5 More Great European Cities to Explore Interwar Culture, 1919–1939

Karel Čapek's play, R.U.R., had it's world premier on 2 January 2021, introduced the word "robot" to the English-speaking world.

Europe between 1919 and 1939 was a continent suspended between renewal and rupture. The collapse of empires and the redrawing of borders created new states, new capitals, and new cultural centers, each grappling with the promises and pressures of modernity. This period witnessed daring experiments in democracy, architecture, design, and urban planning, alongside breakthroughs in education, psychology, and the arts. At the same time, economic instability, political radicalization, and unresolved wartime grievances steadily eroded that fragile optimism.

The interwar period was not simply an interval between two wars, it was the decisive moment in which much of modern Europe took shape.

In some cities, the interwar years left an especially deep imprint. These cities became laboratories of national identity, social reform, and artistic innovation. Functionalist housing projects, avant-garde theaters, modern universities, and vibrant café cultures emerged alongside political activism, underground movements, and, in some cases, looming occupation.

For students, educators, homeschool families, and culturally minded travelers, engaging with these cities offers a rare opportunity to see how ideas translated into lived experience. Streets, buildings, and neighborhoods from the interwar era remain remarkably intact, allowing visitors to trace how societies rebuilt themselves, debated their futures, and attempted to safeguard democracy in an increasingly unstable world.

In this guide, we explore five more European cities whose interwar legacies are essential to understanding how Europe navigated the uncertain years between the wars, and why those years still matter today.

1. Prague, Czech Republic

A Model of Democratic Modernity

Karel Čapek, who coined the word "robot" and was an outspoken critic of Fascism, is buried in Vyšehrad cemetery in Prague.

The First Czechoslovak Republic (1918–1938) stood out as a successful, stable democracy in a period marked by rearmament, dictatorship, and political unrest. Prague reflected this confidence through its architecture, urban planning, and intellectual life.

Walking through Prague, travelers encounter elegant functionalism in residences, exhibition halls, and public buildings, reflecting a democratic state confident enough to express modernity through clarity, rationality, and openness rather than monumentality or spectacle. The Trade Fair Palace and the minimalist Villa Müller illustrate the city’s embrace of clean lines and efficient design.

Prague was also the home of writer Karel Čapek, who coined the word “robot” and explored questions of technology, ethics, and humanity - ideas that continue to resonate as artificial intelligence advances.

Prague’s interwar years exemplify a society seeking to modernize while retaining a rich cultural heritage.

2. Kaunas, Lithuania

Europe’s Hidden Interwar Treasure

During the interwar period, Kaunas was known as Little Paris thanks to its rich cultural, architectural, and academic life and widespread cafes.

When Vilnius was lost to Poland after WWI, Lithuania moved its capital to Kaunas, transforming a small provincial city into the political, cultural, and architectural heart of the nation. What followed was one of the most ambitious interwar urban development programs in Europe, compressed into less than two decades as the young state raced to build institutions, identity, and legitimacy almost from scratch.

Kaunas blossomed with modernist buildings that still dominate the skyline, many erected with remarkable speed in the 1920s and early 1930s as architecture became a tool of national urgency. Landmarks like the colossal Resurrection of Christ Church, the modernist Officers’ Club, and the striking Central Post Office reflect a confidence and creativity rarely found so intact.

Today, Kaunas is a UNESCO World Heritage Site specifically for its interwar modernism, making it one of the best-preserved architectural “time capsules” of the era.

Kaunas teaches travelers how architecture can express national identity, pride, and modern aspirations during periods of political uncertainty.

3. Warsaw, Poland

Rebirth, Modernity, and a Diversity Lost

Wilson Square, named for the 28th President of the United States, is the main square of the Żoliborz of Warsaw.

Interwar Warsaw was a city reborn. After regaining independence in 1918, Poland poured energy into rebuilding its capital, turning Warsaw into a lively metropolis rich in modernist architecture, political activism, and vibrant Jewish culture.

The Prudential House, completed in 1933, soared above the skyline as one of the tallest skyscrapers in Europe, symbolizing Warsaw’s modern ambitions. Many of the city’s Art Deco districts, particularly in Śródmieście and Żoliborz, still retain their interwar character.

But the heart of interwar Warsaw was its diversity. Jewish theatres, cafés, bookshops, and schools created one of Europe’s most remarkable cultural ecosystems, much of which was later destroyed in the Holocaust. Today, memorials and museums help travelers understand what was lost.

Warsaw is a powerful reminder of how culture and innovation can thrive despite political threats - and how fragile that progress can be.

4. Amsterdam, Netherlands

Tolerance, Design, and the Seeds of Modern Dutch Identity

The Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam houses examples of De Stijl art, as well as Bauhaus, Pop Art, and others.

In the interwar years, Amsterdam continued its long tradition of tolerance and creativity. The city became a haven for artists, refugees, and intellectuals seeking a more open environment than what was available in Germany or Eastern Europe.

This was also the golden age of the De Stijl movement, led by creators such as Piet Mondrian and Gerrit Rietveld. Their radical use of bold colors, geometric shapes, and minimalist design profoundly impacted global aesthetics.

Amsterdam’s Jewish communities flourished in this era, and the story of Anne Frank, though shaped by the events of WWII, has its roots in the interwar years, with her family’s relocation from Germany in response to growing antisemitism. Visiting the Anne Frank House provides crucial context for understanding both the vibrancy of pre-war Jewish life and the looming threat that eventually engulfed it.

Amsterdam embodies the cosmopolitan creativity of the interwar period and the cultural optimism that existed before occupation.

5. Brno, Czech Republic

A Small City With a Major Architectural Voice

Villa Tugendhat, a preeminent example of functionalist architecture, has been listed as a World Heritage Site since 2001.

Brno may not have the global fame of Prague or Vienna, but in the interwar years it stood at the forefront of functionalism, demonstrating that architectural leadership in interwar Europe was not confined to imperial capitals or political centers. Emphasizing efficiency, clarity, and rational design, functionalist architects transformed Brno into a laboratory of bold experimentation.

The most famous example is the Villa Tugendhat, a UNESCO-listed masterpiece designed by Mies van der Rohe. Its open floor plan, floor-to-ceiling glass, and innovative use of materials made it decades ahead of its time. The city’s Exhibition Centre, built in the 1920s, remains one of the largest functionalist complexes in Europe.

Brno demonstrates that smaller cities played a huge role in shaping modern architecture and design. Its interwar buildings are among the finest in the world, offering a unique perspective on European modernism.

Why These Interwar Cities Matter Today

The interwar period was a defining era, a time of reconstruction, experimentation, and cultural confidence, but also one marked by political fragility, social division, and the steady rise of authoritarianism. Exploring interwar cities helps travelers understand:

• how new and restored democracies attempted to rebuild after imperial collapse and war

• how architecture, urban planning, and culture responded to rapid political and social change

• how nationalism, minority identity, and modernism shaped everyday life

• how fragile, and how hard-won, freedom and creativity can be

In Prague, Kaunas, Warsaw, Amsterdam, and Brno, the interwar years are not abstract history. Functionalist villas, social housing projects, cafés, civic buildings, and memorial spaces allow visitors to experience how societies sought stability, meaning, and modern identity in an uncertain age. These cities reveal both the optimism of the period and the vulnerabilities that would soon be exploited.

Walking these streets brings the interwar years into focus - not as a distant prelude to catastrophe, but as a lived moment filled with ambition, debate, creativity, and unresolved tension.

Plan Your Educational Travel Experience

At Storied Sojourns, we believe the most meaningful way to study history is to encounter it directly. Through architecture-focused itineraries, cultural history walks, and interwar-themed journeys, we design immersive experiences for schools, homeschool families, and intellectually curious travelers.

If you are ready to explore the cities that helped shape modern Europe, we are here to guide you every step of the way.