The Old Continent is full of wonders to explore, cities, towns, natural wondersand lesser-known gems to discover. For the coming year, we invite you to discover the most beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Sites located all over Europe.
On the UNESCO list of wonders are cities, national parks and architectural marvels: Europe has some 400 sites. In this article we recommend the 20 wonders to visit this spring in the rest of Europe (Italy excluded).
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The 20 UNESCO World Heritage Sites to visit in Europe
Plitvice Lakes, Croatia
Bialowieza Forest, Poland
Vlkolínec, Slovakia
Las Médulas, Spain
Rila Monastery, Bulgaria
Mont-Saint-Michel, France
Monastery of Alcobaça, Portugal
Peace Churches of Jawor and Świdnica, Poland
Urnes Church, Norway
Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland
Trebic, Czech Republic
Wies Sanctuary, Germany
Pirin National Park, Bulgaria
Old City of Mostar, Bosnia
Ilulissat Icefjord, Denmark
Palau de la Música Catalana, Barcelona
Historic Centre of Berat, Albania
Trogir, Croatia
Pont du Gard, France
Meteora, Greece
Unesco World Heritage Sites
Plitvice Lakes, Croatia
In Croatia, a natural wonder that seems to belong to fairy tales is worth a visit, located halfway between Zadar and Zagreb. It is the Plitvice Lakes National Park, characterised by 16 lakes connected by a network of canals and waterfalls. The Plitvice Lakes are fed by the Bijela Rijeka and Crna Rijeka rivers.
The Bialowieza Forest, Poland
The Białowieża Forest is an ancient virgin forest located along the border between Belarus and Poland, 70 kilometres north of Brėst. It represents all that remains of the immense forest that stretched across Europe thousands of years ago.
Vlkolínec, Slovakia
A remarkably intact settlement of 45 buildings in Ružomberok, central Slovakia, with records dating back to the late 13th century. The town reflects the traditional characteristics of a Central European village, complete with wooden huts, barns with barns and a wooden bell tower.
Las Médulas, Spain
This is the most important gold mine of the Roman Empire and is located in the territory of El Bierzo, in the province of Leon. The indented profile of these red clay mountains covered in chestnut trees is due to the work of the Romans, who shaped the natural landscape by digging a gold mine in this area in the 1st century AD.
Rila Monastery, Bulgaria
Bulgaria's largest and most famous Orthodox monastery, founded in the 10th century and rebuilt in the mid-1800s. It is located on Mount Rila at 1,147 metres and is surrounded by the small rivers Rila and Drušljavica.
Mont-Saint-Michel, France
Mont Saint-Michel is a Benedictine abbey on the border between Normandy and Brittany. The Gothic-style abbey, built between the 11th and 16th centuries, is perched on a small island exposed to incredible tides that provide a unique spectacle.
Monastery of Alcobaça, Portugal
It is one of the earliest examples of Gothic-style buildings in Portugal. It is a Roman Catholic church located north of Lisbon in the town of Alcobaça, founded in the 12th century by King Alfonso I.
The Peace Churches of Jawor and Świdnica, Poland
The Peace Churches of Jawor and Świdnica are the largest wooden religious buildings in the whole of Europe. They are located in Poland, in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship.
A third Lutheran church, the one in Głogów, burnt down in 1758. Thanks to the Peace of Westphalia, Silesian Protestants were allowed to build these churches.
Urnes Church, Norway
An outstanding example of traditional Scandinavian wooden architecture located in the beautiful county of Sogn og Fjordane in western Norway.
Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland
A stretch of coastline composed of some 40,000 basalt columns, the result of ancient volcanic activity.
Trebic, Czech Republic
Trebic is a small town in the Czech Republic, the Jewish quarter and the basilica of St Procopius are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Wies Sanctuary, Germany
A preserved Bavarian rococo church in a beautiful alpine valley, the Wies Sanctuary is located southwest of Munich.
Pirin National Park, Bulgaria
The Pirin National Park encompasses most of the Pirin mountain range in south-western Bulgaria. It covers an area of 274 square kilometres and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983. The park is characterised by alpine meadows, glacial lakes and coniferous forests.
Old Town of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mostar is a historic city in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina, situated on the Neretva River. The city is famous for its Old Bridge, built in the 16th century and considered one of the greatest architectural achievements in the Balkans. The bridge was destroyed by Croatian militias in November 1993 during the Bosnian War. Its reconstruction was completed in 2004.
Ilulissat Icefjord, Denmark
A fjord in West Greenland, north of the Arctic Circle. It includes Sermeq Kujalleq, one of the most active glaciers in the world.
Palau de la Música Catalana, Barcelona
One of the best examples of Catalan modernist style by the art nouveau architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner (together with the Hospital de Sant Pau in Barcelona).
Historic Centre of Berat, Albania
Berat is one of Albania's oldest cities, founded in the 4th century BC by the Illyrians.
It is one of the best preserved Ottoman towns, a real fortress characterised by the Kala Castle. The old town of Berat has been added to the heritage list as a rare example of a well-preserved Ottoman town.
Trogir, Croatia
The old town of Trogir, a UNESCO heritage site since 1977, is an example of medieval architecture characterised by palaces, churches, towers and fortresses. The old town of Trogir is located on the island of Bua, connected to the rest of the city by a bridge.
Pont du Gard, France
The Pont du Gard is an ancient Roman aqueduct spanning the Gardon river in southern France. Built on three levels, it is located at Vers-Pont-du-Gard, near Remoulins.
Meteora, Greece
Meteora is the second most important monastery complex in Greece. The Meteora monasteries are located in Thessaly, mainland Greece, near the town of Kalambaka (about 200 km from Thessaloniki). The monasteries built on sandstone cliffs can be reached by stairs carved into the rock. Of the 24 ancient monasteries, only 6 can be visited.
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