Interesting facts about Northern Europe January 27, 2018 January 27, 2018 admintag Northern Europe seems to many of us to be an oasis of universal well-being and a full life. Travelling in Eastern Europe can be a unique experience, but it’s a surprising one too. Construction first began on the famous basilica in 1882 and although Gaudi didn’t get to see his extraordinary work completed, Barcelona is aiming to complete it by 2026, for the 100th anniversary of Gaudi’s death. Belarus gained its independence in December 26,1991, but … #2 There are over 2,500 types of mosquitoes in the world. #3 In the UK, if you reach your 100th and 105th birthday and every year thereafter, or celebrate your diamond wedding (60th), 65th, 70th wedding anniversaries and every year thereafter, you can get a congratulatory card from the Queen. You can probably get on board with this fun fact about Europe. According to the 2011 article 1 out of every 10 Europeans was conceived in an IKEA bed. If you want to see how it’s pronounced, check out this weatherman nailing it during a broadcast. 21 Fun Facts About Europe. RELATED CONTENT: Italy’s free wine fountain, and other bizarre Italian facts, A post shared by DET DANSKE KONGEHUS (@detdanskekongehus). The Christmas carol “Good King Wenceslaus” is named for an actual Bohemian King who was good to his subjects, but whose throne was usurped by his brother. Tags: Study Abroad,Rome,Europe,fun facts,trivia europe,surprising facts,London,Barcelona,Madrid,Belgium. It is one of the oldest countries in Europe. A vertical stack of … RELATED CONTENT: How much beer is drunk annually (hint – a lot) and other interesting Prague facts, A post shared by Visit Czech Republic (@visitcz). Facts about Eastern Europe 2: religions. Antoni Gaudi’s enchanting La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is a true architectural masterpiece… which explains why it’s taking so long to finish! Estonia is one of Europe’s least crowded countries, with a population density of 28.4 people per square kilometre.Only Finland, Sweden, Norway and Russia can beat it. Photo: Shutterstock. The Republic of Belarus is located in Eastern Europe. The entire staff was very helpful, the rooms were nice, and there was a really cool bar downstairs with live music every night. Perhaps this is the reason behind Mona Lisa’s coy smile…? Santa Claus’s original name, St. Nicklaus, came from Izmir, Turkey. The Guardian’s Europe quiz. 10. Its people are known for a good sense of humor, kindness and friendliness. Interesting facts about Eastern Europe January 27, 2018 January 27, 2018 admintag Historically, the countries of Eastern Europe somewhat lag behind their western neighbors in terms of the level of economic development and another indicator. © Copyright Trafalgar Tours, all rights reserved. Do you know any random fun facts about Europe? It’s over 100,000 kilometres long and you’re sure to have some amazing adventures exploring this Scandinavian coast. Amazingly enough, Iceland is believed to be completely free of any mosquitoes altogether. From the smallest town in the world to the biggest church on earth, and from a knighted penguin to a country free of mosquitoes, there are hundreds of random and fun facts about Europe. 5. Europe factseurope travelfun facts about Europeinteresting facts about Europerandom facts about Europe. Europe is thought to get its name from Europa, which was a princess in Greek Mythology. ), but another fun fact about Europe is that Bulgaria is the oldest European country by name. 1-5 Europe Facts 1. So if you’re prone to mosquito bites, you better head to Iceland! Looking for impressive churches? Coffee first came to Europe from the Ottoman Empire during the siege of Vienna in 1683. When you think of Europe, you probably imagine snowy Alps, lush pine forests and winding rivers, but did you know that there is one last remaining rainforest in Europe? The Colosseum? 16 Interesting Facts About Europe. 50 Amazing Facts About Europe. If you require more information please view our Cookie policy. It’s famed as some of the best chocolate in the world, and travellers obviously know it, as Brussels Airport sells more of the sweet stuff than anywhere else on earth. Did you know there’s a penguin more aristocratic than you? 3. One of our favourite fun facts about Europe is that Scotland’s Edinburgh Zoo is home to a knighted penguin named Brigadier Sir Nils Olav III. That’s a lot of art gazing! Another interesting fact is that there are no deserts in Europe. According to Greek grammarian Hesychius , who compiled a lexicon of Greek words in the 5th or 6th century AD, “ Europe ” means the woman with large eyes . I had a blast visiting Prague for the first time with WSA. Although most of the attention goes to Queen Elizabeth and her family in the UK, there are also monarchies in Spain, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, Monaco, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Andorra and Denmark. RELATED CONTENT: 9 fun Georgia country facts you probably never knew. There’s also some banned names too, so if you’re from Denmark, don’t even think about naming your baby Pluto, Anus or Monkey. Find out other interesting facts about Eastern Europe below: Facts about Eastern Europe 1: the land border. Love castles? There's space. RELATED CONTENT: 17 fun facts about Portugal you probably never knew. You may know that the Republic of San Marino is the oldest independent state in Europe (dating back to 301 AD! The name is 58 letters long, making it the longest name of any town in Europe, but you can call it Llanfairpwll, or Llanfair PG for short. Let us know in the comments below! Definitely one of the most interesting facts about Europe! Fact 2 Between the 16th and 20th centuries, European countries controlled at various times the Americas, most of Africa, Oceania, and many portions of Asia. Here are 21 things about this amazing continent that may just surprise you. interactive. Partly so it is – the Scandinavian countries are really prosperous, although their nuances, of course, are there. Founded in 935 by Viking kings Gorm the Old and Harald Bluetooth, the Danish Monarchy has been ruling Denmark for over 1,000 years. We use cookies to analyze our traffic, enhance our website’s functionality and performance, and a better experience for our users. It's a bit gritty, the sights are rather spread out, and it takes some time to warm up to it. Europe is the world’s second smallest continent. Think you’re good at tongue twisters? RELATED CONTENT: 13 useless but fascinating facts about The Netherlands that may surprise you. It saw a record 10.2 million visitors in 2018, while Disneyland Paris gets close to 10 million, the Eiffel Tower sees around 7 million, and the Colosseum gets 6 million. Europe was named after the Phoenician princess Europa. Home to some of the world’s most visited attractions and incredible feats of nature and humanity, Europe is one fascinating continent. The eastern edge of Europe is bordered by some notable geographical features like Caucasus Mountains, Ural River and Ural Mountains. Check out our Tripadvisor, App Store & Facebook travel love below. We keep our groups small, so save your spot now! Our tour guide was top notch as well. This is another one of those fun facts about Ireland! As a continent with hugely diverse topography, the geographical facts about Europe are going to be an interesting collection. RELATED CONTENT: 13 strange and interesting facts about Iceland, A post shared by The Royal Family (@theroyalfamily). For the past 20 years, the population of Europe has been static, with the birth and death rates being constant. Of the 24, three are designated as “procedural” languages, including English, French and Germany. How to Select Study Abroad & Travel Insurance. Ever since, Hungarians have not clinked their glasses during a toast. To start, the hostel that WSA booked for the tour was incredible. It’s got to be St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, in Rome. The word “quarantine” has Italian roots. Disneyland Paris? Vatican City is the smallest country of this continent with an area of 0.44 sq. The Swiss believe Sunday is a day for rest and noisy and annoying household chores shouldn’t interfere with everyone’s relaxation. Most are named  “Å”, meaning “small brook or river” in Scandinavian languages, while one village is named “Ö” meaning “island” in Swedish. The Austrians celebrated by clinking their beer glasses while toasting their victory. Fun & Interesting Facts About Europe Europe also has the smallest country in its mist; it is Vatican located in Italy and has less than ten thousand citizens. This custom goes back to 1848 when Austria defeated Hungary in the revolution. He went out shooting with some buddies, missed a shot, and got into an argument about what was the fastest game bird in Europe… Also, the most common language spoken in Europe is English, and 38% of the European population can speak it. The country has 932 castles and 1,187 stately homes – that’s more than any other country in Europe. There are 87 stories and you’re sure to get some spectacular views from the top of this incredible building. Seems fitting that the church is in Vatican City, the home of the Pope. Another interesting fact about Hum in Europe is that the majority of the population speak Italian, thanks to their close proximity to Italy. © Copyright 2021 Weekend Student Adventures Europe. Here are some interesting facts about Brussels to get you started. Without a doubt, this amazing city is one of the most beautiful places on earth. All of these are close guesses, but it’s actually the Louvre in Paris! While the extraordinary ancient pyramids of Egypt were constructed in 85 years, between 2589 and 2504 BC, La Sagrada Familia has been under construction for the past 138 years. With around 200 countries and more than 7.8 billion people (plus plants, animals, and other organisms), the world is full of interesting, fun, and fascinating facts. Since ancient times, Magical Istanbul has united Asia and Europe through the mighty Strait of Bosphorus. Pick a city and go! 2. There are also some really interesting and strange facts about Europe you probably didn’t know: Check out this list of 21 bizarre facts about Europe that have been put together in this awesome infographic! Another random fact about Europe’s monarchies is that there are still ten European countries with royal families. 4. Another fun fact about the Louvre in Europe is that even if you spent only 30 seconds on each artwork in the Louvre, it would still take you 35 days straight to see every piece. While you may be used to saying cheers and clinking your glasses with friends, you should never do this in Hungary. 6. Why you shouldn’t wait until retirement to start travelling, 9 super fun ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day from home. You’ll adore the Czech Republic. Enjoy reading the following top 10 ten interesting and fun facts about Europe. Europe is the second smallest continent in size but the third largest in population. RELATED CONTENT: The average minimum wage, and other interesting Luxembourg facts, A post shared by Edinburgh Zoo (@edinburghzoo). In the land of the Kiwis, for instance, you'll find the highest concentration of pet owners on the planet. You’ll need to get permission from the government. Made up of stunning fjords, rugged islands and windswept rocky shores, Norway’s coastline is the longest in Europe and the second-longest in the world (after Canada). You may know a lot about Europe — but we bet there is much about this vast continent that you don't know.. Home to some of the most visited countries in the world, fascinating history, spectacular art and towering feats of nature, Europe boasts some truly amazing facts.. Between 1783 and 1920, Poland disappeared as a sovereign country after it was split up by Austria, Prussia, and Russia in 1783. Like Japan is termed as the ‘Land of the Rising Sun’, Norway in Europe is called th… Europe Facts – Facts about Europe Summary. Our Europe Facts for Kids share lots of interesting and fun facts on the European continent. It is believed that the continent is named after ‘Europa’, a Phoenician Princess from Greek Mythology. km. Over 800 tonnes of chocolate is sold every year at the airport, and we know we can’t resist picking up a box or two on our way through Brussels! With dozens of unique cultures and countries across Europe, there are over 200 languages spoken on the continent, although only 24 are recognised as the official languages of the European Union. Hungarians rode into Europe on horseback, and still today, you can see the cowboys in the plains of Puszta. Twenty-eight countries are in the European Union, which sets economic and political laws for the region. What do you think is the most visited attraction in Europe? Monarchs in Europe have had a long, interesting history. It’s wonderful to know there are so many art fans flocking to see some of the world’s most iconic artworks in the Louvre. 5. The Eiffel Tower? The capital of Belgium isn't exactly the most popular capital in Europe. There are cowboys (csikos) in Hungary. The word "Insider". It is considered an independent state, even though it is situated within the city of Rome: the capital of Italy. It is comprised of 50 countries, 47 of which are united as the Council of Europe. Denmark has some unusual baby naming laws. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. All rights reserved. Creative spellings of common names are also not permitted under these laws. They come to admire the impressive collection of eight million artworks and antiquities… But did you know you’re only seeing around 1% of the collection at any time? ... It’s just for fun. You’ve probably heard about Belgian chocolate. The population of Europe is more than 800 million, making it the third most populated continent. Istanbul, the City of Two Continents. Topics. All new budget guidebook from Andy Steves, Founder and Chief Backpacker of WSA. Soaring into the sky like a glass shard, the Lakhta Center is a whopping 462 metres in height. In his defense, he argued it was the fastest game bird in Europe, … Hungary was founded back in 895, which means it’s older than countries like France and Germany. The European continent houses land area of 50 countries. Many destinations across Europe are at the top of a lot of students' bucket lists, and with a WSA trip you can make sure you don’t miss out on anything! The first Sir Olav penguin served between 1972 and 1987. The official language of Albania is Albanian, and the country’s dialling code is 355. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), 13 strange and interesting facts about Iceland, The average minimum wage, and other interesting Luxembourg facts, Italy’s free wine fountain, and other bizarre Italian facts, ss but fascinating facts about The Netherlands that may surprise you, How much beer is drunk annually (hint – a lot) and other interesting Prague facts, 10 Fun Facts You Never Knew About Croatia, 17 fun facts about Portugal you probably never knew, 12 facts about Switzerland you’ll never find in a guide book, 9 fun Georgia country facts you probably never knew. Some additional fun facts about Europe: 1. This website uses cookies. After checking out these 13 amazing castles from Game of Thrones you can visit in real life , … Wales might have the longest town name, but Scandinavia takes the crown for the shortest town names. Vatican City State has been declared as a world heritage site by UNESCO. Europe is named after a Phoenician princess called Europa; she was seduced by Greek God Zeus when he disguised himself as a bull. 3. Posted by admin in on March 27, 2015.. GET INSPIRED BY: Britain and Ireland Grandeur. There’s only room for around 800,000 objects to be displayed, so let’s hope you catch your favourites when you visit! 5. 1. IKEA is for Lovers: A 12-page New Yorker profile of everybody's go-to furniture manufacturer, IKEA, revealed that IKEA beds are great for baby-making. A series of interesting facts about Belarus are listed below. One fun fact about Europe is that it’s home to the smallest town in the world! If you celebrate your 100th and 105th birthday and every year after, or your 60th, 65th, 70th anniversaries and every year after, you’ll get a congratulatory card from Queen Elizabeth herself. The guy who managed Guinness Breweries in the 1950s went to a shooting party, where he missed his shot at a golden plover. Interesting or Fun Facts about Europe He was really fun and flexible with whatever our group wanted to do while making sure we saw all of the major sights, good places to eat, as well as the night life! I thought this trip was much easier to book through WSA rather than figure it all out myself and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to get the most out of their trip! it comes from the Italian word for 40, quarentina. Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification. Here are 15 interesting facts about Europe. Forty was the number of days trading ships returning to or visiting Venice from abroad had to remain at anchor outside Venice to ensure that no diseases entered the city by the ship crews. What is Ramadan and why is it so important to the Islamic faith? If you think one of the answers we’ve given is egregiously wrong, then email martin.belam@theguardian.com. Standing at 222 metres long, 152 metres wide, 137 metres tall, and with a capacity for 60,000 people, this is not only the largest church in Europe but the whole world. While dozens of countries in Europe have chopped and changed their names over the years, Bulgaria has stuck with the same name since it adopted it in 681 AD. He’s the mascot and colonel-in-chief of the Norwegian King’s Guard and he’s the third king penguin to serve. Ten fun facts about Europe Fact 1 The Gulf Stream is known as “Europe's central heating”, because it makes the continent’s climate warmer and wetter than it would otherwise be. Legend says that ancient Celtic Druids left the biska recipe in Hum around 2,000 years ago. From the smallest town in the world to the biggest church on earth, and from a knighted penguin to a country free of mosquitoes, there are hundreds of random and fun facts about Europe. Home to some of the world’s most visited attractions and incredible feats of nature and humanity, Europe is one fascinating continent. Tags: Study Abroad,Rome,Europe,fun facts,trivia europe,surprising facts,London,Barcelona,Madrid,Belgium. 6. It might look like someone dropped something on their keyboard, but it’s a real name, and it means “cave”. Some interesting facts about Europe for kids are that the continent of Europe is slightly larger than the United States and that all European countries use the Euro, except for the United Kingdom and Switzerland. Want to name your kid something unique? For those that think culture, invention and beauty end as soon as you enter a country ending in –aria, think again. Many destinations across Europe are at the top of a lot of students' bucket lists, and with a WSA trip you can make sure you don’t miss out on anything! Croissants are named for the crescent shown on the Ottoman Empire’s flag. Eastern Orthodox Religion is often associated with Eastern Europe. Some of the most interesting facts about Europe pertain to the earliest history that established the continent as the cradle of Western civilization. RELATED CONTENT: 12 facts about Switzerland you’ll never find in a guide book. Europe is made up of more than 40 different countries. This began thanks to the awesomely named managing director of Guinness at the time, Sir Hugh Beaver. Amazingly, Iceland is believed to be completely clear of any mosquitoes, thanks to the cold temperatures and lack of shallow ponds that mosquitoes love. Here are some surprising facts you didn't know about European kings and queens. Interesting and little known facts about European countries, maps of cultural, socio-economic, legal and genetic differences between European countries, cultural differences between Europeans and Americans, rankings of the best restaurants and universities in Europe, and so on. Instead, you should say “Egészségedre” and look your Hungarian friends in the eye before taking a drink. Definitely one of the more unique facts about Hungary! The British Museum in London is one of the most-visited in the world, with around six million visitors every year. One of the most random facts about Europe is that if you live in the Commonwealth, you can get a letter from the Queen of England! In Switzerland, you’re not allowed to mow your lawn, build anything, wash your car or hang clothes out to dry on Sundays. Interesting or Fun Facts about Europe. Try pronouncing the name of this Welsh town – “Llanfairpwll-gwyngyllgogerychwyrndrob-wllllantysiliogogogoch”. There are 10 villages across Denmark, Sweden and Norway that have names just one single letter long. Even if you visited one castle a day, it would take you over 2.5 years to see them all, so you better get started! Along with its tiny size, Hum is also famous for its mistletoe brandy called biska. Spanning 400 million square miles, Europe is a temperate continent in the northern hemisphere and home to 741 million people, incredible history and diverse destinations that are on many people’s bucket lists. 5. Although there are more than 3,000 types of mosquitoes in the world, Iceland doesn’t have any at all. New parents must name their child one of the 7,000 pre-approved names, like Benji or Molli. Blonde hair is believed to have evolved to enable more efficient synthesis of vitamin D, due to the fact that there is less sunlight in Northern Europe. It won’t surprise anyone to hear that the Middle Ages weren’t a great time to be alive. Stay up to date with upcoming tours, deals and discounts through our Facebook page! Yes really…. From Gorm the Old to the current Queen Margrethe II, this royal family is the oldest in all of Europe. They weren’t our first choices either! RELATED CONTENT: 10 Fun Facts You Never Knew About Croatia. Our Europe facts for kids will give you lots of interesting and fun facts about the Europe continent. It is the only ‘country’ in the world, which has been declared so. The country has very interesting statistics and facts unknown to … GET INSPIRED BY: Highlights of Eastern Europe. Not all facts about Europe have to do with pop culture. Albania is a small country in Southern Europe.The country’s capital is Tirana, and it is Albania's largest city with 800,000 inhabitants. Your email address will not be published. Found in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Perućica Rainforest is a tentative UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most precious green lungs in Europe. Check out Andy Steves' Europe: City Hopping on a Budget! Here are 40 Interesting Europe facts. Each country could easily make a contribution with an interesting fact as the landscape changes so dramatically across small spaces, unlike other continents. Did you know in Switzerland it is illegal to flush a toilet after 10pm? An interesting fact about the European continent is that it starts from North America to end at North America again, due to the presence of countries like Iceland and Russia in the continent. Did you know that the tallest building in Europe is in St. Petersburg in Russia? Here are seven things you didn’t know about Eastern Europe, as told by our friend, expert photographer Steve Davey. Blonde hair in humans developed in Northern Europe. Europe Facts for Adults - Quirky Facts Best Saved for a Cocktail Party. But it does have a rich history and plays an important role in Belgium, Europe, and the world. 2. The little town of Hum is found in the Istria region northwest of Croatia and the population is only 30 people (according to the 2011 census).