Shards of history: Interesting and rare retro photos of Europe (21 photos)

I present to you a selection of unique photographs that capture everyday life, architecture and cultural features of Europe in the 20th century. Each photo has been carefully colored to give it new life and immerse the viewer in the atmosphere of that time.





Naples, Italy, 1960.

A real woman will always support you in difficult times and cover you in any situation.



Flooding in Limburg due to high water levels on the Maas River. The Netherlands, 1970.

Flooding in the Netherlands is a historically significant and regularly occurring phenomenon due to the country's geographical location. More than a third of the Netherlands lies below sea level, and much of the country is located in the deltas of major rivers such as the Rhine, Maas and Scheldt. This makes the country particularly vulnerable to water-related disasters.





Procession of nuns. Frankfurt, Germany, 1964.

Unfortunately, it was not possible to find out where and why the nuns were going.



Photographer: Abisago Tullmann

Climbing Mount Pirin. Bulgaria, 1971.

Pirin Mountain is one of the most picturesque and significant mountain ranges in Bulgaria, located in the southwest of the country. It is part of the Pirin Mountains, which stretches along the border with North Macedonia and is part of the national park of the same name. The mountain range includes 45 peaks 2,600 m and higher.



Photographer: L. Donov

A nanny bathes a child in the kindergarten of the Les Galeries Lafayette department store. Paris, 1929.

Les Galeries Lafayette is a legendary department store in Paris, France, that has become a symbol of luxury, fashion, and fine shopping. Founded over a century ago, it remains one of the most famous shopping malls in the world to this day, attracting millions of tourists and locals. Perhaps the daycare with nannies worked for the store's employees, or perhaps for wealthy guests.



German children playing in a park. Berlin, 1937.

A sand boat or car created by children received a very unusual name - "Hitler".



Construction of the 25 de Abril Bridge. Lisbon, 1960s.

Until 1974, the bridge was named after António de Salazar, a Portuguese dictator and one of the key figures in the authoritarian regime of Estado Novo. However, after the Carnation Revolution of April 1974, which ended nearly 50 years of rule by the regime, the bridge was renamed.



Rush hour. Bucharest, Romania, 1982.

The photo shows the recognizable Tatra T3 tram. Tatra T3 is a legendary Czech tram, which became one of the most popular and recognizable in the history of world tram transport. It was produced by the ČKD Tatra plant (now part of Skoda Transportation) from 1960 to 1999. During this time, more than 14,000 units were produced, which made it the most widespread tram in the world. They were mainly used in Czechoslovakia and the USSR. Trams of this model were supplied in limited quantities to the GDR, Romania and Yugoslavia.



Photographer: Andrei Pandele

A visitor to the Paris Catacombs, holding a candle, smiles as she looks at a large collection of skulls, 1934.

The Paris Catacombs are a vast underground network of tunnels and caves located beneath the French capital. Today, they are one of the city's most mysterious and dark attractions, attracting tourists from all over the world.



Actress of theater and cinema — Maria Orskaya. Germany, 1925.

Maria Orskaya (real name Rakhil Abramovna Blinderman). She was born in the Russian Empire in the city of Nikolaev in 1893. She was fluent in Polish and German. In the 1920s, she enjoyed great popularity in Europe. Her photographs graced the covers of magazines, and her portraits were widely printed on postcards.



A woman works on a tapestry at the Gobelins Manufactory. Paris, 1945.

Tapestry is created by interlacing threads on a special loom and is often used as interior decoration for walls.



Photographer: Robert Doisneau

Amsterdam, 1910s.



Photographer: Charles Chusseau-Flaviens

Male beauty contest. Vienna, Austria, 1926.



Test drive of an antique desk as a mobile office on the streets of Amsterdam. The Netherlands, 1961.



Photographer: Harry Pot

Bucharest, 1909.



Photographer: Charles Chusseau-Flaviens

A girl reading. Netherlands, 1950s.



Photographer: Kees Scherer

A street musician. Paris, 1980s.



Photographer: Alexander Borodulin.

Morning baguettes. Bakers with their products. France, 1968.

Judging by everything, this is a family bakery - similar establishments have existed in Western Europe for hundreds of years. Here, bread is baked according to traditional recipes, and the secrets of craftsmanship are carefully passed down from generation to generation - from father to son. Such bakeries preserve the spirit of antiquity and centuries-old traditions, offering fresh, aromatic bread, prepared with special attention to quality and detail.



Glass balls with the Eiffel Tower. Paris, 1949.



Photographer: Robert Doisneau

Woman carrying a heavy basket. Netherlands, 1904.