EUROPE

The 10 Best Destinations for Solo Travelers

If you're planning a solo trip abroad, consider one of these destinations.

Her reign was short, but her legacy is long.

The Lasting Legacy of Elizabeth Stuart, the ‘Winter Queen’ of Bohemia

The daughter of King James VI and I was Electress Palatine of the Rhine and Queen of Bohemia, and through her grandson, the founder of a new British ruling dynasty.

Here's which European cities are best prepared for a "smart city" future.

The 10 “Smartest” Cities in Europe

Which European cities are best prepared for a “smart city” future? According to researchers, London leads the way.

The Giant’s Causeway in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

8 Facts About The Giant’s Causeway

In Northern Ireland, thousands of hexagonal stone columns of various heights rise out of the North Atlantic Ocean and climb up to the foot of a cliff, as if they had been placed by a massive mythical creature.

A lion as depicted in a French Book of Hours, circa 1432.

Why Medieval Artists Drew Such Goofy Looking Lions

Just because lions were depicted frequently in medieval art and design doesn’t mean they were depicted well.

An Irish family at the ruins of their house In Killarney.

Ireland’s Great Hunger: 13 Facts About the 19th-Century Potato Famine that Devastated the Emerald Isle

The lack of proper aid paired with layers of broken policies and a fractured response from a distant British government led to unimaginable—and likely avoidable—suffering in Ireland.

A little lad relieving himself is the Renaissance-era version of the peeing Calvin bumper sticker.

Why Are There So Many Ancient Fountains Featuring Little Boys Peeing?

Modern guidebooks offer nearly a dozen different explanations for why Brussels' 'Mannekin Pis' statue is relieving himself.

You Can Soon Spend a Night at the Moulin Rouge in Paris—For Just $1

‘Moulin Rouge!’ movie fans can finally live out their dreams of spending a romantic night in Paris’s most iconic red windmill.

"La Queue à la Boucherie en 1871" by Clément-Auguste Andrieux

'I'll Have the Kangaroo Stew': When Paris Was Forced to Eat Its Zoos

For Christmas dinner in 1870, Paris restaurant Voisin publicized a menu that featured kangaroo stew, elephant stock, stuffed donkey head, and bear chops.

'Francisco Pizarro Seizing the Inca of Peru' by John Everett Millais, 1846.

10 Pivotal Battles That Changed History

The fall of Constantinople isn’t the only battle that helped usher in a whole new era of history.

A pillory, 1805. Artist: William Henry Pyne

11 Brutal Torture Devices From History

Here are some particularly brutal torture devices that have thankfully been phased out of our penal systems.

Chernobyl's nuclear power plant is in crisis.

Chernobyl Has Lost Power in Ukraine, Raising Concerns Over Escaping Radiation

It’s a development that could potentially have serious repercussions for Europe.

The Millau Viaduct during a cycling race in 2012.

Meet the Millau Viaduct: The Tallest Bridge in the World

At about 1.5 miles long, France’s Millau Viaduct is far from the world’s longest bridge—but it is the tallest.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and The Duchess of Sussex leave following their wedding ceremony in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018.

11 Royals Who Married Commoners

From England to Japan, royal family members have been upending tradition and risking it all to be with the people they love for decades.

Stefan Mrozinski jumps from a rail at the Sandboarding World Championship 2007 at Monte Kaolino.

At This Ski Resort, the Slopes Are Covered With Sand Instead of Snow

Guests can sand ski and sandboard down the massive Monte Kaolino sand dune in Hirschau in Bavaria, Germany.

11 of Europe’s Most Magical Christmas Markets

You’ll be hard pushed to find a European city that doesn’t host a Christmas market these days—here are some of the continent's most enchanting.

An illustration of a woolly mammoth, blissfully unaware of its species impending doom.

20 Cool Facts About the Ice Age

How many ice ages have there been so far? The same number of ‘Ice Age’ movies that have been released. (Five.)

Your bread and your yoga mat might have something in common.

7 Everyday American Food Additives Banned in Other Countries

Red dye 40, olestra, and rbST all have the FDA’s stamp of approval. In other countries, they’re on the do-not-use list.

A 1788 portrait of Marie Antoinette by Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun.

Marie Antoinette’s Diamonds Are Hitting the Auction Block

Not all of Marie Antoinette’s jewels stayed within the family after her death. These two bracelets did.

Villages in Southern Italy Are Paying People to Move There

Nine southern Italian villages are offering people a $33,000 incentive to move and work in their towns.

An illustration of cochineal insects, which brought vivid red hues to Europe.

The Bug the World Fought Over

The Cochineal insect creates a red dye so incredible, Europe nearly went to war over it.

The EU Is Opening to Vaccinated Tourists—Here's What You Need to Know for a Trip to Europe

After more than a year of restrictions against most nonessential travel, the EU will open its borders to vaccinated tourists this summer. Here's what you need to know before booking your trip.

Norway's TIX performing at the first semifinal of the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest.

U.S. Residents Will Be Able to Stream the Eurovision Song Contest Live on NBC’s Peacock

Past Eurovision winners have included Celine Dion and ABBA—this year, U.S. residents will be able to watch the winning performance in real time.

How Much Would It Cost to Rent Buckingham Palace and Other Royal Residences?

The UK rental site UNCLE crunched the numbers on what it would cost to rent some of the royal family's most luxurious homes.

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