Historic districts in European cities

Montmartre is the highest district of Paris and represents the type of historic quarter that displays local architecture from medieval to baroque periods. The streets connect art galleries, studios and old houses throughout the neighborhood. Elements from different eras remain visible here, from Romanesque churches to neoclassical facades. The Sacré-Cœur Basilica crowns the hilltop and defines the character of this district.

Alfama is the oldest district of Lisbon, displaying architecture from the medieval period through the baroque era. Steep streets wind through the quarter, connecting traditional restaurants, old houses, and neighborhood squares. The buildings show elements from their time of origin, from Romanesque churches to later classical facades. Fado music houses line these ancient streets, creating a living record of the city's past since the 8th century.

The Barrio Gotico is the medieval center of Barcelona and displays local architecture from the Middle Ages. The streets connect squares, cafes and old stone buildings. This district preserves elements from its time of origin, including the 13th century cathedral La Seu with its characteristic Gothic features.

The Old Town is the medieval city center of Edinburgh with the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle and underground streets from the 17th century. This historic district displays architecture from the medieval to baroque periods. The streets connect markets, cafes and old houses. The Old Town preserves elements from its time of origin, from Romanesque churches to neoclassical facades.

The Red Light District in Amsterdam is a network of alleys in the city center, situated between the Oudezijds Voorburgwal and Oudezijds Achterburgwal canals. Narrow streets are lined with display windows, bars and theaters. The district shows architecture from different periods and preserves elements from its long history, ranging from medieval structures to neoclassical facades. The alleys connect markets, cafes and old buildings throughout the area.

Gamla Stan is the historic district of Stockholm, situated on a small island that has been settled since the 13th century. Narrow streets wind between colorful merchant houses from the medieval and baroque periods. The Royal Palace rises above the squares, and museums, restaurants and cafes fill the streets. The architecture shows romanesque churches and neoclassical facades from different eras. Walking through Gamla Stan, you see how the city developed over the centuries.

Trastevere is a district on the western bank of the Tiber in Rome. Its cobblestone streets wind through a neighborhood of old buildings that show styles from the medieval period through the baroque era. The Santa Maria basilica sits at the heart of this area. Small cafes and markets line the narrow passages. The buildings here retain features from their original time of construction, with elements ranging from Romanesque details to neoclassical facades. Walking through Trastevere, you experience the layered history of Rome in its architecture and street life.

Plaka is a historic district at the base of the Acropolis in Athens. Stone paths wind through the quarter past restaurants, markets and buildings from the Ottoman period. The architecture displays features from different eras and fits the character of this old city quarter, which preserves medieval to baroque building styles. Here locals and visitors walk through narrow streets, discover small cafes and take in the old structures around them.

Kazimierz represents one of the historic districts that showcase local architecture from medieval to baroque periods across European cities. This Jewish quarter from the 14th century in Kraków contains several synagogues, traditional restaurants and a historical marketplace. The streets here connect these locations and reveal layers of history visible in the house facades and public squares.

Prague Old Town represents this European city district with medieval streets leading to a central square. The astronomical town hall and Gothic churches from the 13th century anchor the area. Narrow passages connect markets, cafes and old residences. This quarter shows layers of time, from Romanesque churches to neoclassical facades.

Le Marais is a historical district in Paris that displays features from different centuries. Its streets interweave medieval buildings with fashion boutiques, art galleries and French restaurants. Like historic districts in European cities, Le Marais preserves elements from its time of origin, from Romanesque churches to neoclassical facades.

Schwabing is a 19th century university district in Munich. Its streets are lined with cafes, galleries, and buildings in the Art Nouveau style. This quarter belongs to the collection of historic districts in European cities because it preserves the architecture and daily life of its era.

Belém is the district in Lisbon that displays the main works of Manueline style. The Hieronymites Monastery and Belem Tower stand on the Tagus riverbank and define the character of this historic quarter. The streets connect old houses, markets and cafes together. The district preserves elements from its time of origin, from medieval to baroque periods.

Sultanahmet displays architecture from medieval to baroque periods. The streets connect markets, cafes and old houses. This historic district preserves elements from its time of origin, from the 6th century Hagia Sophia to the 17th century Sultan Ahmed Mosque.

The Altstadt of Salzburg shows architecture from several periods, from Romanesque to Baroque. The streets connect churches, cafes and old houses built over centuries. This historic district preserves elements from its origins: Romanesque and Gothic churches, Renaissance townhouses and the 11th century Hohensalzburg Fortress shape the character of this quarter.

Warsaw Old Town shows how the city rebuilt itself after the Second World War. The houses and marketplace were reconstructed between 1945 and 1963 using historical plans and paintings as guides. The buildings blend medieval and baroque architecture together. Narrow streets connect shops, cafes and old residential buildings throughout the district.

Cannaregio is a residential quarter in Venice that fits into the historic districts of European cities. The area is defined by waterways crossed by footbridges, where shops, restaurants and houses form the daily life of local residents. The architecture spans from medieval to baroque periods, showing how this quarter has developed over centuries.

Oxford City Center displays architecture spanning from the medieval period through the baroque era. The university shapes the district with its colleges and buildings dating from the 13th century. The market square, built in 1774, remains the focus of local life. Historic inns line the streets where visitors and residents move between shops, cafes and offices. Churches with Gothic and classical features define the character of this historic district.

The Sassi di Matera is a historic district where stone houses are carved into rock faces and underground chambers have served as homes since prehistoric times. The quarter displays how architecture evolved over thousands of years, connecting medieval to baroque building styles with the early settlement forms of this region.

The Hospices de Beaune is a building complex in this historic district featuring a medieval hospital with tiled roofs, a courtyard, and medical facilities that operated from 1443 to 1971. The structure displays features of late medieval architecture and preserves the building elements from its period of origin.

Arlington Row is a row of stone cottages in Bibury, England, constructed in the 14th century. Originally these buildings served as storage facilities for wool before being converted into homes for weavers. The cottages display local architecture from the medieval period and fit within the historic districts that preserve elements from their time of origin, from Romanesque churches to neoclassical facades.

The Château de Simiane-la-Rotonde is a fortified residence from the 12th century located in this historic district of a European city. The castle displays medieval architecture with original stone walls and towers. At its center stands a distinctive rotunda that defines the structure. This residence preserves elements from its period of origin and connects with the surrounding streets, markets, and old houses of the quarter.

Klis Fortress is a mountain stronghold from the 5th century that rises above this historic district. The structure once protected trade routes and served as a residence for Croatian rulers. The fortress displays architectural elements from different periods and combines medieval structures with later additions, characteristic of the region.

Old Town Plovdiv showcases the layers of history that accumulated in this Bulgarian city across centuries. The historic district contains Roman ruins, ancient walls, houses built during Ottoman rule, and buildings from the Bulgarian National Revival period. As you walk through the narrow streets, you encounter Romanesque and neoclassical structures alongside Ottoman architecture. The streets connect small squares, cafes, and residential buildings that preserve the character of their time.

The Thebes Archaeological Area is a large complex of Bronze Age remains, including royal tombs, temples and residential structures dating from 2500 BC. This site forms part of the historic districts that showcase local architecture spanning from medieval to baroque periods, preserving elements that connect the quarters through time.

The historic district of Kutaisi shows medieval architecture with the Bagrati Cathedral and Gelati Monastery. The streets connect old houses, markets and cafes and preserve Georgian building elements from the 11th to 17th centuries. This quarter belongs to the historic districts of European cities that display works of art from the medieval to baroque periods.

The Historical Quarter of Cádiz displays architecture from medieval to baroque periods. The streets connect old markets, cafes and historic houses. This quarter was founded by Phoenicians and preserves elements from different eras: Roman theater ruins, medieval walls and baroque churches along the Atlantic coast.

The Ribe Viking Heritage Site displays remains from an 8th-century trading post with excavated houses, workshops and a reconstructed marketplace. This location shows how people lived and worked during the Viking period. The site fits within the tradition of European historic districts that preserve architecture and daily life from different eras, connecting visitors with the past through physical remains and reconstructed spaces.

This Serbian Orthodox temple stands in Belgrade's historic district and ranks among the largest Eastern Orthodox buildings in the world. Construction began in 1935 and the structure displays the religious architecture that defines this quarter. The temple blends traditional Orthodox building forms with Belgrade's history, offering insight into the city's spiritual and cultural development from the 20th century to the present.

The Franjo Tudjman Bridge is a modern structure that connects different districts of Dubrovnik across a tributary of the Rijeka River. Built in 2002 with advanced engineering techniques, this cable bridge stands alongside the medieval and baroque elements that define the city's historic quarters. The bridge serves as a practical link between neighborhoods, allowing people and vehicles to move freely through different parts of the city. Its contemporary design contrasts with the older architecture preserved throughout Dubrovnik's old districts, reflecting how the city continues to develop while maintaining its historical character.

The Skadarlija Quarter displays local architecture from 19th century Belgrade. The streets connect traditional restaurants, art galleries and cultural venues in historical limestone buildings. This quarter preserves elements from its time of origin with facades from that era.

Bruges Center represents the medieval architecture of this historic district with canals, Gothic buildings, and market squares dating from the 12th century. The streets connect old houses, cafes, and markets. This old town preserves elements from its time of origin with characteristic Gothic structures.

The Old Town of Colmar displays the regional architecture of this wine-producing area. The houses with their half-timber construction date from the Middle Ages and continue to shape the streetscape today. Narrow paved lanes connect small squares and shops. The ornate facades and flower decorations feel like stepping back in time. This historic quarter preserves elements from its origins and belongs to the European districts that show Romanesque churches and neoclassical buildings.