With its royal lineage, magnificent architecture, 1,500 lavishly furnished rooms and formal gardens, Château de Fontainebleau rivals any palace in Europe -- even Versailles.
At this juncture of its 9,000-years-plus life span, Athens is a bit gritty and worn. Even so, the enduring beauty and grandeur of the Acropolis is undeniable and the entire city is an archeological treasure.
Le Mans was once home to Henry II Plantagenet, King of England, and his Queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine. But the city is best known for its race car royalty.