Europe Gardens & parks, People + Water sports pictures

• World

A city with a rich and often chequered history. Old Berlin has morphed into a contemporary, cosmopolitan city, rich in culture, architecture, museums and festivals.

Learn about Toulouse’s long history of aeronautics with the three guided tours of this iconic developer’s factory and main sites.

This serene mountain town has rustic charm and natural beauty and is the site of one of Europe’s most famous divine encounters.

Marvel at the wooden organ and work out the parables depicted in the stained glass in this blend of two separate religious buildings.

Alongside games of football and couples in pedalos, the art galleries, buskers and 17th-century palace give El Retiro a different flavour to your average park.

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.

Whether you’re catching a train or not, be sure to visit this “secular cathedral,” an early 20th-century icon that sits on a hill north of Old Town Limoges.

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.

Discover themed gardens, artist pavilions, viewpoints and wildlife stations set around a natural amphitheater in the grounds of a medieval castle. 

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.

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.

Enjoy the pleasant ocean breeze and relax on pristine stretches of white sand on this island of scenic parks and dunes.

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

Distinctive architecture, friendly people and interesting history are reasons to stay a while in this UNESCO World Heritage city on Germany’s Baltic coast.

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

See the swans glide by under weeping willows and relax with a picnic in the park while taking in the pristine beauty of the source of the Clitunno River in Umbria.

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

If you\'re looking for wellbeing and relaxation, a holiday in Merano is a great chance to discover the city, gardens and hot springs.

Come and take a walk around one of the largest palaces in Western Europe...and try not to get lost!

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

Alongside games of football and couples in pedalos, the art galleries, buskers and 17th-century palace give El Retiro a different flavour to your average park.

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