Pure Travel
  • About
  • Destination Inspiration
  • Tips & Advice
  • Guide
  • Travel Writing
  • Cookie Policy (UK)
  • Conservation
  • Privacy
  • Travel Writing Competition 2025
  • Reviews
  • Travel Resources
  • T&C
  • Contact Us
  • Conservation
  • Privacy
  • Travel Writing Competition 2025
  • Reviews
  • Travel Resources
  • T&C
  • Contact Us
Pure Travel
Pure Travel
  • About
  • Destination Inspiration
  • Tips & Advice
  • Guide
  • Travel Writing
  • Cookie Policy (UK)
  • Did You Know?

European Capital of Culture 2013 to 2017: In Pictures

  • June 16, 2013
  • Jules

Each year since 1985, the finest cities have been selected to host the prestigious European Capital of Culture, including Florence, Copenhagen and Liverpool.   This year and in future years, two carefully chosen cities will host cultural extravaganza and this our preview for the European Capital of Culture cities for the next 5 years;

Marseille, France:  European Capital of Culture 2013

Located in the south of France, Marseille is a traditional port city packed with culture, from the stunning Notre Dame de la Garde that dominates the skyline, the naturally beautiful Calanque de Morgiou and the handsome Abbaye Saint Victor.

Kosice, Slovakia: European Capital of Culture 2013

Superb architecture dominates Kosice in Slovakia with an emphasis on standout Art Nouveau buildings. There are plenty of things to see and do in Kosice, such as the Gothic masterpiece of the St Elizabeth’s Cathedral, the wealth of exquisite palaces and the curious Executioner’s Bastion Museum.

Umea, Sweden: European Capital of Culture 2014

The small town of Umeå in northern Sweden is young, arty and happening. During 2014 especially, Umea will showcase Gammlia Museum district where staff dress in traditional garb and its lively music, film and sports festivals which are held each summer.

Riga, Latvia: European Capital of Culture 2014

The party-centric city of Riga also boasts authentic culture, a wealth of museums and superb Jugendstil (German art nouveau) buildings, scattered across the city,  such as the example above by Russian architect Mikael Eisenstein in the early 1900’s. Riga is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Be prepared to fall in love with this Baltic gem.

Mons, Belgium: European Capital of Culture 2015

Dating back to the Neolithic period, Mons in Belgium is packed with delightful period architecture, from the 15th century City Hall complete with a statue of a monkey out front, the Baroque belfry of the Saint Waltrude which in itself is a UNESCO site and the Van Gogh House where the man himself used to reside.

Plzen, Czech Republic: European Capital of Culture 2015

Located in western Bohemia is the fourth biggest city in the Czech Republic: Plzeň or Pilsen. The name is probably recognisable as ‘pilsner’ beer has its roots in this city! Cultural must-sees include the 13th century gothic St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral, the Pilsen City Art Gallery and the interesting Brewery Museum.

San Sebastian, Spain: European Capital of Culture 2016

The beautiful beach city of San Sebastian, in northern Spain, has just been voted as having one of the best beaches on earth!  In addition to surfing, hiking and swimming, there is the Old Town (Parte Vieja) to explore, browse the art on display at the San Telmo Museum and admire the  Iglesia de San Vicente church.

Wroclaw, Poland: European Capital of Culture 2016

The Polish city of Wroclaw is a curious blend of Bohemian, Austrian and Prussian history and culture, where the must-see sights include the exquisite Old Town and Market Square (Rynek), the Wroclaw Town Hall and the majestic spires of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist.

Aarhus, Denmark: European Capital of Culture 2017

Situated on Denmarks’ Jutland peninsula is the city of Aarhus, or Arhus. The cosmopolitan city boasts a young and lively outlook with a wealth of sights including the Old Town (Den Gamle By), Danish prehistory Museum Moesgaard and the ‘trendy’ Latin Quarter.

Paphos, Cyprus: European Capital of Culture 2017

The pretty town of Paphos, in southern Cyprus, is best known as the birthplace of Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess of Love. The town is a rich source of archaeological sites such as The Tombs of the Kings, the Turkish Paphos Fort and the Paphos Archaeological Park which is home to intricate mosaics and the ruins of Roman villas.

Image Credit; 5

Share
Tweet
Related Topics
  • Europe culture guide
  • Europe history guide
  • Europe travel guide
  • European Capital of Culture
  • European Capital of Culture 2013
Jules

Previous Article
  • Destination Inspiration

Top 7 Things to do in Budapest Hungary

  • June 15, 2013
  • Jules
View Post
Next Article
  • Travel Resources

Things to do in Taipei

  • June 16, 2013
  • Jules
View Post
You May Also Like
Napoli
View Post
  • Did You Know?

Do You Know Which European Volcanoes are Active? Get Ready to Discover Them

  • Jules
  • May 27, 2025
what noise does a cheetah make?
View Post
  • Did You Know?

Video: What noise does a cheetah make?

  • Robert
  • April 10, 2025
View Post
  • Did You Know?
  • Reviews

Are These the World’s Worst Airlines? Here’s Why Travelers Are Complaining

  • Robert
  • March 8, 2025
View Post
  • Did You Know?
  • Planes, Trains & Automobiles: Tips & Advice

Navigating the skies: the role of aircraft management services in supporting business and leisure travel

  • Jules
  • October 17, 2024
View Post
  • Did You Know?
  • Tips & Advice
  • Travel Resources

Seattle Slip and Fall Accidents on Vacation: Protecting Your Rights and Ensuring Your Safety

  • Jules
  • July 8, 2024
View Post
  • Did You Know?
  • Travel Resources

Cruise Ship Accidents and How to Deal with Injuries and Seeking Damages

  • Jules
  • July 3, 2024
View Post
  • Did You Know?
  • Planes, Trains & Automobiles: Tips & Advice
  • Travel Resources

Flight Delay Compensation Calculator: Check Your Flight and Claim Up to £520!

  • Jules
  • June 25, 2024
View Post
  • Did You Know?
  • Lifestyle
  • Planes, Trains & Automobiles: Tips & Advice

Some Of The Various Seafarer Jobs On Container Ships

  • Jules
  • June 20, 2024
Pure Travel
  • About
  • Destination Inspiration
  • Tips & Advice
  • Guide
  • Travel Writing
  • Cookie Policy (UK)
A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

Pure Travel
Manage Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}