From the canals of Venice to the sewers of Paris, a journey across the continent is a sensory experience.
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It is known that throughout the history of our continent, the hygiene standards of the people were substandard. Just read the literature about the terrible stench of medieval England and Paris and you’ll see this.
The smell of past problems still lingers, and new ones arise, like a big Trojan horse disturbed by tourists. Traveling through Europe can be a real assault on your senses, and not in a good way.
Modern life has helped somewhat. Cities on our continent are making strides on the olfactory frontier, making these places more pleasant to our noses. However, a strange odor can still be felt in some places.
We’ve looked at places in Europe with a history of bad smells and how they came to be plagued with unique scent woes.
6. Barcelona, Spain – Factory exhaust fumes coat the air
With a reputation as one of Europe’s food and entertainment capitals, Barcelona is undoubtedly the perfect place for wide-eyed travelers to explore.
However, if you’re staying longer than your vacation, you’ll have to deal with a lot of awful scents. Factories left over from the city’s time as an industrial hub continue to emit all sorts of odors.
When the European Commission teamed up with eight countries to pilot a €3 million app that allows residents to report odor pollution, Spain chose Poblenou, a newly gentrified neighborhood northeast of Barcelona, as a case study. .
Other reported scents range from sewage to marijuana.
5. Darvar, Croatia – Yellow ginkgo tree with a vomit smell
Ginkgo trees are a stunning addition to many parks and streets in Europe.
Originally discovered in China hundreds of millions of years ago, its canary-yellow leaf feathers can be easily spotted from a mile away. It’s an easy way to make other greenery look nicer in the fall.
The damage to the tree is not obvious until you take a closer look. Female ginkgo trees, or “golden girls” as they are sometimes called, are the smelliest trees around.
When the leaves and fruits fall, they may produce a foul odor similar to rotten eggs and may cause vomiting.
The Croatian town of Darvar happens to have quite a bit of it. Luckily, their oldest and award-winning Adam is a 243-year-old man.
4. Paris, France – Foul-smelling sewers along the Seine
If we were to jump to a healthy conclusion, one would think that Euronews culture relies on old and well-worn stereotypes.
Paris itself is not the problem. The city is full of places to pique your sinuses, including bakeries, wineries, and perfumeries.
But that doesn’t mean those rumors are dismissed. National Geographic even conducted an investigation into how Paris plans to quell “that pee smell.” It’s a small price to pay for being one of the continent’s most culturally rich cities.
Some parts of the city have been exploiting odors to make money for more than a century. The city sealed off part of its sewer system in order for him to offer tours in 1889.
A short walk through the dark corridors of the Musée Zegu, which has been described as “smelly but interesting,” leads you right back to the nearby boulangerie.
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3. Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal – Many exciting harbor caves
Whether you enjoy the aromas in the air of Vila Nova de Gaia depends on your taste in alcohol.
The city is well known for its “grottoes,” cave-like underground chambers where the region’s port wines are aged. It is made in the Douro Valley, 120km away, and transported down the river.
Some people cross the bridge from Porto just to smell it, while others absolutely hate it. Residents describe the atmosphere as strong but gentle. People with depression should avoid it.
2. Edinburgh, Scotland – The yeasty musk of “Old Leakey”
Edinburgh has a history of battling odors. Affectionately nicknamed “Old Leakey” by longtime fans of the city’s past, its problems range from 17th-century corpse disposal to smog.
Is this a problem for this generation? Strong aroma of alcohol from the brewery. It’s rare that a place as cold as Scotland shares an affinity with the Portuguese coast, but here it is.
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Strangely, you cannot purchase actual alcohol at any store in the city after 10pm.
In 2009, local residents were baffled by a proposal to install an “odor control tower” at a North British distillery. I really like the yeasty, malty balm.
1. Venice, Italy – Canals filled with waste from a sinking city
Venice’s canals are a feature of this “sinking city” and it cannot exist without them. No trip to the Water City is complete without a waterside dinner.
Sadly, these also serve as the city’s sewage system, much to the dismay of tourists on hot summer days. The heat causes all kinds of scents to waft out of the water, making them more likely to come ashore.
St. Mark’s Square is known for turning into a swamp several times a year and being strewn with human waste.
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Residents claim that the water flow is improving over time. The movement of water prevents stagnation, and is only noticeable at low tide and in warm weather.
At its best, it’s just salty.
