Scenic ROUTES of EUROPE
Four countries in four days? It’s time to drop the roof and
What better way to spend a week than to drive straight from the Eurotunnel from Calais to Bruges, then on to Amsterdam? Then jump on to the autobahn to Cologne, with a stop at Stuttgart? Then head back to England, via a stop in Reims? Just hope that you take good weather with you… Time: Allow four to five days. Distance: About 1,100 miles.
1. CALAIS to BRUGES: FIRST stop, after about a 1.5-hour drive from Calais, is Bruges. With charming squares surrounded by pretty canals, houses and cobbled streets, Bruges is a city famed globally as being a romantic destination. A boat trip is essential, with a tour guide to inform you of all the Flemish folklore. Beer runs through the veins of Bruges, so a visit to a brewery is a must. Stop for lunch and even a tour of the De Halve Maan Brewery, and sample some of the wonderful lagers on tap. Stay the night at Hotel de Orangerie, which is located right on the most charming canal of medieval Bruges, and is in the very heart of the city centre. > hotelorangerie.be 2. BRUGES to AMSTERDAM: n YOUR next destination is the Amsterdam. Once you’ve driven the 3.5 hours of flat, pictureque roads, park and go for a wander. Amsterdam is the perfect place to get lost in. A fascinating place to visit is Anne Frank House, where the Dutch-Jewish diarist lived in hiding with her family during the Second World War. Booking a few weeks beforehand is essential, but worth it. Continue your hike through the city and stop for lunch at Restaurant de Plantage: delicious food
THE CAR: 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet THE latest 911 is one superbly engineered and extremely capable machine. With a three-litre twin turbo in the rear, it handles so extraordinarily well it puts a permanent smile on your face. It’s so much fun to drive and the acceleration is addictive. With the roof down in 15 seconds, it’s a serious contender as one of the best convertibles money can buy. > in a ab beautiful glass-enclosed dining room next to the Artis Zoo, with exceptional service. serv After all this walking, it’s time to rest re your head for the night at the vibrant vibr W Hotel – which is a former telephone-exchange tele bank building and is an intriguing intr architectural mix of heritage and contemporary con style. The bar of the top floor flflfloo is buzzing with activity on most evenings eve and it’s located in a conveniently central cen location. > marriott.com
3. AMSTERDAM to COLOGNE: TIME to head for the autobahn – perfect if you’re driving a Porsche 911, as most of the roads over the German border have no speed limit. After three-plus hours – much less, if you’re doing 150mph (where permitted) – arrive in Cologne and you may be pleasantly surprised by this gorgeous city, the largest on the Rhine River. Boost your energy level with a generous slice of cake at decadent café Fassbender Fassb Genussmanufaktur. Then take a walk to KölnTriangle to see the best views v of the wonderful River Rhine and the t famous bridges. Cologne offers a wide wid range of amazing Airbnbs, from studios studi to luxury villas in the swankiest neighbourhoods. neigh > airbnb.co.uk 4. C COLOGNE to STUTTGART: PREPARE PRE for a four-hour-long drive along alon the autobahn – so keep your wits about abou you! Stuttgart is the car town of Germany. Ger It’s home to Porsche and Mercedes Mer factories, and a great place to visit if you’re a car nut. A tour of the Porsche Por Museum, where they have pristine pris examples of almost every model they’ve the ever built, from classic 911s to Le Mans winners, is essential. Rest your petrolhead pet at the five-star Althoff Hotel am Schlossgarten, centrally located: delicious del breakfasts, and a choice of restaurants res within the hotel. > A ALTHOffCOLLECTION.COM 5. STUTTGART to REIMS: HEAD back towards Calais, but first spend the afternoon and night in the Champagne capital. It’s a five-hour drive, but well worth it. Take a tour of the Veuve Clicquot cave and marvel at the history, then stay at Château Les Crayères, a château secluded in seven hectares of beautiful grounds. Expect outstanding food and service – the perfect way to relax before you drive back to Calais and head home. > lescrayeres.com