If London, England and Paris, France don't impress you, you could consider hitting the road for London or Paris, Kentucky.
These Bluegrass cities don't have a Buckingham Palace or Eiffel Tower, but they do have horses and hiking trails. If you live in Louisville, you may not have to cross state lines to find your next immersive adventure.
Without further ado, here are seven Kentucky cities sharing names with popular international destinations.
Alexandria (Egypt)
Population of Alexandria: 10,673
Distance from downtown Louisville: 88 miles
What it's known for: About 14 miles south of Cincinnati, Alexandria's motto is "Where the City meets the Country," as it offers spaces for golf, kayaking and even horseback riding.
Florence (Italy)
Population of Florence: 32,917
Distance from downtown Louisville: 79 miles
What it's known for: Those who have driven from Louisville to Cincinnati may have noticed the "Florence Y'all" water tower during their commute. The professional baseball team in town is named after the giant landmark. When the water tower was erected in 1974, it originally read "Florence Mall," but the state highway department forced the city to remove the name because the advertising was not allowed to be seen from the interstate.
Glasgow (Scotland)
Population of Glasgow: 15,313
Distance from downtown Louisville: 87 miles
What it's known for: Glasgow, the home of a Civil War-era fort, is a regional hub for southern Kentucky history and culture. Residents used to lean in to their city's Scottish connection with the annual Highland Games, but the event was canceled indefinitely in 2023, according to a report from the Bowling Green Daily News. Professional athletes from the U.S., Canada and England participated in the games, which included traditional sports like the caber toss and the hammer throw.
London (England)
Population of London: 7,596
Distance from downtown Louisville: 119 miles
What it's known for: A city in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, there are a number of outdoor activities to engage in. London city parks and the nearby Daniel Boone National Forest have an "abundance" of trails for hikers and mountain bikers, according to the city's tourism office.
Paris (France)
Population of Paris: 10,089
Distance from downtown Louisville: 81 miles
What it's known for: Horses, history and hospitality are three important pillars for Paris and surrounding Bourbon County. Secretariat and other accomplished racehorses have called Paris' Claiborne Farm home. A tavern and meeting house frequented by some of Kentucky's earliest settlers remain as historic sites. And as the county's name would suggest, bourbon is distilled locally.
Richmond (England)
Population of Richmond: 37,206
Distance from downtown Louisville: 86 miles
What it's known for: The city home to Eastern Kentucky University is a bit different from the London, England suburb of the same name, which was made famous by the Apple TV+ series "Ted Lasso." In Kentucky's Richmond, visitors will find pieces of state and national history. Richmond is home to the reconstructed site of Fort Boonesborough, where Daniel Boone stayed after trekking the Cumberland Gap. There's also White Hall, the mansion abolitionist Cassius Marcellus Clay once lived in.
Versailles (France)
Population of Versailles: 10,491
Distance from downtown Louisville: 57 miles
What it's known for: While Versailles, France has a stately palace, the Bluegrass State's Versailles has The Kentucky Castle, a four-star hotel that looks like it plays host to medieval royalty. Versailles is also home to WinStar Farm, where several Kentucky Derby winners were bred.
Honorable mentions
Berea is named after a town of biblical significance, according to the local college. Residents of ancient Berea, located in modern Greece, were recorded as being receptive of the gospel of Jesus Christ when they were visited by traveling apostles.
La Grange, about 25 miles from Louisville, gets it name from the French country estate of prominent Revolutionary War figure Marquis de Lafayette, according to the Kentucky Secretary of State's office.
Manchester, a tiny town in eastern Kentucky, was envisioned by its founders to have an industrial boom similar to Manchester, England, author Robert M. Rennick wrote in "Kentucky Place Names."
Reach reporter Leo Bertucci at [email protected] or @leober2chee on X, formerly known as Twitter