Cologne - with the cathedral across the Rhine (photo © Hiro1775 / dreamstime.com)
Cologne - with the cathedral across the Rhine (photo © Hiro1775 / dreamstime.com)
France to Germany through Brussels
Lille and Cologne are two cities with very strong regional identities within their respective countries, but they could scarcely be more different. With a historical legacy dating back to the Romans, Cologne makes great play of its long-standing importance as an ecclesiastical and cultural centre. Lille is altogether more downbeat. Lille is radical while Cologne is conformist.
MAP Double click on the map (or double tap on mobile) to zoom in. You can connect onto other routes in places shown in red. Change to a layer showing a more familiar road map view by clicking on the menu at the top right of the map. Get back to the original view by clicking on the house icon shown in the top left menu on the map.
Whether you are making a long grand tour or just planning a couple of weekend breaks, Europe by Rail is the perfect guide. The book describes over 50 key routes in detail. Together, they span mainland Europe and – brand new for this 16th edition – now also the British Isles. Find out more about the guidebook below.
