A stone marker and sculpture in the city of Riga stake a claim for the very first community Christmas tree.

The reconstruction of this prominent building fulfilled a long-written command.

Medical museum that houses most notably the taxidermied remains of Vladimir Demikhov's famous two-headed dog experiment.

A preserved oak tree about 3,500 years old found in Riga, Latvia.

A black cat protests the City Guild in Riga's Old Town.

The oldest housing complex in Riga is a mini timeline of architectural trends.

Flamboyant architecture from the turn of 20th century.

3,000 market stands in five former Zeppelin hangars.

Mysterious heaps of stones dot these otherworldly woods.

Legend says this sacred tree was a gift from goddess Athena.

Guests become prisoners on a visit to Latvian prison.

The widest waterfall in Europe is a natural wonder and one of the only places where fish are caught in the air.

The only things left in this abandoned Latvian graveyard are a mysterious stone and a ghost story.

These crumbling Latvian forts make for some haunting seaside ruins.

This crescent-shaped sliver of sand is a magical haven for a herd of feral horses.

This 1967 experiment in modular architecture was designed to be a new model for urban living.

This bakery and museum offers tours of the tastes and mythology of Aachen's signature spice biscuit—just don't ask for the recipe.

This 19th-century pub features stained-glass windows celebrating Victorian-era “champions.”

Preserved portions of Athens's ancient defenses are on display in a subterranean parking garage.

The oldest standing Byzantine church in Athens is tucked within a monastery in the middle of an upscale shopping district.

Scars of this building's past life as a violent prison still cover its walls.

A crushed gate and giant bronze head serve as a reminder of Greece's fight for freedom.

This small 16th-century church in Athens is almost entirely surrounded by a modern building.

The ruins of an ancient Roman tomb hidden in the basement of a trendy clothing store.