Best Cathedral, Best Cruise, Best Castle, Best Museum.....

Kathy: Oh, in one trip. Well, assuming a traveler had enough time, money and the interest to consider all of these on your list in one trip, a trip to 3 countries with sufficient time in these areas: London, York, Warwick, Paris, the Loire region, and Rome--making that assumption, I would say do all those on your list.However, if limitations of time, money, or preferences required picking and choosing, then IMO, for me only, I would choose the following from your list. My answer is limited to the sights on your list (there are many others I would do if I were in those cities/regions):All of the cathedrals/churches except Yorkminster (very worthwhile but if I were forced to eliminate one from your list).It's easy to do both river cruises, for example, the Thames can be cruised while returning from the Tate Britain to downriver locations. But if required to pick one, it's hard to beat the Seine cruise, especially at night.If required to pick between Warwick Castle and Chenonceau, I'd pick the latter.Assuming the traveler is going to be in all 3 cities, I'd do each of the 3 museums you list. But if I had to pick only 2 of the 3 I'd eliminate the Vatican Museum. You would go to these museums with the understanding that you can only experience a small portion of what is in each. This is where Rick's audio tours and museum tours (in his books) are especially helpful: he helps answer the question, if I only have 2 or 3 hours for the Louvre, what should I see?

This is more of a survey. I'd like to hear favorites.
Thanks

This is a personal preference question, no right or wrong answers. IMO everything on your list is a "must see" assuming a person is able to make several trips to Europe over a number of years.Listing of cathedrals: I can't pick even 2 or 3 favorites, they're all fascinating. I'm guessing some people miss Sainte Chapelle, which IMO is a gem.River cruises: IMO both cruises are essential experiences; it may be that one can see more of Paris from the typical Seine cruise than one can see of London on the typical Thames cruise (it depends on the length and coverage of the Thames cruise one takes). Listing of Chateaux/Castles: The two you list are very different experiences and not really comparable: one is a French chateau based on architectural ideas from Italy (among other places), while the other is a castle. Museums: All 3 are must sees in my book, very different collections, not comparable, so I couldn't pick a favorite. Some of us could spend a month, a year, or a lifetime making trips to the Louvre or the British Museum, the latter being essentially a catalog of western civilization. But some travelers are bored by museums and go for other reasons.From a list of the best things in Europe, it's difficult for people to choose one as being better than another.

Well I like the list until you get to the Vatican Muesum

Outstanding art that you can't see because of overcrowded conditoins and out of control tour guide leaders. The overall expereince ranks as one of the worst ever at a museum!

Kent, you ran a form of this question some time back. I believe that it was for museums only. Tons of responses. I was surprised to see the British Museum and British Library at or near the top of this list. Since I have seen neither on my previous trip to London, my wife and I are booked for 3 weeks in England this September. We won't miss them this time.

"Fortunately, given enough years to travel, most of us don't have to choose--many here have done most or all of these (not on one trip)."

Kent, since my question was regarding one trip, would you choose between these or see all of them?

Hi,

I can only offer a bit of information (more after more trips :-)

Did a Seine cruise and Thames cruise. I really remember nothing much about the Thames. It was interesting watching the quick flow of the water, but I do not remember if our ride had commentary. (It could have, but I just don't remember.)

The Seine cruise was okay. We went at night, so we saw the Eiffel lit up, but to hear the young lady's commentary, information repeated in 3-4 languages, spoken in about a bored, robotic voice as one can get, and you get very little of it listening over the loudspeaker system .. just think of it as a boat trip. The extraordinary part is the city, maybe spend the funds elsewhere because it is the city that is different, not the boat.

For cathedrals, my thought is to just pick and give it a lot of time. Too many, too fast, and it's just a blur of "Oh, another big old church." Sit, take in the feel, ignore anyone walking around you, and feel the spirit of your location.

Ah, one tip about museums .. study the information on the web sites. If you are ready when you arrive you can avoid wasteful wandering. Well, yes, plan some time for wandering, but what you really want to avoid is someone telling you "Well, you must have seen ...?" And you were not aware of it before going in and missed it!

Cheers.

Hi Kathy, I have been very lucky, as I have been to everything on your list, except Yorkminster, but over the course of many trips not all in one.

There are of course dozens of extras I would have added to your short list of choices! But, I will just go with your list .

1) St Peters.. this is worthy of note since I am definately a Francophile,, but, no one who goes into St Peters can emerge without shaking their head at the thought of the money and power behind the organization( Catholic Church) that was able to build such a massive and ornate church.
In France, of course I would choose Notre Dame,( ST Chapelle, which while a wonderful little gem,,, still lacks something for me, I like being somewhere that commoners got assess to hundreds of years ago,, St Chapelle was basically only for the rich or royals)

2)Seine Cruise- Paris has beautiful bridges and buildings lining the Siene, and at night they light them up,, quite striking. .

3)Without children,, Chenonceau, with children Warwick( because of shows and torture chamber) This was a tough one as you are comparing apples to oranges a bit.

4)British Museam -no contest

First, a caveat...I have seen so many churches and cathedrals that the thought of seeing another one has me yelling: "A.B.C.--another bloody church/cathedral."

That said, I am a big fan of history and tend to visit sights with historical reference as well as those highlighting the area.

Churches/Cathedrals---St. Pauls and Westminster Abbey (both for the history and the people buried there.) St. Peters was impressive just for the size.

Cruises--London by Day, Seine by night.

Musuem--British Museum. (For art, I prefer the Musee D'Orsay over the Louvre. I like that period.)

Larry's post from above: "Kent, you ran a form of this question some time back. I believe that it was for museums only. Tons of responses." After Larry mentioned this prior post, I thought some on this thread might like to see the long list of favorite museums that was generated in the prior discussion, go here to see that http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm/rurl/topic/8686/what-are-your-favorite-european-museums.html

"I have seen so many churches and cathedrals that the thought of seeing another one has me yelling: "A.B.C.--another bloody church/cathedral."

That is my concern after reading so many "must sees" for the places we are going are similar. Yes, every major city has its churchs/cathedrals, its museums, its historical sites,and after burying my nose in guidebooks for the past two months and checking out every episode of ETBD on dvd, they're starting to blur!

After I posed this concern to my 15 year old, whose eyes glaze over at the words "art museum", he suggested we see at least one of each, but early in our trip, and then we can see more as we wish, but won't regret leaving them to the end. Sage advice for a 15 year old?

Thank you to those of you who have taken the time to read my question carefully and respond with your own experiences rather than value judgements or assumptions. I had just about given up on this forum.

Best Cathedral - the cathedral in Mainz (St. Peters at the Vatican is in a catagory by itself

For Paris only, I liked Sacre Coure (sp) way more than Notre Dame. Especially the climb up to the dome and the view from there

Best Castle - Windsor

Best Palace - Sans Soucci in Potsdam

Best Museum - I liked all of them in the Bayeux - D-Day beach area.