An Albanian monument to the Communism that nearly crushed the country is now a crumbling wreck.

A naturally beautiful, seemingly bottomless deep blue spring.

The metal leaves on this tree are engraved with the names of Holocaust victims.

From Austrians to Nazis to Soviets, this historic Budapest fortress has a history as complex as the city itself.

This Hungarian castle was built out of cardboard and wood until it proved so popular that it got upgraded to stone.

Built in 1870 at the bridge that connected Buda and Pest, this spectacular incline railway was almost lost forever during World War II.

A trail of iron footwear stands as a monument to the thousands executed along this riverbank during WWII.

A gigantic statue of a Russian soldier watches over the ancient city of Plovdiv, a prominent reminder of the Soviet period in Bulgaria.

A vast Communist-era exhibition space in the Bulgarian capital.

This ancient theater, restored in the 20th century, lives on as a venue for dramatic and musical performances.

A striking symbol of the Bulgarian capital.

This historic black and white monastery is one of Bulgaria's architectural jewels.

Romania's triumphal arch looks out over Bucharest.

Nine centuries-old fortresses guard the walls of this medieval Romanian city.

The European towns of Brașov and Râșnov each have proud signs reminiscent of the Hollywood sign.

A fire once nearly devoured this gorgeous 14th-century Gothic cathedral.

This elaborately decorated, fairytale-like Romanian royal palace is one of the most striking castles in Europe.

The possible imprisonment of Vlad the Impaler here earned the medieval castle its nickname, "Dracula's Castle."

A small town Romanian cemetery filled with darkly humorous gravestones.

This massive underground salt mine now holds a sci-fi theme park in its depths.

This colorful and quirky set of pegasus sculptures celebrate the works of poet Zbigniew Herbert.

A collection of old neon signs from all over Poland line a secluded courtyard.

St. Mary's features one of the most spectacularly decorated cathedral interiors in all of Europe.

The former Nazi concentration camp stands as a museum to remember this dark chapter in European history.