66 Beautiful Small Cities & Towns In Europe
A
town is a settlement which is bigger than a village but smaller than a
city. Many people move from city to town or villages, as the life in the
city becomes more & more stressful. Line up here are 66 places (small cities, towns & villages) in Europe, lovely & charming.
1. Graz (Austria)
Graz Austria pano from Schlossberg [ Photo by Matthew Field / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]
Grazis
the second-largest city in Austria after Vienna and the capital of the
federal state of Styria. It has a population of 291,574 as of 2009 (of
which 255,354 have principal residence status). Graz has a long
tradition as a student city: its six universities have more than 44,000
students. Graz's "Old Town" is one of the best-preserved city centres in
Central Europe. In 1999, it was added to the UNESCO list of World
Cultural Heritage Sites. Graz was sole Cultural Capital of Europe for
2003. The city is situated on the Mur river, in the southeast of
Austria. It is approximately 200 km (120 mi) southwest of Vienna or
2.5 hours by train / 2 hours by car. The nearest larger urban center is
Maribor in Slovenia which is about 50 km (31 mi) away. Graz is the
capital and largest city in Styria, a green and heavily forested area. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
2. Salzburg (Austria)
A panorama of 4 images stitched together, showing the city of Salzburg from the top of the fortress. [ Photo by DAVID ILIFF / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Salzburg
(Austro-Bavarian: Såizburg; literally: "Salt Fortress") is the
fourth-largest city in Austria and the capital of the federal state of
Salzburg. Salzburg's "Old Town" (Altstadt) with its world famous baroque
architecture is one of the best-preserved city centres north of the
Alps, and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. The city
is noted for its Alpine setting. It is the birthplace of 18th-century
composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. In the mid-20th century, the city was
the setting for parts of the musical and film The Sound of Music, which
also features famous landmarks in Austria. With three universities,
Salzburg is filled with the liveliness of a large student population.
Salzburg is on the banks of the Salzach River, at the northern boundary
of the Alps. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
3. Bruges (Belgium)
Bruges, View from the belfry, [ Photo by Donar Reiskoffer / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Brugesis
the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the
Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the
country. Bruges has a significant economic importance thanks to its
port. At one time it was the "chief commercial city" of the world.
Bruges is also home to the College of Europe. Such wealth gave rise to
social upheavals, which were for the most part harshly contained. In
1302, however, after the Bruges Matins (the nocturnal massacre of the
French garrison in Bruges by the members of the local Flemish militia on
18 May 1302), the population joined forces with the Count of Flanders
against the French, culminating in the victory at the Battle of the
Golden Spurs, fought near Kortrijk on July 11. The statue of Jan Breydel
and Pieter de Coninck, the leaders of the uprising, can still be seen
on the Big Market square. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
4. Dinant (Belgium)
Dinant (Belgium), the citadel, the Notre-Dame collegiate church and the Meuse. [ Photo by Jean-Pol GRANDMONT / CC BY 2.0 ]Dinant
is a Walloon city and municipality located on the River Meuse in the
Belgian province of Namur, Belgium. The Dinant municipality includes the
old communes of Anseremme, Bouvignes-sur-Meuse, Dréhance, Falmagne,
Falmignoul, Foy-Notre-Dame, Furfooz, Lisogne, Sorinnes, and Thynes. The
Dinant area was already populated in Neolithic, Celtic, and Roman times.
The first mention of Dinant as a settlement dates from the 7th century,
a time at which Saint Perpete, bishop of Tongeren (with see now at
Maastricht), took Dinant as his residence and founded the church of
Saint Vincent. In 870, Charles the Bald gave part of Dinant to be
administered by the Count of Namur, the other part by the bishop of
Tongeren, then Liège. In the 11th century, the emperor Henry IV granted
several rights over Dinant to the Prince-Bishop of Liège, including
market and justice rights. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
5. Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Mostar Old Town Panorama 2007 [ Photo by Ramirez / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Mostar
is a city and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the biggest and
the most important city in the Herzegovina region and the center of the
Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation. Mostar is situated on the
Neretva river and is the fifth-largest city in the country. Mostar was
named after "the bridge keepers" (natively: mostari) who kept the Stari
Most (Old Bridge) over Neretva river. During the Ottoman era, the Old
Bridge was built and became one of the symbols of Mostar. The names of
two towns appear in medieval historical sources, along with their later
medieval territories and properties – the towns of Nebojša and Cimski
grad. In the early 15th century the late medieval župa (county) of
Večenike covered the site of present-day Mostar along the right bank of
the Neretva: Zahum, Cim, Ilići, Hraštani and Vojno. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
6. Veliko Tarnovo (Bulgaria)
Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria [ Photo by Nikola Gruev / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Veliko Tarnovo
(Bulgarian: Велико Търново, sometimes transliterated as Veliko Turnovo)
is a city in north central Bulgaria and the administrative centre of
Veliko Tarnovo Province. Often referred to as the "City of the Tsars",
Veliko Turnovo is located on the Yantra River and is famous as the
historical capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire, attracting many
tourists with its unique architecture. Veliko Tarnovo is one of the
oldest settlements in Bulgaria, having a history of more than 5
millennia, as the first traces of human presence dating from the 3rd
millennium BC are on Trapezitsa Hill. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
7. Hvar (Croatia)
View of the city of Hvar from the castle [ Photo by Ulrich Prokop Herbst / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Hvar
is a city and port on the island of Hvar, part of Split-Dalmatia
County, Croatia. The municipality has a population of 4,138 (2001) while
the city itself is inhabited by 3,672 people, making it the largest
settlement on the island of Hvar. It is situated on a bay in the south
coast of the island, opposite from the other nearby towns of Stari Grad
and Jelsa. Hvar Town is encircled on its land-side by protective walls,
and overlooked by two massive fortresses set on the hills above. The
fortifications were commissioned by the Venetians in 1278, to create a
safe haven for their fleet, and have been expanded in the centuries
since. Within the walls, the public buildings and palaces combine
Venetian architectural style, with a distinct local flavour in materials
and workmanship. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
8. Poreč (Croatia)
Poreč – panorama from the Euphrasian Basilica, Croatia [ Photo by Sl-Ziga / public domain ]Poreč
(Italian: Parenzo; Latin: Parens or Parentium; archaic German: Parenz;
Ancient Greek: Pàrenthos, Παρενθος) is a town and municipality on the
western coast of the Istrian peninsula, in Istria County, Croatia. Its
major landmark is the 6th century Euphrasian Basilica, a UNESCO World
Heritage Site since 1997. Poreč is almost 2,000 years old, and is set
around a harbor protected from the sea by the small island of Sveti
Nikola (St. Nicholas). The town's population of approximately 12,000
resides mostly on the outskirts, while the wider Poreč area has a
population of approximately 17,000 inhabitants. The municipal area
covers 142 km², with the 37 km long shoreline stretching from the Mirna
River near Novigrad to Funtana and Vrsar in the south. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
9. Rovinj (Croatia)
View to Rovinj from Campanile of Sv. Eufemija church. (Croatia) [ Photo by László Szalai (Beyond silence) / public domain ]Rovinj
(Istriot: Ruvèigno or Ruveîgno; Italian: Rovigno) is a city in Croatia
situated on the north Adriatic Sea with a population of 13,562 (2007).
It is located on the western coast of the Istrian peninsula and is a
popular tourist resort and an active fishing port. Istriot, a Romance
language once widely spoken in this part of Istria, is still spoken by
part of the residents (also called Rovignese by those who speak it
here). There is a centre of History Research which is an institution of
the Council of Europe. Rovinj is one of nine towns in Istrian County.
The climate is Mediterranean. The average temperature is 4.8 °C
(40.6 °F) in January and 22.3 °C (72.1 °F) in July. The average annual
temperature is 16 °C (60.8 °F). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
10. Trogir (Croatia)
Trogir (Croatia) skyline. [ Photo by SelfQ / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Trogir
(Italian & Dalmatian: Traù, Latin: Tragurium, Greek: Τρογκίρ,
Trogkir, Hungarian: Trau) is a historic town and harbour on the Adriatic
coast in Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia, with a population of 12,995
(2001) and a total municipality population of 13,322 (2001). The
historic city of Trogir is situated on a small island between the
Croatian mainland and the island of Čiovo. It lies 27 kilometres west of
the city of Split. In the 3rd century BC, Tragurion was founded by
Greek colonists from the island of Vis, and it developed into a major
port until the Roman period. The sudden prosperity of Salona deprived
Trogir of its importance. During the migration of Slavs the citizens of
the destroyed Salona escaped to Trogir. From the 9th century on, Trogir
paid tribute to Croatian rulers. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
11. Zadar (Croatia)
Zadar
is a city in Croatia on the Adriatic Sea. It is the centre of Zadar
county and the wider northern Dalmatian region. Zadar faces the islands
of Ugljan and Pašman, from which it is separated by the narrow Zadar
Strait. The promontory on which the old city stands used to be separated
from the mainland by a deep moat which has since become a landfill. The
harbor, to the north-east of the town, is safe and spacious. Zadar is
the seat of a Catholic archbishop. The people of Zadar, the Iadasinoi
were first mentioned in 384 BC as the allies of the Hvar indigenes and
the leaders of an eastern Adriatic coast coalition in fight against the
Greek colonizers. An expedition of 10.000 men in 300 ships sailed out
from Zadar and laid siege of Greek colony Pharos in the island of Hvar,
but the Syracusan fleet of Dionysus was informed and attacked the siege
fleet. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
12. Český Krumlov (Czech Republic)
Cesky Krumlov [ Photo by Rubel / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Český
Krumlov; German: Krummau an der Moldau or Böhmisch Krummau; Krumau
variant is used sometimes; Latin: Crumlaw) is a small city in the South
Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, best known for the fine
architecture and art of the historic old town and Český Krumlov Castle.
Old Český Krumlov is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was given this
status along with the historic Prague castle district. The city is named
Český Krumlov ("Bohemian Krumlov") to differentiate it from Moravský
Krumlov ("Moravian Krumlov") in the southeast of the country.
Construction of the town and castle began in the late 13th century at a
ford in the Vltava River, which was important in trade routes in
Bohemia. In 1302 the town and castle were owned by the House of
Rosenberg. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
13. Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic)
Panoramic photo of Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. [ Photo by Bobak Ha'Eri / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Karlovy Vary;
German: Karlsbad, also known in English as Carlsbad) is a spa city
situated in western Bohemia, Czech Republic, on the confluence of the
rivers Ohře and Teplá, approximately 130 km (80.78 miles) west of
Prague. It is named after King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor Charles
IV, who founded the city in 1370. It is historically famous for its hot
springs (13 main springs, about 300 smaller springs, and the warm-water
Teplá River). In the 19th century, it became a popular tourist
destination, especially for international celebrities visiting for spa
treatment. The city is also known for the Karlovy Vary International
Film Festival and the popular Czech liqueur Karlovarská Becherovka. The
glass manufacturer Moser Glass is located in Carlsbad. The city has also
given its name to the famous delicacy known as "Carlsbad plums". (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
14. Ambleside (England)
The main road (Rydal Rd) through Ambleside in the Lake District, Cumbria, England. [ Photo by DAVID ILIFF / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Ambleside
is a town in Cumbria, in North West England. Historically within the
county of Westmorland, it is situated at the head of Windermere,
England's largest lake. The town is within the Lake District National
Park. Steamers (in reality diesel-powered ferries) run to
Bowness-on-Windermere and Lakeside offering fine views of the lake and
surrounding mountains. Ambleside is a base for hiking, mountaineering
and mountain biking. It has a selection of shops, hotels, guest houses,
pubs and restaurants. In 1650 the town was granted a charter to hold a
market and later, in the reign of James II, another charter was granted
for the town to collect tolls. Ambleside is administered by South
Lakeland District Council and forms part of the Lakes civil parish but
from 1894 to 1935 it was a separate urban district council. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
15. Chipping Campden (England)
Chipping Campden
is a small market town within the Cotswold district of Gloucestershire,
England. It is notable for its elegant terraced High Street, dating
from the 14th century to the 17th century. ("Chipping" is from Old
English cēping, "a market, a market-place"; the same element is found in
other towns such as Chipping Norton, Chipping Sodbury and Chipping (now
High) Wycombe.) A rich wool trading centre in the Middle Ages, Chipping
Campden enjoyed the patronage of wealthy wool merchants (see also wool
church). Today it is a popular Cotswold tourist destination with old
inns, hotels, specialist shops and restaurants. The High Street is lined
with honey-coloured limestone buildings, built from the mellow locally
quarried oolitic limestone known as Cotswold stone, and boasts a wealth
of fine vernacular architecture. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
16. Clovelly (England)
Clovelly
is a village on the north Devon coast, England, about twelve miles west
of Bideford. It is a major tourist attraction, famous for its history
and beauty, its extremely steep car-free cobbled main street, donkeys,
and its location looking out over the Bristol Channel. [ Photo by Smtunli / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Clovelly
is a village on the North Devon coast, England, about 12 miles west of
Bideford. It is a major tourist attraction, famous for its history and
beauty, its extremely steep car-free cobbled main street, donkeys, and
its location looking out over the Bristol Channel. Thick woods shelter
it and render the climate so mild that even tender plants flourish. As
of the 2001 Census, Clovelly had a total population of 1,616. The
village itself is not accessible by motor vehicle and space at the
harbour is extremely limited. Visitors usually park in a municipal car
park above the town, at the end of the B3237 road; service buses make
calls at the car park also. There is a visitor centre (consisting of a
barrier to the village, a cafe and gift and guidebook shop) at the car
park and a number of tourist-oriented shop units. Visitors can enter the
village through the visitor centre. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
17. Painswick (England)
Painswick, Gloucestershire from Longridge [ Photo by Jongleur100 / public domain ]Painswick
is a small town in Gloucestershire, England. Originally the town grew
on the wool trade, but it is now best known for its parish church's yew
trees and the local Rococo Garden. The town is mainly constructed of
locally quarried Cotswold stone. Many of the buildings feature
south-facing attic rooms once used as weavers' workshops. Geographically
Painswick is situated on a hill in the Stroud district, overlooking the
Stroud valleys. Its narrow streets and traditional architecture make it
the epitome of an English village. There is a golf course near
Painswick Beacon. There is evidence of settlement in the area as long
ago as the Iron Age. This can be seen in the defensive earthworks atop
nearby Painswick Beacon, which has wide views across the Severn Vale.
The local monastery, Prinknash Abbey, was established as long ago as the
11th century. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
18. Salisbury (England)
Salisbury street, Wiltshire, England [ Photo by Bernard Gagnon / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Salisburyis
a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England. It has also been called New
Sarum to distinguish it from the original site of settlement to the
north of the city at Old Sarum, but this alternative name is not in
common use. Similarly, a native of Salisbury may be known as a
"Sarumite", but this term is also not commonly used. In 1990 Salisbury
was twinned with Saintes in France, in 2006 with Xanten in Germany, and
then in 2008 with the American cities of Salisbury, North Carolina and
Salisbury, Maryland. The cathedral is built on a gravel bed with
unusually shallow foundations of 18 inches (46 cm) upon wooden faggots:
the site is supposed to have been selected by shooting an arrow from Old
Sarum, although this can only be legend as the distance is over
3 kilometres (1.9 mi). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
19. Winchester (England)
Winchester, Hampshire from St Giles' Hill [ Photo by Christophe.Finot / CC BY-SA 2.5 ]Winchester
is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. It lies at the
heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and
is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of
the River Itchen. At the time of the 2001 Census, Winchester had a
population of 41,420. Settlement in the area dates back to pre-Roman
times, with an Iron Age enclosure or valley fort, Oram's Arbour, on the
western side of the present-day city. After the Roman conquest of
Britain the civitas, then named Venta Belgarum or "Market of the
Belgae", was of considerable importance. Winchester Cathedral, the
longest cathedral in Europe, was originally built in 1079. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
20. York (England)
The Shambles, a street in York, England. [ Photo by Daveahern / public domain ]York
is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and
Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has
provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its
two millennia of existence. The toponymy of Eboracum is uncertain
because the language of the pre-Roman indigenous population of the area
was never recorded. These people are thought to have spoken a Celtic
language, related to modern Welsh. Therefore, it is thought that
Eboracum is derived from the Brythonic word Eborakon meaning either
"place of the yew trees" (cf. yew = efrog in Welsh, eabhrac in Irish
Gaelic and eabhraig in Scottish Gaelic, by which names the city is known
in those languages) or perhaps "field of Eboras". The Emperors Hadrian,
Septimius Severus and Constantius I all held court in York during their
various campaigns. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
21. Bayeux (France)
Near the Centre Guillaume le Conquérant [ Photo by Michael Shade / public domain ]Bayeux
is located seven kilometres from the coast of La Manche (English
Channel) and 30 km north-west of Caen. The city, with elevations varying
from 32 to 67 meters above sea level – with an average of 46 meters
above sea level – is bisected by the river Aure. Bayeux is located at
the crossroads of RN 13 and the train route Paris-Caen-Cherbourg. The
city is the capital of the Bessin, which extends north-west of Calvados.
The city was known as Augustodurum in the Roman Empire. It means the
durum (Celtic word duro- 'door', 'gate', Welsh dor, Breton dor 'door',
'gate') dedicated to Augustus, Roman Emperor. The Celtic word duron,
latinized in durum was probably used to translate the Latin word forum
(Compare Fréjus Forum Julii, dedicated to Julius (Caesar)). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
22. Collioure (France)
Collioure [ Photo by david.nikonvscanon / CC BY 2.0 ]Collioure
AOC is also the name of a fine full-bodied red wine made of grenache
and mourvedre grapes, produced here in one of the smallest AOC vineyards
in France. The ancient terraced vines in the hills behind the town also
provide tiny sunbaked grapes for the famous Banyuls (Banyuls AOC)
aperitif and desert wine. As the town has a strong Catalan culture, its
own motto has been adopted by one of the local Catalan rugby team (USA
Perpignan, France): Sempre endavant, mai morirem (Always forward, We'll
never die). Under Michel Moly's leadership, the town has an alternative
motto, Collioure sera toujours Collioure (Collioure shall always be
Collioure) quoting French singer Maurice Chevalier's famous song titled
Paris sera toujours Paris. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
23. Colmar (France)
Old houses at the square next to the Koifhus in Colmar. [ Photo by Gryffindor / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]In 2006, the city of Colmar
had a population of 65,713 and the metropolitan area of Colmar had a
population of 120,367. Colmar is the center of the arrondissement of
Colmar, which has 144,700 inhabitants in 2006. Colmar is the home town
of the painter and engraver Martin Schongauer and the sculptor Frédéric
Bartholdi, who designed the Statue of Liberty. The city is renowned for
its well preserved old town, its numerous architectural landmarks and
its museums, among which the Unterlinden Museum. Colmar was founded in
the 9th century. This was the location where Charles the Fat held a diet
in 884. Colmar was granted the status of a free imperial city of the
Holy Roman Empire in 1226. During the Thirty Years' War, the city was
taken by the armies of Sweden in 1632, who held it for two years. The
city was conquered by France under Louis XIV in 1697. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
24. Èze (France)
French village of Eze from the Grand Corniche. [ Photo by Jimi magic / public domain ]The
area surrounding Èze was first populated around 2000 BC as a commune
situated near Mount Bastide. The earliest occurrence of the name "Èze"
can be found in the maritime books of Antonin as a bay called the St.
Laurent of Èze. The area was subsequently occupied by not only the
Romans but also the Moors who held the area for approximately 80 years
until they were driven out by William of Provence in 973. By 1388 Èze
fell under the jurisdiction of the House of Savoy, who built up the town
as a fortified stronghold because of its proximity to Nice. The history
of Èze became turbulant several times in the next few centuries as
French and Turkish troops seized the village under orders from
Barbarossa in 1543, and Louis the XIV destroyed the walls surrounding
the city in 1706 in the war of succession of Spain. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
25. Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Germany)
Garmisch-Partenkirchen with the mountains Alpspitze, Zugspitze and Daniel in the background [ Photo by PatrickScales / CC BY 3.0 ]Garmisch-Partenkirchen
is a resort town in Bavaria, southern Germany. It is the administrative
centre of the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in the Oberbayern
region, not far from the border with Austria. Partenkirchen originated
as the Roman town of Partanum on the trade route from Venice to Augsburg
and is first mentioned in the year A.D. 15. Its main street,
Ludwigsstrasse, follows the original Roman road. Garmisch is first
mentioned some 800 years later as Germaneskau ("German District"),
suggesting that at some point a Teutonic tribe took up settlement in the
western end of the valley. The valley came under the rule of the Bishop
of Freising and was governed by a bishop's representative known as a
Pfleger (caretaker or warden) from Werdenfels Castle on a cliff north of
Garmisch. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
26. Heidelberg (Germany)
View of Heidelberg with the Heidelberg Castle on hill and the Old Bridge over river Neckar [ Photo by Christian Bienia / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Heidelberg
is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. As of 2008, over 145,000
people live within the city's 109 square kilometres (42 sq mi) area.
Heidelberg is a unitary authority. The Rhein-Neckar-Kreis rural district
surrounds and has its seat in the city, but the city is not a part of
the district. Heidelberg lies on the river Neckar at the point where it
leaves its narrow, steep valley in the Odenwald to flow into the Rhine
valley. 20 kilometres (12 mi) northwest of Heidelberg, it joins the
river Rhine at Mannheim. Heidelberg is part of a densely populated
region known as the Rhine-Neckar Metropolitan Region. In the 5th century
BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of worship were built on the
Heiligenberg, or "Mountain of Saints". Both places can still be
identified. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
27. Meissen (Germany)
Meißen: Burgberg mit Albrechtsburg und Dom [ Photo by Leander Wattig / CC BY 2.0 ]Meissen
(in German orthography: Meißen; Sorbian: Mišno; Latin: Misena, Misnia,
Misnensium) is a town of approximately 30,000 about 25 km (16 mi)
northwest of Dresden on both banks of the Elbe river in the Free State
of Saxony, in eastern Germany. Meissen is the home of Meissen porcelain,
the Albrechtsburg castle, the Gothic Meissen Cathedral and the Meissen
Frauenkirche. The Große Kreisstadt is the capital of the Meissen
district. Meissen is sometimes known as the "cradle of Saxony". The city
grew out of the early Slavic settlement of Misni inhabited by the
Glomacze tribe and was founded as a German town by King Henry the Fowler
in 929. In 968, the Diocese of Meissen was founded, and Meissen became
the episcopal see of a bishop. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
28. Passau (Germany)
Passau, Innpromenade [ Photo by Aconcagua / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Passau
(Latin: Batavis or Batavia, also Passavium; Italian: Passavia; Czech:
Pasov, Slovene: Pasav ) is a town in Lower Bavaria, Germany, known also
as the Dreiflüssestadt (City of Three Rivers), because the Danube is
joined there by the Inn from the South, and the Ilz coming out of the
Bavarian Forest to the North. Its population is 50,415, of whom about
10,000 are students at the local University of Passau. The university,
founded in the late 1970s, is the extension of the Institute for
Catholic Studies (Katholisch-Theologische Fakultät) founded in 1622. It
is renowned in Germany for its institutes of Economics, Law, Theology,
Computer Sciences and Cultural Science. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
29. Rothenburg ob der Tauber (Germany)
Rothenburg
ob der Tauber, the place is called Plönlein a former marketplace, on
the left side the Siebers-gate on the right the Kobolzeller-gate. [
Photo by Berthold Werner / public domain ]Rothenburg ob der Tauberis
a town in the district of Ansbach of Mittelfranken (Middle Franconia),
the Franconia region of Bavaria, Germany, well known for its
well-preserved medieval old town, a destination for tourists from around
the world. In the Middle Ages, it was an Imperial Free City. A
significant fraction of Rothenburg is car-free. The name "Rothenburg ob
der Tauber" means, in German, "Red fortress above the Tauber". This is
so because the town is located on a plateau overlooking the Tauber
river. As to the name "Rothenburg", some say it comes from the German
words Rot (Red) and Burg (burg, medieval fortified town), referring to
the red colour of the roofs of the houses which overlook the river. The
name may also refer to the process of retting ("rotten" in German) flax
for linen production. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
30. Zwickau (Germany)
the main market (Hauptmarkt) of Zwickau (Saxony, Germany). [ Photo by André Karwath aka / CC BY-SA 2.5 ]Zwickau/Saxonyin
Germany, former seat of the government from south-western region at
Free State of Saxony, belongs to an industrial and economical core
region. Nowadays it is the capital city of country district Zwickau. The
city is situated in a valley at the foot of Erzgebirge and also part of
the so called Saxon triangle metropolitan area, a network of economical
relations with Leipzig-Halle, Dresden. The city counts slightly below
100,000 inhabitants, has a regional catchment for over 480,000 people.
Zwickau, also known as city of Automobiles and Robert Schumann, is the
cradle of Saxon automotive industry with an over one hundred years old
tradition. The city has a long and glorious history in automotive
development and in automobile industry along with Auto Union. Well known
over Germanys border are trademarks as Horch, Audi, Sachsenring and
Volkswagen. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
31. Lindos (Greece)
Lindos in Rhodos. [ Photo by Böhringer Friedrich / CC BY-SA 2.5 ]Lindos
(in Greek: Λίνδος) is a town and an archaeological site on the east
coast of the Greek island of Rhodes, in the Dodecanese in southeastern
Aegean Sea. It is about 55 km south of the town of Rhodes and its fine
beaches make it a popular tourist and holiday destination. Lindos is
situated in a large bay and faces the fishing village and small resort
of Haraki. Above the modern town rises the acropolis of Lindos, a
natural citadel which was fortified successively by the Greeks, by the
Romans, the Byzantines, the Knights of St John and the Ottomans. This
makes the site difficult to excavate and interpret archaeologically. The
acropolis offers spectacular views of the surrounding harbours and
coastline. Lindos was founded by the Dorians led by the king Tlepolemus
of Rhodes, who arrived in about the 10th century BC. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
32. Mykonos (Greece)
Mykonos, little venice [ Photo by sailko / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Mykonos
(Greek: Μύκονος) is a Greek island and a top tourist destination,
renowned for its cosmopolitan character and its intense nightlife. The
island is part of the Cyclades, lying between Tinos, Syros, Paros and
Naxos. It spans an area of 105.183 km2 (41 sq mi) and rises at an
elevation of 341 m (1,119 ft) at its highest point. The island is
composed primarily of granite. It has little natural fresh water and
relies on the desalination of sea water in order to meet its needs.
There are 9,320 inhabitants (2001) most of whom live in the largest
town, Mykonos, also known as Chora (i.e. the Town in Greek, a common
denomination in Greece when the name of the island itself is the same as
the name of the principal town), which lies on the west coast. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
33. Eger (Hungary)
Eger [ Photo by uzo19 / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Eger
(German: Erlau) is a city in northern Hungary, the county seat of
Heves, east of the Mátra Mountains. Eger is best known for its castle,
thermal baths, historic buildings (including the northernmost Turkish
minaret), and red and white wines. Eger has been inhabited since the
Stone Age. Today's Eger was formed in the 10th century by St. Stephen
(997–1038), the first Christian king of Hungary, who founded an
episcopal see in Eger. The first cathedral of Eger was built on Castle
Hill, within the present site of Eger Castle. Eger grew up around its
former cathedral and has remained an important religious centre in
Hungary since its foundation. The 14th-16th centuries were an age of
prosperity for Eger. Winegrowing, for which the town is still famous
for, began to be important around that time. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
34. Dingle (Ireland)
Dingle Ireland [ Photo by Riss Hamer0 / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Dingle
(Irish: An Daingean or Daingean Uí Chúis, meaning Fort or "O'Cuis'
Fort") is a town in County Kerry in Ireland on the Atlantic coast
approximately 49 kilometres (30 mi) south-west of Tralee and
71 kilometres (40 mi) north-west of Killarney. The only town on the
Dingle Peninsula, it is situated on a natural harbour below Slievanea
mountain. Principal industries in the town are tourism, fishing and
agriculture: Dingle Mart (livestock market) serves the surrounding
countryside. In 2006 Dingle had a population of 1,920. Dingle is
situated in a Gaeltacht region. The town was developed as a port
following the Norman invasion of Ireland. By the thirteenth century more
goods were being exported through Dingle than Limerick, and in 1257 an
ordinance of Henry III imposed customs on the port's exports. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
35. Cinque Terre (Italy)
Italy.Cinque.Terre.Manarola [ Photo by Casey Muller / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]The Cinque Terre
is a rugged portion of coast on the Italian Riviera. It is in the
Liguria region of Italy, to the west of the city of La Spezia. "The Five
Lands" comprises five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza,
Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. The Cinque Terre is noted for its
beauty. Over centuries, people have carefully built terraces on the
rugged, steep landscape right up to the cliffs that overlook the sea.
Part of its charm is the lack of visible "modern" development. Paths,
trains and boats connect the villages, and cars cannot reach it from the
outside. It is a very popular tourist destination. In 1998 the Italian
Ministry for the Environment set up the Protected natural marine area
Cinque Terre to protect the natural environment and to promote
socio-economical development compatible with the natural landscape of
the area. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
36. Lucca (Italy)
panorama of the Piazza Anfiteatro in Lucca, Italy. [ Photo by H005 / public domain ]Lucca
listen is a city and comune in Tuscany, central Italy, situated on the
river Serchio in a fertile plain near (but not on) the Ligurian Sea. It
is the capital city of the Province of Lucca. Among other reasons, it is
famous for its intact Renaissance-era city walls. Lucca was founded by
the Etruscans (there are traces of a pre-existing Ligurian settlement)
and became a Roman colony in 180 BC. The rectangular grid of its
historical centre preserves the Roman street plan, and the Piazza San
Michele occupies the site of the ancient forum. Traces of the
amphitheatre can still be seen in the Piazza dell'Anfiteatro. Lucca was
the site of a conference in 56 BC which reaffirmed the superiority of
the Roman First Triumvirate. Frediano, an Irish monk, was bishop of
Lucca in the early 5th century. At one point, Lucca was plundered by
Odoacer, the first Germanic King of Italy. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
37. Portofino (Italy)
Panorama of Portofino [ Photo by Andi Buchner / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Portofino
(Ligurian: Portofin) is a small Italian fishing village, comune and
tourist resort located in the province of Genoa on the Italian Riviera.
The town crowded round its small harbour is considered to be among the
most beautiful Mediterranean ports. According to Pliny the Elder,
Portofino was founded by the Romans and named Portus Delphini, or Port
of the Dolphin, because of the large number of dolphins that inhabited
the Tigullian Gulf. The village is mentioned in a diploma from 986 by
Adelaide of Italy, which assigned it to the nearby Abbey of San Fruttoso
di Capodimonte. In 1171, together with the neighbouring Santa
Margherita Ligure, it was included in Rapallo's commune jurisdiction.
After 1229 it was part of the Republic of Genoa. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
38. Positano (Italy)
View from the roadway that leads down and into the town of Positano in Campania, Italy. [ Photo by Matt c j486 / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Positano
is a small town and comune on the Amalfi Coast (Costiera Amalfitana),
in Campania, Italy. The main part of the city sits in an enclave in the
hills leading down to the coast. Positano was a port of the Amalfi
Republic in medieval times, and prospered in the 16th and 17th
centuries. But by the mid-19th century, the town had fallen on hard
times. More than half the population emigrated, mostly to Australia.
Positano's roads were made also made into a fictional racing track and
imported into the driving simulator Forza Motorsport 3 by Turn 10
Positano was a relatively poor fishing village during the first half of
the 20th century. It began to attract large numbers of tourists in the
1950s, especially after John Steinbeck published his essay about
Positano in Harper's Bazaar in May, 1953: "Positano bites deep",
Steinbeck wrote. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
39. San Gimignano (Italy)
San Gimignano, Tuscany, Italy. Panorama seen eastward, from the top of the tower of the Palazzo del Popolo. [ Photo by Tango7174 / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]San Gimignano
is a small walled medieval hill town in the province of Siena, Tuscany,
north-central Italy. It is mainly famous for its medieval architecture,
especially its towers, which may be seen from several kilometers
outside the town. San Gimignano was founded as a small village in the
3rd century BC by the Etruscans. Historical records begin in the 10th
century, when it adopted the name of the bishop Saint Geminianus, who
had defended it from Attila's Huns. In the Middle Ages and Renaissance
era, it was a stopping point for Catholic pilgrims on their way to Rome
and the Vatican, as it sits on the medieval Via Francigena. The city's
development also was improved by the trade of agricultural products from
the fertile neighbouring hills. In 1199, during the period of its
highest splendour, the city made itself independent from the bishops of
Volterra. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
40. Siena (Italy)
Piazza del Campo in Siena [ Photo by Massimo Catarinella / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]The historic centre of Siena
has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the
nation's most visited tourist attractions, with over 169,000
international arrivals in 2008. Siena is famous for its cuisine, art,
museums, medieval cityscape and the palio. Siena, like other Tuscan hill
towns, was first settled in the time of the Etruscans (c. 900 BC to 400
BC) when it was inhabited by a tribe called the Saina. The Etruscans
were an advanced people who changed the face of central Italy through
their use of irrigation to reclaim previously unfarmable land, and their
custom of building their settlements in well-defended hill-forts. A
Roman town called Saena Julia was founded at the site in the time of the
Emperor Augustus. The first document mentioning it dates from AD 70. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
41. Vilnius Old Town (Lithuania)
Panorama of Vilnius (Lithuania). [ Photo by Jan Mehlich / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]The
Old Town of Vilnius (Lithuanian: Vilniaus senamiestis), one of the
largest surviving medieval old towns in Northern Europe, has an area of
3.59 square kilometres (887 acres). It encompasses 74 quarters, with 70
streets and lanes numbering 1487 buildings with a total floor area of
1,497,000 square meters. The oldest part of the Lithuanian capital of
Vilnius, it has developed over the course of many centuries, and has
been shaped by the city's history and a constantly changing cultural
influence. It is a place where some of Europe's greatest architectural
styles – gothic, renaissance, baroque and neoclassical – stand side by
side and complement each other. Pilies Street is the Old Town's main
artery and the hub of cafe and street market life. The main street of
Vilnius, Gediminas Avenue, is partially located in the Old Town. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
42. Luxembourg (Luxembourg)
Luxembourg City straddles several valleys and outcrops, making the city's layout more complicated. [ Photo by Streppel / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]The city of Luxembourg
(Luxembourgish: Lëtzebuerg, German: Luxemburg), also known as
Luxembourg City (Luxembourgish: Stad Lëtzebuerg, French: Ville de
Luxembourg, German: Luxemburg Stadt), is a commune with city status, and
the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It is located at the
confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse Rivers in southern Luxembourg.
The city contains the historic Luxembourg Castle, established by the
Franks in the Early Middle Ages, around which a settlement developed.
Luxembourg City lies at the heart of Western Europe, situated 188 km
(117 miles) from Brussels, 289 km (179.58 mi) from Paris, 190 km
(118.06 mi) from Cologne. In 987 Egbert, Archbishop of Trier blessed
five altars in the Church of the Redemption (today St. Michael's
Church). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
43. Kotor (Montenegro)
Kotor, Montenegro [ Photo by Michal Krumnikl / GNU ]Kotor
(Montenegrin: Котор / Kotor; Latin: Acruvium; Greek: Ασκρηβιον,
Askrèvion; Italian: Cattaro) is a coastal town in Montenegro. It is
located in a most secluded part of Gulf of Kotor. The town has a
population of 13,510, and is the administrative center of the Kotor
municipality. The old Mediterranean port of Kotor, surrounded by an
impressive city wall built by Republic of Venice and the Venetian
influence remains dominant among the architectural influences. The Bay
of Kotor (Boka Kotorska), one of the most indented parts of the Adriatic
Sea is sometimes called the southern-most fjord in Europe (though it is
actually a submerged river canyon). With the nearly overhanging
limestone cliffs of Orjen and Lovćen one of the great Mediterranean
landscapes is created. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
44. Delft (Netherlands)
A typical view from the Centre of Delft, The Netherlands. [ Photo by Jens Buurgaard Nielsen / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Delft)
is a city and municipality in the province of South Holland
(Zuid-Holland), the Netherlands. It is located in between Rotterdam and
The Hague. Delft is primarily known for its typically Dutch town centre
(with canals); also for the painter Vermeer, Delft Blue pottery
(Delftware), the Delft University of Technology, and its association
with the Dutch royal family, the House of Orange-Nassau. The city dates
from the 13th century. It received its charter in 1246. For its
development from a rural village in the early Middle Ages to a city in
the 13th century see the article "Gracht", section "Delft as an
example". The association of the House of Orange with Delft began when
William of Orange (Willem van Oranje), nicknamed William the Silent
(Willem de Zwijger), took up residence in 1572. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
45. Haarlem (Netherlands)
View
of the Haarlem weigh house on the Spaarne river. Behind it is the white
tower of the Bakenesserkerk and to the right of that the dome behind
the entrance to the Teylers Museum. [ Photo by Jane023 / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Haarlem),
in the past usually Harlem in English, is a municipality and a city in
the Netherlands. It is also the capital of the province of North
Holland, the northern half of Holland, which at one time was the most
powerful of the seven provinces of the Dutch Republic. Haarlem lies in
the northern part of the Randstad, the sixth-largest metropolitan area
in Europe. Haarlem had a total population of 148,885 in 2009. The
municipality of Haarlem also comprises part of the village of Spaarndam,
a newer housing estate of this village forms part of the neighbouring
municipality of Haarlemmerliede en Spaarnwoude. The city is located on
the river Spaarne, about 20 km west of Amsterdam and near the coastal
dunes. It has been the historical center of the tulip bulb-growing
district for centuries and bears the nickname 'Bloemenstad' (flower
city), for this reason. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
46. Hindeloopen (Netherlands)
Hindeloopen – Gracht [ Photo by S.Möller / public domain ]Hindeloopen
(West Frisian: Hylpen; Hindeloopen Frisian: Hynljippen) is an old city
on the North of the Netherlands on the IJsselmeer. It lies within the
municipality of Nijefurd. It is famous because of the Hindeloopen art
and hindeloopen costume. Hindeloopen received city rights in 1225 and in
1368 it became a member of the Hanseatic-league. Since the 12th and
13th century, shippers of Hindeloopen undertook journeys to the North
and Baltic Sea Coasts. The strong overseas connections with foreign
countries and infrequent contact with the hinterland were probably the
reasons for the developing of the Hindeloopen language; a mixture of
West Frisian, English, Danish, and Norwegian. The shipping trade brought
the population of Hindeloopen a great prosperity. The 17th and 18th
century were especially golden times. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
47. Volendam (Netherlands)
Harbour of Volendam, the Netherlands. [ Photo by Eugene van der Pijll / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Originally, Volendam
was the location of the harbor of the nearby Edam, which was situated
at the mouth of the river IJ. In 1357, the inhabitants of Edam dug a
shorter canal to the Zuiderzee with its own separate harbor. This
removed the need for the original harbor, which was then dammed and used
for land reclamation. Farmers and local fishermen settled there,
forming the new community of Vollendam, which literally meant something
like 'Filled dam'. In the early part of the 20th century it became
something of an artists' retreat, with both Picasso and Renoir spending
time here. The majority of the population belongs to the Roman Catholic
Church, which is deeply connected to the village culture. Historically,
many missionaries and bishops grew up in Volendam. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
48. Bergen (Norway)
The old Brygge buildings in Bergen, Norway (artificial background) [ Photo by Gerd A.T. Mueller / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Bergen)
is the second largest city in Norway and the largest in Western Norway,
with a population of 256,580 as of 1 January 2010 (2010
-01-01)[update]. Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland
county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by
Statistics Norway, which includes rural areas, has a population of
377,116 as of January 2010. In 1916, parts of the city centre were
destroyed by a devastating fire, the last of many such fires throughout
the city's history. During World War II, Bergen was occupied on the
first day of the German invasion on 9 April 1940, after a brief fight
between German ships and the Norwegian coastal artillery. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
49. Kraków Old Town (Poland)
Kraków
(Poland), Market square seen from tower of St. Mary church: Cloth Hall,
Town Hall tower and St. Adalbert church. [ Photo by Pko / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Kraków
Old Town is the central, historic district of Kraków, Poland. It is the
most prominent example of an Old Town in the country, because for many
centuries, Kraków was the royal capital of Poland, until Sigismund III
Vasa relocated the court to Warsaw in 1596. Kraków's historic center was
added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1978. In the 19th
century most of the Old Town fortifications were demolished. The moat
encircling the walls was filled in and turned into a green belt known as
Planty Park. The first mention of Kraków dates back to the second half
of the 9th century. By the end of 10th century the city was incorporated
into the Polish state under the rule of Piast dynasty. The episcopal
bishopric was awarded to Kraków in 1000 and around that time, it became
the residence of Polish kings for centuries to come. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
50. Toruń (Poland)
Toruń, panoramic view from left bank of Vistula. [ Photo by Pko / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Toruń
is a city in northern Poland, on the Vistula River, with population
over 205,934 as of June 2009, making it the second-largest city of
Kujawy-Pomerania Province, after Bydgoszcz. The medieval old town of
Toruń is the birthplace of Nicolaus Copernicus. In 1997 it was added to
UNESCO's World Heritage List as a World Heritage Site. The first
settlement in the vicinity is dated by archaeologists to 1100 BCE
(Lusatian culture). During medieval times, in the 7th-13th centuries, it
was the location of an old Polish settlement, at a ford in the river.
The Teutonic Knights built a castle in the vicinity of the Polish
settlement in the years 1230-31. On 28 December 1233, the Teutonic
Knights Hermann von Salza and Hermann Balk signed the foundation
charters for Thorn and Chełmno. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
51. Zamość (Poland)
Zamość – City Hall and Main Square [ Photo by Maciej Ukleja / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Zamość
(Yiddish: זאמאשטש, Zamoshtch) is a town in southeastern Poland with
66,633 inhabitants (2004), situated in the Lublin Voivodeship (since
1999). About 20 kilometres from the town is the Roztocze National Park.
Zamość was founded in the year 1580 by the Chancellor and Hetman (head
of the army of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth) Jan Zamoyski, on the
trade route linking western and northern Europe with the Black Sea.
Modelled on Italian trading cities, and built during the Baroque period
by the architect Bernardo Morando, a native of Padua, Zamość remains a
perfect example of a Renaissance town of the late 16th century, which
retains its original layout and fortifications (Zamość Fortress), and a
large number of buildings blending Italian and central European
architectural traditions. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
52. Sighişoara (Romania)
Sighişoara [ Photo by Valimare / public domain ]Sighişoarais
a city and municipality on the Târnava Mare River in Mureş County,
Romania. Located in the historic region Transylvania, Sighişoara has a
population of 32,287 (2002). During the 12th century, German craftsmen
and merchants known as the Transylvanian Saxons were invited to
Transylvania by the King of Hungary to settle and defend the frontier of
his realm. The chronicler Krauss lists a Saxon settlement in the actual
Sighiṣoara by 1191. By 1280 it was known by the Latin name of Castrum
Sex, and by 1298 by the Saxon name of Schespurch resp. Schaesbrich. By
1337 Sighişoara had become a royal center for the kings, who awarded the
settlement urban status in 1367 as the Civitas de Segusvar. The city
played an important strategic and commercial role at the edges of
Central Europe for several centuries. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
53. North Berwick (Scotland)
North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland [ Photo by Achromatic / CC BY 3.0 ]The Royal Burgh of North Berwick
is a seaside town in East Lothian, Scotland. It is situated on the
south shore of the Firth of Forth, approximately 25 miles east of
Edinburgh. North Berwick became a fashionable holiday resort in the 19th
century because of its two sandy bays, the East (or Milsey) Bay and the
West Bay, and continues to attract holiday makers to this day. Golf
courses at the ends of each bay are open to visitors. The name North
Berwick means North 'barley farmstead'. Bere in Old English means
'barley' and wic in Old English is 'farmstead'. The word North was
applied to distinguish this Berwick from Berwick-upon-Tweed, which
throughout the Middle Ages the Scots called South Berwick. It was
recorded as Northberwyk in 1250. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
54. Bled (Slovenia)
Bled island, Slovenia [ Photo by Sl-Ziga / public domain ]A settlement area since Mesolithic times, Bled
Castle was first mentioned as Ueldes (Veldes) within the March of
Carniola on April 10, 1004, when it was awarded by Emperor Henry II to
Bishop Albuin I of Brixen. With Carniola it was ceded to Rudolph of
Habsburg after he defeated King Ottokar II of Bohemia at the Battle on
the Marchfeld in 1278. From 1364 on Bled was part of the Duchy of
Carniola and of the Napoleonic Illyrian Provinces between 1809 and 1816.
After the dissolution of Austria-Hungary in 1918 it belonged to the
Kingdom of Yugoslavia and became a summer domicile of the ruling House
of Karađorđević, a tradition that President Josip Broz Tito continued,
when he built his residence here in 1947. Bled became an independent
municipality in 1996. In 2000, Bled became the home of IEDC-Bled School
of Management. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
55. Córdoba (Spain)
Córdoba
(also Cordova) is a city in Andalusia, southern Spain, and the capital
of the province of Córdoba. An Iberian and Roman city in ancient times,
in the Middle Ages it was a capital of an Islamic caliphate and one of
the largest cities in the world. Its population in 2008 was 325,453.
Today a moderately-sized modern city, the old town contains many
impressive architectural reminders of when Qurṭuba (قرطبة), the thriving
capital of the Caliphate of Córdoba, governed almost all of the Iberian
peninsula. It has been estimated that in the latter half of the tenth
century Córdoba, with up to 500,000 inhabitants, was then the most
populated city in Europe and, perhaps, in the world. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
56. Cuenca (Spain)
Cuenca, Spain [ Photo by Zarateman / public domain ]Cuenca
is a city in the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha in central
Spain. It is the capital of the province of Cuenca (see map), and one of
the largest provinces in Spain (17,061 km2), being almost as large as
countries like Slovenia or Montenegro. Cuenca is located across a steep
spur, whose slopes descend into deep gorges of the Júcar and Huécar
rivers. It is divided into two separate settlements: the "new" city is
situated south-west to the old one, which is divided by the Huécar
course. The latter fell in October, putting an end to the Arab
domination in Cuenca. Alfonso VIII granted the city a title, and it was
considered to be "Muy noble y muy leal" (Very noble and very loyal). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
57. Ronda (Spain)
Ronda La Ciudad [ Photo by Manfred Werner / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Ronda
is a city in the Spanish province of Málaga. It is located about
100 kilometres (62 mi) from the city of Málaga, within the autonomous
community of Andalusia. Its population is 35,515. Around the city are
remains of prehistoric settlements dating to the Neolithic Age,
including the rock paintings of Cueva de la Pileta. Ronda was however
first settled by the early Celts, who, in the 6th century BC, called it
Arunda. Later Phoenician settlers established themselves nearby to found
Acinipo, known locally as Ronda la Vieja, Arunda or Old Ronda. The
current Ronda is however of Roman origins, having been founded as a
fortified post in the Second Punic War, by Scipio Africanus. Ronda
received the title of city at the time of Julius Caesar. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
58. Sitges (Spain)
The beach at Sitges, Spain [ Photo by G.M Kowalewska / CC BY-SA 2.5 ]Sitges,
Catalonia, Spain is a small city about 35 kilometres southwest of
Barcelona renowned worldwide for its Film Festival and Carnival. Between
the hills and the sea, it is known for its much-frequented beaches,
nightspots, and historical sites. While the roots of Sitges' artsy
reputation date back to the late 19th century, when Catalan painter
Santiago Rusiñol took up residence there during the summer, the town
really came into its own during the 1960s, when it was the only centre
for the counterculture on the mainland of Spain (then still under the
dictatorship of Francisco Franco), and became known as a sort of "Ibiza
in miniature". For over a century, Sitges has been celebrating nonstop —
between the months of February and March, according to the liturgical
calendar — Carnestoltes, or Carnival. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
59. Toledo (Spain)
panorama of the Toledo Skyline in Spain at sunrise. [ Photo by DAVID ILIFF / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Toledo
(Latin: Toletum, Arabic 'طليطلة Ṭulayṭulah)) is a municipality located
in central Spain, 70 km south of Madrid. It is the capital of the
province of Toledo. It is also the capital of autonomous community of
Castile-La Mancha. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in
1986 for its extensive cultural and monumental heritage as one of the
former capitals of the Spanish Empire and place of coexistence of
Christian, Jewish and Moorish cultures. Many famous people and artists
were born or lived in Toledo, including Al-Zarqali, Garcilaso de la
Vega, Eleanor of Toledo, Alfonso X and El Greco. It was also the place
of important historic events such as the Visigothic Councils of Toledo.
As of 2007[update], the city has a population of 78,618 and an area of
232.1 km2 (89.59 square miles). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
60. Gamla stan [Stockholm Old Town] (Sweden)
Gamla Stan as seen from the top of Rådhusets tower. [ Photo by Benoît / CC BY-SA 2.0 ]Gamla stan
(The Old City), until 1980 officially Staden mellan broarna (The Town
between the Bridges), is the old town of Stockholm, Sweden. Gamla stan
consists primarily of the island Stadsholmen. The surrounding islets
Riddarholmen, Helgeandsholmen, and Strömsborg are officially part of,
but not colloquially included in, Gamla stan. The word "stan" is simply a
contraction of the word "staden" ("sta'n"), meaning "the city." The
town dates back to the 13th century, and consists of medieval alleyways,
cobbled streets, and archaic architecture. North German architecture
has had a strong influence in the Old Town's construction. Stortorget is
the name of the scenic large square in the center of Gamla Stan, which
is surrounded by old merchants' houses including the Stockholm Stock
Exchange Building. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
61. Bern (Switzerland)
View from the Nydegg bridge on the river Aaare in Bern, Switzerland. [ Photo by Daniel Schwen / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]The city of Bern
or Berne; French: Berne ; Italian: Berna ; Romansh: Berna ; Bernese
German: Bärn ) is the Bundesstadt (federal city, de facto capital) of
Switzerland, and, with about 130,000 people, the fourth most populous
city in Switzerland. The Bern agglomeration, which includes 43
municipalities, has a population of 349,000. The metropolitan area had a
population of 660,000 in 2000. Bern is also the capital of the Canton
of Bern, the second most populous of Switzerland's cantons. The official
language of Bern is German, but the main spoken language is the
Alemannic dialect called Bernese German; most residents of the city
speak both. Duke Berchtold V of Zähringen founded the city on the River
Aare in 1191 and allegedly named it after a bear (Bär in German) he had
killed. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
62. Fribourg (Switzerland)
Fribourg, Switzerland [ Photo by Norbert Aepli / CC BY 2.5 ]Fribourg
(French), (German: Freiburg or Freiburg im Üechtland, often Fribourg)
is the capital of the Swiss canton of Fribourg and the district of
Sarine. It is located on both sides of the river Saane/Sarine, on the
Swiss plateau, and is an important economic, administrative and
educational center on the cultural border between German and French
Switzerland (Romandy). Its Old City, one of the best maintained in
Switzerland, sits on a small rocky hill above the valley of the Sarine.
The area of the municipality, which, at 9.3 square kilometres
(3.6 sq mi), is relatively small for a city, covers an area of Molasse
in the central part of Canton Fribourg. The area is cut through from
south to north by the tightly wound Saane/Sarine River, which has eroded
a valley, in some places, to a depth of 100 metres (330 ft) below the
surrounding Plateau. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
63. Mürren (Switzerland)
Mürren [ Photo by Roland Zumbühl / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Mürren
is a traditional Walser mountain village in Bernese Oberland,
Switzerland, at an elevation of 1,650 m (5,413 ft.) above sea level and
unreachable by public road. Tourism is popular through the summer and
winter; the village features a view of the three towering mountains:
Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. Mürren has a population of just 450, but has
2,000 hotel beds. A series of four cable cars, known as the
Luftseilbahn Stechelberg-Mürren-Schilthorn (LSMS), provides
transportation from Mürren downhill to Gimmelwald and Stechelberg, and
uphill to the summit of the Schilthorn and the revolving restaurant Piz
Gloria. This was a principal filming location for the James Bond movie
On Her Majesty's Secret Service, released in 1969. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
64. Conwy (Wales)
Conwy Castle and Bridges [ Photo by Tilman2007 / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Conwy
(formerly known in English as Conway) is a walled market town and
community in Conwy County Borough on the north coast of Wales. The town,
which faces Deganwy across the River Conwy, formerly lay in Gwynedd and
prior to that in Caernarfonshire. Conwy has a population of 14,208 and
is a popular tourist destination on the north Wales coast. Conwy Castle
and the town walls were built, on the instruction of Edward I of
England, between 1283 and 1289, as part of his conquest of the
principality of Wales. Conwy was the original site of Aberconwy Abbey,
founded by Llywelyn the Great. Edward and his troops took over the abbey
site and moved the monks down the Conwy valley to a new site at Maenan.
The parish church still retains some parts of the original abbey church
in the east and west walls. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
65. Criccieth (Wales)
Min-y-Mor, Criccieth [ Photo by Skinsmoke / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Criccieth
(Welsh Cricieth) is a town and community on Cardigan Bay, in the
Eifionydd area of Gwynedd in Wales. The town lies 5 miles (8 km) west of
Porthmadog, 9 miles (14 km) east of Pwllheli and 17 miles (27 km) south
of Caernarfon. It has a population of 1,826. Criccieth hosted the
National Eisteddfod in 1975 and in 2003 was granted Fairtrade Town
status. It won the Wales in Bloom competition each year from 1999 to
2004. The area around Criccieth was settled during the Bronze Age, and a
chambered tomb, Cae Dyni, survives on the coast to the east of the
town; it consists of seven upright stones, and there are 13 cup marks,
arranged in several groups. Evidence from other sites on the Llŷn
Peninsula suggests that the area was colonised by a wave of Celtic
settlers, who explored the Irish Sea, probably around the 4th century
BC. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
66. Llangollen (Wales)
Village of Llangollen in North Wales/UK, view over the town [ Photo by Manfred Heyde / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Llangollenis
a small town and community in Denbighshire, north-east Wales, situated
on the River Dee and on the edge of the Berwyn mountains. It has a
population of 3,412. Llangollen takes its name from Saint Collen (from
the Welsh llan meaning 'church' and gollen meaning Collen), a 6th
century monk who founded a church beside the river there. St Collen is
said to have arrived in Llangollen by coracle. As there are no other
churches in Wales dedicated to St. Collen, it is possible that this St.
Collen may also have connections in both Colan, Cornwall and Langolen,
Brittany. On the outskirts of the town is Plas Newydd ("New Place" or
"New Hall"), where The Honourable Sarah Ponsonby and Lady Eleanor Butler
(the Ladies of Llangollen) lived. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
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