Holidays in Europe

Have you ever considered taking a holiday in Europe? Europe has all the makings of an unbelievable holiday spot. The culture is second to none, the history is breathtaking and the sites and sound will have you in awe. Europe is steps back in time were simple activities made sense. Europe is a highly traveled destination for history buffs and adventure seekers alike. For the history buffs there are plenty of ancient buildings just waiting to be explored. Here are a few landmarks that should not be missed.

European Landmarks You Must Visit

Eiffel Tower one of Europe's most recognized landmarks stands as an icon of French society. The Eiffel Tower build by its namesake Gustave Eiffel has been a landmark since late 1889. Construction took two years for it to be completed, when finished the tower stood 986 feet high. At the time of completion it stood as the world's tallest tower. It retained this title till 1930 when a little known building called the Chrysler Building snatched it title. The Chrysler Building measured a whopping 1,047 ft tall beating the Eiffel tower by 61 feet. Being so tall the Eiffel tower became very popular with tourist and native Europeans. Today, the Eiffel Tower is just as popular. To date is has had more than 200,000,000 visitors since its construction.

Notre Dame Cathedral

Notre Dame Cathedral is another great landmark that should not get passed up. Located on the Île de la Cité in Paris, the Cathedral has stood since 1250. The church was built on the site of the first Christian Church of Paris, Saint Etienne basilica. In 1960 Bishop Maurice de Sully deemed the first church unworthy of it lofty roll as the "parish church of the kings of Europe" and had it demolished. Construction of the new church began in 1163 and was completed in successive parts. The foundation of the church which was laid in 1163 was commissioned by during the reign of Louis VII. Construction of the magnificent west front with the distinctive two front towers began around 1200. During this time many architects were involved in construction of the Cathedral. It is evident by the different architectural styles of the two towers as higher heights were reached. Check out the architectural highlights inside the Cathedral, they will be breathtaking.

Towers of London

The Towers of London is her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress. It is located on the north bank of the River of Thames within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is the original fortress build by William the Conqueror in 1078. The fortress is surrounded by a moat with a complex of several building set within a ring to provide protection for the King and Queen. The primary purpose of the Fortress has been for a royal palace, a prison, a place for execution and torture, a Zoo, a public records office, a mint and a treasury. This is a massive complex with many corridors and halls. Tours of the Towers are done daily, but it is recommended to plan in advance to get tickets.

These are just a portion of the many sites that are available in Europe. There are also beaches, castles, bridges and museum with a large selection of ancient artifacts from an era that has since past.