I searched and searched and couldn't find a thread like this so i thought I'd start one. My limited travels in Europe have given me a new appreciation for history, art, etc. but I am still a sucker for fantastic breathtaking natural scenery. So, for all of you extensive travellers, what are YOUR top picks for natural European beauty? It can be an area in or around a large city, but I'm wondering about the places that are just beautiful to *be* in. I like being outdoors, but am not a "mega-hiker" so places that are fairly easily accessible are preferred

Carrie

The Mediterranean from just about anywhere in the south of France; the Ardèche gorge, in the French Midi; the French alps and the Pyrenees.

My pick... The Norwegian Fjords

I, too, love the natural beauty of a country. Looking back over my trips to Europe, southern Germany always stands out in my mind - the Black Forest region or along the Alpine drive. It's so gorgeous.

I also loved my drive thru England particularly the Cotswald area. The greenery always gets me.

I come from Southern California which is beautiful along the coast into Northern California and the Redwoods but we're a desert here in the south. I'm always in awe when I hit "green" territory.

There are those who have found the Amalfi Coast of Italy not without beauty.

Last year I went on a hiking trip around the Swiss/French Alps. I have been all over the world, yet I'm still blown away by my pictures of this trip.

Bellagio, Italy. It is like being in a postcard.

There are so many; the Tuscan countryside, any Italian coastline, the Italian Lakes, most of Switzerland - with a particular nod to the Ticino or the Engadin, most of Croatia, Slovenian mountains, the English Lake country, Edinburg, St. Andrews, the Greek Isles, Delphi, the Loire Valley.....

There are a lifetime's worth of natural spots to see.

The waterfall at Krimml, Austria.

Two places that came to mind immediately are the Val d'Orcia area of Italy in the spring and the view from Ravello on the Amalfi Coast.

The caldera from the cliffs of Santorini.

Swiss-French Alps gets my vote

I think the three places that spring to my mind would be

1. The Pyrenees which are fabtastic and pretty accessible without major hiking.

2. The Britanny coastline, although it's getting harder and harder to get away from built up areas; and

3. The Western Isles of Scotland. There is a thread on here, called something like "places that took your breath away" which somewhat reflects your query, and my two are the top of the Cuillins Ridge on a sunny September day- although that one would be challenging to get to- and sailing up the Sound of Mull on a ferry at first light in May.

Driving the Klaussen Pass in Switzerland in Summer.

Lapland in Finland, Sweden or Norway. Especially in winter with the snow. the views of the hills and enless forests covered with white now. Just amazing. But, go in spring (early March-late April) to have sunlight. Also the temperatures are nice at that time of the year. It´s not below freezing point anymore and the snow hasn´t melted yet.

Hi LSUvetgirl,

Here are my beautiful spots in nature (all in Switzerland -- no surprise!):

Montreux on Lake Geneva
Luzern or Weggis on Lake Lucerne
Spiez on Lake Thun
Wengen or Grindelwald in the Berner O.

s

View from the Chair lift in Anacapri or anywhere on the Aeolian Islands.

Snowdonia National Park, Wales.
Tuscany.
Inishowen Peninsula, Ireland (particularly Malin Head).
Lake District, England.
Peak District, England.
The west side of Inishmore in the Aran Islands, standing atop a cliff and looking across the Atlantic.
Alps - any Alps, any country.

Those are my faves, so far, in no particular order.

Definately the Punkva Caves in the Czech Republic. If you are travelling through the country stop here. they are just north of Brno. Take a look at the abyss photo on this link -

http://www.blansko.cz/en/kras/mk-punkevni.php?lang=en

As Underhill has said, the area along Mediterranean coast of France and I will have to add Italy is just spectacularly beautiful - from the Cote d' Azur, along the Ligurian coast to Gaeta and on to Sorrento and beyond - just wonderful!

But, having just returned from Portugal, I will say that we saw amazingly beautiful and unique land and sea scapes everywhere we visited in Portugal - from Ericiera on the coast to Cascais, inland to Mafra, Sintra, from seacoast to desert to verdant mountains, down to the Algarve to the sea with the cliffs, rocks, grottoes - very lovely, indeed.