Europe’s Must-See Landmarks
June 09, 08
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Eiffel Tower, Paris: Built in 1889 for the International Exposition, the Eiffel Tower is the most iconic symbol of Paris and is on every visitor’s must-see list. The open-lattice iron tower is the City of Light’s tallest structure, standing at 985 feet.
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Charles Bridge, Prague, Czech Republic: The historic stone bridge over Prague’s Moldau River was once a critical connection between Old Town and the Prague Castle. Now traffic consists largely of travelers from around the world who walk along the scenic structure, buy art from local vendors and take panoramic photos of one of Europe’s most beautiful cities.
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The Palace at Versailles: This sprawling regal palace was Louis XIV’s extravagant home and the seat of France’s power during the king’s reign. Now, it could take you days to wander the many rooms, salons and gardens where he held court. The palace is also a storehouse of priceless furniture and artistic masterpieces.
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Buckingham Palace: When the British royals stay in London they get cozy at their 775-room “home,” the official residence of the sovereigns since the early 1800s. Each August and September, the State Rooms – filled with paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens and Vermeer, among others – are opened to the public.
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Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, Denmark: If you ever thought amusement parks were a modern source of entertainment, check out Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens. Opened in 1843, this park expertly blends old (think wooden roller coaster) and new (the lightning-fast Demon coaster) into one venue. There’s also a large carousel and a summer concert series.
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Puerto del Sol, Madrid: The Gate of the Sun is the physical and symbolic heart of Madrid; Spaniards have gathered at this plaza for centuries. The central square sits at kilometer 0 of the Spanish road system, and is home to the city’s famous bear and madrona tree statue. If you’re lucky enough to be here on New Year’s Eve, the clock tower on the square does the official countdown for revelers.
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Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain: Architect Frank Gehry designed this museum, located in the port city of Bilbao, to resemble a ship, with its reflective titanium panels mimicking fish scales. Movie lovers might recognize the building from its cameo appearance in the opening sequence of the 1999 James Bond film, “The World Is Not Enough.”
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Hagia Sophia mosque, Istanbul, Turkey: This soaring cathedral was built in 537 A.D. at Constantinople, today’s Istanbul. In 1453, Constantinople fell to the Ottomans and the church became a mosque. Christian mosaics were revealed when the landmark became a museum in 1935.
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Notre Dame de Paris cathedral, Paris: During the 19th century, Notre Dame de Paris was in such a state of disrepair that city planners considered tearing it down. Novelist Victor Hugo, an admirer of the French Gothic structure, wrote “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” to help draw attention to the cathedral’s plight. Success of the book sparked renewed interest in the building and led to a fundraising campaign that financed the cathedral’s 1845 restoration.
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Red Square, Moscow: Domes with golden cupolas surrounded by red brick walls are at the heart of Moscow’s Kremlin. The Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed on adjacent Red Square features nine towers of different colors.
