loulouise

hello all,
i will be going to europe for my first time from 19 may to 23 june. i am really excited, but quite nervous as i will be traveling alone, by train, and couchsurfing and don't really have a clue what i'm doing!
my general itinerary is as follows:
fly into barcelona (5-6 days)
south of france (5-6 days)
switzerland (3-4 days)
munich (3-4 days)
essen/cologne/? (?)
amsterdam (2 days)
bruges (and?) brussels (?)
fly out of paris (i'd like to be here by the 17th)
i would really appreciate any suggestions, but particularly specifics in southern france. i want to go to lovely places, like cassis and conques (i study art history, i love romanesque/medieval villages), but i hear that the latter is out of the way. i also don't know the best way to get to out-of-the-way places from the places with the train stations.
as for switzerland and germany, i hear zurich is expensive but i'd like to see the cabaret voltaire, and bern. i also need more ideas for germany other than munich and cathedrals galore.

i hope y'all can offer some encouraging advice (these boards seem to have a lot of that going around!)! it'd be much appreciated!

love and rage,
louise