TOP 20 OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL NATURAL LANDSCAPES IN EUROPE (part 2)

Les gorges de Vintgar se trouvent dans le parc national du Triglav en Slovénie, non loin du lac de Bled. Ces gorges encaissées s’étendent sur 1,6 km le long des eaux turquoises de la rivière Radovna. Ce site naturel est très bien aménagé, vous pourrez en effet arpenter facilement le parcours fait de passerelles et de galeries accrochées à la roche. Cette promenade d’environ 1h30 vous permettra de contempler ses montagnes, ses eaux vives et ses cascades, dont la dernière en fin de parcours, haute de 26 mètres.

The Alps are a mountain range stretching over the northern border of Italy, the South-East of France, Monaco, Switzerland, Austria, Liechtenstein, the South of Germany and Slovenia. These mountains culminate at 4,809 meters, with its highest peak which is Mont Blanc. The Alps can be divided into three parts, the Western Alps (from the Mediterranean to Mont Blanc), the Central Alps (from the Aosta Valley to Brenner) and the Eastern Alps (from Brenner to Slovenia).

In this mountain range, one of the most beautiful in the world, you can also practice many activities such as winter sports in its many ski resorts. In summer, the Alps are also an ideal destination for lovers of hiking and outdoor activities, such as cycling, paragliding, climbing,… Finally, from a cultural point of view, the Alps are also worth visiting for its typical mountain architecture, its traditions and its local gastronomy, made of good regional products such as its cheeses, cold meats and wines.

Nida is a seaside resort located on the northwest coast of Lithuania. Its most remarkable site is the dune of Parnidis, which is the second tallest in Europe after the one of the Pilat in France. From the top of this dune, you can contemplate a splendid view of Nida, the Baltic Sea and the “Lithuanian Sahara” which extends beyond the border with Russia and its territory of Kaliningrad. Finally, do not hesitate to visit the small town of Nida with its colorful houses, its typical fishing port and its beautiful sandy beaches.

The cliffs of Etretat are huge and magnificent white chalk cliffs located in the north west of France. These cliffs, which can be visited in all seasons and known internationally, are an ideal walk for those who like to walk in a splendid natural setting. From its paths on the top of the cliffs, or from below on its pebble beaches, you can admire its impressive cliffs, as well as its three successive arches: the Amont gate, the Aval gate and the Manneporte .

If you are in Etretat, I strongly recommend you to visit visit the Gardens of Etretat which are located at the top of the cliffs near Villa Roxelane. These gardens, created in 2016 by the internationally renowned landscape architect Alexander Grivko, offer a superb journey through local flora, numerous plant sculptures and a collection of contemporary art. All of this fits perfectly into these gardens, and you get a wonderful extra view of the cliffs. Don’t hesitate to book it in advance, tickets can be used directly on your phone.

Ice caves can be visited in different places in Iceland during the winter period. For my part, I visited those of the Vatnajökull glacier and this remains for me one of the most beautiful natural landscapes that I have explored. These ephemeral marvels of nature with amazing colors and shapes are indeed breathtaking. You can check out videos of the ice caves in my video of Iceland.

The Fontainebleau Forest is located 60 km south of Paris in France. This 25,000 hectare preserved forest area is the 2nd largest state forest in France. It owes its fame thanks to its famous rocks with unusual shapes and its very pure sand. Among other things, you will effectively discover very large areas of fine sand in the middle of the forest, which is magnificent and atypical. This natural site is therefore ideal in any season for walking or cycling, and even climbing on the many rocks of the Fontainebleau forest. At the cultural level, the area also has magnificent attractions such as the splendid Château de Fontainebleau, or the village of Barbizon, which is a mythical place in French pre-Impressionist painting.

The Tatra Mountains are part of the Carpathian Mountains in eastern Europe. They are a natural border between Slovakia and Poland. The Tatras thus integrate 2 protected national parks including the high Tatras which are a biosphere reserve classified by UNESCO. During your walks, in addition to the magnificent natural landscapes, you may also be able to see its local fauna such as the Tatra chamois, marmots or bears. In winter, the area is ideal for skiing as in Zakopane in Poland for example, and in summer, you will make wonderful hikes.

Considered among the most beautiful bays in the world, the Mouths of Kotor (“Boka Kotorska”) are found in the southwest of Montenegro on the Adriatic coast. This natural landscape resembles a fjord, but since no glacier has existed there, we speak rather of mouths, filled by the rise of the sea level. To appreciate the view, I advise you to climb to the very top of the pretty medieval town of Kotor. After a physically difficult climb through winding stairs, you will be rewarded with an incredible panoramic view. Finally, I advise you to visit the two islands in the mouths of Kotor, Our-Lady-of-Rock island which is occupied by a Catholic church built in the 15th century and Saint-Georges island where you can see the abbey of Saint-Georges, a monastery built by the Benedictines in the 9th century.

The Italian lakes are among the most beautiful natural landscapes to visit in the country. Located in northern Italy, near the Swiss border, this region of the great lakes will delight nature lovers and outdoor sports enthusiasts. At Lake Maggiore, Lake Garda and Lake Como to name the most famous, you will also find pretty little villages, ancient castles, churches and monasteries. Finally, around the lakes, you can enjoy its superb natural landscapes by simply relaxing on its beaches, cycling along its banks or sailing on its calm waters.

The Kravica Falls are located on the Trebizat River in southwestern Bosnia and Herzegovina. They are one of the essential tourist sites of the country thanks to these majestic waterfalls in an arc of a circle shape, measuring 26 meters high and 120 meters wide. In addition, the Kravica Falls have a splendid unspoiled natural setting, in which it is even possible to swim, and where you can discover some water mills that were once fed by the falls.