Echternach, Luxemburg

A town of around five thousand souls, ECHTERNACH grew up around an abbey that was founded here in 698 by St Willibrord, a Yorkshire missionary-monk who, according to legend, cured epilepsy and cattle. Such finely balanced skills went down a treat with the locals, most of whom had been converted to Christianity long before his death here in 739 at the grand old age of 81. Nowadays, Willibrord is commemorated by a renowned day-long dancing procession in which the dancers cross the town centre in leaps and jumps – signifying epilepsy – to the accompaniment of the polka and holding white handkerchiefs. The procession, which first took place in 1533, is held annually on Whit Tuesday – two days after Whit Sunday – and begins at 9am.