Cool design and wild art on a city break in Metz, north-east France

The small city in the Lorraine region has been put on the map with the aid of two Parisian heavyweights – a loan from the Pompidou Centre and designer Philippe Starck’s quirky new hotel

Why western Sicily is Italy’s emerging arts hub

Art is helping to revitalise Sicily’s ghost towns and deserted urban spaces, with the earthquake-hit town of Gibellina becoming Italy’s first Capital of Contemporary Art

How the ‘Lowry effect’ is rejuvenating Salford and Manchester: a tour of the artist’s old haunts and new shrines

There’s a lot more to LS Lowry than his matchstick men. A visit to the artist’s hometown reveals how his legacy helped turn a derelict dockland into the thriving creative hub of Salford Quays

‘It’s dedicated exclusively to female artists, from Frida Kahlo to Tracey Emin’: readers’ favourite unsung museums in Europe

From ancient Greek bronzes to an unusual take on Donald Trump, readers recommend galleries and collections they’ve discovered on their travels

Why west Cornwall is the perfect place to mark the winter solstice

With ancient standing stones and modern midwinter festivals, the West Penwith peninsula is a land of magic and mystery

A winter tour of Luxembourg’s fairytale chateaux – on the country’s free bus network

This tiny country is awash with atmospheric castles, many of which you can stay in, making for a magical wintry break. And it won’t cost you a cent to travel between them

‘When the church door opens, it’s like a miracle’: the phone app that’s a key to Italy’s religious art

A cultural initiative in Piedmont is unlocking a trove of priceless medieval frescoes in rural churches

‘One of the most breathtaking cathedrals in the world’: readers’ favourite churches in Europe

Wonderful art, mysterious history, amazing design and beautiful locations have drawn our tipsters to these shrines from Norway to Bulgaria

We found the authentic Liguria: an off-season road trip through north-west Italy’s brilliant villages and cuisine

By avoiding the famous hotspots and travelling in December, we enjoy culinary delights and historic charms without the summer crowds

Authentic Algarve: exploring Portugal beyond the beach

A series of walking festivals and cultural programmes aim to lure visitors to the Algarve’s woodland interiors and pretty villages to help boost tourism year round

Why Herefordshire was the perfect stand-in for Shakespeare’s Stratford in the new film of Hamnet

Crooked buildings, welcoming inns, ancient woodlands … it’s easy to see why the location scouts chose this idyllic corner of England

‘We stayed in a 500-year-old palazzo for €100’: readers’ favourite historic places to stay in Europe

Travel back in time at a folly in Scotland, a parador in Spain and a German castle

Chatsworth estate in Derbyshire opens a new family-friendly hotel

With affordable rooms, the Hide hotel makes a great base to explore one of England’s most famous stately homes, as well as the glorious Peak District national park

Calabria comes alive with song and dance: how a new generation is revitalising southern Italy’s quiet villages

The small communes of Lago and Conflenti are putting themselves back on the map with a series of community-run music and food festivals

‘The Irish landscape whispers tales of the past’: a trip beyond the blarney in far-flung Donegal

Our writer explores the cliffs, beaches and villages of the Gaeltacht area of Donegal and sees the landscape afresh through the Irish language