From bell-wearing cows on Alpine slopes to windmills against backdrops of colorful tulips, Europe is awash with images straight off the covers of guidebooks. While those who have spent time in Europe know infinitely more lies beyond such travel clichés, it can still be fun to seek out events and places where the surroundings feel just like a postcard come to life.

See Alpine wrestling in Switzerland

Schwingen, also known as Swiss wrestling, is a style of folk wrestling practiced outdoors in a sawdust covered ring. Wrestlers wear belted breeches that enable an opponent to take hold and execute certain throws. The first person to pin his or her opponent’s shoulders to the ground wins the bout. Considered one of the national sports of Switzerland, a national federation known as the Eidgenössischer Schwingerverband has been overseeing the matches and tournaments for over a century. Regional and cantonal Schwing festivals are held outdoors during the summer and fall, and the Eidgenössisches Schwing- und Älplerfest takes place once every three years (the next one plays out in August of 2025). Upcoming “Schwingfest” with male wrestlers include those of the Bern Canton (Aug. 11) the Schwägalp Schwinget (Aug. 18); the Frauen- und Meitlischwingfest matches for women will take place in Sion on Aug. 24. Online: esv.ch/agenda

Play Robin Hood in Sherwood Forest in England

What better place to relive the exploits of one of the world’s most famous outlaws than Sherwood Forest? The very landscape Robin Hood and his band were said to have roamed hosts its annual Robin Hood Festival on all weekends through Aug. 26. It’s back to the Middle Ages, with displays of jousting on horseback, hand-to-hand combat, archery, historical re-enactments, music, and more. Each weekend has a different theme, with Aug. 10-11 given to fantasy, Aug. 17-18 dedicated to the ancient woodlands and the wildlife that makes its home there, and Aug. 24-25 an oftentimes humorous take on the characters populating the legends of Robin Hood. Sherwood is located in North Nottinghamshire, with the RSPB’s Visitor Centre in the village of Edwinstowe. Admission to the festival is free, but there’s a fee attached to some of the activities, and a special event parking charge of 15 UK pounds (about $19.30) per vehicle per day applies. Online: tinyurl.com/bdv64w7z

Watch flower parades in Netherlands

The Netherlands may be most closely associated with tulips, but it’s only one of many kinds the world’s leader in flower production grows and distributes through its high-tech practices. In late summer and early autumn, agricultural communities celebrate the beauty of the bloom through parades in which floats are bedecked, thanks to countless hours of work put in by volunteers, according to the most wondrous of themes. A few of the parade dates for 2024 are as follows: Rijnsburg Flower Parade, passing through Katwijk and Noordwijk, Aug. 10; Corso Zundert, parade Sept. 1 and floats on display Sept.2; Flowerparade Lichtenvoorde, Sept. 8; Fruitcorso Tiel, parade with floats decorated with fruits and flowers, Sept. 21. Online: tinyurl.com/257m462w

Observe tracht and imbibe beer at Bavarian Volksfests in Germany

Bavarian traditional clothing — lederhosen for men and dirndls for the women— is the outfit of choice for Munich’s Oktoberfest, but that’s not the only fest to which people dressed in “tracht” flock to in droves. August through October is high season for traditional volksfests, complete with the visitors dressed for the part, drinking from their liter-sized mugs, feasting on sausages and listening to brass bands playing waltzes and polkas. Some of Bavaria’s larger fests coming up soon include the Gäubodenvolksfest in Straubing (Aug. 9-19); Allgäuer Festwoche in Kempten (Aug. 10-18); Herbstdult in Regensburg (Aug. 23-Sept. 8); Gillamoos in Abensberg (Aug. 29-Sept. 2); Volksfest in Freising (Sept. 6-15); Volksfest in Weiden i.d. Oberpfalz, (Sept. 12-16) and Kärwa in Fürth (Sept. 28-Oct. 10).

Breathe in the lavender in France’s Provence region

The village of Sault in Provence, set high above a vast plateau planted with lavender as far as the eye can see, celebrates the fragrant purple herb that blesses its inhabitants with scent and livelihoods each year on Aug. 15. Amongst the Lavender Festival’s program highlights are a contest of harvesting lavender with a sickle, a parade of flower-drawn carriages and performances by folk groups. Regional specialties of the Ventoux will also be available in abundance. Online: fetedelalavande.fr

Feast on pizza in Italy

PizzaVillage, set for Sept. 4-8 in Milan, Italy, is a traveling tour in which master chefs from renowned pizzerias serve up the very specialties that have put them on the food map in the setting of a pop-up village. On-stage concerts and other forms of entertainment, talks and workshops fill the gaps between sampling. The pizza-worshipping village will be set up in the City Life Park (Parco di CityLife), and admission is free to what will represent the second edition of this event to unfold in Milan. For the cost of 20 euros, visitors can purchase a complete menu consisting of a pizza, beer, water or soft drink and coffee. Online: pizzavillage.it/pizzerie-milano