If you can’t bear the thought of tiny portions, drinks without ice, and soccer -- or you’re just a weirdo who hates Europe--but you secretly dig the general Euro vibe, here's a list of the world’s most European-feeling places... that aren't in Europe.
This quaint cobblestone-covered Canada city -- which was colonized by both France and Britain --occasionally feels more French than a mime with a baguette. It's loaded with Euro-styled parks, town squares, and opulent buildings sporting 18th-century facades, not to mention churches like the incroyable Basilique Notre-Dame. And, as an added bonus, the city's residents share the same haughty disdain for Americans as real French people.
Australia’s cultural capital is often likened to Paris, no doubt because the padlocked footbridges over the Yarra River resemble the Pont de l'Archevêché. Lovers' locks aside, though, the city feels European thanks to its open-air cafés (and serious coffee culture), tree-lined boulevards, and tram system.
Boston, MA
Much of Boston, which is defined by a tension between old and new, feels surprisingly European, due in part to its rich colonial history. Like London, where the Shard and Gherkin tower above the Thames, Boston has Copley and the Prudential Center towering over the Charles. With cobblestone streets and an extensive -- albeit sometimes painfully slow -- public transit, the city's easy to get around and its leafy neighborhoods are lined with quaint historic brownstones.
Guanajuato, Mexico
Many claim that Guanajuato, aWorld Heritage Site, is the most European feeling city outside of Europe. Anywhere! The former mining town's opulent mansions, cobblestone streets, and perfectly preserved colonial center mimic a quaint Spanish town from the 17th century. And like Europe, those streets are narrow (so much so that cars can’t pass through most of them), winding, and walkable. Several of the town's churches have even been designated by UNESCO as some of the best examples of Baroque architecture in the Americas.
Quebec City, Canada
Like Montreal, Quebec has a strong French feel to it. And that's not just because they speak French, which they totally do. No, it's also because of the fortified walls that surround the city, its iconic Chateau Frontenac, and the heavily Baroque and Nouvelle Francearchitecturethat dominates throughout. It doesn't hurt that you can’t walk more than a few steps without running into one of those historic plaques that describe the many battles fought between the French and British here.
New Orleans, LA
La Nouvelle-Orléans was founded by French colonists before being ceded to Spain in theTreaty of Paris in 1763, so as you can imagine, its style has been heavily influenced by both countries. They don't call it the French Quarter for nothing. In fact,Jackson Square wasdesigned after Paris' Place des Vosges.A mix of French wrought iron balconies and Spanish Creole cottages,the Big Easy boasts a whopping 20National Register Historic Districts.
Macau, China
We know what you’re thinking, “There’s no way a city in China feels European without it being one of those weird miniature copycat towns likeHallstatt(an Austrian village they replicated in its entirety in Guangdong). But guess what, Macau actually does. Portugal ruled the city from the mid-16th century until about 15 years ago, making it the last Western colony in Asia. Today, the place rocks an oddly Mediterranean vibe thanks to cobblestone plazas, ancient fortresses, and bilingual street signs.
Puebla, Mexico
This Mexican university town (and the country's fourth largest city)is also designated a UNESCO World Heritage site thanks to its perfectly intact Spanish colonial center. In fact, the historic center houses70 churchesand thousands of colonial buildings that date back to the 17th century.
Leavenworth, WA
Modeled after a Bavarian village, this German-themed town in Washington State really does look like the real deal. Sitting amidst the snowy Cascade Mountains certainly helps. Struggling financially in the 1960s, Leavenworth reinvented itself as a Bavarian village full of German restaurants and shops in an attempt to lure in tourists. Not surprisingly, it even throws its own Oktoberfest.
Sophie-Claire Hoeller is Thrillist's associate travel editor, and baffled by how much Leavenworth looks like home. Follow her @Sohostyle.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site city in central Mexico competes with Montréal for North America's “most European city.” Founded in the 1500s by the Spanish, nearby silver mines made Guanajuato rich and attracted thousands over the next three centuries.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site city in central Mexico competes with Montréal for North America's “most European city.” Founded in the 1500s by the Spanish, nearby silver mines made Guanajuato rich and attracted thousands over the next three centuries.
Mexico's Guanajato region covers over 30,000 square kilometres of land that feels like a mash up of many different styles of European architecture that are as striking as they are confusing to the brain.
Many claim that Guanajuato, a World Heritage Site, is the most European feeling city outside of Europe. Anywhere! The former mining town's opulent mansions, cobblestone streets, and perfectly preserved colonial center mimic a quaint Spanish town from the 17th century.
Among the poorest countries in Europe, Ukraine ranks as the poorest with a GNI per capita of $3,540. Moldova follows closely behind in the second position with a GNI per capita of $4,570. Albania is the third poorest European country, with a GNI per capita of $5,210.
In the Colonia Roma neighborhood, you will see homes and building constructed in French, Italian and Spanish style architecture. Most of these were built in the 1800's, when Mexican aristocrats traveled to Europe and modeled their surroundings based on what they saw there.
Washington DC was modeled on Paris. It has the same broad boulevards, form fitting classical architecture, low buildings centered on viewing a large tower (Washington Monument) and large domed building (Capitol).
Demographics. Spanish descendants make up the largest group of Europeans in Mexico and a majority of Mexicans have some degree of Spanish descent. Most of their ancestors arrived during the colonial period but further hundreds of thousands have since then immigrated, especially during the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s ...
Natural red hair is a rarity primarily determined by genetics, particularly variations in the MC1R gene. While commonly associated with Celtic and Northern European ancestry, red hair is found globally, including in Mexico, where diverse populations contribute to its presence.
Switzerland is not an EU member. Iceland: Like Norway and Switzerland, Iceland is a member of the EEA and thus enjoy access to the EU's single market. However, it is not a member of the EU. Liechtenstein: Like Norway and Iceland, Liechtenstein is also member of EEA and enjoy the benefits of the EU's single market.
The number of EU countries that do not use the euro as their currency; the countries are Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Sweden.
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