Belgium

Scratch the surface of Belgium's polished Euro - veneer and you're soon knee-deep in paradoxes. Presently the powerhouse of European unification, providing lodging for both the EU parliament and NATO, the country is itself divided between the Dutch speaking Flemish in the north, and the French speaking Walloons.

On the one hand Belgium is known for it's cultural sobriety, while on the other they're proud of their 350 indigenous types of beer. They gave us Pieter Paul Rubens, then they gave us the Smurf. Brussels' genealogy can be traced to the sixth century when the 'village of the marsh', Broekzele, provided respite for Europeans plying trade between Cologne and Bruges.

While today the most traded commodity is Eurocratic red tape, the capital's cosmopolitan legacy is reflected in some of the finest monuments, palaces, cathedrals and civic architecture in Europe.

Gastronomy is big in Brussels with menus running the gamut from hearty rustic fare through to wallet punishing gourmet. The cities of Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp seemingly vie for the claim of housing the most medieval architecture, the largest collections of Old Masters, and the best pavement cafes for people-watching per square metre. A bucolic alternative to city life can be found in the untouched gorges and timeless villages of the Ardennes.