STORY:
Anyone admiring the sight of Paris' Notre Dame cathedral would agree that freshly fallen snow is one of the most attractive parts of winter.
But it often spells trouble for drivers.
Snow fell overnight across Europe, including much of Germany, causing traffic chaos as many commuters returned to work after the Christmas break.
The severe weather conditions caused traffic jams during the early morning rush hour, like here on the A2 motorway near Magdeburg in eastern Germany - and here in Hamburg.
It was the same story in Belgium - with weather conditions causing tailbacks of up to 30 kilometers on the main roads leading into the capital Brussels.
At airports including Cologne and Charleroi in southern Belgium, flights were delayed or cancelled due to the snow.
And there could be more disruption to transport yet to come as temperatures are expected to plummet further in the next few days.
As for the lucky few who weren't at work - they were determined to have as much fun as possible in the wintry conditions.
