Europe in 1980 Through Beautiful Photos

The Polish trade union, Solidarność, and its leader Lech Walesa, become household names across Europe and the world following the Gdansk shipyard strikes in the summer of 1980. In 1981, Greece becomes the 10th member of the EU and Spain and Portugal follow five years later.

In 1986 the Single European Act is signed. This is a treaty which provides the basis for a vast six-year program aimed at sorting out the problems with the free-flow of trade across EU borders and thus creates the ‘Single Market’.

There is major political upheaval when, on 9 November 1989, the Berlin Wall is pulled down and the border between East and West Germany is opened for the first time in 28 years, this leads to the reunification of Germany when both East and West Germany are united in October 1990.

These beautiful photos were taken by wvbees when he spent almost three months using Eurail and Britrail passes to traipse all over Europe in 1980.

Germany. Siegestor, Munich

Germany. Siegestor, Munich

Austria. Vienna

Boat to Sweden

Denmark. Copenhagen

England. Big Ben, London

England. Buckingham Palace, London

England. London

England. Princess Anne at Westminster

England. Regent's Park, London

France. Opera house, Paris

France. Paris

Germany. Heidelberg at night

Germany. Heidelberg

Germany. Heidelberger Altstadt

Germany. Leopoldstraße, Munich

Germany. Marienplatz, Munich

Germany. Munich

Germany. Munich

Germany. Ohmstraße, Munich

Germany. Street musicians in Munich

Germany. Stuttgart

Italy. Florence

Italy. Gondolas in Venice

Italy. Looking toward The Victor Emmanuel II National Monument, Rome

Italy. Rome

Italy. San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice

Italy. St. Mark's Square, Venice

Italy. The Victor Emmanuel II National Monument, Rome

Monaco. Monte Carlo

Netherlands. Amsterdam

Spain. Barcelona

Spain. Barcelona

Spain. Barcelona

Switzerland. Lucerne