Ancient names of medieval cities: list, history and interesting facts. The most beautiful Gothic buildings in the world The most beautiful cities in the West

The old continent is full of very beautiful small towns. From the chocolate-house villages of Germany, passing through the beautiful and colorful villages of the Scandinavian countries, the flirtatious coastal towns of Italy, the breathtaking mountain villages of Switzerland, the medieval towns of Spain or the fairytale villages of France.

This medieval, rather small town with 1,097 inhabitants is located in the province of Teruel (Spain), and, as a rule, occupies the top position in all rankings of the most beautiful villages in Spain. The village has been a national monument since 1961, won a gold medal for excellence in fine arts in 1996, and has been proposed for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

It is one of the five gems that make up the Cinque Terre region of Italy - five small fishing towns with World Heritage status. Choosing one out of five is an almost impossible task. Vernazza is perhaps the one that has best preserved the appearance of a maritime citadel.

Situated at the foot of a cliff on the banks of the Dordogne River, this French city, inhabited since prehistoric times, is one of the most beautiful in Europe. It suffered a disaster in January 1957 when a 5,000 m3 piece of rock broke off and fell on people, destroying ten houses, killing several people and blocking the road for several years. La Roque-Gageac has been restored with a new look, and this has allowed it to win the title of one of the most beautiful cities in France.

Located in the Brittany region of France, Josselin is a beautiful fairytale town known not only for its beauty, but also for its famous and impressive castle, built around 1008.

This is the highest and most beautiful village in the canton of Bern (Switzerland), at an altitude of 1650 m above the Lauterbrunnen valley. This beautiful village offers views of three of the most famous mountains in Switzerland: the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau. Tourism here is very popular both in winter and summer. Mürren has a population of only 450 people.

This small village of 350 residents is located in Wiltshire, England. This oasis of peace and tranquility has been rated as the country's second best village by the renowned British newspaper The Times and is certainly one of the most beautiful in Europe.

In the mountains north-west of the province of Malaga (Spain), this bullfighting city enjoys a privileged setting - on a huge and spectacular cliff, making it one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.

This beautiful Italian city is located on the coast of Calabria and is one of the main points of the Italian resort coast. One of its features is the huge cliff that overlooks the beach, making Tropea such a beautiful and unique town.

For many, including the poet William Morris, Bibury is the most beautiful village in England. Its fourteenth-century houses will transport you to another era. The place absolutely deserves to be part of this list.

The small town of Freudenberg is perhaps one of the most beautiful and most charming in Germany and Europe. It is located in the region of Siegen-Wittgenstein in North Rhine-Westphalia. In the city center, in an area called Alter Flecken, you can see many black and white half-timbered houses forming rows. This is Freudenberg's most characteristic and photographed image.

This small city, with a population of 14,000 inhabitants, is one of the most beautiful, picturesque and spectacular parts of Belgium. It is located on the banks of the Mosa and is sandwiched between rocks, which makes this city something unique.

This small fairytale town is located in southern Germany, on the edge of the Black Forest, in the district of Ortenau, Baden-Württemberg. Due to its extraordinary beauty, the city has been chosen as the backdrop for several films, such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Mykonos, or also known as Chora, is a beautiful small town on the island of Mykonos (Greece). Its unusual beauty consists of small white and square houses, with balconies, doors and windows painted in different colors. It is very interesting to wander through its labyrinthine streets. It is certainly one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and deserves to be on this list.

Norway's Mortsund is a beautiful enclave, a haven for fishermen. Its extraordinary beauty surrounded by nature attracts visitors who do not want to leave this beautiful and remote corner of Europe.

Gruyères is a historical town and municipality in the Swiss canton of Fribourg. Beautiful buildings and a medieval castle where nineteen counts lived make it one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.

10. Oia

This small town, belonging to the island of Santorini (Greece), is a global tourism destination. Hundreds of visitors come to Oia to watch its famous and beautiful sunset. Oia is also famous for its white volcano cliff houses and its popular blue domed churches.

The magnificent architecture and bay make Mont Saint-Michel the most visited tourist destination in Normandy and one of the first in France (about 3.2 million visitors per year). Declared a historical monument in 1862, Mont Saint-Michel has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979 and is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful small towns in Europe.

Bled is a city located on the shores of Lake Bled in Slovenia. It is known for its popular glacial lake, castles and churches in the surrounding forests. The place attracts a large number of tourists every year.

Reine was declared in the 70s as the most beautiful village in Norway. It has been a trading port since 1793 and a regular destination for cruises on the Norwegian fjords. Located in the Lofoten Islands, this picturesque village surrounded by mountains is a must-see in Norway.

San Gimignano is a small medieval walled city built on top of the hills of Tuscany in Italy. The characteristic feature of this beautiful city are the towers, which make it a European medieval Manhattan. The historic center of San Gimignano was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990.

This is a beautiful small rural village located in a picturesque valley in Funes, Italian Tyrol. It has a small beautiful church of Santa Magdalena, and one of the most beautiful landscapes not only in Europe but in the whole world.

Belongs to the district of Ansbach in Bavaria, Germany. It is a world famous tourist attraction due to its well-preserved medieval center. In addition to its beauty, Rothenburg ob der Tauber served as inspiration for the village in Pinocchio.

This beautiful fairytale city belongs to the Haut-Rhin department in the Alsace region of France. Walking through its streets, you can admire the sight of early Renaissance German Gothic buildings that will delight you.

This beautiful and colorful fishing town is the second on this list, which belongs to the area known as Cinque Terre in Italy. Manarola is perhaps the most beautiful of the five, and seems also to be the oldest, as evidenced by the cornerstone of the Church of San Lorenzo from 1160.

Hallstatt is a village in the Salzkammergut region of Austria. In 1997 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The beauty here is so great that this place often ranks top in rankings of the most beautiful villages in Europe.

Travel broadens your horizons. It's one thing to look at postcards and photographs of beautiful places and wish you were there, but it's a completely different thing when you actually go to those places in the photographs.

Sometimes they turn out to be more beautiful than photographs can convey, and sometimes the beauty of the places photographed is overrated. However, we hasten to assure you that the European places you will see on this list are, in fact, stunningly beautiful and simply breathtaking.

From the charming and winding streets of Prague to the snowy peaks of the Swiss Alps, below are twenty-five European destinations of breathtaking beauty:

25. Fjords, Norway

Fjords are formed by Scandinavian mountains flowing into the sea. The enormity of the fjords should certainly earn them a place on your European itinerary.

24. Northern Lights, Sweden

The Northern Lights typically appear during the winter. You'll have to leave the city on a clear night to see nature's greatest show.

23. Chamonix, France

The site of the first Winter Olympics is located in the shadow of the highest peak of the Alps, Mont Blanc.

22. Amfalfi Coast, Italy

The Amalfi Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most visited regions of Italy.

21. Hallstatt, Austria

This tranquil mining village, high in the Austrian Alps, is renowned for its incredible beauty among tourists.

20. Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

This area, one of the oldest national parks in south-eastern Europe, is famous for its cascading lakes.

19. Monasteries of Meteora, Greece

This is one of the largest monastery complexes in Greece, "Meteora" literally translates as "suspended in the air".

18. Lake Annecy, France

It is known as the cleanest lake in Europe, and the area itself is famous for tourism and water sports.

17. Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland

These rock pillars, formed by an ancient volcanic eruption, have been named one of Britain's natural wonders.

16. Preikestolen, Norway

This steep cliff, also known as the Pulpit, is one of Norway's most popular tourist attractions.

15. Matterhorn, Switzerland/Italy

Known for its distinctive pyramidal summit shape, the Matterhorn towers over the Swiss town of Zermatt and is sometimes called the mountain of all mountains.

14. Cappadocia, Türkiye

This region, popular with tourists, is famous for its distinctive rock formations known as fairy chimneys.

13. Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany

Neuschwanstein Castle, the real-life inspiration for Disney Castle, is a popular tourist destination in the Bavarian region of Germany.

12. Mont Saint-Michel, France

Mont Saint-Michel, an island commune in France, is one of the most recognizable landmarks in France.

11. Thira (Santorini), Greece

Thira is a Greek island southeast of the mainland. Thousands of years ago it was destroyed by one of the most powerful volcanic eruptions in human history. However, today it is known for its Mediterranean and relaxed atmosphere.

10. Verdon Gorge, France

Often considered one of the most beautiful river canyons in Europe, the Verdon Gorge reaches a depth of almost 700 meters.

9. Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, Iceland

Incredibly picturesque waterfall in Iceland. To enjoy the amazing scenery you can walk behind it.

8. Tuscany, Italy

The region of Tuscany is known for its landscapes, traditions and history. The largest city in the region is Florence.

7. Cliffs of Moher, Ireland

With almost 1 million tourists every year, these cliffs are among the most visited sites in Ireland.

6. Teide, Spain

The volcanic peak on the Canary Islands in Teide National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the world.

5. Lake Geneva, Switzerland / France

Lake Geneva, one of the largest lakes in Europe, is surrounded by snow-capped peaks, castles and breathtaking vineyards.

4. Côte d'Azur or French Riviera, France

French Riviera, one

Located in the Brittany region of France, Josselin is a beautiful fairytale town known not only for its beauty, but also for its famous and impressive castle, built around 1008.

This is the highest and most beautiful village in the canton of Bern (Switzerland), at an altitude of 1650 m above the Lauterbrunnen valley.This beautiful village offers views of three of the most famous mountains in Switzerland: the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau. Tourism here is very popular both in winter and summer. Mürren has a population of only 450 people.

In the mountains north-west of the province of Malaga (Spain), this bullfighting city has a privileged setting - on a huge and spectacular cliff, making it one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.

Norway's Mortsund is a beautiful enclave, a haven for fishermen. Its extraordinary beauty surrounded by nature attracts visitors who do not want to leave this beautiful and remote corner of Europe.

Gruyères is a historical town and municipality in the Swiss canton of Fribourg. and the medieval castle, where nineteen counts lived, make it one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.

10. Oia

This small town belonging to the island (Greece) is a global tourism destination. Hundreds of visitors come to Oia to watch its famous and beautiful sunset. Oia is also famous for its white volcano cliff houses and its popular blue domed churches.

Belongs to the district of Ansbach in Bavaria, Germany. It is a world famous tourist attraction due to its well-preserved medieval center. In addition to its beauty, it served as inspiration for the creation of the village in Pinocchio.

is a village in the Salzkammergut region of Austria. In 1997 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The beauty here is so great that this place often ranks top in rankings of the most beautiful villages in Europe.

And at the end of the video: beautiful places in Europe.

The history of mankind goes back centuries. The study of different eras is of great interest. In this article, the reader will become acquainted with the names of cities and their history in

General characteristics of medieval cities

The period is complex and contradictory in the history of mankind. Its significance in the formation of cities is enormous. Their development in the Middle Ages was influenced by the following factors:

inherited the main features from the reign of the Roman Empire. They have survived to this day.
Trade routes that connected Europe with the East played a huge role in the formation of medieval cities.

It mattered where the monasteries and castles were located, which were the beginnings of future cities. Although only some residences of kings and feudal lords contributed to the growth of economic development of the city.
The wars that lasted continuously for centuries were of great importance. For defensive purposes, the buildings were high, the streets were narrow, and amenities were of a low level.
A phenomenon of the Middle Ages was the development of cities among the Arabs. They built military camps everywhere. To control the conquered country, they built citadels, which the Arabs called shakhristans. Everyone settled there: rulers, their servants, courtiers, artisans, military squads. Settlements were built around the shakhristans, fenced with fortress walls.
The cities of the East in the Middle Ages were different from European ones. They existed in a unified state system, but had no rights.

Mdina

The medieval city is the first capital of Malta. It is otherwise called the Silent City. The first human settlement dates back to the Bronze Age, 900 BC. The Phoenicians chose the top of the hill as their place of residence. The settlement was surrounded by fortress walls to protect against attacks from other tribes.

What attracted ancient settlers to this place? There are sources of groundwater here, thanks to which people could withstand a siege for a long time without leaving the boundaries of the protective structures. The city reached unprecedented prosperity when it was ruled by the Romans. Later, when the rule of Mdina passed to the Arabs, the city was divided into parts, one of which became known as Rabat.

The Middle Ages for Mdina were marked by the migration of aristocrats to it. In the thirties of the sixteenth century, the city was recognized as independent and received the status of an autonomous settlement. Only after this did the knights take possession of the keys to the city. Later, the owners of Mdina changed many more times, and with them the status and name of medieval cities.

Constantinople

The origin of the names of medieval cities is symbolic. Constantinople is a Byzantine city with strong ancient traditions. Its origin is associated with the ancient Greek city of Byzantium. Constantinople was built in its place, and it had an important strategic significance: the location of the ancient city was a peninsula that faced the Bosporus Strait, and it - the Black Sea.

Byzantium was founded by Greek colonists in 660 BC, but Constantinople surpassed it. The city's territory occupies seven hills, just like Rome. In his image and likeness, power was organized in Constantinople, and houses were built for rich people. The history of the early Byzantine period is marked by the status of a world power, where road networks, like those of Rome, were preserved, and Constantinople held the main hubs of land and sea routes. The city occupied the main position between two seas: the Black and Mediterranean.

Medieval cities of Romania

Medieval cities are of great interest to people of various professions, especially scientists. The list of names of some of the saved cities is as follows:

Sighisoara is the most beautiful city in Transylvania, located on a hill. It is considered the birthplace of Dracula. This city has the German name Shessburg and the Hungarian name Shegesvar. Founded by German colonists in the eighth century. They built a fortress, churches and the Clock Tower. For several centuries in a row, the city was a refuge for politicians and military men. Ammunition, looted treasure, valuable documents and food supplies had to be stored somewhere. The clock tower was surrounded by a strong wall, and everything was stored there. Chessbourg received the status of a free city and became a leading center of trade and craft in Eastern Europe.

Brasov is a city not inferior in beauty to Sibiu, for which it received another name - the Romanian Salzburg. Located in the center of Romania. The first written sources about the city date back to 1235. The names of medieval European cities changed frequently. This is what happened with Brasov. It was called Brasco, Stephanopolis, Brasso, Kronstadt. The favorable geographical location and connections with other settlements allowed the city to rapidly develop its economy, thanks to which Brasov soon became a major center of Transylvania.

Names of medieval cities: Georgia and Armenia

Large cities of this era consisted of a citadel, the city itself and suburbs. The city was called Shahastan, the ruler was called Amir. He was appointed by the king. The inhabitants of the cities were people of different classes, but the majority were merchants and artisans. We will consider the specific name of medieval cities (for each of them) in Georgia and Armenia below:

Ani received city status only in the tenth century. Before that it was a fortress on the Akhuryan River. It developed rapidly since 961, when it received the status of the capital of the Bagratid kingdom. Fifty years later it became an important center in the Middle East. The rapid development of the city was due, first of all, to its geographical location: Ani was located in the center of the kingdom and bordered on other countries: Russia, Byzantium, Iran, Aghvank and Georgia.
Karin is an ancient Armenian city. It has other names: Theodosiopolis, from the eleventh century - Erzurum. Karin became a fortified city with double walls, towers and defensive ditches. Caravan routes that connected the West and East passed through Karin. But Karin did not become the most important city in the country due to frequent wars.
Van is the oldest city in Armenia, founded in the ninth century BC. It was the largest center of handicraft production and trade. The craftsmen were engaged in weapons, pottery, jewelry and weaving crafts.

Medieval cities of Kazakhstan

The country's cities of this era have an interesting history. But now only remnants of them remain. The names of medieval cities in Kazakhstan are unusual to the contemporary ear. Some of them are presented below in the article:

Otrar. The location is the valley of the Syrdarya River. Scientists call the confluence of the two and the Arys the Otrar oasis. The city had an advantageous geographical position: it was located at the intersection of many roads. It was the most profitable and most dangerous location in Central Asia. Wars of conquest that lasted for centuries turned the once thriving city into ruins. Today it resembles an open-air museum.

Sauran. This city was founded by the Kimak and Oghuz tribes, where they concluded treaties and traded. The city was a powerful fortress with powerful fortifications with special structures that made it possible to withstand a long siege without the supply of water and food. The city received the status of the capital of Ak-Orda in the fourteenth century. At this time, ceramic production reached an unprecedented peak. Written sources indicate that Sauran was a large and rich city.

Internal fortifications of the city

The fortification fences surrounded not only the outer perimeter of the city, but also the territory inside it. At that time, this was necessary to protect the city from constant clashes with foreign and internal troops. During an attack by enemies, people had to seek protection by going outside the walls of the city, where inevitable death awaited them, so they built fortifications inside the city to protect themselves from danger that could be expected at any time. There was always danger, even if there were no official wars.

The name of the internal fortification in a Russian medieval city depends on the type of fortification. The simplest was the cape type. Typically, a place surrounded by ravines or formed by the confluence of rivers was chosen for settlement. Nature itself fenced the city on the sides, but it was open on the floor side. In this place they built fortifications: ditches, ramparts, palisades. In general, the fortifications in the Middle Ages were the cities themselves, monasteries and castles.

As a rule, their construction was carried out by the authorities, and if it was weak, then by the clergy or secular feudal lords, as in France or Italy. Cities in Germany that had internal fortifications were called burgs. They had their own laws and rules.

People in the era described very rarely washed themselves, as they believed that water that got on the body could infect it.
Residents of London in the Middle Ages threw fifty tons of excrement onto the streets in one day.
Medieval cities did not have sidewalks or asphalt on their roads. People had to walk on land covered with rotting remains of animals, food scraps, and excrement. Thus, the excessive pollution of the streets of London led to the emergence of people with a new specialty who removed excrement and other garbage. These people were called gold diggers because they were paid more money for this dirty work.

Would you like to visit the most beautiful cities in Europe?

But to visit them, you first need to get to know them a little. We present to your attention a selection of the 10 most beautiful cities in Europe that everyone would love to visit at least once in their life!
Top 10 Most Beautiful Cities in Europe:

Paris. France

“Being Parisian does not mean being born in Paris. This means being born again there."
Sacha Guitry (French writer)

Prague. Czech

Saint Petersburg. Russia

Petersburg- city of white nights. Not many European capitals and simply beautiful cities can boast of this. Over its relatively short 310-year history, the city has grown to impressive sizes and has nurtured countless historical monuments of architecture and beyond.

Saint Petersburg- our northern capital. The calling card of the city is its drawbridges, attracting tourists from all over the world!

Foggy city on Neve as if it is intended to combine two opposite sides of urban formats: the modern fast pace of life, the never-ending hum of wide avenues with the comfort and miniature streets of past centuries, framed by old houses and parks.

Walking through the streets and squares St. Petersburg Every now and then, architectural monuments of indescribable beauty emerge before your eyes, as if out of the fog: Winter Palace, with the current state museum Hermitage, Alexandria pillar, Saint Isaac's Cathedral, Admiralty, Peter-Pavel's Fortress...Yes, truly, it is too much to list the beauties St. Petersburg it can take a very long time.

Helsinki. Finland

Budapest. Hungary

One of the most beautiful cities not only Europe, but also Mira. It stands on the second longest European river - Danube and is called pearl of the Danube.

The most picturesque panorama of the city overlooking Danube And Houses of Parliament - symbol Budapest , listed UNESCO World Heritage Site.

On the map Budapest appeared relatively recently, in 1873, with the merger of three neighboring towns Buda, Obuda And Pest. But the place itself is ancient; people settled there 2 thousand years ago.

Modern city abounds museums, exhibitions, art galleries and many historical And architectural monuments.

Ancient names of medieval cities: list, history and interesting facts. The most beautiful Gothic buildings in the world The most beautiful cities in the West

10. Oia

10. Oia

General characteristics of medieval cities

Mdina

Constantinople

Medieval cities of Romania

Names of medieval cities: Georgia and Armenia

Medieval cities of Kazakhstan

Internal fortifications of the city

Paris. France

Prague. Czech

Saint Petersburg. Russia

Helsinki. Finland

Budapest. Hungary

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