With no direct train from Strasbourg we connected through Stuttgart to reach Munich. With very few words of German between us we were grateful for the willingness of the people we met to speak English, once our few words had expired. That said, the first person we spoke to was the Turkish driver of the taxi that took us from the station to our hotel.

Munich is a modern and propperous city (population of 1.6 million), with a similar feel to some cities in Northern Italy, from which it is only a two hour drive. It is the capital of Bavaria and was founded in 1158 to control the salt trade which was essential for food preservation. As well as salt, considerable wealth was derived from developing and controlling the beer industry.

The Wittelsbach dynasty ruled Bavaria from 1180 until 1918. The British royal family are decended from the Wittlesbach princess Sophia of Hanover. The family ruled from the Residenz, the largest city palace in Germany, the building of which started in 1385 with many additions and changes made over the years depending on the fashions of the period. In common with much of Munich, It was badly damaged by Allied bombing in World War II but has been renovated.

The Frauenkirche, Munich Cathedral, was built in the 15th Century in only 20 years. Its importance to Munich and Bavaria is such that no building in the city is allowed to be taller. During World War II much of the building and its contents were destroyed, it was rebuilt and reopened in 1994.

Strasbourg is the capital of the Grand Est region of France formerly Alsace and the official seat of the European Parliament. Strategically situated on the River Rhine, which acts as the border with Germany, it has been an important trade hub for 2000 years. It is the second largest port on the Rhine and the second largest river port in France. It featured as an important part of the Protestant Reformation and Johannes Gutenberg lived in the city for 10 year around the time her invented the printing press. Alsace was part of France from 1681 until Germany took control at the end of the Franco-Prussian war in 1871, before returning to French rule in 1918 following World War I.

The city is dominated by Strasbourg cathedral built between 1015 and 1439. With a spire height of 142 metres (20m higher than Salisbury cathedral) it was the tallest building in the world between 1647 and 1874, inheriting the distinction as a result of damage to prior holders of the record.

Colmar is 40 miles south of Strasbourg and is the third largest city in Alsace. We visited on a day trip from Strasbourg, by train. It is famous for its half timbered houses and its narrow canals, nicknamed (locally and generously) as “Little Venice”. It is the birthplace of the French sculptor Auguste Bartholdi who is best known for designing the Statue of Liberty, although he was the sculptor responsible for numerous other works, predominantly in the US and France. Many of the sketches and miniture designs of his works are on display in a museum dedicated to him in the house he was born in.

Our journey started from London St Pancras International station. The station was designed by railway engineer William Henry Barlow and opened in 1868. The Midland Grand Hotel (now Renainsance St Pancras) is the gothic frontpiece designed by George William Scott and opened in 1873, closed in 1935 and reopened in 2011.

The first leg of our two week rail journey was to Strasbourg via a change at Lille.