Europe has a rich history that dates back millennia. This isn’t history that may be adequately coated by a visit to Stonehenge or a handful of other ruins. To really explore the history of the land, you would like to induce off the beaten track and look where no one else is looking. Below is the list of the lesser known ancient ruins in Europe.
To most tourists doing the rounds of Europe’s ancient ruins, Switzerland doesn’t figure prominently on the map. The ruins of Grasburg Castle, though, are well worth a visit. In its time, it is said to have been the entertainment center of the nobles of Burgundy. The ruins are solely partially restored nowadays. Locally, it’s a well-liked destination for hiking groups and school children.
The Temple of Segesta, Sicily
On the northwest of the island of Sicily, around 75 km from Palermo, along the highway that connects the town to Trapani, could be a spectacular ancient ruin – the Temple of Segesta. The temple, that appears something just like the Parthenon from a distance, is impressive and very well-preserved. It has no roof, but not because it collapsed over time, but because it was never completed when it absolutely was built 430 B.C.. Nearby are the ruins of a spectacular amphitheater. To this day, it is used for concerts and plays.
The Poulnabrone Dolmen, Ireland
Ireland’s vast, stark plains have dozens of ancient sites dating to the Neolithic period. Some of them resemble the Stonehenge in their basic design. Others are mere caves. In barren, rocky County Clare stands the Poulnabrone Dolmen, a solitary, large, irregular-shaped stone construction that marks a burial chamber. The thought that this simple structure has stood at this location for thousands of years can be a moving one.
The Temple of Asklepieon, Kos
In ancient Greece, an Asklepieon was a temple to Asclepius, the god of healing. At one point, there were 300 Asklepieons around the country. Today, though, only a handful of ruins are in reasonable shape. One of them is the Asklepieon of Kos, on a Greek island of the same name that’s very close to Asian Turkey. The Asklepieon of Kos is a beautifully preserved temple set in idyllic countryside. It’s great for a day’s exploration.
Pottu Codinu, Sardinia
Unlike the other sites on this list, the Pottu Codinu in Sardinia, Italy, isn’t a castle, a temple or a theater. It’s much more ancient than the other sites, too. The Pottu Codinu is an ancient burial ground dating to 3,500 BC. The ruins are set on the back roads of Sardinia, and are fully unmaintained, open to the elements. These ruins aren’t actual buildings, rather, they are man-made caves in the ground.
Image by Abdullah Bin Sahl, Under Creative Common License.