But in many German cities, that historic sense can be muted by the surroundings, and the aesthetic can be reminiscent of an American city, with modern buildings all around.

Any American lucky enough to live in Germany can attest to the nice aspects of such an existence. Good beer, quality mass transit and a rich history come to mind.

While Germany is steeped in centuries of history, much of it got bombed into the ground during World War II, leaving many German metropolises with a modernity that seems to conflict with all that has come before.

But a solution to that historic conundrum lies just across the French border. The city of Strasbourg is both an urban center and a repository of history. It is here that American visitors can find that vision of Old Europe that they carried in their heads from the States. And at just about two hours from some American military communities in Germany, the city provides an ideal Sunday excursion. When it’s time to get medieval, go to Strasbourg