Places to See in Europe Before They Disappear

Frommer’s, the company that has brought us some of the best budget and discount travel advice on the market, has just released a new travel guide that is a must-read. 500 Places to See before They Disappear is not only a great resource for new trip ideas but it is a stark reminder that a number of our modern wonders – man-made or natural – might not be here forever. As the author mentions, “Who wants to devote a week’s precious vacation to dive at a dying coral reef, when there are still healthy ones to glory over?”). Here are some of the European highlights – all of which are worth a closer look, sooner rather than later.

Jungfrau: The Melting Ice Cap of Europe

Towering above the tiny yet bustling hamlet of Interlaken are three of Switzerland’s mighty peaks: the Jungfrau, the Eiger, and the Mönch. Despite their overwhelming size and expansive stretches of white, these peaks are under threat from global warming. Current predictions are that 75% of Switzerland’s glaciers could very well disappear. While this fact is hard to believe when hiking amongst the snowy summits of these mountains, it is true that tourists are now more frequently treated to magnificent displays of ice crashing to the ground, massive snow mounds plummeting to lower reaches, and other sights that confirm the fact that this region is changing with the shifting weather patterns.

English Bluebells: A Fading British Icon
Britain has many icons: double-decker buses, fish and chips, the Union Flag. Few realize, though, that another one of the British emblems are its many natural wonders – white cliffs, towering mountains, blue lakes. One of England’s loveliest outdoor features is under threat: the bluebell. Usually blanketing the countryside in April and May every year like a Beatrix Potter drawing, warmer temperatures earlier in the year means this flower has more difficulty maturing and setting seeds. Despite legal protection of the bluebell, the sweet springtime scents of the wild bluebell are fading.

Berlin Wall: Germany’s Former Dividing Line
Once one of the world’s most decisive borders, the Berlin Wall is slowly fading back into the vibrant fabric of the city’s modern sensibilities. While sections of the wall still exist, they continue to be under threat of ongoing development projects and neighbourhood regeneration. In some places, markers on the ground at least provide a reminder of what was once there; in others, not a trace exists.

Venice: A City Sinks Into the Lagoon

A picturesque collection of 118 separate islands, Venice is a mystical site sitting in the Adriatic Sea. Unlike any other city in the world, the city is built entirely around the canal system and this uniqueness contributes both to its charm and to its susceptibility to weather change. Over the years, flooding has become a severe problem, with as many as 40 floods between March and September in some cases. Estimates suggest that the city is sinking about 2.5 inches per decade, so this precious sight is a must-see before it disappears into the lagoon.

Anne Frank’s Chestnut Tree: A Dying Symbol
It really is one of this travel guide’s sob stories. Anne Frank was a hopeful girl, as we know from the diaries she penned from the attic in a canal house in Amsterdam. We also know that she took pleasure from a nearby chestnut tree; it and a sliver of blue sky peeking out from behind the blackened windows were the only contact Anne had with the outside world all during her time hidden away.

Leaning Tower of Pisa: A Tuscan Icon

While judged to be architecturally sound for another 300 years or so, this impressive tower in the village of Pisa has had a weathered history. Built on unstable ground, the tower continued to tilt dangerously low before a restoration project in the 1900s restored the building’s incline to safer levels. First a witness to Galileo’s breakthrough experiments, then home to a military observation post, the leaning tower of Pisa has earned its right as one of Europe’s most iconic structures.

The Last Supper: Da vinci’s Survivalist Masterpiece
You may be hard pressed to get reservations for this one, but once you do you’ll have to arrive on time or otherwise miss out. And once inside the near vacuum-sealed interior, you only have 10 minutes to gaze at what is often described as Da vinci’s greatest masterpiece: The Last Supper. It is a survivor, without a doubt; the church it is housed in was bombed in WWII, but the wall with the painting survived. Part of the painting is gone as a doorway was cut into Jesus’ feet. And most recently, it has been subject to controversial restoration, bringing with it brighter colors and hidden features. There are plenty of reasons why this dying portrait is one of Milan’s must-sees.

Want to learn about more about these and other places to see before they disappear or get some great ideas about offbeat travel around the world? Then pick up a copy of 500 Places to See before They Disappear before it is too late. The guide lists travel information, including websites, closest airport and recommended hotels for each featured destination.