Prague

Prague is one of Europe's most architecturally intact medieval cities, largely because it escaped major bombing during World War II. The result is an unbroken streetscape spanning Romanesque rotundas, Gothic cathedrals, Renaissance palaces, Baroque churches, Art Nouveau storefronts, and Cubist apartment buildings. The Charles Bridge, constructed between 1357 and 1402 under King Charles IV, with its 30 Baroque statues added mostly in the early 1700s, is among the continent's most photographed structures. What elevates Prague for photographers is its collaboration with weather: autumn fog rolling through Staré Město, snow on red-tile rooftops from Letná Park, and golden light through St. Vitus Cathedral's stained glass (a Gothic masterwork begun in 1344) produce images that feel painterly. Many travel photographers consider Prague among the best European cities for atmospheric architectural work.