Kielce, Poland

Situated midway between Kraków and Warsaw, Kielce became part of the Russian Empire as a result of Poland's eighteenth-century Partitions, and to this day looks very different to the Habsburg-influenced cities of southern Maopolska. Like most tsarist garrison towns, Kielce was laid out along a single main street, creating a 2km-long central boulevard with no real focal point – never mind a main Rynek. The town is nevertheless a pleasant and laid-back place in which to stroll, especially in spring and summer when the main strip fills up with café tables and promenaders. With a trio of absorbing museums and an ensemble of relaxing parks, it's as fine a place as any to break your journey.