A characteristic of European city trips is strolling through narrow streets, past historic buildings and old squares. While popular cities can be overwhelmingly crowded, age-old city parks always offer an escape to rest and relaxation. The urban gardens breathe culture and history and have retained their social function to this day. We have listed 5 beautiful city parks in Europe.
Hyde Park – London, England
Whoever wanders the flower gardens of Hyde Park, or takes a cruise on its Serpentine Lake, forget the hectic pace of the surrounding city center in the blink of an eye. This former hunting ground has been around since 1536 and is owned by the British Royal Family. Today, 142-acre Hyde Park is a much-loved meeting place for Londoners. There is a lot of sports and the famous Speakers' Corner offers a stage for public speakers every Sunday.
Villa Borghese – Rome, Italy
Central in Rome is the 80-hectare urban park Villa Borghese. The estate was built on the hill of Pinciano in the early 17th century by Cardinal Scipione Borghese. Since the park was bought by the city of Rome in the early 20th century, it has been freely accessible. Villa Borghese is home to renowned art museums and beautiful villas, fountains and statues.
Jardin du Luxembourg – Paris, France
The Luxembourg Gardens occupies an area of 25 hectares in the heart of Paris. The gardens were laid out from the beginning of the 15th century around the Palais du Luxembourg, which was built at the same time for Queen Maria de' Medici. Today the palace serves as the residence of the French Senate. In the middle of the stately park is a large octagonal pond, which attracts many reading students during the week and families with children at the weekend. The park has never lost its romantic appearance.
Djurgården – Stockholm, Sweden
The 279 hectare Djurgården is one of the fourteen islands that make up the city of Stockholm. In addition to a park with extensive forests, you will find beautiful country houses, palaces and museums here. The cozy open-air museum Skansen, for example, with houses rebuilt stone by stone from all over Sweden. The Royal Park offers a phenomenal view of the historic city center of Stockholm, which is easily accessible by bridge or boat.
Princes Street Gardens – Edinburgh, Scotland
The Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh, Scotland, prove that even a relatively small park can be big. The park was created around 1820 during the draining of Lake Nor Loch and is split in two by The Mound hill. It is home to important museums such as the National Gallery of Scotland and The Royal Scottish Academy. On the south side, the park borders Castle Rock, on which Edinburgh Castle stands. This is where the Crown Jewels of Scotland are located. Seeing this spectacular location with your own eyes, you will not be surprised that the castle dates back to the 12th century.
