Exploring Europe's Natural Wonders

Exploring Europe's Natural Wonders

by Rick Steves

Europe is a treasure chest of great art and history. But it's also a continent filled with natural beauty, often overlooked by tourists too busy sprinting through sights or searching for the perfect souvenir. But a day in the great outdoors can be just as culturally fulfilling as another church or museum -- and much more invigorating.

While traveling in England, I went on a hike through the Cotswolds countryside. The two-hour trek took me from the charming hill town of Stow-on-the-Wold, through the villages of Lower and Upper Slaughter to Bourton-on-the-Water, the "Venice of the Cotswolds." Along the way, I caught backyard glimpses of farms in action, ducks rudely swimming butt-up in mill ponds, rabbits popping up in fields videogame-style, ancient wind-sculpted trees, wet and slippery kissing gates, and slender slate church spires marking distant villages where I knew a hot cup of tea was waiting. When I think back on my trip, that hike was a highlight.

Europe's greatest natural gift is the Alps.

Even those who know a Rocky Mountain high find something special about the Alps. Here, nature and civilization mix comfortably, as if man and mountain shared the same crib.

The Swiss village of Taveyanne, southeast of Lake Geneva, is a jumble of log cabins and snoozing cows stranded all alone at 5,000 feet. The only business in town is the Refuge de Taveyanne, where the Siebenthal family serves traditional meals in a bucolic setting with no electricity -- just a huge charred fireplace, prehistoric cash register, and well-hung ornamental cowbells.

Alps of Austria and Italy

From high on the German and Austrian border, we make our way down to Innsbruck, the historic capital of the Habsburgs. We slap-dance the night away in a nearby Tirolean village before turning to feudal Italy at Reifenstein Castle. Then we're out-of-doors, zooming up rock cliffs and hiking through alpine meadows in the Italian Dolomites.

In Austria, the Hinterhornalm offers the ultimate country-alpine experience. After winding up to the summit by car, you're greeted by the rustic Hinterhornalm Berg restaurant and, on sunny days, a butterfly nest of hang-gliders ready to take flight. From here, it's a 20-minute walk to Walderalm, a cluster of three dairy farms with 70 cows that share their meadow with the clouds. The ladies of the farms serve soup, sandwiches, and drinks -- including very fresh milk in the afternoon -- on rough plank tables overlooking the valley and, in the distance, tourist-filled Innsbruck.

Slovenes proudly call the Soca River, which cuts through the Julian Alps, their "emerald river."

Tiny Slovenia offers fine alpine scenery with a Slavic twist.

Spend a day driving over the breathtaking Vrsic Pass. The road crests at 5,000 feet, where a mountain hut offers stunning views. After twisting back down the other side of the mountains, drivers end up in the valley of the Soca River, with water that's somehow both crystal clear and spectacularly turquoise. This mecca for kayakers and other whitewater adventurers is known as "Adrenaline Valley."

Nestled inside the Dolomites -- Italy's own stretch of Alps -- is Europe's largest high alpine meadow, the Alpe di Siusi. Dotted by farm huts and wildflowers, and surrounded by dramatic peaks, the 8-by-20-mile meadow seems to float at 6,500 feet. Crisscrossed by trails, it's ideal for flower lovers, walkers, and equestrians. It's also family friendly, with chalet restaurants, playgrounds, and plenty of animals to pet at a little park. Being here on a sunny summer day feels like a day at the beach.

Le Grand Canyon du Verdon France
Le Grand Canyon du Verdon

There's more to Europe's natural side than mountains.

Le Grand Canyon du Verdon is France's answer to the Grand Canyon. The scenery is dramatic, with overpowering slabs of white and salmon-colored limestone plunging impossible distances to the snaking Verdon River far below. The best way to see the canyon is by driving along its left bank, though adventurous travelers can hike down into the canyon.

Perhaps my favorite place to commune with nature is in Italy's Cinque Terre.

The five towns that make up the Cinque Terre are strung together by a series of trails that form a national park. Hiking these trails -- a seven-mile, five-hour journey -- is one of the most exhilarating experiences. Take it slow ... smell the cactus flowers and herbs, listen to birds, and enjoy spectacular vistas on all sides.

I was saddened to learn that plans to improve the park by adding information offices, mountain biking, museums, and other amenities had been scuttled due to misuse of funds (visitors pay about $7 to hike). The guilty officials have been removed from power, but the damage has been done, and the park is in limbo.

Still, my spirits lifted as I hiked among the vineyards and olive groves, views of Vernazza's castle in the distance and thinking of my post-hike reward -- a dinner of seafood and white wine followed by a quiet sit on the harborfront. Italy's Amalfi Coast is still my favorite stretch of Mediterranean coastline, and its beauty can't be marred, even by government corruption.

People often say they need a vacation to recover from their European vacation.

But if you take a few days to slow down and explore Europe's natural wonders, you may come home relaxed and revitalized.

Vacations & Travel "Exploring Europe's Natural Wonders"