Fulda, Germany

With the uplands of the Vogelsberg to the west and the impressive sweep of the ancient, volcanic Rhön mountains rising to over 900m in the east, there's a touch of wild grandeur to the spacious landscape around FULDA. And there's more than a hint of pomp about the old prince-bishops' Residenzstadt itself, with a stately official Barockviertel, or Baroque quarter, crowning a low-rise hill, adding a stately flourish to the fringes of its attractive, walkable Altstadt, immediately to the south. Relatively remote from Hesse's other major cities, Fulda has never grown especially large, but it has a bustling, self-sufficient air that makes it an enjoyable place to spend a few days. On the city's fringe Schloss Fasanerie, summer residence of the prince-bishops, makes a worthwhile excursion if you have your own transport, while further afield the beautiful uplands of the Rhön Biosphere, reserve can be reached easily from Fulda by bus.