Reality or a figment of the imagination?
Encompassing a stunning collection of monuments and verdant parks, the hills surrounding Sintra near Lisbon blend the fantastic with the palatial. Once a favorite summer destination for Portugal's monarchs, Sintra today still exudes a romantic air with its grand palaces, castle, historic estates, and landscaped gardens.
Located north of Naples, Caserta Royal Palace is one of the largest royal residences in the world. Dating back to the 18th century, the building is considered a triumph of Italian Baroque. Its palatial dimensions are accentuated by the broad sweep of its grounds and the stunning vista afforded by a long alley with artificial fountains and cascades. See for yourself and admire the views.
The principal royal residence of France from 1682 until the start of the French Revolution in 1789, Versailles is one of the greatest achievements of French 17th-century art. Allow yourself a whole day to discover this magnificent building.
During the 17th century the forests of North Zealand, also known as North Sealand, served as fertile hunting grounds for Danish royalty. Their preferred method was par force, otherwise known as hunting with hounds, considered the purest and noblest form of hunting. Today you can roam the trails the monarchs followed, and imagine the barking hounds running ahead to flush out their quarry. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)
Once the principal residence of the bishops and archbishops of Olomouc, who in the mid-18th century were known as the princes of Moravia, Kroměříž Castle stands as a fine example of a aristocratic residence. However, it is the rare and largely intact Baroque gardens that dazzle. Visit in summer and the grounds are carpeted with bright and vivid flora.
Located on the banks of the Tagus River south of Madrid, the Aranjuez region became one of the royal estates of the Spanish Crown in the late 15th century. Surrounding the Royal Palace are vast gardens, the site of Europe's most important collection of cultivated trees. Wander the palace before discovering the gardens, each one uniquely designed and exuding a scenic character all of its own.
The parks and palaces complex of Potsdam covers 150 buildings constructed between 1730 and 1916. That's nearly 200 years' worth of architectural history to immerse yourself in. Masterpieces include the remarkable Sanssouci Palace and its terraced garden, and the impressive New Palace (pictured).
As well as showcasing one of the largest living collections of plants and fungi in the world, Kew is an internationally renowned botanical research and education institution. The world's largest Victorian glasshouse, The Temperate House (pictured), is located here. Another popular visitor attraction is the one-of-a-kind treetop walkway, which meanders its way through the canopy of a woodland glade.
Spend a day or so exploring Trier, set on the banks of the Moselle and one of Germany's oldest cities. Its architectural achievements include the colossal Porta Nigra (pictured), the largest Roman gate north of the Alps. Trier is also celebrated for the imposing Cathedral of St. Peter and the equally impressive Church of Our Lady, both dating back to the 13th century. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games, which took place here every four years from 776 BCE to 393 CE, this stunning archaeological site needs to be explored at leisure in order to appreciate the tangible sense of Classical antiquity pervading through the ancient ruins of this extraordinary sporting venue. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0)
The ancient Roman city of Aquileia surprises at every turn. As one of the biggest, liveliest, and most important hubs of the Roman Empire, Aquileia was a second century megacity. The standout visitor attraction is the 11th-century basilica, the roof of which covers a stunning mosaic pavement laid in the fourth century. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Paphos Archaeological Park covers most of the ancient Greek and Roman city that in its day was one of the most important destinations in the region. The outstanding ancient remains include vestiges of elaborate Roman villas and the fabulous Nea Paphos mosaics (pictured)—among the most beautiful in the world.
You cant' miss the fortified medieval towers of Gimignano, which loom over the terra-cotta rooftops of this Tuscan town. In all, 13 towers remain from the 11th and 13th centuries, which served as landmarks for pilgrims seeking rest and shelter in the Middle Ages. Today, these towering monuments with their lofty viewpoints provide visitors with jaw-dropping panoramas of the surrounding countryside.
The Wachau is a beautiful valley of vineyards, abbeys, and castles that faces the Danube River between Melk and Krems. The landscape appears much as it did in medieval times, and has inspired romantic legends for centuries. Stroll through Wachau's attractive villages before taking to the river for a sightseeing voyage.
Few European cities match the romantic splendor of Bruges. A busy trading port from the 12th to the 15th centuries, Bruges is still known as the Venice of the North for its maze of canals that meander under some of the finest Gothic architecture found anywhere on the continent. The medieval city center is best explored by foot before taking to the water for a rewarding canal cruise.
The Old Town of Vilnius is made up of an eye-catching collection of Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical buildings, and bristles with decorative church spires. For a wider perspective, climb to the top of Gediminas' Tower and marvel at the city's romantic Bohemian skyline.
Valtice Castel (pictured) is one of the most impressive Baroque residences of Central Europe. It's also one of the many architectural wonders included in the Lednice-Valtice cultural landscape found in this part of the Czech Republic. After visiting Valtice, head over to the castle at Lednice for a tour of the fabulous furniture and art it holds.
Immerse yourself in the heart of the medieval holy Roman Empire by exploring the pictorial canvas that is the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. This is one of Europe's most renowned romantic landscapes, a panorama painted with picturesque castles and charming riverside towns.
One of France's most recognized landmarks, the medieval abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel crowns an island off the Normandy coast. As well as serving as a monastery, the building was also used as a prison. The town below the monument is always worth exploring for its cafés, restaurants, and shops.
Amazing in its architectural complexity and the fact that it's still standing after nearly 2,000 years, Pont du Gard is an ancient Roman aqueduct bridge of exceptional grandeur. A technical and artistic masterpiece, the three-tiered structure is one of the best preserved of its kind in the world. It crosses the Gardon river near the town of Vers-Pont-du-Gard, in southern France.
Nessebar, an ancient peninsula town moored off the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, is essentially a city-museum defined by more than three millennia of ever-changing history. The most rewarding way of exploring its maze of narrow cobblestone streets is to imagine yourself as a sixth-century trader seeking out one of the many merchants' stores that would have lined the streets of what is now Nessebar's Old Town district.
The ruins of the theater at Epidaurus serve as a suitably historic focal point for any visit to this impressive archaeological site, located on the Argolid Peninsula. Epidaurus was the most renowned healing center in the Classical world, and a sacred place for ceremonial medical practices as far back as the second century BCE. This is the birthplace of modern medicine, and from where the word "epidural" originates.
The Stari Grad Plain, a agricultural landscape that was set up by the ancient Greek colonists in the fourth century BCE, stretches away inland from the picturesque town of Stari Grad (pictured). The land, still in use today, features a verdant canvas of rolling hills embroidered with vineyards and olive groves. The plain is rewarding hiking territory, and after a long walk why not retreat to one of the many bars and restaurants set on Stari Grad's inviting harbor front?
The mighty Zollverein coal mine was once the world's largest and most advanced coal mining facility. Founded in 1847, Zollverein at its peak employed 8,000 miners, who worked day and night above and below ground. Decommissioned in 1986, the complex today is considered a triumph of modern industrial architecture. Guided tours take you through the now silent cocking plant past original machinery and snake-like conveyor belts.
Tokaj wine has long enjoyed a reputation as one of the world's finest varieties of wine. It's certainly one of Hungary's most esteemed labels. It's produced in a region in the northeast of the country, an area nestling at the foothills of the Zemplén Mountains. Here, a vast system of cellars was carved out of solid rock between 1400 and 1600 CE, and they are still in use today. Venture underground and tour this amazing subterranean depository before sampling a glass or two yourself.
The fairy-tale town of Banská Štiavnica is a completely preserved medieval mining town. Its attractive architectural wealth is a direct result of the valuable metals that were hauled up from the ground over several centuries. It is literally a place built on gold and silver.
Poland's famous salt mines, Wieliczka and Bochnia, were worked continuously from the 13th century until the late 20th century. Wieliczka lies 64 m (210 ft) below the ground and is where you'll find the Chapel of Saint Kinga, an enormous hall lit by chandeliers that took three men 67 years to carve and decorate. Lesser-known Bochnia features an underground train system and the world's only ferry crossing of a flooded underground chamber.
Rammelsberg Mountain, located south of the historic town of Goslar, is the location of an important silver, copper, and lead mine that was worked continuously. The wealth it created helped shape the town and, indeed, went a good deal in creating today's Germany. Closed in 1988, visitors can explore the site, which has been authentically preserved.
The Nord-Pas de Calais Mining Basin is a cultural landscape that serves as a reminder of the three centuries of coal mining that defined the social and industrial heritage of this corner of northern France. Mining pits, coal transport infrastructure, and entire villages have been preserved. So, too, have the enormous slag heaps (pictured). In winter, after snow, you can ski down these huge man-made mountains—the tallest slag heaps in Europe!
Symbolic of the industrial revolution that forever changed the shape of Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries, the four well-preserved sites in this coal basin in Wallonia can be visited, with a series of engaging museums helping to explain the region's coal mining history.
Falun Mine dates back over 1,000 years and was once one of the world's most fruitful mining facilities, producing as much as two thirds of Europe's copper needs. You can spend a whole day underground exploring its maze of tunnels and learning more about Falun and the technological developments at the mine, which had a profound influence on mining globally for two centuries.
Explore France's famous Champagne region by first discovering the rolling vineyards and charming villages that texture the landscape. Then head underground to walk the tunnels, some hewn during Roman times, where thousands of bottles of one of the world's most iconic beverages are stored and matured.
Sources: (History) (Britannica) (European Route of Industrial Heritage)
See also: Interesting facts about Champagne.
Embarking on a World Heritage Journey allows visitors to discover some of humanity's greatest treasures. By following UNESCO's Europe itinerary, those seeking to delve deeper into the continent's culture and history are rewarded with a collection of truly remarkable sites, arranged under the themes Royal Europe, Ancient Europe, Romantic Europe, and Underground Europe.
Click through the following gallery and get inspired for your next European trip by taking a look at these fascinating World Heritage destinations.
Built on the island of Lovön, Drottningholm Palace stands on the site of a 16th-century castle. Renovation and expansion led to what you see today, a magnificent property that served as the summer residence of the Swedish royal court for most of the 18th century. It's still used today as the private residence of the Swedish royal family, but fortunately many parts of the building are open to visitors, including the grand reception halls. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 4.0)
Tárraco was the oldest Roman settlement on the Iberian Peninsula, established in the third century BCE. Among the ancient sites and relics that fill the city is the astonishingly well-preserved ruins of Tarragona's beachside amphitheater, sited near to where the forum once stood. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 4.0)
World Heritage journeys of the European Union
Discover rewarding UNESCO-protected destinations in Europe
TRAVEL Europe
Embarking on a World Heritage Journey allows visitors to discover some of humanity's greatest treasures. By following UNESCO's Europe itinerary, those seeking to delve deeper into the continent's culture and history are rewarded with a collection of truly remarkable sites, arranged under the themes Royal Europe, Ancient Europe, Romantic Europe, and Underground Europe.
Click through the following gallery and get inspired for your next European trip by taking a look at these fascinating World Heritage destinations.