Historie en charme: ontdek Warschau & Praag

About the destination: The image of Warsaw as a grey concrete jungle, a wasteland of homes in the Soviet era, does not correspond with the reality of the last 15 years of this vibrant city. This metropolis has much more to offer, many things to visit, an impressive cultural scene and a lively nightlife. Warsaw is looking ahead leaving its Soviet past in the past where it belongs. At the end of World War II, 85% of the city was in ruins and the city had to undergo a major reconstruction. The successful reconstruction received recognition in 1980 when UNESCO declared the Old Town of Warsaw World Heritage Site. Located in the Mazowieckie province, in central-eastern Poland, the city is unevenly divided by the Vistula River. Most tourist attractions are on the left bank of the river, while on the right bank we have the up and coming elegant district of Prague. The epicentre of Warsaw for visitors is the so-called Royal Route (Trakt Królewski), which runs north-south from the New and Old Towns, past the elegant Nowy Swiat shops, palaces that survived the war and the royal gardens Lazienki Park, before arriving at the Wilanów Palace, to the south of the city centre. The city also has many green spaces with lush lakeside parks where rowing boats sail during the sunny summer days and where visitors can find plenty of al-fresco cafes. In the parks, free classical music concerts are also held, with big audiences, a scene that is far from the somber images of communist-era Warsaw. Today the city offers an amazing nightlife, young locals dress elegantly to head to the cool bars and groovy clubs in the city. It is definitely a city that vibrates as soon as the sun goes down. Although some people claim that Krakow has the beauty, Warsaw has the culture, the energy and the action.

About the destination: Prague is the capital city and largest city of the Czech Republic. It is located on the Vltava River in central bohemia. Prague is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. For those interested in art, history, classical music, and architecture, Prague is a must see. Beautiful buildings and architecture can be seen around every corner. The River Vltava runs through the middle of Prague. Many bridges span the river but it’s the Charles Bridge, which is pedestrianized that visitors are drawn to for its combination of Gothic construction and Baroque Statues. Here there are street vendors selling all sorts of things, and in the distance on the hill is the Castle, considered the historic nexus of the city. The Old Town Square is one of two main squares in Prague and where some of the main attractions of the city are located such as the Old Town Hall Tower, the Astronomical Clock, the Church of Our Lady before Tyn and St. Nicholas Church. Since 1992, the historic center of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. Prague's city center is a museum of 900 years' of architecture, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, 19th-century revivals of all of them, and Art Nouveau remain amazingly undisturbed by the 20th century. Prague is truly an architectural delight.