomte nicolas fouquet chateau

Nicolas Fouquet’s greatness and misfortune
As a tribute to Nicolas Fouquet, the richest French intendant, the Vaux-Le-Vicomte castle invites...

2008/04/11

the sigean animal preserve the ideal place for family outing

The Sigean animal preserve: the ideal place for a family outing
Lions, rhinoceros, zebras, and many other wonders of the African wilds live in total freedom in a...

2008/10/27

garde-freinet sarrasins maures

La Garde Freinet : Saracens in the Maures
Very little is known about the history of the Saracens in Provence. Listen to what Bernard...

2009/04/30

artists frigos parisien paris area left bank

Artists in the Parisian fridge
A former SNCF refrigerated storage has been transformed into an artists’ workshop in the 13th...

2008/11/13

saint-tropez the seamen cemetery dreaming by the grave of hindu princess

The seamen's cemetery: dreaming by the grave of a Hindu princess
What a striking contrast between the port and the cemetery! Situated at the foot of the citadel,...

2008/12/15

alchimista casa alchemist house valdenogher alpago

The Alchemist’s House Museum
In Valdenogher, in the municipality of Tambre d’Alpago, you can visit this Alchemist’s House...

2008/05/14

on the cistercian track fontfroide abbey

On the Cistercian track: Fontfroide Abbey
Immerse yourself for a day in the silent universe of the Cistercian Monks, who had only the...

2008/06/17

renaissance gem the trois nourrices residence

A Renaissance gem: the Trois Nourrices residence
Religious architecture is not the only characteristic of Medieval Narbonne. Come and explore the...

2008/04/02

bonneval and ecot two alpine gems

Bonneval and Ecot : two Alpine gems
Fall in love with one of the most beautiful villages in France, at an altitude of over...

2008/10/27

collobrieres collobrieres heavenly views over the maures massif

Collobrières: heavenly views over the Maures massif
Over the centuries, the wild and impenetrable Maures hills attracted a number of great monastic...

2008/10/27

saint-tropez saint tropez citadel stormed by its own townspeople

Saint Tropez citadel stormed by its own townspeople!
The history of the citadel of Saint Tropez, erected to defend the town and its inhabitants, is no...

2008/10/27

saint-tropez saint-tropez real fishing port

Saint-Tropez : a real fishing port
The harbour is well known for the beautiful sailing ships on its quays. But you will also find...

2008/04/10

down the steps to 2000 years of history

Down the steps to 2000 years of history
In Narbonne, the slightest stroke of a pickaxe is likely to uncover remains of Narbo Martius,...

2008/06/24

jordi savall and the magical resonance of fontfroide

Jordi Savall and the magical resonance of Fontfroide
This August, the Cistercian abbey will be hosting the third edition of its Music and History...

2008/10/27

saint-tropez upholding tradition in saint-tropez

Upholding tradition in Saint-Tropez
"Cepoun" means wine stock in Provencal. It is also the name of the guardian of Saint...

2008/12/18

five places close vilafranca

Five places close to Vilafranca
A handful of alternatives to the capital of the Alto Penedès

2008/09/26

one of kind underground laboratory in modane

A one of a kind underground laboratory in Modane
The Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane (L.S.M.) dates from the beginning of the 80s....