Random old Bing wallpapers

We're looking over the pretty village of Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée in the Alpes-Maritimes department of south-east France. Home to about 1,500 residents, the village sits low in the valley just beside the Tinée river. It was partly rebuilt in the 1930s after being damaged by a fire, but as you stroll through the narrow streets today, you will discover pastel-coloured facades, trompe-l'œil frescoes, sundials and fountains. The village lies close to Mercantour National Park, which has peaks over 3,000 metres tall, and the ski resort of Auron, which is linked to Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée directly by a gondola lift.

To take in every detail of this music performance venue in Barcelona, Spain, set aside an entire day. The Palau de la Música Catalana is as much a work of art as the music that fills the room most nights. The ‘modernisme’ style of the building, sometimes called Catalan modernism, combines mosaic tiles, stained glass and the sweeping arches and buttresses of Gothic architecture—fusing the details into a dizzying, kaleidoscopic symphony of geometry and colour. We wonder how anyone can focus on the music played here, when the hall itself is so mesmerising?

If you find yourself in Germany this time of year, there’s a good chance you’ll end up at the ‘Wiesn,’ otherwise known as the Oktoberfest fairgrounds in Munich. The 16- to 18-day folk festival has deep roots in Bavarian culture and each autumn it brings more than 6 million people to Munich, where the annual celebration has been held since 1810. The popular festival has inspired Oktoberfest celebrations around the world, including in Munich’s backyard. For example, Octoberfest marks the season in such German cities as Hanover, Berlin, and Erfurt, shown here.