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.