Come Stroll in the Park With Me

Bastejkalns Park

One of the most beautiful parks in Riga, the capital of Latvia is Bastejkalns Park. It is named after Bastion Hill which in translation is the name Bastejkalns.

There is a lovely fountain on the Riga Canal which runs through the park.

Tourists can rent boats and take a ride through Riga along the canal.

Within the park are statues, small man-made waterfalls, and colorful flowerbeds. People can stroll through this little park and sit on the benches to watch the ducks play in the canal.

A pedestrian bridge stretches across the canal so you can get from one side of the park to the other. There is also a memorial to the victims that were killed by Soviet Troops in 1991.

Bear Park

The delightful Bear Park is located in Bern, the capital of Switzerland. This park is home to three bears like in the children's story. They are Finn, Bjork, and their daughter Ursina.

Since 2009 these bears have been living in this park along the banks of the Aare River. The landscape lets the bears climb, fish, and play. The park grounds stretch from the former Bear Pits to the river’s edge. There are woodsy areas, bushes, grottos, and a pool that runs parallel to the Aare. Papa Bear Finn is particularly fond of the pool.

There is a lot of space within the park for the bears with grass, trees, and even a small pool. Visitors walk along the top and can enjoy looking down at the bears. It is also possible to take stairs or a lift to the bottom. There it is easier to look at the bear pool and see the bears closer.

Esplanade Park

In Helsinki, the capital of Finland a popular park is Esplanade Park or Espa. People enjoy taking walks here, watching performances, and enjoying picnics. There are lovely tree-lined alleys and colorful flowerbeds.

The restaurant was built in 1867, Kappeli is one of the most historic restaurants in the city.

Finland hosts the longest music festival each year from May to the end of August. The Espa Stage is the venue for this festival with around 200 artists and groups performing. On either side of the Espa Stage are a pool and statues.

In the center of the park is the Runeberg Esplanade with lovely flowering crab apple trees. A statue of Finland's national poet and author of the Finnish national anthem Johan Ludvig Runebeg is located here. The statue is surrounded by aspen trees and laburnum bushes.

The Maiden of Finland wrapped in a bearskin is on the pedestal of this memorial. In her right hand is a laurel wreath and a pile of Runeberg’s books lie by her feet. In her left hand, she holds a tablet with the words of the first and last two stanzas of the Finnish national anthem in Swedish. The inscription on the side of the memorial reads “From the Finnish people to the Singer of Our Nation”.

In the western section of Espa, you'll find the Svenska Theater.

As well as the restaurant Teatteri. Next to the restaurant terrace grow beautiful rhododendrons, hydrangeas, and seasonal plants.

In early June when the old horse chestnut trees start to bloom they look lovely and provide plenty of shade.

Herastrau Park

Beautiful Herastrau Park was created from the marshland around Herastrau Lake in the capital of Romania, Bucharest.

The Village Museum one of the oldest open-air museums in Europe occupies a large part of this park. There are homesteads, churches, mills, and windmills from rural Romania.

Within Herastrau Park is also Elisabeta Palace, which is home to the royal family of Romania. It is closed to the public.

In honor of Bucharest hosting the Francophonic Conference is a bronze statue of former French President Charles de Gaulle.

Other statues and busts include Romanian revolutionary Nicolae Balcescu and the national poet of Romania Mihai Eminescu. Interesting and unusual statues include one of Prince Charming, one of rock legend Michael Jackson, and one of author William Shakespeare.

The open-air summer theater Teatrul de Vara hosts performances given by theater companies.

During the summertime, you can take boat trips on the lake or take a ride on a shuttle that links one side with the other. The jetty is located behind the Hard Rock Cafe.

On the Island of Roses, paths are lined with beautiful roses. There are exotic birds.

Hestrau Lake is stocked with carp and for a price, you can do some fishing. Cyclists and joggers enjoy going around the lake. During the summer you can rent bikes. There are many places to eat and drink in the park.

Beautiful Holyrood Park

A lovely hilly park called Holyrood Park is located in the capital of Scotland, Edinburgh. It is not far from the Old Town.

Sitting right on the edge of the park is Holyrood Palace which is the royal residence.

The park has volcanic cliff faces, steep pathways, and hillside ruins such as St. Anthony's Chapel dating back to the 15th century.

Arthur's Seat located in the center of the park looks like a reclining lion. There are paths to take you to the top. At the summit, you can get awesome views of Edinburgh, Leith, a nearby port city, and distant views across the Firth of Forth to Fife.

Another highlight is the Salisbury Craigs which are a ruddy-colored series of 150-foot cliff faces.

Municipal Park

Municipal Park is located in lovely Luxembourg City, the capital of Luxembourg. Landscaper Edouard Andre designed the park in the 1870s. This English park is a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the great outdoors.

In the park, you’ll also find the Villa Vauban where the Luxembourg City Art Museum has found its home.

Lovely Roath Park

In the capital of Wales, Cardiff Roath Park opened in 1894. It became one of the most important late Victorian public parks in the country. The park is home to the Scott Memorial Lighthouse. The Scott Memorial Lighthouse commemorates the ill-fated expedition of Captain Scott to the South Pole in 1910.

Landscaped spaces stretch along the Roath Brook and Nant Fawr Stream. At the south end of the park are sports pitches since this is the home of Welsh baseball. There is also a children's playground.

Roath Pleasure Garden has manicured lawns and flowerbeds. Bowling and tennis facilities were installed during the early part of the 20th century. There are many lovely trees like oaks, birch, copper beech, dawn redwood, and a large tulip tree.

Roath Botanic Garden is located south of Roath Park Lake. There is a lovely rose garden. A heated Conservatory is home to temperate and sub-tropical plants.

Roath Park Lake is home to wildfowl. You can go boating and fishing.

The Wild Garden is located to the north of the lake, It is a natural woodland with many birds. There are walking paths and a grassy open space with a small pond. In the park, you’ll find a cafeteria, an ice cream kiosk, two children’s playgrounds, and a boat stage from where you can rent rowing boats and other watercraft.

Beautiful Saxon Garden

In the 18th century in Warsaw, the capital of Poland Saxon King August II built the Saxon Garden. It became one of the first parks anywhere in the world to be open to the public.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, who died in a battle in 1920 defending the city of Lviv is among the highlights in this park.

Behind the tomb, there is a beautiful fountain that was designed by Henryk Marconi in 1855. Around the perimeter of the fountain as well as at the four cardinal directions -North, South, East, and West stand statues dedicated to the historical elements of Warsaw.

This amazing fountain is in the middle of a man-made lake around which people enjoy strolling. Swans swim upon the water. There are places for picnics.

Within the park are many trees to provide shade on summer days. Benches to sit upon and relax. There is a playground for children to enjoy.

Lovely Volksgarten

In Vienna, the capital of Austria is the beautiful Volksgarten or People's Garden. This park is designed in the French formal style. It has geometric flowerbeds and a lovely rose garden.

Theseus Temple sits in the center of the park. This is a replica of the Temple of Hephaestus in the Ancient Agora of Athens and was originally built by an Austrian architect between 1820 and 1823.

Kaisern Elisabeth-Denkamal is located at the north end of the park. It is a memorial to Empress Elisabeth of Bavaria. The monument depicts a seated Empress. Nearby is a small pond and remembrance garden.

The statue of the Austrian poet and playwright Franz Grillparzer is flanked by reliefs that depict scenes from his plays.