The enchanting Kiso Valley, nestled in the heart of Japan, is a timeless treasure, where history breathes through its ancient pathways and rustic architecture. Four centuries ago, the picturesque villages of Magome and Tsumago served as crucial staging posts along the 500 km Nakasendo Highway, where feudal warlords journeyed annually to Edo (now Tokyo). Today, these villages retain their historic charm, with Magome seamlessly blending modern amenities with its traditional core, easily accessible by rail and bus from Nagoya. As you step onto the broad foot trail of 'old' Magome, the echoes of the past resonate, transporting you to an era untouched by time.

Nagoya Castle is where the Tokugawa shogun made their home for over 250 years up until 1868, the year in which Japan’s partial isolation from the West came to an end with the beginning of the Meiji period. The castle was nearly destroyed in bombing raids of 1945 and authentically rebuilt only in 2018.

Francisco de Goya, our most universal artist, was born in a village near Zaragoza called Fuendetodos. The Palacio de Los Pardo is home to the Goya Museum, dedicated to the writer and professor who bequeathed his private collection of paintings and sculptures to the city. The works exhibited span the 15th to the 20th century. Particularly noteworthy is the room dedicated exclusively to five series of etchings by Goya: Los Caprichos, La Tauromaquia, Los Disparates or Proverbios, Los Desastres de la Guerra and Los Toros de Burdeos.

Nearby Bastide Saint Louis, you can continue your visit along the famous Canal du Midi that is suitable for its fine trekking, but there are also several boat trips to choose from. The canal was built in the 17th century and together with some other waters it connects the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. Canal du Midi is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Carcassonne Croisière offers plenty of fun and relaxing boat trips: