Experiencing The Real Culture Of Europe

One of the great advantages of taking to the road is the flexibility of being able to put together your own itinerary and spend as much or as little time in a given location as you like. When it comes to planning a road trip around Europe, you’re spoilt for choice.

Europe is steeped in culture and historical wonders with cities such as Rome and Athens offering some of the world’s most recognisable sights. Sampling European culture at your own pace will make the time spent learning to drive worthwhile and can act as a huge incentive while you’re still in the process of preparing for your driving test.

Planning a trip

While a mixed bag of cultural highlights is certainly possible by passing through several countries in one trip, in order to avoid the ‘whistle stop tour’feeling it may be worth considering more of a themed road trip. Take one, two or maybe three countries and sample their cultural highlights in a coordinated fashion.

Here are some ideas.

France – North to South

A combination of big city culture, courtesy of Paris with its architecture and art, combine with stunning scenery as you head south into Dijon and Burgundy to take in the landscapes in Provence that inspired Van Gogh.

You can end up at the French Riviera to take in the cultural highlights of the larger cities and remote villages.

Central European wonders

If you hanker after art, then you could schedule a trip to include three of central Europe’s most splendid cities – Berlin, Dresden and Prague. Marvel at the former Cold War city of Berlin and its mix of old and new architecture, enjoy the Baroque beauty of Dresden and the natural splendour of Prague.

Portugal and Spain – Royal Iberia

Taking in the major cities of Lisbon and Madrid and Segovia and Toledo, this trip has a royal theme to it in that you’re following the footsteps of kings, queens and royal explorers.

In Lisbon there’s the Museum-School of Decorative Arts, and in Madrid a visit to the legendary Prado is a must as is a trip to the Queen Sofia Art Centre to view Picasso’s ‘Guernica’. If you want more paintings, you’ll love Segovia’s collections from Goya, Rubens and El Greco amongst others.

Spain – three cities

Madrid features again in this all-Spain trip as do the famous cities of Barcelona and Seville. Along with the previously mentioned Prado in Madrid, there are plenty of cultural highlights – Seville’s Museo de Bellas Artes is considered second only to the Prado – in terms of art museums and wonderful architecture throughout this trip.

Central Europe – three cities

Taking in the cultural and architectural delights of Prague, Vienna and Budapest this trip is a culture vulture’s dream – especially the stunning city of Vienna with its musical heritage.

Italy

Many immediately think of Italy when it comes to culture and history – and Rome alone could easily fill up several days of your trip with its famous sights, history and culture.

Combine a visit to the Eternal City with a drive through wonderful Italian scenery to take in the cultural delights of Florence. Really, Italy could form a road trip of its own very easily – allow yourself the flexibility to go off into your own directions.

Germany and France

Straddling the border between France and Germany, this trip could take in Munich, Heidelberg and Baden-Baden before entering France and into Strasbourg. Cultural highlights include the museum Frieder Burda in Baden-Baden with its works by Picasso and German Expressionist painters and the picture postcard castle of Heidelberg that you’re bound to fall in love with.

Much more

There are so many more trip ideas, of course, but the beauty of driving is the ability to mix and match destinations of interest. Build a broad outline – such as those above – and factor in spare days to drift off and explore cultural delights that catch your eye.