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.

Temple at Samothrace, Greece Source: Evgeni Dinev / Adobe Stock

29 September, 2020 - 00:54 Ed Whelan

Sanctuary of the Mysterious ‘Great Gods’ on the Island of Samothrace

One of the most enigmatic archaeological sites in all of Greece is that of the Samothrace Temple Complex. These impressive ruins are located on the island of Samothrace, also known as Samothraki, in...

Subterranean Secrets at the Temple of Sinca Veche

28 September, 2020 - 13:55 ashley cowie

Subterranean Secrets at the Temple of Sinca Veche

The forested hills and craggy mountains of Romania offer both archaeological and supernatural tourists a wide range of stunning gothic churches and medieval monasteries. One Romanian site that serves...

Le Puy-en-Velay, A Small French Town with a Large Legacy

27 September, 2020 - 22:10 Ed Whelan

Le Puy-en-Velay, A Small French Town with a Large Legacy

Despite its relatively small size, the town of Le Puy-en-Velay in France is blessed with a spectacular landscape, great architecture, and remarkable ruins. Many festivals are held here throughout the...

25 September, 2020 - 00:51 Ed Whelan

The Triumphal Arch of Orange in France - Symbol of the Roman Empire

The Romans left behind remarkable monuments and their influence on architecture cannot be overstated. Many of their public monuments commemorated a military victory and sought to legitimize their...

The Birth of the Renaissance: Understanding the Genesis of a New Era

24 September, 2020 - 21:55 Jason Jarrell

The Birth of the Renaissance: Understanding the Genesis of a New Era

“I tell you: one must still have chaos within oneself, to give birth to a dancing star” (Nietzsche in Thus Spoke Zarathustra). By conservative estimates, the European Renaissance spans the historical...

Trulli in Alberobello, Italy.

23 September, 2020 - 22:25 dhwty

The Fairy Tale Village of Alberobello and its Picturesque Trulli Houses

Alberobello, literally translated as ‘Beautiful Tree,’ is a small town with one-of-a-kind historic buildings called trulli. The iconic houses in the town have led to it being dubbed a ‘fairy tale...

Were Asclepian Centers Powered By Magical Ritual or Holistic Healthcare?

23 September, 2020 - 22:01 Gloria Moss

Were Asclepian Centers Powered By Magical Ritual or Holistic Healthcare?

Doctors the world over take the Hippocratic oath swearing to do no harm to patients. In doing this, to quote the words of the oath itself, they “call upon Apollo the physician and Asclepius, Hygeia...

Monastery in Meteora, Greece.

22 September, 2020 - 23:55 dhwty

Meteora: Majestic Greek Monasteries Suspended in the Air

Meteora means ‘suspended in the air’ in Greek. This site is one of the largest and most important Greek Orthodox monastic complexes. It is located in the north-western edge of the Plain of Thessaly...

Bardsey Island

18 September, 2020 - 23:07 mrreese

Bardsey Island – A Small Land for 20,000 Holy Souls

For being only one mile long by less than a mile wide, Bardsey Island is a small piece of land, but it is of great historical and cultural significance. The island’s reputation is bolstered through...

Carnyx, a Celtic war trumpet found in the Gallic sanctuary of Tintignac. Source: Harrsch, M / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

16 September, 2020 - 01:46 Ed Whelan

Tintignac, Where the Gauls’ Favor of the Gods Couldn’t Last Forever

Like many countries in western Europe, France was deeply influenced by the Romans and the Celts who left remarkable monuments that today are major archaeological and historic sites. Because the area...

The ruins of the Baths of Caracalla in Rome, Italy

13 September, 2020 - 22:49 Ed Whelan

When in Rome, Even the Christian Pilgrims Enjoyed the Baths of Caracalla

When we think of the city of Rome, we can easily picture the wealth of ancient monuments from its imperial past. The Baths of Caracalla are perhaps as popular today as they were when they were used...

Who Were the Ancient People that Built the Remarkable Megalithic Tombs of Malaga?

12 September, 2020 - 17:59 Natalia Klimczak

Who Were the Ancient People that Built the Remarkable Megalithic Tombs of Malaga?

Thousands of years ago, a series of megalithic tombs were built in the breathtaking landscape of Malaga in Spain. The magnificence of the constructions attracts thousands of tourists every year. The...

The Seven Hills of Rome are considered to be located in the center of the city. Source: sborisov / Adobe Stock

12 September, 2020 - 13:59 Riley Winters

The Seven Hills of Rome: Center Stage in Rome’s Eventful History

The Seven Hills of Rome are a group of hills to the east of the Tiber River, the main river within the city. These hills are important as they are considered the center of the city of Rome, and it...

Return of the Ancient Gods: The Resurgence of Paganism

10 September, 2020 - 22:25 Caleb Strom

Return of the Ancient Gods: The Resurgence of Paganism

Over the past two centuries, Europe has become increasingly secular. Scholars in fact no longer talk of the Christian West when they speak of Modern Europe and North America, but of the Secular West...

Deadman’s Island Source: Екатерина Белоусова / Adobe Stock

29 August, 2020 - 22:53 B. B. Wagner

Prison Hulks, Devil Dogs and Smuggling on Deadman's Island

Deadman's Island is located near the town of Queenborough, on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent, England. The uninhabited mudbank island, measuring 1200 by 200 meters (3937 by 656 feet), is home to...

The Mausoleum of Theodoric the Great bears testament to the peace between the Romans and Goths of Ravenna during his reign. Source: ermess / Adobe Stock and Public domain.

28 August, 2020 - 01:43 Riley Winters

Theodoric the Great and His Ostrogothic Mausoleum

Theodoric the Great was the king of the Ostrogoths from 475 to 526 AD. Born in 454 AD to the Gothic king Theodemir, Theodoric became the founder of the Ostrogothic dynasty in Italy from 474 AD...

Amongst the last of the Polabian Slav tribes to fall were the Rani who boasted one of the most powerful Slavic cult religious sites, called Arkona. This powerful fort fell to the Danes in 1168, when King Valdemar sacked it and toppled the pagan idols which stood there. Source: Public domain

14 August, 2020 - 13:59 Aleksa Vučković

The Polabian Slavs: A History of a Vanquished People

Not all of history’s tales have a happy ending. In fact, most of them are rife with sad fates and great turmoil, with the ruthless passage of time erasing entire nations. One of these tales it that...

The Crooked House of Windsor. Left: From the Front. Right: From the Back

13 August, 2020 - 19:45 dhwty

A House with a Twist: The Crooked House of Windsor’s Colorful History

The Crooked House of Windsor, also known as the Market Cross House, is a 16th century building located in the market town of Windsor, in the southeastern English county of Berkshire. As its name...

Known to all and feared by many, the Curonians were famed for their prowess in battle, strong warrior culture, and an infamous reputation of raiding and plundering their neighboring shores. Source: destillat / Adobe Stock

13 August, 2020 - 01:59 Aleksa Vučković

Men from the Land of Amber: The Shocking History of the Fierce Curonians

The modern Baltic nations of Latvia and Lithuania owe a lot to their fierce and rich history. The fearsome tribes of Balts – close cousins to the neighboring Slavs – carved for themselves a small...

Fingal's Cave, Staffa Island, Scotland

12 August, 2020 - 22:00 dhwty

Fingal’s Cave: Legends and Inspiration Near the Scottish Sea

Fingal’s Cave is a natural feature located on the island of Staffa, in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland. During the 18th century, Staffa was inhabited by 16 people. Now, no one lives on the island, and...

A rainbow at Botallack Mines in West Cornwall. Source: Chris / Adobe Stock

12 August, 2020 - 01:45 Ed Whelan

Botallack Mine, Clinging to the Cliffs of the Wild Tin Coast

Cornwall, in south-west England, has a distinctive regional character. Much of the landscape was transformed in the 18th and early 19th centuries as a result of the rapid growth of copper and tin...

Saint Margaret’s Well, dedicated to Saint Margaret of Antioch (Howard Stanbury / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

8 August, 2020 - 01:58 dhwty

Saint Margaret’s Well: From Healing Pilgrimages to Alice in Wonderland

Saint Margaret’s Well is a sacred well outside the Church of Saint Margaret of Antioch in Binsey, a village in Oxfordshire, England. During the Medieval period, the church was a famous pilgrimage...

Dumbarton Castle, overlooking the River Clyde Source: Richard Johnson / Adobe Stock.

7 August, 2020 - 22:59 Aleksa Vučković

Dumbarton Castle: Ancient Stronghold and Symbol of Scottish Defiance

The wild and diverse landscapes of Scotland are filled with remnants of its rich and proud history that spans many centuries. From the Hebrides islands, to the border regions and all the way to the...

Trethevy Quoit, portal dolmen in Cornwall Source: Andy Chisholm / Adobe Stock

7 August, 2020 - 02:02 Ed Whelan

The Many Legends Accounting for the Mysterious Trethevy Quoit

Cornwall, a truly beautiful region in the British Isles, has a distinct regional identity. It is also home to many remarkable stone age monuments, of which Trethevy Quoit is one of the most famous...

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