Trip: The Great European Road Trip

Nestled in the hills of southwest France, the picturesque village of Conques is home to a magnificent Romanesque abbey church, rich with sculpture. There is also a medieval treasury.

One of the greatest achievements in the history of architecture, Chartres Cathedral (1140-1260) is almost perfectly preserved in its original medieval design, from innovative Gothic architecture to extensive portal sculptures and stained glass.

Tucked in a narrow alleyway, this golden-hued medieval house was the birthplace and childhood home of the famous astrologer Nostradamus. It is not open to the public but has a historical marker and informational sign in French and English.

Constructed in the 12th and 13th centuries over a 6th-century bishop's tomb, Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux Cathedral is a small Provençal Romanesque church containing interesting medieval murals, mosaics, and sculptures.

Pleasure pier and associated structures. 1891-1901, added to in 1906, 1910-1911 and 1930; restored and added to in c1945, c1973 and since 1984.

Located in southern Italy, this is the second-most visited Catholic shrine in the world. It centers on the tomb of St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, a Capuchin friar, priest and mystic known for his devotion.

Nestled among lavender and sunflower fields, this medieval monastery is best known for its association with Vincent Van Gogh, who was treated for mental illness here in 1889–90.

The Small Synagogue of 1840 is the oldest undamaged synagogue left in Germany, with an original Torah shrine, mikveh, and women's gallery. The lower level houses an exhibition on Erfurt's Jewish community.