Europe

Ancient places can be found all over Europe. Their fascinating histories and impressive artifacts open intriguing glimpses to times past, and open up a window on European history. Visiting such ancient places in Europe can be an unforgettable experience.

Science is constantly discovering new archaeological places and uncovering more evidence into what we once thought we knew about our history, therefore offering new pieces to the ever changing puzzle of humanity’s past and altering how we interpret it. This section will present the most interesting archaeological sites all over Europe, as well as new discoveries of ancient places that are worth paying a visit.

Sunset view of the Roman Amphitheater in Chester, England Source: Adrian / Adobe Stock

15 July, 2020 - 01:44 Ed Whelan

The Large Amphitheater of Chester and Rome’s Fruitless Expansion Plan

The arenas built by the Romans are without a doubt their most notorious monuments. They were the scene of public executions, where combats between criminals, prisoners of war and slaves were held,...

Oil painting of Caernarfon Castle in 1846 by Hugh Hughes, from the National Library of Wales. Photo source: Public domain.

14 July, 2020 - 02:06 dhwty

Caernarfon Castle: The Imposing Welsh Constantinople

Caernarfon Castle (often anglicized as Carnarvon or Caernarvon) is a castle in Caernarfon, in the northern Welsh county of Gwynedd, that was built during the Middle Ages. The castle is closely...

Skeletal evidence of an Iron Age murder victim

13 July, 2020 - 16:16 ashley cowie

Iron Age Murder Victim Discovered at Ceremonial Monument

Archaeologists in England have discovered evidence of a large ceremonial structure and a potentially brutal human sacrifice. While excavating a 4000-year-old Iron Age site at Wellwick Farm near...

Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia Source: Enrico Rovelli / Adobe Stock

10 July, 2020 - 01:55 dhwty

Cult Worship at the Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia

The Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia is a religious complex from the time of the Roman Republic . This ancient sanctuary is situated in Praeneste (known today as Palestrina), not far from Rome. The...

It may not seem like it today, but Harlech Castle is Wales has witnessed Welsh rebellions, the Wars of the Roses and the English Civil War. Source: Darren Tennant / Flickr

8 July, 2020 - 14:00 dhwty

Harlech Castle: Wales’ Most Formidable Fortress

Harlech Castle is a medieval castle located in Harlech, in the Welsh county of Gwynedd. The castle was built during the 13 th century by the English king, Edward I, as part of an ‘iron ring’ of...

Holyrood Palace

7 July, 2020 - 23:31 Natalia Klimczak

Holyrood Palace: Royal Residence and Haunted House

Holyrood palace is a 12th century haunted palace that remains one of the most important residences of the British Royal Family. It fascinates visitors with its beauty and sometimes overwhelms them...

Artist’s reconstruction of Lutetia by Dassault Systemes (YouTube screenshot)

5 July, 2020 - 23:02 dhwty

Ancient Lutetia: The Roman Roots of Paris

Over two millennia ago, France’s capital, Paris, was inhabited by Celtic Gauls who called their city Parisii. But then the Romans came and set up camp. They renamed their city Lutetia, meaning ‘place...

The entrance to Bant’s Carn Source: Stringer, J / CC BY-NC 2.0

4 July, 2020 - 02:05 Ed Whelan

The Extraordinary and Ancient Entrance Grave of Bant’s Carn

The five inhabited islands of the Scilly Isles, an archipelago located off the south-west coast of England, is popular with visitors because of the warm climate and beautiful beaches. There are,...

Viking longship replicas at Catoira, Galicia. Did the Vikings also make it to Madeira? Source: CC BY-SA 4.0

3 July, 2020 - 22:42 Geoffrey Brooks

Mice Remains Indicate a Viking Visit to Madeira

In a recent article on the Vikings in South America , it was indicated how scientists had put forward an untenable theory to account for the presence in Chile of the Bundsö dogs from Denmark before...

Pont Du Gard, Nimes, France Source: Emperorosar / Adobe Stock

2 July, 2020 - 02:03 Ed Whelan

Pont Du Gard - Is This Mighty Engineering Feat in Danger of Collapse?

Some of the most remarkable Roman remains are its roads, amphitheaters, and bridges. Perhaps the most awe-inspiring of all their aqueducts is the astounding Pont du Gard found in Nimes, France. This...

Boreas, Greek God of the North Wind, who is strongly connected with the mythical land of Hyperborea, abducting Oreithyia. Source: Giovanni Francesco Romanelli / Public domain.

1 July, 2020 - 01:14 dhwty

Hyperborea: Mythical Land That Fascinated Writers of the Ancient World

Hyperborea is a location in Greek mythology . The inhabitants of this mythical land are known as Hyperboreans, whom the ancient Greeks believed enjoyed extremely long lives. Hyperborea is mentioned...

Restormel castle in Cornwall Source: Richard Croft / CC BY SA 2.0

30 June, 2020 - 02:05 Michelle Freson

Restormel Castle, What the English Call ‘A Romantic Scene’

Restormel Castle is one of the four principal Norman castles of Cornwall and among the most notable in Britain for its circular design. Built in the 13th century, it was a luxurious residence and...

Beeston Castle entrance Source: Dunja / Adobe Stock

28 June, 2020 - 22:20 Michelle Freson

Could the King Richard II’s Gold Still Be Hidden at Beeston Castle?

Perched on a large crag, Beeston Castle is one of the most dramatically situated medieval castles in England. Although what remains today represents the feats of medieval builders, much of what is...

One of the mounted skulls found in Motala, Sweden. Credit: Anna Arnberg.

26 June, 2020 - 18:50 dhwty

This is What a Man from the Tomb of Sunken Skulls Looked Like

When archaeologists were excavating a dry prehistoric lake bed in Motala, Sweden in 2009, they stumbled upon one of the most peculiar archaeological discoveries the nation had seen – the so-called ‘...

Little is known about the Neolithic Age Battle Axe culture, but archaeologists and scholars continue to apply new technologies to piece together a more complete picture. (Image, Stone Axes in Turov Local History Museum). Source: Grigory Bruev

24 June, 2020 - 14:01 Aleksa Vučković

The Battle Axe Culture: Piecing Together the Age of Crushed Skulls

Peering into the development stages of the Neolithic cultures of Old Europe has always been a challenging task for archaeologists and scholars. Reaching so far back into time in the hope of piecing...

One of the living statues at the Lost Gardens of Heligan.

23 June, 2020 - 20:15 dhwty

The Lost Gardens of Heligan: Rediscovering a Centuries-Old Paradise

The Lost Gardens of Heligan is one of the most popular botanical gardens in the United Kingdom, yet for decades it was abandoned and forgotten. Today, many people go to the Lost Gardens of Heligan to...

The Nasrid Dynasty Alhambra Palace, Granada, Spain. Source: Jebulon / CC0.

23 June, 2020 - 01:59 dhwty

The Nasrid Dynasty and the Birth of the Alhambra Palace

The Nasrid Dynasty was the last Muslim dynasty on the Iberian Peninsula . The Nasrids ruled over the Emirate of Granada , which was founded during the 13 th century. The Emirate was the last Muslim...

Medieval maritime trade. Credit: Yury Kisialiou / Adobe Stock

22 June, 2020 - 14:05 Aleksa Vučković

The Hanseatic League: Dominating the Baltic Maritime Trade

The Baltic Sea has historically been an important region for maritime trade. Its favorable location, which acts as a connection between major nations and trading hubs, always made it a focal point...

Donnington Castle near Newbury in West Berkshire Source: Piotr / Adobe Stock

20 June, 2020 - 23:02 Ed Whelan

Donnington Castle, Proud Survivor of Parliamentary Guns

There are various types of castles in Britain built by conquerors, rightful kings and wealthy supporters of the monarchs. One of the most distinctive is that of Donnington Castle (not to be confused...

Representation of a Valkyrie

17 June, 2020 - 22:49 Veronica Parkes

The Bold and Beautiful Valkyries and Their Mortal Lovers

In Norse mythology, Valkyries were originally sinister spirits that would fly above the battlefield in search of the dead, deciding the fate of the fallen for Odin . The word “Valkyrie” means “...

Roman legionary Source: serpeblu / Adobe Stock

14 June, 2020 - 22:58 Ed Whelan

Kings Weston Roman Villa, Where a Murder Lay Hidden for 1500 Years

Britain was part of the Roman Empire from the 1 st century AD to the start of the 5 th century AD when the emperor withdrew the legions from the islands and left the inhabitants to govern and fend...

The Fall of Babylon

12 June, 2020 - 22:15 dhwty

The Monumental Fall of Babylon: What Really Shattered the Empire?

The fall of Babylon is a historical event that occurred in 539 BC. This event saw the conquest of Babylon by the Achaemenid Empire under Cyrus the Great and marked the end of the Neo-Babylonian...

The Bridestones, several large stones Source: Peel, M / CC BY-SA 4.0

12 June, 2020 - 01:32 Ed Whelan

Unveiling the Bridestones Cairn of Cheshire

The British landscape is dotted with the remains of its Stone Age past. We are all familiar with Stonehenge , one of the most famous prehistoric monuments in the world, but few people are familiar...

Aerial view of Frankenstein Castle in southern Hesse, Germany Source: Iurii / Adobe Stock

10 June, 2020 - 01:33 Ed Whelan

Witches, Monsters and Dragons, All at Frankenstein Castle

Castles are often associated with the supernatural and gruesome events and none more so than one of the most famous castles in all of Germany, Frankenstein Castle. This ruined fortress is synonymous...

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