Major Attractions in Each Countries in Western Europe
Austria
Glossglockner
The Grossglockner is known to be the highest mountain in Austria and the centerpiece of the High Tauern National Park. The Grossglockner is home to people and many wildlife including countless animals and scarce plants. The Grossglockner High Alpine Road surrounding the mountain, provides for a chance to take a drive and enjoy the unbelievable scenery and a one-of-a-kind experiences. Along with the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, there are various hiking trails, exhibitions, museums, huts, mountain inns, and visitors’ centers for hikers and families.
St. Stephen's Cathedral
St. Stephen’s Cathedral or otherwise known as Stephansdom is one of Vienna’s most famous sight and is the heart of the city. It has played a significant part in the both the city’s spiritual and worldly affairs. One of the many very impresses features of the cathedral is the South Tower. The South Tower or the Steffl is considered to be the most beautiful German Gothic tower with a 343 step spiral leading up to the lookout 246 feet above street level dominating the city’s skyline.
Prater
The Prater is a large public park located in Leopoldstadt or Vienna’s 2nd district. This is the location for Vienna’s most famous symbol, the Giant Ferris Wheel. The Vienna Prater amusement park or the Wurstelprater is open from March to October but the famous Giant Ferris Wheel and a few other attractions are available all year long. Besides the amusement park, there are many culinary opportunities, a museum, a party dome, and tours available.
Belgium
Markt
The Markt is a large market located in Burges. It is a large open square surrounded by a ring of unbelievable, gorgeous old historical buildings. There are chances to go shopping and try all of the wonderful food sold Wednesday morning at the Wednesday market. Since this is a car free zone, many people like to enjoy the view and ride horse drawn carriage or sit at one of the market’s many side cafe.
Gravensteen
The Gravensteen is a castle located in Ghent. The castle was once used as a place for companies to set up shops but it was restored at the end of the 19th century into a medieval castle and is now a touristic attraction. It is designed to tell a story as you walk around the different stages in the different rooms accompany along with a hand-held 45 minute movie guide. The castle displays many old and historical suit of armor, guillotine, torture devices, and much more.
France
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower located in Paris, France is one of the world’s most famous structure. It is Paris’s most famous symbol and probably one of Europe’s best known landmark. It rises over 984 feet and was built from about 12,000 separate iron piece to get the exact shape. There are chances to climb up the stairs or ride a lift up to the top and look down at Paris.
Notre Dame Cathedral Paris
The Notre Dame Cathedral Paris is a Gothic cathedral in Paris, France. It displays a vast variety of artwork, furniture, and valuable items. This is a very popular attraction for Christian visitor because Mass is available three times a day. The Cathedral of Notre Dame is also known for its relationship to the story of the Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe is national symbol that was built in honor of those who fought for France during the Napoleonic Wars. The names of the generals who fought in the war are engraved on the inside. There are also inscriptions in the ground below the arch where the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I rest.
Germany
Cologne Cathedral
The Cologne Cathedral is a Roman Catholic gothic cathedral located in Cologne, Germany. It is one of Germany’s most famous landmark and dominates the skyline of Cologne. The Cathedral is open all year round and has about 20,000 visitors each day. It holds the shrine of the Three Magi, where the relics of the Three Wise Men are located.
Neuschwanstein Castle
The Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the most popular among all of the palaces and castles in Europe and is located in Bavaria near the town of Fussen. They have up to 1.4 million people visit the castle every year with up to 6,000 visitors a day during the summer to tour throughout the different rooms of the castle of the fairy-tale king or otherwise known as King Ludwig II of Bavaria.
Liechtenstein
Vaduz Castle
The Vaduz Castle is the official residence of the prince of Liechtenstein located on a hill in Vaduz, the country’s capital. The inside is not available to the public but it can be viewed from the outside. Many visitors walk up the hill to admire the fairy tale like building and to look over the city.
Vaduz Cathedral
The Vaduz Cathedral is a neo-gothic Roman Catholic Church. It was originally a parish church before it become and Cathedral in 1997. The church is actively used for worship. It is applauded for the amazing sight, stain windows, and scaffolding around and on the building. The burial site of Prince Franz Joseph II of Liechtenstein, his wife Countess Georgine von Wilczek, and Elisabeth von Gutmann are located in the cathedral.
Gutenberg Castle
The Gutenberg Castle is located in Balzers, Liechtenstein on a hill. Since 2010, the chapel and rose garden has been welcoming visitors with numerous of cultural events and activities available at the castle during summer months. There has been many interesting archaeological discoveries made near the building and placed in the Liechtenstein National Museum.
Bock Casemates
The Bock Casemates is a tourist attraction in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. It is a series of tunnels and passageways. During World War I and World War II, these passageways and tunnels sheltered about 35,000 locals. The Bock Casemates are open to visitors and tours are available to visitors to give them a chance to learn about their past. Beside the history of the passageway and tunnels, it is known for its breathtaking views.
Netherlands
Anne Frank House
The Anne Frank House was formerly used as the hiding place of Anne Frank and her family during Hitler's attacks. It has now been turned into a museum. This is one of the most famous tourist spot in Amsterdam with always a crowd of tourists lined up along the outside to go inside.
Van Gogh Musuem
The Van Gogh Museum located in Amsterdam, Netherlands has the world’s largest collection of the world’s most popular artist, Vincent van Gogh. Each year there are about 1.6 million visitors making it one of the 25 most popular museum in the world. The museum has more than 200 paintings and 500 drawings made by Vincent van Gogh throughout the five periods of his life and work.
Switzerlands
Swiss Alps
The Swiss Alps runs through Switzerland and is part of the biggest mountain range in Europe. With high peaks, sheer valleys, and cool lakes, many resorts and paradises are available for winter sports like skiing and snowboarding during the winter time and also makes for great hiking in the summer time. The Swiss Alps is also known for its impressive Swiss scenery.
Rhine Falls
The Rhine Fall is located at Neuhausen am Rheinfall near the city of Schaffhausen in northern Switzerland. It is Europe’s largest waterfall. There are opportunities that allow visitors to walk above and around the waterfall, to ride a boat from the Rhine Falls to Lake Constance, to watch a short film about the Falls, and to ride a boat up to the mist of the Falls.
Lake Zurich
Lake Zurich is located in Zurich, Switzerland. It is a very popular place for people to go swimming, play water sports, boating, sun-bathing, jogging and picnicking on and around the lake. Lake Zurich plays as a perfect divider between the old town and the new, modernized city in Zurich. Many tourists enjoys watching the beautiful scenery surrounding the lake.