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Best Art Nouveau Destinations in Europe

Best Art Nouveau Destinations in Europe

Discover the best Art Nouveau destinations in Europe. From Vienna to Oradea, but also Riga, Budapest, visit the most beautiful Art Nouveau destinations and discover an exceptional Art Nouveau architectural heritage.

 

Art Nouveau is a style inspired by nature, flowers, animals, in total opposition to the massive industrialization of the 19th century.

 

Art Nouveau dares colours, creativity, audacity. Art Nouveau is total: it can be seen on the building but also inside, in the moldings, the decoration of the house, the tiles, the furniture.

 

The Council of Europe has listed the destinations which have been able to preserve and enhance their Art Nouveau heritage.

 

These destinations are a real invitation to discover the rich and diversified heritage of Europe and the cultural links and exchanges that have existed between the different European countries.

 

Book your flights, your Art Nouveau accommodation as well as your tours and activities and discover the best "Art Nouveau" destinations in Europe.

 


Best Art Nouveau Destinations in Europe Oradea
Visit Oradea

1. Oradea

Romania

Thanks to its cultural and commercial exchanges in the 19th century, the city of Oradea, crossed by a trade route linking Western Europe to Central and Eastern Europe, has become a cosmopolitan city.

 

Often considered one of the most beautiful cities in Romania, Oradea is also called "La Petite Paris" for the beauty of its buildings and the good taste of its constructions of rare artistic richness.

 

You will find  the Viennese Art Nouveau style called "Secession" (in the idea of breaking with the classical style very dominant in the 19th century), but also an art nouveau more in curves and floral motifs, a Hungarian art nouveau style.

 

In Oradea you will discover incredible decorations and ironwork and an evolution from the Art Nouveau style to Art Deco, particularly in the Hôtel Parc.

 

Don't miss a visit to the Füchsl Palace, a worthy representative of Art Nouveau with its sinuous vine shoot motifs.

 

More than anywhere else in Europe you will see in Oradea the evolution and influence of styles on each other, all with a particular "Oradea Touch" mixing diversity of architectural styles at the origin of the most beautiful buildings but also the originality of the Romanian style.

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Oradea.

 

Where to stay: "Astoria Grand Hotel" offers an à-la-carte restaurant.

 


Best Art Nouveau Destinations in Europe Budapest
Shutterstock Editorial posztos

2. Budapest

Hungary

Capital of Hungary, Budapest is also undoubtedly the capital of Art Nouveau in Europe.

 

The "Hungarian Secession" is one of the major currents of Art Nouveau. Do not miss to discover the masterpieces of Ödon Lechner, the Hungarian Gaudi.

 

This architectural genius has created a style that combines Art Nouveau motifs with oriental-inspired elements. Romanticism, historicism and eclecticism await you in Budapest.

 

During your trip be sure to visit Art Nouveau gems such as Széchenyi Square, Vaci Utca Street, Liberty Square and of course the Gellért Baths.

 

Book your flights to Budapest, your Art Nouveau accommodation as well as your tours and activities in Budapest as a "Private Art Nouveau Budapest Tour".

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Budapest.

 

Where to stay: "Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest". Situated 700m from the Chain Bridge.

 


Best Art Nouveau Destinations in Europe Barcelona
Igor Tichonow

3. Barcelona

Catalonia - Spain

This year discover Catalan Art Nouveau also called "Modernism". The easiest way to discover Catalan Modernism is obviously to visit the masterpieces of the architect Gaudi.

 

You can book your skip the line tickets today (100% refundable if you cancel 24 hours in advance) and discover the Sagrada Familia, Parc Guëll or "Casa Batilo".

 

As Art Nouveau (Catalan modernism) is present in the 4 corners of the city, you can also plan your tailor-made and free tour. Your visit starts in "Plaça Catalunya" with the "Casa Pons i Pascual". It continues with the discovery of the "Casa Fuster" in which you can enter since it has been converted into a luxury hotel.

 

The "Palau Baro de Quadras" and the "Casa de les Punxes" or the "Casa Thomas" located in Mallorca street are also waiting for you.

 

Even if the entrance is paying, during your stay do not miss to visit the Sagrada Familia which you have classified among the 7 Wonders of Europe.

 

Book your flights to Barcelona, your accommodation in Barcelona as well as your tours and activities such as a "Barcelona: Art Nouveau & Gaudi Tour".

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Barcelona and your transfer.

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Barcelona and your transfer.

 

Where to stay: "Hotel Casa Fuster G.L Monumento". Stay in this iconic modernist building.

 


Best Art Nouveau Destinations in Europe Aveiro
Shutterstock Editorial RossHelen

4. Aveiro

Centre of Portugal - Portugal

The “Venice of Portugal” ranked among your best destinations to visit in Portugal and Best Hidden Gems in Portugal. It's a destination to put at the top of your travel wishlist if you want to combine "Architectural city break" & sunny beach holidays.

 

The Centre of Portugal Tourist Office has put together a tailor-made guide to discover the 10 Art Nouveau buildings to visit in Aveiro.

 

Your visit begins with a small, tight coffee "uma Bica" with a "pastel de nata", a gourmet little pastry with divine puff pastry. It's not so "cliché" the real Portuguese also eat "Pasteis de Nata".

 

You are ready ? Discover the House of "Major Pessoa" where flowers and arabesques mingle and where stone and wrought iron draw sumptuous decorations. Still a little hungry? Continue your visit by discovering the House of "Ovos Moles" a sublime pink building with a beautiful wrought iron balcony.

 

Book your flights to Porto (50 min by train), your accommodation in Porto or in Aveiro as well as your tours and activities in Portugal such as a "From Porto: Aveiro Half-Day Tour with 1-Hour Cruise".

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Porto (50 min by public transport or car).

 

Where to stay: Porto Moments” located in the historic district of Port cellars.

 


Best Art Nouveau Destinations in Europe Darmstadt
Shutterstock Editorial travelview

5. Darmstadt

Hesse - Germany

It is a real meeting and a common vision between the Grand Duke of Hesse, Ernst Ludwig, and local artists, which revolutionized architecture and interior decoration in Darmstadt, one of the Art Nouveau cities of Europe.

 

At first quite elitist, it was limited to the construction of private villas. This architectural movement known as "Mathildenhöhe Darmstadt" evolves to create apartments, workers' housing, functional and pleasant to live in.

 

One of the symbols of this artistic movement are the buildings of the architect Joseph Maria Olbrich to whom we owe the "Mathildenhöhe" with its Wedding Tower completed in 1908.

 

Book your flights to Frankfurt (20 min by car - 30 min by public transport), your accommodation in Darmstadt or in Frankfurt as well as your activities and tours in Frankfurt such as a "Frankfurt: 19th Century Time Travel VR Experience".

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Frankfurt (20 min by car - 30 min by public transport).

 

Where to stay: "Moxy Darmstadt". Highly rated by recent guests.

 


Best Art Nouveau Destinations in Europe Subotica
Sanga Park

6. Subotica

Serbia

With the arrival of the railway in 1869, Subotica became a rich and cosmopolitan city.

 

The influx of money was combined with the influx of people from different backgrounds and cultures, and what were simple town centre houses were transformed into luxury retail, residential houses including the mansion of Simon Leovic created by the Hungarian architect Ödön Lechner.

 

During your stay in Subotica do not miss to visit the "Great Synagogue" but also the "Town Hall", "Raich Palace" and many other houses and palaces which are witnesses of the development of Art Nouveau in this charming city.

 

It is a pure "Hungarian Secession" style that can be admired in Subotica with touches of German Jugendstil, but also French and Belgian Art Nouveau which make this multicultural and cosmopolitan city one of the best Art Nouveau destinations in Europe.

 

Book your flights to Subotica, your accommodation in Subotica as well as your tours and activities in Serbia such as a "Belgrade: Subotica City Full Day Tour".

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Subotica, Belgrade Airport (1h30 by car) or Budapest (2h).

 

Where to stay: "Garni Hotel Royal Crown" located 1.5 Km from the Town Hall of Subotica.

 


Best Art Nouveau Destinations in Europe Riga
Vjacheslav Shishlov

7. Riga

Latvia

With nearly one in three buildings in the Art Nouveau style, Riga is a must-see destination for architecture lovers.

 

Riga is considered the "Northern European's Art Nouveau Capital". On your list of must-see Art Nouveau buildings in Riga don't miss: the very first Art Nouveau-Style builiding at "Audeju Iela number 7", the facade of the Riga Latvian Society House at Merkela Iela 13 made by one of masters of Latvian Art Janis Rozentals.

 

A list of Art Nouveau buildings is available at the Riga tourist office. Anyway, as we wrote, a third of the buildings in the historic centre of Riga are in the Art Nouveau style so let your heart guide you.

 

Book your flights to Riga, your Art Nouveau Accommodation as well as your tours and activities in Riga such as a "Riga Art Nouveau Architecture Tour".

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Riga.

 

Where to stay: "Grand Poet Hotel and Spa by Semarah" faeturing a fitness centre and spa it is located in the cenre of Riga.

 


Best Art Nouveau Destinations in Europe Terrassa
Roman Belogorodov

8. Terrassa

Catalonia - Spain

City member of the European Art Nouveau network, Terrassa, of medieval origin, experienced a real industrial explosion in the 19th century with the textile industry which considerably modified the appearance of the old districts.

 

As in other parts of Europe, it was in reaction to this industrialization that Art Nouveau succeeded in imposing itself.

 

Interestingly, this cultural current was also used here in the construction of industrial buildings. Some of these buildings are now converted into museums, apartments, offices.

 

Book your flights to Barcelona, another of the Art Nouveau destinations in Europe, your accommodation in Catalonia as well as your tours and activities in Catalonia such as a "Sagrada Familia: Tour with Tower Access".

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Barcelona (30 min by car 40 min by public transport).

 

Where to stay: "Hotel Casa Fuster G.L Monumento". Stay in this iconic Modernist building located at the head of Barcelona's chic Passeig de Gracia Avenue.

 


Best Art Nouveau Destinations in Europe Ljubljana
Ana Flasker

9. Ljubljana

Slovenia

The Art Nouveau style in Ljubljana was strongly influenced by the so-called "Secession" movement from Austria, although a  style specific to Slovenia developed at the beginning of the 20th century.

 

One of the Art Nouveau masterpieces is the "Hauptmann House" on "Preseren Square", one of the few buildings to have survived the Ljubljana earthquake of April 14, 1895.

 

A true emblem of the city, one of the most beautiful "Art Nouveau" constructions in Ljubljana is undoubtedly the "Dragon Bridge" built in 1901.

 

Book your flights to Ljubljana, your accommodation as well as your tours and activities in Ljubljana such as a "Ljubljana: Private Guided Walking Tour".

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Ljubljana.

 

Where to stay: "City Hotel Ljubljana". Located in the heart of Ljubljana, just 300 m from the Central Preseren Square.

 


Best wellness destinations in Europe - Evian - France
Michal Ludwiczak

10. Vienna

Austria

Art Nouveau is an artistic style of great importance in Vienna. It is not limited to facades and you will also find it in the paintings of Egon Scheile and Gustav Klimt.

 

In 1897, Gustave Klimt and many other artists, painters, architects, sculptors, turned their backs on conservative art to develop a unique style, Art Nouveau also called "Secession Art" in Austria.

 

During your stay do not miss to visit the "Otto Wagner's Stadbahn Pavilion" : it is one of the pioneers of Art Nouveau in Austria.

 

Visit the "Secession" a building that bears the name of this artistic movement. With its golden dome called the "Golden Cabbage" it is one of the symbols of Secession art in Vienna.

 

Book your flights to Vienna, your accommodation in Vienna as well as your tours and activities in Vienna such as a "Vienna ARt Nouveau: 3-Hour Guided Walking Tour".

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Vienna.

 

Where to stay: "Hotel Savoyen". Located right next the Botanical Garden.

 


 

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