Europe Animal, Art, Gardens & parks + Religious pictures

• World

No longer defined by the wall that divided it, this is one of Europe\'s most interesting cities; a haven of architecture and museums and fascinating cultural history.

While Casa de Campo is a park walking on the wild side of western Madrid, its eastern counterpart, El Retiro Park, is Madrid\'s genteel, cultured take on park-life.

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

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

While Casa de Campo is a park walking on the wild side of western Madrid, its eastern counterpart, El Retiro Park, is Madrid\'s genteel, cultured take on park-life.

Armouries and pharmacies, rooms filled with fine porcelain, amazing collections of watches and silverware, and never-ending corridors graced by masterpieces.

Cutting-edge contemporary art – and challenging pieces by Spain\'s 20th century art \'superstars\', Picasso and Dali – are among the works found in the Reina Sofía.

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

Attend a theatrical or orchestral performance and admire the artworks on the alleged spot where St. Saturnin of Toulouse was martyred.

Containing parts of Limousin history from Roman times to the present, this magnificent Gothic house of worship is an important part of the skyline of Limoges.

With an opulence worthy of the former monarchs buried inside, this 15th-century chapel is the go-to spot for royal ceremonies and weddings.

Find out why literary masters, such as Goethe and Victor Hugo, heaped praise on this remarkable, pink-hued cathedral.

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.

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

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

From its architecture to its industry and sporting events, this is a city of fascinating contrasts just an hour by train from London. 

Make your way along elegant promenades to find medieval churches, thermal spas and stunning gardens in the shadow of the Italian Alps. 

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.

One of the oldest museums in France, this institution is a fantastic place to see paintings, sculptures and architecture spanning centuries, back to the Middle Ages.