European Attractions
Austria
As everyone knows Austria has a rich history. To begin with, one can visit the captivating castles of Hofburg and Schonbrunn in Vienna. Estates the latter, formerly used as winter and summer residences of the Hapsburg and today utilized as the official seat of the Austrian Federal President and the major tourists’ attractions in Vienna. Whereas in Salzburg the Hohensalzburg Fortress and Mirabell Palace are the must see attractions of the region.
The city of Innsbruck is known for its Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture. The same goes for the city of Bregenz, which is also known for its historic buildings which where built between the thirteenth and sixteenth centuries. The baroque-style Martinsturm (Martin’s Tower), boasts some wonderful fourteenth century murals.
The spectacular mountains are also a prominent attraction in this country where skiing or hiking can be enjoyed at its best. One can enjoy other landscapes such as Salzkammergut and Hoher Dachstein which is a karstic Austrian mountain.
France
France is known for its monuments and its famous buildings. Amongst these the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre featuring the famous painting of the Mona Lisa, the Bastille, the place where the French Revolution began, and the Palace and Park of Versailles which dates back to the French monarchy. Versailles is a fascinating building consisting of a large number of rooms, not to mention the chapels, and the parks around the palace. Other attractions found in France include the Pont of the Moon in Boudreaux, some roman remains such as the Roman Arena in Arles and the ‘Pont de Gard’ which is a Roman aqueduct constructed in the South of France.
France hosts the most magnificent cathedrals found in Europe, such as the Cathedral of Notre Dame which dates back to the 13th century, the Bourges Cathedral which is dedicated to Saint Stephen and it also dates back to the 13th century. There is the Amiens Cathedral which is dedicated to Our Lady of Amiens, and is found in Amiens, the chief city of Picardy. In Chartres there is the Cathedral of Chartres which has one of the finest gothic architecture found in France.
Germany
Your journey in Germany can begin through Berlin which despite its dark past nowadays is a lively metropolis. A major attraction is the Charlottenburg Palace which is the largest palace in Berlin. Another historical site is the Deutscher Dom, a cathedral built three hundred years ago. One cannot mention Berlin without referring to the Berlin wall and the Brandenburg Gate. Another interesting museum found in Berlin is the Museum Island which is an island on the Spee River which is occupied by internationally renowned museums.
For the lovers of opera music there are the Bavarian Opera House, a classic theatre with a reputation for phenomenal performances and the Semper Opera House which is a building that exemplifies neo-renaissance architecture. Some of the most well known buildings are the Zwinger Palace which nowadays houses several museums and also the bridge at the Kronentor.
Although Germany has a dark history, it houses a considerable number of impressive churches and cathedrals. Amongst these one can find the Frauenkirche which is dedicated to Our Lady and the Katholische Hofkirche which is a Roman Catholic Cathedral built in the 18th century. Other key religious buildings are the Cologne Cathedral, which is dedicated to Saint Peter and Blessed Virgin Mary, the Aachen Cathedral which dates back to the Middle Ages and the Speyer Cathedral, a large and imposing basilica.
Greece
Greece has a long and storied history, as well as being the home birth of democracy as we know it today. Such rich history means, rich heritage. We can start off by mentioning the remains of ancient Athens, with its ruins that include the Parthenon and the ancient Panathenaiko Stadium. Other sites which date back to ancient Greece, like the Temple of Zeus which makes part with the ancient city of Olympia, the Athenian Agora, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the Temple of Apollo in Bassae, Pythagoreion and Heraion of Samos, as well as the archeological sites of Vergina, Mycenae and Tiryns, amongst many others. Athens features some of the best museums found in Greece including the National Archaeological Museum, the Benaki Museum and the new Acropolis Museum.
Apart from Athens, there are other important ancient cities from Ancient Greece. To name a few, there are Epidaurus, Sparta, Mystras a fortified town in Morea and the medieval town of Rhodes which was build by the Hospitalliers.
Greece features a number of archeological remains; however this country is still a great venue for those who wish to enjoy the sea. Examples include the red beach in the volcanic island of Santorini, the red beaches in Crete, or the Paradise Beach on Mykonos.
Italy
Like Greece, Italy too has a very rich history. Since the Roman times, its cultural influence propagated throughout Europe for many years. Rome is the capital and heart of this country where the most important buildings and monuments reside. Amongst these we find the Vittoriano which is a monument to the King Victor Emanuel II, Fountain of Trevi, and ‘Piazza di Spagna’. Other important buildings are the Palaces of the Republic, like Palazzo Montecitorio, Palazzo Chigi and Palazzo Madama. The Pantheon is a magnificent Roman building which survived nearly intact till present times, was dedicated to St. Mary and Martyres and holds the tombs of the painter Raphael and the kings of Italy. An important monument from ancient Rome is the Colosseum, where bloody battles between gladiators and ferocious animals used to be held. Unfortunately, some parts of it were destroyed through the years
The Vatican state is situated in the heart of Rome. Here we find the most impressive Roman Catholic buildings and art of all time like the Basilica of St. Peter, which was build in 1509 and renewed by Raphael in 1519. The Vatican City includes also the Pontifical Palace, where there is the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Museum, the Vatican Gardens and Castel Sant Angelo. All in all the Vatican City includes important works from various renowned artists such as Raphael and Michelangelo Buonaroti, one of his famous works being the “Pietà”.
Apart from Rome, in Italy there are other cities which have important monuments, such as Tuscany, where there are various museums, to name a few, the Galleria Degli Uffizi, Galleria dell’Accademia where the famous sculpture of David is situated and the leaning Tower of Pisa.
One cannot mention Italy without mentioning Venice. The main attractions are the Basilica of St. Mark along with the square of St. Mark. Major attractions are the Gondolas and its carnival. Always in the Veneto region there are other important towns such as Padua, Vicenza, and Verona which is also famous as the city of Romeo and Juliet.
In Italy there areas for an entertaining vacation, such as the beautiful beaches which are very famous in summer, the lakes such as the lake of Garda, the Alps and Dolomites where one can go hiking, or skiing too.
Spain
In Spain we find various important buildings, some of which date back to the megalithic period. The Romans left some of their most outstanding monuments, as well as other remains from other cultures such as from the Arabs, as well as from the Latin Americans and the Spanish themselves.
In Spain there is the Alhambra fortress. It is found in the southern region of Spain known as Andalusia and was used as a residence for Muslim rulers of Granada. It has a unique architecture which developed during the Nasrid Dynasty. It contains sculptures, columns, stalactites, and also arabesques and calligraphy. There are other Muslim remains in Andalusia such as the Mosque of Cordoba, while other important monuments are the Cathedral of Seville, and the palace of Charles V.
There are modern architectures done by Antonio Gaudi, such as one of his most famous works found in Barcelona, the Sagrada Famillia. This is a Roman Catholic church, which is rich with Christian symbolism, where its most striking aspects are the 18 towers which are intended to represent in ascending order, the twelve Apostles, four evangelists and the Virgin Mary. Other works done by Gaudi are Casa Vicens, Palau Guell, Casa Battló, amongst others. Other interesting places in Barcelona are also some works by Lluís Domènech I Montaner like the Hospital of the Holy Cross and Saint Paul, ‘Palau de la Musica Catalana’, and Casa Fsuter, to name a few works.
Ibiza is a major landmark for the clubbing community. Ibiza features some the most popular clubs and discos in Europe and DJ’s throughout the world are invited to perform in these clubs.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom was and is still one of the most influential empires in the history of the world. When visiting this country, it will be a shame not to visit the various castles present there like Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace, and Blenheim Palace which was built between 1705 and 1724. Another castle is the Durham Castle, which was built during the 11th century and in 1832 it was founded as the University College of Durham. There is the Tower of London, also known as Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress. It is a historical monument found in central London. Another palace is the Palace of Westminster, nowadays it is also known as the house of Parliament. Last but not least, there is the Big Ben in all its majestic glory.
Throughout England there are other famous sites such as the Canterbury Cathedral, which is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures. Other important sites which every visitor should visit are the Stonehenge, Avebury and associated sites. This site dates back thousands of years and is believed that it was constructed by the Celts.
Scotland is renowned for a golf vacation, since nearly every city has a golf course. Scottish Castles to be visited include the Edinburgh Castle one of Scotland's oldest castles, the Palace of Holyroodhouse which today serves as the official residence of Queen Elizabeth in Scotland. An interesting village which should be visited is New Lanark, which is found on the River Clyde, where one can admire various cotton mills. There are also a group of Neolithic monuments, known as Heart of Neolithic Orkney.
In Wales castles are prominent too, where some of them were constructed by the Norman conquerors. Unfortunately many of the castles haven’t been restored, so some of them are damaged, but they could still be intriguing locations. One could see the Dolwyddelan Castle as well as the Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd where in all there are four castles related to the reign of King Edward I. These include the Beaumaris Castle which is known as the most architecturally perfect castle in Britain, the Harlech Castle which is a concentric castle known especially for its massive gatehouse; the Caernarfon and Conwy Castle which were constructed by King Edward I of England in 1283.
Czech Republic
While mentioning the various attractions in Europe the Czech Republic, which has a rich history and alluring culture, is definitely a place that attracts tourists. This country offers beautiful landscapes where hills, mountains and rivers abound, but it also offers architectural wonders which are found in the cities, especially in the capital city Prague.
While in Prague views of delightful church spires, breathtaking cathedrals, shimmering golden towers, and some of the most beautiful bridges can be enjoyed by everyone. Other places not to miss include the Old Town and the Prague Castle which is known to be one of the biggest castles in the world. It is surely worth visiting this beautiful country and enjoy all the beautiful sceneries that it offers.
Portugal
While visiting Portugal a number of historical sites can be enjoyed, such as the historic center of Oporto, Guimarães and Évora. The Rock Art found in the Côa valley consist mainly of animal representations but there are also human representations and abstract depictions. There are also various monasteries, such as the Batalha Monastery which is one of the best examples of late Gothic architecture, the Hieronymites Monastery which is considered as one of the most prominent monuments in Lisbon, the Alcobaça Monastery which was one of the first gothic buildings in Portugal.
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