Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam and Catholicism are at home here

Discovering Samarkand

Traveling by luxury train in Uzbekistan will allow non-tourists to discover an unimaginable country, starting in Bukhara, a town west of legendary Samarkand. Here, there are over 350 mosques and around 100 religious institutions. The historic center preserves a building called the Ark, which was once the Palace of the Emirs of Uzbekistan, right next to the minaret where an Arab prison called Zidan stands, which today houses a museum displaying the torture instruments used by the emirs. Also of interest is the Kalyan Minaret, over 100 meters high and nicknamed the "tower of death" because condemned prisoners were once thrown from its top.

Luxury trains in Uzbekistan take you to Samarkand, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the oldest city in the region, founded over 5,000 years ago. Among the many architectural styles that blend here, Iranian, Mongolian, Russian, Indian, and European influences can be identified. The city lies on the Silk Road and has always been a crossroads for traders and travelers. Worth visiting are Registan Square and the Gur Emir, where the Uzbek conqueror Tamerlane is buried.

Finally, a visit to Khiva, east of Bukkhara, is a must. Protected by original 18th-century walls, it still preserves ancient medieval structures.