Europe has long been a popular vacation destination for North Americans, not least because of its variety. At the time of publication in August 2013, 28 countries made up the European Union, each with its own distinct culture and personality. Europe is home to many landmark sites, so wherever you go and whatever your background, you’ll likely find something in Europe to interest you.
Religious Landmarks
- Covering just 0.17 square miles of central Rome, an area smaller than that of the Washington Mall, the Vatican City wields an influence out of all proportion to its tiny size. Its most prominent feature is the Basilica of St. Peter, the world’s largest religious building and the center of the Roman Catholic Church since the fourth century. At the other end of the scale stand the small, beehive-like monastic structures on the rocky island of Skellig Michael off the southwest coast of Ireland. It is not precisely known when Skellig Michael was founded, but it is thought to date to the sixth century; it was abandoned in the 12th century as a result of climate change, the remains of this very old Christian site are so significant and well-preserved that UNESCO added them to the World Heritage list in 1996.
Ancient Landmarks
- Europe’s ancient inhabitants left their mark writ large in landmarks, some of which have survived into the present day. Twenty-five caves of France’s Vezere Valley preserve rock paintings dating from 17,000 years ago, when Europe was an entirely different landscape. The images of animals recorded in this prehistoric work provide a glimpse into the world of these early humans. The Stonehenge site in southwestern England is even more mysterious, with its huge stone megaliths, some brought from more than 200 miles away, gathered in a circle oriented toward the midsummer and midwinter sun. Although the precise significance remains unknown, the site would undoubtedly have held great meaning for those who built it.
Conflict Landmarks
- Sadly, Europe has been riven by war and conflict throughout its history, leaving numerous landmarks. World War I brought millions of deaths on the Western Front alone, a line that ran from the North Sea coast through France and Flanders to the Swiss border. For most of the war, the lines encircled the small town of Ypres in Belgium, and today military cemeteries and memorials around the town mark the places that saw such fierce fighting. More than 54,000 British soldiers with no known grave are commemorated on the Menin Gate in Ypres; visit at 8 p.m. any evening to hear the town's firefighters pay tribute to the dead. On France's Normandy coastline, you'll find the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, where more than 9,000 American soldiers lie in the first American cemetery established in Europe during World War II. The soldiers here died during D-Day and its aftermath; ask staff if you need help locating a specific grave.
Engineering Landmarks
- Not all European landmarks date from the distant past. The Millau Viaduct in southeastern France spans more than 1.5 miles, with a maximum height of 1,125 feet – taller than the Eiffel Tower. Constructed in just three years, the viaduct opened to traffic in 2004. Further north, the Oresund Bridge links Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen, with the Swedish city of Malmo by means of a 10-mile bridge, underwater tunnel and artificial island. The crossing opened in 2000, creating new connections between the two countries and even inspiring a popular TV series, “The Bridge.”
