Europe Attraction, Castles & palaces, People + Religious pictures

• World

One of the world’s smallest countries lies within eastern Italy’s countryside. Visit the longstanding city-state for natural beauty, culture and food specialties.

Make your way along elegant promenades to find medieval churches, thermal spas and stunning gardens in the shadow of the Italian Alps. 

Containing parts of Limousin history from Roman times to the present, this magnificent Gothic house of worship is an important part of the skyline of Limoges.

With an opulence worthy of the former monarchs buried inside, this 15th-century chapel is the go-to spot for royal ceremonies and weddings.

Although it’s not the Auvergne region’s highest summit, this dormant lava dome is its most iconic. Join the thousands of hikers who visit every year.

Be spellbound by the scale and splendor of the Spanish Royal Family’s former official residence.

Find out why literary masters, such as Goethe and Victor Hugo, heaped praise on this remarkable, pink-hued cathedral.

One of the Costa Blanca’s finest beaches is loved by locals and vacationers alike for its soft sand, crystalline water, busy promenade and nightlife. 

Nature and technology, history, festivals and performing arts make this one of the most popular cities in Germany’s Baden-Württemberg region.

Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh, nestled between extinct volcanoes and hills, is almost fairytale in appearance, with its medieval buildings in the Old Town and the wide streets and spacious homes Georgian New Town, and the spectacular castle looking down from its cliff. Edinburgh was declared a World Heritage Site in 1995, which only begs the question: why did it take so long?

Ponds, sculptures and slides grace the leafy park near this long and innovative two-part bridge that doesn’t quite meet in the middle. 

Maze-like hedges, marble sculptures and colorful flower beds adorn this historic royal garden, where the palace’s stables and carriages once lay.

A lake and a majestic fountain are among the highlights in this urban park that stands on the site of the city’s former fortress.

Escape the city and head to one of the world’s largest urban parks, which has lakes and meadows, as well as beer gardens and a variety of interesting relics.

Visit this centerpiece of a program of new construction in Stuttgart for the architecture as well as the books contained inside.

Learn about changes in Swedish culture since the 16th century. Find historic furniture and photographs and displays about local festivals and the Sami culture.

Visit the upscale ski resorts, trek across the snow-capped mountains and learn about the mixtures of cultures in this eclectic region.

Be spellbound by the scale and splendor of the Spanish Royal Family’s former official residence.