Europe is a part of the world with an area of 10,400,000 km²,
stretching from Asia in the east to the Atlantic Ocean in the west.
The highest point in Europe is Mount Elbrus in Russia with a height
of 5,642 m. The highest point in Western Europe is Mount Blanc in the
Alps with a height of 4,807 m. to the Caspian Sea. The largest
freshwater lake in Europe is Ladoga.
The climate of Europe varies
from subtropical on the coasts of the Mediterranean and Black Seas in
the south, to subarctic on the coasts of the Barents Sea and the Arctic
Ocean in the north. Europe has a huge number of opportunities for the
traveler, a variety of cultures and places from urban metropolises to
beautiful landscapes.
Iberia
Andorra,
Gibraltar, Spain
and Portugal
The
countries of the Iberian Peninsula are famous for their rich and
distinctive culture, as well as friendly and cheerful people.
France and
Monaco
France is one of the most attractive countries for tourists in
the world. History, culture, fashion, wines, cheeses and of
course cuisine. France can offer the sights of Paris, winter
holidays in the Alps, castles of the Loire Valley, Normandy and
Brittany, holidays on the French Riviera.
Apennines
Vatican, Italy,
Malta,
San Marino
Rome,
Florence, Venice and Pisa are on the itineraries of many world
travelers, and these are just a few of the many. Italy and the
neighboring states have a stunningly rich history and culture.
British Isles
United Kingdom,
Ireland, Guernsey,
Maine, Jersey
Great Britain is a country with a rich history
and culture, the core of the former British Empire, which for
centuries included many cultures and at the same time remained
intact. Ireland is known for its distinctive customs,
traditions, folklore, and amazing natural scenery.
Benelux
Belgium,
Netherlands,
Luxembourg
An economic union of countries, each of which is not similar to
each other. The Netherlands is known for its windmills, dams,
clogs, cheese, bicycles and tulips, its liberal social order and
famous artists. Belgium is a bilingual country with interesting
historical cities. Luxembourg is a monarchical microstate in the
hills of the Ardennes.
Central Europe
Austria,
Hungary,
Germany,
Liechtenstein,
Poland,
Slovakia, Slovenia,
Czech Republic,
Switzerland
Central Europe connects east and west, is a region where
Germanic culture coexists with Slavic. Home to countless
historic cities, fairytale castles, forests, mountain ranges,
chief among them the Alps.
The Baltic States
Latvia,
Lithuania,
Estonia
Three small
states that are famous for their long beaches on the Baltic Sea,
medieval old towns and beautiful natural landscapes.
Scandinavia
Denmark,
Iceland,
Norway, Faroe Islands,
Finland,
Sweden
Breathtaking
landscapes: mountains, lakes, glaciers, geysers, waterfalls,
volcanoes, fjords and skerries.
Russia,
Ukraine and
Belarus
Russia is a
huge country stretching from Europe to the Pacific Ocean.
Ukraine is a tourist-friendly country with authentic cities of
Odessa, Lviv and Kyiv and the tourist coasts of the Black and
Azov Seas. To the north of Ukraine lies Belarus - a country with
an economic and political regime that is surprising for modern
Europe.
Balkan region
Albania,
Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Bulgaria,
North Macedonia,
Moldova, Romania,
Serbia,
Croatia,
Montenegro
The Balkans is a region with a rich, often turbulent, history.
Mountainous landscapes, forests and lakes, against which you can
see monasteries and fortresses, impress tourists. Also
interesting are the historical cities that developed under the
influence of different cultures.
Greece,
Turkey and Cyprus
European countries with the highest number of sunny days. A
great place for beach lovers or tourists interested in ancient
history. In the territories of the current countries in the past
there were well-known states such as Byzantium, Urartu, Armenian
Cilicia and the Ottoman Empire. A large number of Ottoman,
Armenian and Greek architectural structures have been preserved
in Turkey.
South Caucasus
Azerbaijan,
Armenia,
Georgia
The mountain
system of the Caucasus, which stretches from the Black to the
Caspian Sea, is a natural border between Europe and Asia.
Historical heritage, richness of landscapes and unique natural
conditions make the region interesting from a tourist point of
view. At the same time, several local zones of territorial
conflicts create certain problems for travelers.
Amsterdam —
the canals, Anne Frank House, Rembrandt, coffee shops and the
red light district
Berlin —
geopolitical interests divided the city between east and west
for 45 years; now it is the capital of reunified Germany and an
international cultural center
Brussels — a
truly international city with the European institutions, the
Grand Place, Manneken Pis and the Atomium
Istanbul — the
only metropolis on two continents, a fascinating melting pot of
east and west
London —
the vibrant, multicultural capital of the United Kingdom with
its Tower Bridge and Big Ben
Moscow — the
largest city in Europe is known for its nightlife and the iconic
Kremlin
Paris —
the city of love on the Seine with its Eiffel Tower and Notre
Dame
Prague — a magical city with its beautiful bridges over the
Vltava
Rome — this
city breathes history; every street corner has cultural heritage
that is even more impressive
Alps — the highest mountain range in Europe, the word alpinism is
derived from this
Etna — the largest active volcano in Europe can be
found on the island of Sicily
Camargue — nature reserve in the south
of France
Ibiza — fun island belonging to the Balearic Islands, known
for its big clubs
North Cape — the northernmost tip of continental
Europe
Plitvice Lakes — the famous turquoise lakes with caves and
waterfalls
Santorini — remains of a volcano that exploded nearly
4,000 years ago with Akrotiri, the Pompeii of the Aegean Sea
Stonehenge — prehistoric stone circle located in England
Þingvellir —
nature reserve at the intersection of the Eurasian and North American
tectonic plates
Climate of Europe is largely milder than other regions at this altitude due to a warm Gulf Stream. Overall the continent is very diverse in terms of climates that may range from Arctic desert to a hot Mediterranean climate in the South. Summers in the northwest are usually cool and rainy. Scandinavia in the very North part of the continent can be very extreme in winters with little light, while summers are mild with so called White Nights then the daylight may persist till midnight. Southern Europe on the other hand is influenced by African continent. It is dry and can be unbearably hot in July and August. If you chose this time of the year you might have to deal with forest fires that are quite frequent. These are also the busiest months of the year in terms of tourist load. More preferable months to travel to Europe usually range from May to September. However if you want to ski in Europe February and March will probably suit you better. Although you have to execute certain degree of common sense since the trails in Europe have less safety precautions.
What makes Europe so attractive? Is it the fjords in Norway, the
beaches of Spain, the architecture of Saint Petersburg or the real
cosiness of the Low Countries? Wherever you are in Europe, you will
always be fascinated by the beautiful cultural heritage that the
continent has to offer. In a trip through Europe you will discover that
the regions of Europe are linked by a tumultuous history, but also that
there is a great diversity of languages and cultures in a relatively
small area.
Europe is one of the most densely populated areas in
the world and, with London, Paris and Rome, among others, has unique
world cities that are known all over the world. But you are also in the
right place in Europe for peace and unspoilt - just think of the
emptiness of Scandinavia, the vast mountain areas in Switzerland and the
spas in Central Europe. Moreover, all these areas are relatively easy to
visit, because tourist facilities in the continent are very extensive.
Europe offers something for everyone!
Ancient Greece is often pointed to as the starting point of modern
European history — Greece is therefore referred to as the cradle of
Europe. Although this is actually unjustified, this is not surprising,
because the cultural heritage of the Ancient Greeks still captures the
imagination today. Until 1000 BC. Greece was ruled by many different
leaders of various origins. The area grew into a mixture of independent
city-states, many of which established colonies in the Mediterranean.
Classical Greek culture, centered around Athens, reached its peak in the
fifth century BC, before being replaced by Philip II of Macedon in 338
BC. to be conquered.
Under Philippus, Macedonia had taken control
of Greece diplomatically and militarily (definitely after the Battle of
Chaeronea). When the news of Philip's death came to the attention of the
Greeks, they believed that under his inexperienced son the Macedonian
hegemony would soon end, but after an unexpected invasion by Alexander
the Great (Pella, July 26, 356 BC — Babylon, 10 or 13 June 323 BC), they
had to submit again. He caused a massacre in Thebes. Before that, he
went to war against the rebellious regions of Thrace and Illyria, in
northern Macedonia. Alexander the Great united the fighting Greek poleis
and conquered Persia and Egypt, among others.
The written history
of the Roman Empire begins when the Greeks founded some cities in the
south of the country. The Etruscans ruled in the north and the Greeks in
the south, and right between those two areas was the disputed province
of Latium, where the Romans lived. Rome became the most important city
of this area and gained more and more power. After the Romans first
conquered the surrounding cities, they defeated the in the 4th century
BC. the Etruscans and in the 3rd century BC. the Greeks in the south.
Thus they eventually obtained the entire Italian peninsula and began
their many wars of expansion.
The Roman Empire reached its peak
under Emperor Trajan. In the third and second centuries BC. the Punic
Wars were fought against the city of Carthage. The famous Carthaginian
general Hannibal traveled with his army via Spain over the Alps and
fought throughout Italy before being chased away. After Carthage in 146
BC. was finally defeated, the Romans were the greatest power in the
Mediterranean. Many originally Carthaginian and Greek colonies in
Africa, France and Spain now belonged to the Roman Empire. Around 200
B.C. Greece itself also came under Roman rule and with it the Greek
colonies in the east, such as those in Asia Minor, Syria, Palestine and
Egypt.
Julius Caesar conquered between 60 and 50 BC. all of Gaul,
after which Emperor Claudius added Britannia to the empire 100 years
later. Trajan was the last great conqueror. At the beginning of the
second century he conquered Dacia and large parts of the Parthian
empire, although that area soon had to be given up again. Under Trajan,
the Roman Empire reached its greatest extent. The territory now ran from
northern England to Egypt. His successors consolidated the borders. All
attempts to defeat the Teutons and occupy their territory failed. A long
period of relative peace followed. The Romans spread Latin and Roman
culture throughout the conquered territories. Germanic tribes were
allowed at the borders and were allowed to live in Belgium, for example,
if they adhered to the Roman rules.
After several centuries,
slowly but surely decay set in. The Roman Empire was the first of its
kind to cover such a vast area. The arrival of Christianity marked a
major upheaval for the Empire. Initially, the Christians were severely
persecuted because they did not want to pay divine honor to the emperors
and the Roman gods. In 313 Christianity was recognized by Constantine
and in 392 it was even made the state religion by Theodosius I. Then
hard times began for non-Christians. Citizens' attitudes toward the
military also changed—Christians did not find it desirable to work in
the military or for the state. The Empire therefore began to rely more
and more on foreigners (Germans) in important positions in the army.
This led to great political complications, which led to the downfall of
the western part in 476 with the fall of the last capital, Ravenna. The
eastern part, which we now call the Byzantine Empire, also came close to
demise, but then experienced several more flourishes. In the Early
Middle Ages it was always one of the most important players on the
European political scene. After Constantinople was sacked by the
Crusaders in 1204, the empire also declined. The last remnants of the
Byzantine Empire fell in 1453 (Constantinople) and 1461 (Greece).
The presence of the Romans in this large area is not only visible
through a large number of monuments and ruins, such as the Porta Nigra
in Trier and Hadrian's Wall in the United Kingdom, but also through the
influence of the languages. For example, Romance languages such as
French, Italian and Spanish originated from the language spoken by the
Roman soldiers and settlers stationed there. You can trace the northern
border of the Roman Empire to this day, because this is still the
language border between the Romance languages, which are derived from
Latin, and the Germanic languages that were spoken outside the empire.
Until recently, Latin and Greek were used as international languages by
the elite, which means that many academic terms are still derived from
these languages. All in all, classical antiquity can be seen as the
foundation of modern Western civilization.
The period after the collapse of the Roman Empire (circa 330 to 950)
is known in current European historiography as the Early Middle Ages —
sometimes the term Dark Ages is also used for this period, because there
were large population movements with looting and a sharp decline in
standard of living and population. Little written information has
survived about the conditions of this chaotic period. Initially,
literacy declined in the early Middle Ages. This tendency came to an end
when the Carolingian Empire came into being, in which Charlemagne
founded schools. The use of money is also largely disappearing in favor
of transactions in kind. Money is still used as a yardstick.
The
legal system became watered down during this time, each tribe had its
own customary law that was followed as much as possible. The Frankish
princes traveled from palace to palace to monitor the implementation of
their laws and to administer justice. After Charlemagne, the system of
Frankish counts changed to a feudal system. The Christianization of
Europe began, reaching its peak towards the end of the Middle Ages.
Several tribes converted to Christianity.
The High Middle Ages
(from about 950 to 1270) are an important period in the history of
Western Europe. Scholasticism emerged in science at this time. The
papacy also reached the height of its power during this period. There
was a long battle over who should have the highest authority in Europe:
the Church or the German Emperor. This is called the Investiture
Controversy. In Germany, the Saxon house ruled with, among others,
Hendrik I, Otto I, and Otto III, later the Frankish house with, among
others, Hendrik III and Hendrik IV. In France, Hugo Capet was the
progenitor of the Capetians and all other French kings after him.
England was conquered in 1066 by William the Conqueror, Duke of
Normandy.
After the year 1000, more stability came to medieval
Europe. The raids of the Vikings, who had long ravaged Western Europe,
came to an end. In Spain, the Reconquista was deployed, pushing back the
Moors from Spain. Due to the improving farming methods, the population
began to increase steadily. Numerous new villages and towns were
founded. The existing cities, mostly founded by the Romans, also started
to grow again. Long-distance trade also started again. This is evident,
for example, from Marco Polo's trip to China. Northern Italy in
particular, with the Repubbliche Marinare, and the County of Flanders,
with Bruges as the hub of trade between Northern and Southern Europe,
quickly grew into rich areas. From 1080, the first universities emerged
and progress was made in art and architecture. In this period the great
Romanesque and later Gothic cathedrals were built. Due to the increasing
prosperity, prosperous and powerful cities could enforce city rights.
The late Middle Ages (from circa 1270 to 1500) was a period of
crisis in Europe. The plague (1347-1352) or black death caused tens of
millions of victims at that time. Nobody knew what to do against this
virus, the scientific knowledge was insufficient (if one could speak of
scientific knowledge at that time). The virus spread at lightning speed,
and the whole of Europe fell under the spell of the Black Death. Rich
and poor were affected. There was already transport of people through
Europe. Some accidentally discovered methods of diving into the virus:
isolation and there is also talk of similar vaccines. Whole families
were affected. Many houses, land, facilities, farms, fields, craft
workshops, legacies were left unattended and empty.
In 1492 the discovery of America takes place by Columbus — although
this continent was actually already discovered in the year 1000 by the
Icelandic Viking Leif Eriksson. In addition, more and more areas in Asia
were discovered. Spain, Portugal, France, the Netherlands and England
became very adept at colonizing the newly discovered territories. It is
during that period that Europe sails the world's seas and oceans. The
Renaissance is considered a transitional period from the Middle Ages to
modern times.
In 1870-1871 the Franco-Prussian War takes place
between France and a number of German states led by Prussia. The war
would lead to a victory for Prussia and its allies and resulted in the
establishment of the German Empire, uniting the German states. This war
laid the foundations of decades of tension between Germany and France.
These poor relations between the European countries would develop into
World War I, when Austrian Crown Prince Franz Ferdinand was shot dead by
a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914. The style of warfare
was in many ways the same as during the Prussian Wars—World War I is
best known for the endless trench warfare in northern France and western
Flanders.
The Allies, which included France, the United Kingdom,
the United States and Russia, won the war against Germany and
Austria-Hungary. Germany was transformed into the democratic Weimar
Republic, had to surrender territory and was obliged by the Treaty of
Versailles to pay heavy reparations. The provisions of the treaty were
considered humiliating by the Germans. The reparations led to
hyperinflation in the Weimar Republic in 1923—yet the subsequent period
would come to be known as the Roaring Twenties, when women stripped off
corsets, hair was cropped, and skirts reached to the knees. This period
came to an end in 1929 with the New York stock market crash, which had
worldwide catastrophic consequences and ushered in the Great Depression.
Germany was particularly hard hit — in the already unstable Weimar
Republic, Adolf Hitler came to power from the National Socialist Party
in 1933. This led to the outbreak of World War II in 1939.
Although World War II had a huge impact on Europe, the continent
experienced rapid economic growth after the war, in part because of the
Marshall Plan. With the United Nations, the IMF and the European
Community, a political structure emerged that is still active today.
Only since the end of the Second World War has there been relative
stability in Europe.
However, this only applied to the western
half of the continent. Since the end of the war, Europe has been divided
into two military blocs. The Western European countries became
democratic market economies under the banner of the United States and
NATO, while the Eastern European countries became communist one-party
states under the banner of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact. This
division of Europe between East and West is called the Iron Curtain, and
the city of Berlin came to symbolize this division with the construction
of the Berlin Wall in 1961. In 1962, with the Cuban Missile Crisis, this
Cold War threatened to become a global nuclear war.
In 1968, the
Brezhnev Doctrine was passed, under which the Soviet Union would not
allow countries to leave the Warsaw Pact. The Soviet Union had already
intervened in the Hungarian Uprising in 1956, and would intervene again
in 1968 to quell the Prague Spring in Czechoslovakia. The protests of
the Polish trade union movement Solidarity followed in the 1980s. It was
not until the Brezhnev Doctrine was abolished in 1988 by Soviet leader
Mikhail Gorbachev that numerous revolutions started, with the fall of
the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the end of the Warsaw Pact. East and West
Germany would officially reunite in 1990. In 1991, even the Soviet Union
fell apart into separate republics.
New countries were not only
created in eastern Europe, but also in Yugoslavia, republics declared
themselves independent. Slovenia declared independence on June 25, 1991,
followed by Croatia the following day. This is very much against the
wishes of the rulers in Belgrade. Eventually Bosnia-Herzegovina would
also declare independence, an area in which Muslims, ethnic Croats and
ethnic Serbs live. This sparked the wars in Yugoslavia, which included
the fall of Srebrenica, the worst act of genocide in Europe since World
War II. The end of the war was laid down in the Dayton Accords, but
tensions are still present in this region.
After the Second World
War, a number of countries in Europe decided that more intensive
cooperation was needed to prevent future wars. At the initiative of
Robert Schuman and Paul-Henri Spaak, the European Community was
introduced in 1956 with "the six": Belgium, Germany, France, Italy,
Luxembourg, and the Netherlands would henceforth transfer some economic
powers to a supranational organization. The European Community was
succeeded in 1992 by the European Union (EU). The EU is a supranational
and intergovernmental union of countries, currently made up of 27 member
states. A number of important parts of this European integration for
travelers:
The Schengen treaties provide for free movement of
persons within the European Union
The euro is the legal tender of 17
of the 27 member states of the European Union
Europe is only a small continent, so there are not many significant differences in climates as in larger continents. However, Europe is very densely populated; there are even more people than in Africa, three times as large. Because so many people live in Europe, there is relatively little room for nature and animals. Nevertheless, there are a number of very impressive (predatory) animals living in Europe, such as wolves, bears and white-tailed eagles.
Entry rules vary by country. A large number of European countries
belong to the Schengen zone. Citizens of European Union or EFTA member
states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) only need to carry
a valid passport or identity card to enter the Schengen zone — they
never need a visa, no matter how long the visit takes . Nationals of
other countries must carry a valid passport and, depending on
nationality, require a visa.
Only nationals of the following
non-EU/EFTA countries do not require a visa to enter the Schengen zone:
Albania*, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas,
Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina*, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa
Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Croatia, North
Macedonia*, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro*, New
Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino,
Serbia*/**, Seychelles, Singapore, Taiwan*** (Republic of China), United
States, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela, South Korea, as well as
persons with a British National (Overseas) passport, a Hong Kong SAR
passport or a Macau SAR passport.
Visitors from these visa-free
countries are not allowed to stay for more than 90 days in any 180-day
period in the Schengen zone as a whole, and are in principle not allowed
to work during their stay (although there are a number of Schengen
countries that do allow nationals of certain nationalities to travel).
work — see below). The counter starts the moment you enter a member
state of the Schengen zone and does not expire if you leave a certain
Schengen country for another Schengen country or vice versa. However,
New Zealand nationals may stay longer than 90 days if they only visit
certain Schengen countries - see [1] for an explanation from the New
Zealand government.
If you are a non-EU/EFTA national (even from
a visa-free country, with the exception of Andorra, Monaco or San
Marino), make sure your passport is stamped when entering and leaving
the Schengen zone . Without a stamp on entry you can be treated as
having exceeded the length of stay on departure; without a stamp on
departure, you may be denied entry to the Schengen zone the next time
due to exceeding the length of stay in a previous trip. If you can't get
a stamp, keep documents such as boarding passes, transport tickets and
ATM receipts, as these can help convince border police that you have
legally entered the Schengen area.
Be aware that:
(*)
nationals of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia,
Montenegro and Serbia require a biometric passport to enjoy visa-free
travel;
(**) nationals of Serbia with passports issued by the
Serbian Coordination Directorate (residents of Kosovo with Serbian
passports) are required to apply for a visa;
(***) Nationals of
Taiwan must have their ID number recorded in their passport in order to
enjoy visa-free travel.
There are no border controls between countries that have signed and
implemented the Schengen treaties. These are the Member States of the
European Union (except Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the United
Kingdom), Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. In addition, a
visa issued for a member state of the Schengen zone is valid for all
member states that have signed and implemented the treaties. But beware:
not all EU member states have signed the Schengen treaties, and there
are also member states of the Schengen zone that are not members of the
European Union. This means that there may be customs checks but no
immigration checks (if you are traveling within Schengen but from/to a
non-EU country) or there may be immigration checks but no customs check
(if you are traveling within the EU but from/to a non-EU country).
-Schengen country).
Airports in Europe are divided between
"Schengen" and "non-Schengen" sections, which correspond to "domestic"
and "foreign" sections in other countries. If you fly from outside
Europe to a Schengen country and then travel on to another Schengen
country, you can complete customs and immigration checks in the first
country and then travel directly to the second country without any
further checks. Traveling between a Schengen country and a non-Schengen
country will result in the usual border controls. Remember that whether
or not you are traveling within the Schengen zone, many airlines require
that you always be able to present a passport or identity card.
An example of the implications that Schengen can have for the traveler:
Traveling from Germany to France (both EU, both Schengen): No checks
Traveling from Germany to Switzerland (both Schengen, Switzerland not in
the EU): Customs controls, but no immigration controls
Traveling from
France to the UK (both EU, UK not in Schengen): immigration checks, but
no customs checks
Traveling from Switzerland to the UK: Immigration
and Customs Controls
The following list is an incomplete summary of low-cost airlines
operating scheduled services within Europe. In addition, almost every
European country has one or more national airlines operating domestic
flights and direct flights to other European countries. The distinction
between these two categories is becoming increasingly blurred now that
various national companies have restarted after bankruptcy as a cheap
alternative.
Corendon
easyjet
Eurowings
Ryanair
Transavia
Tuifly
The train network in Europe is very extensive. There are several
high-speed trains that connect the major cities of Europe at a speed of
250–300 km/h, this is the Belgian Thalys (connects Paris, Brussels,
Cologne and Amsterdam, the Eurostar (between Brussels South and London
via the channel tunnel), the TGV in France which also has connections
with Zurich in Switzerland and Milan in Italy and the German ICE
connects the major cities in Germany and also has connections with major
cities located in the border area of Germany's neighboring countries. of
course also the regular trains with which you can reach all of Europe.
The train network of Europe is the responsibility of the countries
themselves and is usually in the hands of the government. There are also
private railway companies such as in Great Britain and Switzerland. you
travel thanks to the partnerships between the different railway
companies, but you cannot speak of a uniform European railway network
Many countries in Europe have different technologies (4 different
voltages, different in Belgium, France, Germany,... and different
railway width in Russia, Spain and Portugal), special trains are being
developed for this purpose that can run in several countries.
CityNightLine (Germany,Netherlands,Austria,Switzerland,Denmark,Czech
Republic).
EuroCity EC.
EuroNight
(Italy,Spain,Germany,Austria,France,Hungary,Switzerland,Czech Republic).
EuroStar Italy.
TGV Luria
TGV Mediterranean
Cisalpino CIS
Pau Casals Hotel Train
Tallo Spain
A good travel planner can be
found on the site of the Deutsche Bahn
(http://www.bahn.com/i/view/NLD/nl/index.shtml) and the Austrian
Railways (http://www.oebb.at /)
InterRail Pass
With an
InterRail pass you can travel freely for 16 or 22 days or a whole month
in a selection of 28 European countries, plus Turkey. These countries
are divided into 8 zones, which you can combine with each other. The
price of your InterRail pass depends on the number of zones you choose,
but also on your age (younger or older than 26).
Zone A Great
Britain, Ireland
Zone B Finland, Norway, Sweden
Zone C Denmark,
Germany, Austria, Switzerland
Zone D Poland, Czech Republic,
Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Zone E Belgium,
France, Luxembourg, Netherlands
Zone F Morocco, Portugal, Spain
Zone G Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Turkey and the shipping lines
Italy-Greece: Ancona/Bari - Igoumenitsa/Patras
Zone H Bulgaria,
Romania, Serbia, North Macedonia
More information on sncb; NB: if
you want to travel with high-speed trains or with night trains you have
to pay a surcharge. For more information from the Netherlands, see the
NS Hispeed home page.
Balkan Flex Pass
For travelers
interested in Southeast Europe, the Balkan Flexpipass may be a solution:
Unlimited train travel for 5, 10 or 15 days in a month through Bulgaria,
Greece, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Romania and Turkey. You can
buy the Flexipass at stations in those countries; or much more
expensive, on the web.
The pitfall is that many trains in the
region are already cheap and that the Balkan Flexpiass is only
profitable if you make longer train journeys.
See also the page Bus travel in Europe for more information.
With the Eurolines bus company you can reach almost all countries in
Europe and travel through part of Morocco. Eurolines is a Belgium-based
umbrella company that cooperates with many other bus companies.
If you want to travel through Europe for a longer period of time, you
can buy a Eurolines pass, the price depends on whether you opt for 15
days or 1 month and on the season and your age. This allows you
unlimited travel between 40 different major cities that Eurolines
serves.
Eurolines is probably the cheapest way to travel through
Europe, you have really rock bottom prices in some destinations such as
Brussels-Bratislava for 28 euros round trip if you book long enough in
advance. The fact that you have to make a long bus trip can make
traveling tiring. Some people who have a fear of flying spend dozens of
hours on the bus to travel from London to Prague, for example.
Transport by coach is relatively very safe, so safe that Statistics
Netherlands does not keep separate statistics for the Netherlands. In
2009, 720 traffic fatalities occurred in the Netherlands, 7 of which
belonged to the category other, which includes coaches.
Europe has an excellent road network. From the North Cape to Gibraltar or from Turkey to Great Britain: you can reach everything. In Germany you can even drive as fast as you want on many motorways (under your own responsibility). European traffic regulations are becoming more and more harmonised, but watch out for differences from country to country! In Great Britain, Cyprus and Malta, people drive on the left! The maximum speed on the motorway is 120 km/h or 130 km/h in most countries. You can consult the toll rates in Europe on the excellent ANWB website
There are several rivers that are easily accessible by boat. The
Danube, Meuse, Rhône and Rhine are a few examples of this.
Furthermore, Europe is bounded by the sea in the north, west and south
and it is therefore possible to travel from Helsinki on the Baltic Sea,
via the North Sea, the English Channel, the Atlantic Ocean, the Strait
of Gibraltar and the Mediterranean Sea to the Bosphorus near Istanbul.
to sail. Various parts of this trip, as well as other routes, are also
served by regular ferries.
There are also many channels in a
number of countries. France in particular has thousands of kilometers of
canals that have been constructed between the major rivers. Especially
between the areas where minerals were traditionally extracted to areas
with a lot of industry. Before the minerals were discovered, there was
already a lot of transport of wood (trunks) and agricultural products
from various areas, such as Burgundy to Paris and the surrounding area.
You will also find connecting canals between the Mediterranean Sea
and the Bay of Biscaye, such as Canal du Midi and beyond.
More than 70 languages are spoken in Europe. One language won't get you very far in Europe. The most common language is English. This is the standard language on the British Isles, but in Scandinavia in particular many people are also proficient in it, while in the south and east of Europe this language is not common. French and German are also understood in many European countries. In the East, many people, especially the elderly, master Russian.
Rich diversity and cultural heritage, the presence of age-old craft
traditions and fine industries, as well as a number of the world's most
famous brands in all types of luxury and premium goods make Europe a
shopper's paradise. There are regional specialties to be bought in every
corner of the continent, and the main shopping streets and department
stores in many European metropolises are shopping destinations that
attract eager shoppers from all over the world.
In terms of less
glamorous shopping, Europe generally poses few problems. Retail is well
developed in most countries, and you shouldn't have a problem finding
stores offering basic groceries and other necessities almost everywhere
except in the most remote and uninhabited areas. Issues such as shop
opening hours or credit card acceptance, however, vary widely from one
country to another, as does the likelihood of vendors speaking foreign
languages. Europe is known for its fashion and designer clothes. Luxury
watches and high-end jewelery are also renowned.
The Euro
The
euro (symbol: €, EUR) is the common currency of many – though not all –
countries in the European Union, and a few others, eliminating the need
to exchange currencies when moving from one country to another. One euro
equals 100 cents; sometimes referred to as "euro centers" to
differentiate them from their US and other counterparts.
Those
countries that have replaced their national currencies are commonly
referred to as the Eurozone. Euros are sometimes accepted in European
countries outside the Eurozone, but not universally, and in shops and
restaurants the exchange rate may not be in your favour. Many hotels
outside the Eurozone also accept payments in Euros.
ATM
Throughout Europe, ATMs are readily available. They will accept various
debit and credit cards. While a large number of ATMs may offer free cash
withdrawals, some operators will charge their own fees for doing so,
usually a percentage of the amount withdrawn, with a fixed minimum
amount. This is in addition to any fees already imposed by your card
issuer. Read the labels and warnings on the machine before using them.
Usually the machine will indicate the fee for the withdrawal you are
about to make and ask you to confirm it.
European ATMs usually
have no letters on the keyboard. PINs longer than 4 digits are generally
no longer a problem.
Tips
Tipping practices vary from country
to country in Europe. In most countries, tipping is not required and
prices displayed must include all fees and service charges.
Costs
and taxes
Europe is generally an expensive continent; especially the
Nordic countries, Switzerland, big cities and tourist areas. In general,
prices are highest in the northwest and lowest in the southeast. For
souvenirs, prices will often be lower in smaller stalls than in larger
shops. During dinner, many items may appear on your bill that you may
not expect to be charged for (e.g. water, bread) - ask before sitting
down. However, some countries are generally very cheap by American or
Western European standards. In these countries — most of which are
former Soviet states with low levels of tourism — prices are low
(although they might be high in local currency), and travelers can get a
full dinner with drinks for as low as $20 USD.
In the EU, most
goods and services must include value added tax (VAT) in published
prices. The VAT may be refundable if you are a non-resident and take the
goods out of the EU unused. Simply request a voucher from the shop and
show it to customs at the exit point. To be safe, look for a VAT refund
sticker on your shop door or window.
European cuisines are extremely diverse. There is a huge difference
between the products historically available in the cold Mediterranean
north and south of Europe and, of course, the development of national
cuisines has greatly depended on the available goods. Cuisines also
often vary significantly between different parts of the same country.
However, most European cuisines share some characteristics and many
are held in high esteem around the world, despite having relatively
short traditions compared to, say, Chinese cuisines. Perhaps the most
famous of European cuisines is French, which has had a strong influence
on the development of haute cuisine. Italian cuisine is equally known
and loved for its genuine flavours. In addition, all other countries
have signature dishes: think Spanish tapas, Austrian pastries, German
cakes, English Sunday roast or Turkish kebabs.
Meat plays an
important role in most European cuisines. Where Asian cuisine favors
morsels of meat, many European dishes include full portions. Steaks (of
various meats) are popular across the continent, as are sauces of all
kinds. Potatoes became a major source of starch after Columbus' voyages
initiated trade with the Americas, as well as breads, pastas, pastries,
and some forms of dumplings.
The traditional ingredients depend
on the local climate. As a general rule, fruits, vegetables and spices
become more common and diverse the further south you go.
Food
scenes in European cities have been heavily influenced by food from the
rest of the world. Europeans willingly mix their regional food
traditions with those of other parts of Europe, Asia and the Americas,
leaving locals and visitors alike with a wealth of options in most of
the larger cities. Due to the high levels of immigration from the former
colonial empires, the cuisines of Asia, Africa and the Americas are well
represented in the major cities of the respective former colonial
metropolises.
Tipping for waiters varies by country and by
establishment, but a ten percent tip can be perfectly reasonable in many
places. You will almost never get the inflated thirty percent "tax and
tip" bill, and in many countries, tipping is completely optional.
Drinks
Culturally Europeans have a rather liberal approach to
alcohol.
Wine
In some regions of Europe, in the Mediterranean
area, a very high quality wine has been produced since ancient times and
with great dedication. Some European countries can boast the most
appreciated wines in the world, France and Italy among them. In Spain,
sangria, or red wine (with the exception of Catalonia where it is
customary to use sparkling wine or white wine) with chopped fruit and
sugar, is the most famous and typical drink.
Beer
Inhabitants
of the "Beer Belt" of the UK, Ireland, Benelux and Central Europe drink
high quality beer in large quantities. Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium
and the Czech Republic produce some of the best beers in Europe and
possibly the world. Visitors from many countries, especially those in
East Asia or North America, will find that European beers have a more
intense and stronger flavor and often a higher alcohol content than one
found at home.
In Europe, as elsewhere, the most popular beers
are lagers, also known as Pilsner after the Czech city of Pilsen which
originated the style. A Czech Pilsner will taste markedly different from
most non-Czech breweries, being a little "smoother" and sometimes more
"buttery" in flavour.
The UK, Ireland and partly Belgian abbey
breweries, on the other hand, have strong brewing traditions, brewing
with fast fermenting yeast which gives it a sweet, hoppy and fruity
taste. These come in bitter, clear, soft and brown varieties.
Wheat
beers are very popular in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands and come
in many different varieties. Traditional German Hefeweizen is unfiltered
and cloudy, while Kristall is filtered and looks a lot like beer.
Belgian witches like Hoegaarden are typically mild in flavor and enjoyed
in the summer, sometimes with a wedge of lemon on the side. And in a
class of their own are spontaneously fermented lambics, which are very
acidic and not to everyone's taste!
Stout (porter) is a British and
Irish speciality, with Guinness available across the continent. Made
from roasted malts, the stout is dark and strong in both flavor and
alcohol content, hence the name.
Most European nations have a
national brand; such as Guinness, Carlsberg, Heineken or Stella are sold
almost everywhere, but the really good beers are often the smaller local
brands, which don't try to appeal to everyone. Microbreweries have had a
major resurgence across the continent. If you really want to indulge
yourself, try one of the Volksfeste, which are held in many German
cities, the most famous being the Munich Oktoberfest, where despite the
name, drinking starts at the end of September! The area with the highest
density of breweries in the world is Franconia, north of Bavaria if
you're curious.
Spirits
As elsewhere, vodka, rum and gin are
available everywhere. The Nordics, Eastern Europe and Russia have a
special affection for vodka, and if you've only tried the usual suspects
like Smirnoff or Absolut so far; you should try the vodka there; you
might be amazed at how tasty things can be. Elsewhere, most regions have
a local specialty that local drinking buddies will gladly stuff you with
and eagerly await your goofy faces when your throat and taste buds
scream in pain. It is most likely slivovitz (also called rakija) in
southeastern Europe and the Balkans (especially in Serbia), a fruity
brandy with a strong flavor, usually made from plums. It is similarly
called aniseed flavored raki drink which is also popular in Greece,
Turkey and the Balkans. Other forms of liqueur, based on grapes, such as
traditional brandy (including cognac) and port, are popular in the UK
and south-western Europe. Greece and Italy produce the popular
ouzo/sambuca which, along with the related resurgent absinthe, is made
with star anise and sugar, giving it a licorice flavor; keep an eye out
for the many party tricks associated with those drinks. In Northern
Europe, you're likely to be served schnapps, usually made from grains or
potatoes accented by traditional herbs like dill or blackthorn; be
careful, it activates suddenly without much warning. In northern
Germany, korn is the liqueur of choice, a clear drink made from grains
and usually unfiltered. Finally, it comes as no surprise to many that
whiskey (or scotch) is popular with the Scots and Irish. While all of
these drinks have strong regional roots, you'll generally find one or
two types, in virtually any bar on the continent.
Accommodation in Europe differs significantly from country to
country, but most travelers across the continent sleep in hotels. Most
mid-sized cities have at least one hotel and usually have a couple in
different price ranges. Rooms are generally expensive: they usually cost
around €90-300 a night, and prices are even higher if you're staying in
one of the high-end hotels in most big cities. These hotels usually have
some facilities, including TV, telephone, breakfast, etc. Some
countries, such as France, also have roadside hotels that are somewhat
similar to motels in the United States.
Due to the relatively
high cost of accommodation, hostels are popular with young travellers.
All big cities have them, but they are hard to find outside the typical
tourist spots. At around €15-30 per night (for a bed in a dorm), hostels
are significantly cheaper than hotels. Quality varies widely across the
continent. Hostels in Eastern Europe are much cheaper and sometimes much
lower quality than those in the Western part.
Camping is also
popular with Europeans themselves. These range from camping in
Scandinavia freely anywhere as long as nothing is damaged and no fences
are crossed, to 'long term' camping in places like Germany and Italy
where some people spend most of their weekends and holidays in semi
-permanent caravans. Campsites are usually a cheap and comfortable way
to stay - some even offer pre-made tents or caravans, which are already
equipped with most of your basic needs - but they can sometimes be
awkward to get to if you can't or don't want to go in the car. Many
campgrounds have shuttle services, but they may not run all hours of the
day or very often.
There are also several bizarre means of
accommodation to stay in. In Sweden you can sleep in a hotel made
entirely of ice; Greece and Türkiye have sandstone hotels or rock caves;
and Sveti Stefan in Montenegro is an island village that has been
entirely converted into accommodation.
For emergencies, you can dial 112 in any EU member country and most
other European countries, even when it's not the main local number for
emergency services. All emergency centers within the EU are required by
law to be able to connect you with an English speaking operator. 112 can
be called from any GSM phone, usually even from blocked or SIM-free
phones. Calls from a phone without a SIM card are handled differently in
some countries; for example, the German authorities ignore them
altogether.
Although there is an ongoing civil war in eastern
Ukraine and terrorist attacks in European countries have attracted world
attention, Europe is generally one of the least violent continents. In
most European cities, the main risks for visitors are pickpockets and
bag-snatching. Using common sense and being aware of your surroundings
can help greatly reduce your risk of these events. Some countries, such
as Russia and Belarus, have problems with corruption and misconduct by
authorities. There are organized crime groups (mafia) in southern Italy
and Russia, but it takes effort to get involved in such matters as a
tourist.
Pickpocketing is rampant in many of Europe's most
touristic cities and is a problem in many other places, so it pays to
take extra precautions and protect your valuables as much as possible.
Barcelona, Rome, Prague, Madrid, Paris and Florence in particular have a
reputation for being hangouts for pickpockets.
Alcohol is an
integral part of many European cultures and abuse can lead to violence
and poor judgement. In general, you don't see these problems in bars and
pubs, but alcohol can cause problems on the streets at night.
Other crime-related problems are drug use and gang violence (which are
more common in Britain and France). The few "problem areas" to avoid are
the run-down suburbs of some urban areas (particularly in Europe's
largest cities); some places in eastern and southern Europe have much
higher violent crime rates and can be very dangerous for non-locals, but
these areas shouldn't be of interest to the average tourist. Central and
Western Europe are generally the safest regions.
Attitudes
towards LGBT people vary widely. While most Western countries allow
same-sex marriage and are tolerant of sexual minorities (at least in
large, cosmopolitan cities), Eastern Europe and especially Russia can be
a dangerous destination for LGBT travellers.
While rivalry
between neighboring nations is usually at a friendly level and many
European countries have been multicultural for generations, racism
remains a problem in parts of Europe. It is more frequently directed
against migrants and domestic minorities than visitors, but people of
African and Middle Eastern descent in particular may in some
circumstances face hostility. Similar to homophobia, racism is more
explicit in Eastern Europe, where some governments repeatedly stoke
xenophobic fears to gain political advantage. Perhaps the most
widespread bigotry is anti-Gypsyism or opposition to "Gypsies" (Roma and
other groups of travellers). Even open-minded and cosmopolitan people
can have bigoted views on this matter.
Europe can be very urban
and densely populated in general, but there is also wilderness. As
always be prepared when traveling in rural and forested or mountainous
areas.
Most restaurants in Europe, at least within the EU, maintain high
standards of hygiene and in most countries tap water is safe to drink.
For more precise details on these topics, as well as for general
information on emergency care, pharmaceuticals, standards of dentistry,
etc., see the "Health situation" section in the country-specific
articles.
EU/EEA/Swiss citizens must apply for (or bring) the
free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which guarantees access to
public healthcare within the European Union, as well as in Norway,
Iceland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and the United Kingdom, under the
same terms as a resident of the country you are visiting. If you are
used to free healthcare in your country, remember that some Member
States require patient fees.
Customs vary greatly between countries, even between neighbours, and
not much can be said about European codes of conduct in general. That
said, attitudes tend to be more conservative the further east you go,
particularly in Russia and the rest of the former Soviet Union. For
example, in Russia, it's a big misstep for a man not to pay for a woman,
even if they're not romantically involved.
Although the continent
is more integrated than ever, many Europeans have a strong national
identity. Avoid generalizations about regions such as "Eastern Europe".
Just what exactly constitutes "Eastern" Europe and "the Balkans" are
burning issues in some countries, as people from such countries do not
like to be associated with negative stereotypes or their communist past.
Phrases like "old Eastern Bloc" and "former Soviet state" might be true
in the right context, but they're awkward in everyday usage. "Central
Europe" is usually a rather Eastern safe term. Similarly, Estonia likes
to be called Nordic. When in doubt, just use the country name.
Even within countries there are often ethnic and religious conflicts and
secessionist movements, which can make the question of national identity
exceptionally delicate.
Just as Nazi symbols are illegal to
display in Germany and Austria, it is illegal to display Soviet and/or
Communist symbols in Germany (almost never enforced), Hungary, Latvia,
Lithuania and Moldova.
Europe is the cradle of world sport, since it has many successes and
progress in them. The most important and most practiced sport is soccer.
The English, Spanish, Italian, German and French league are the five
most important in the world. Other equally recognized worldwide are the
Portuguese, the Dutch and the Russian league. In the national teams,
five of the eight teams that have won the Soccer World Cup (Germany,
Italy, England, France and Spain) are European.
Rugby is widely
practiced in Western Europe. The Six Nations Tournament, where the teams
of England, Italy, France, Wales, Scotland and Ireland meet, is where
the six rugby powerhouses in the northern hemisphere meet.
Other
popular sports are basketball, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and
golf, among others. Regarding the Olympic Games, the European countries
with the most accumulated medals are the former Soviet Union, the United
Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy and Hungary.
The Summer Olympic
Games have been held in Greece (twice in Athens), England (three times
in London), Germany (Berlin and Munich), France (twice in Paris), Italy
(Rome), Spain ( Barcelona), the Netherlands (Amsterdam), Belgium
(Antwerp), Sweden (Stockholm), Finlandis (Helsinki) and Russia (Moscow).
Instead, the Winter Olympic Games have been held three times in
France (Chamonix, Grenoble and Albertville), three times in Italy (two
in Cortina d'Ampezzo and one in Turin), Yugoslavia (Sarajevo), Austria
(in twice in Innsbruck), in Switzerland (twice in Sankt Moritz), in
Norway (Oslo and Lillehammer), in Germany (twice in
Garmisch-Partenkirchen) and in Russia (Sochi).
Going out in Europe is possible in several countries. Some attractions for the Dutch are Lloret de Mar, Salou, Hersonissos and Blanes, for example. Camping in Germany or France is very popular for families with children. English tourists like to go to Rhodes and Ibiza. The English cruise tours are also very popular.
The name "Europe" goes back to the ancient Greek Εὐρώπη (Eurṓpē). It
was understood as a composite of εὐρύς, eurýs, "far, wide" and ὄψ, óps,
"sight, face", from which the meanings "the one with the wide sight" or
"the broad-faced" result.
According to Greek mythology, Eurṓpē
was a Phoenician king's daughter who the god Zeus, appearing in the form
of a bull, kidnapped by swimming on his back to Crete. According to
linguistics, the name comes from the Semitic and was Greekized. The
origin of the Akkadian or Phoenician word (ʕ)erebu or (ʕ)arab "set"
(referring to the sun) and the derived Phoenician ʕerob "evening, west"
(on the association of evening with the cardinal point cf Occident and
the Arabic Maghreb, which is based on the same Semitic word root as
apparently Europe, namely ʕrb or ġrb "to pass"; for the Semitic guttural
sound at the beginning, which was not adopted into Greek, cf. ʕ and ġ).
In the 5th century BC, the Greek writer and geographer Herodotus
referred the term Eurṓpē, which initially only referred to the
Peloponnese as a geographical term, also to the land masses north of the
Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea, which he described as Asia (Asía)
and Africa ( Libýe) difference.
Europe itself is the namesake of
the chemical element europium, discovered in 1890.
Europe has no clear geographic or geological boundary to the east
with Asia. That is why the “borders of Europe” are a question of social
agreement. A geographical definition of Europe is always arbitrary.
According to a well-known phrase by Bernard-Henri Lévy, Europe is “not a
place, but an idea”. Today, when drawing the border between Europe and
Asia, the definition of Philip Johan von Strahlenberg is usually
followed to a large extent. After that, the Ural mountains and river
form the eastern border of Europe. Between the Caspian Sea and the Black
Sea, the border line runs through the Manych lowlands north of the
Caucasus mountains, since a strait once connected the Caspian Sea with
the Black Sea in its place. The globe shown above draws – slightly
deviating from it – the border along the main Caucasus ridge; this
boundary is preferred in English and French-speaking countries (→
inner-Eurasian border).
Overall, Europe has an area of around
10.5 million square kilometers, making it the second smallest continent
after Australia. The northernmost point of mainland Europe is
Kinnarodden on the North Kinn Peninsula in Norway, the southernmost is
Punta de Tarifa in Spain, and the westernmost is Cabo da Roca in
Portugal. The north-south extension is about 3800 km. The European
mainland measures about 6000 km in an east-west direction, from the Ural
mountains in Russia to the Atlantic coast of Portugal.
The continent lies mainly in the temperate latitudes. The climate in
Europe is milder compared to areas of the same latitude in other parts
of the world due to the influence of the relatively warm Gulf Stream.
The average annual temperature in Bordeaux, for example, is 12.8 °C,
while Halifax (Nova Scotia) in Canada, which is at almost the same
latitude, only reaches 6.3 °C.
In large parts of western Europe,
mild winters contrast with cool summers. In areas that are far from the
sea, i.e. also from its climatic balancing influence, the temperature
differences are greater in different seasons. In most parts of Eastern
Europe, the climate is predominantly continental due to the lack of the
sea in the immediate vicinity. Cold winters and hot summers are
prevalent in these regions.
Due to the rotation of the earth and
the associated deflecting force, winds mainly come from the west. Since
winds mainly blow from the Atlantic Ocean in the coastal areas of
Western Europe, it rains almost all year round. In Eastern and Central
Europe, on the other hand, the amount of precipitation is comparatively
low, since the influence of the sea on these regions is too small.
Mountains also have a strong influence on the amount of precipitation.
For example, parts of the north-western Alps are among the areas in
Europe with the highest precipitation, while central Alpine valleys are
comparatively dry. In this case, the Alps act as a barrier for rain
fronts.
In areas near the Mediterranean, the climate is
predominantly Mediterranean with subtropical winter rains. The dry and
very warm summers are followed by mild and z. T. rainy winters. The mean
air temperature in summer is between 22 °C in the western and 27 °C in
the eastern Mediterranean. In winter between 8 °C in the Aegean, while
the northern border of the Mediterranean near Venice has January
temperatures of only 3 °C. In summer there are mainly winds from the
north, the Etesia. In winter, on the other hand, westerly winds from the
direction of the Atlantic Ocean often bring precipitation with them. Due
to the still relatively high water temperatures in autumn and winter,
the precipitation totals, especially in stagnant areas (rising rain) of
the eastern border of the Adriatic Sea, reach the highest values in
Europe. In Montenegro they are a maximum of over 4500 mm/a (Crkvice) and
are therefore almost twice as high as in the storage areas of the
Northern Alps. In winter in particular, cold wind currents cause an
exchange of air masses between polar cold air and the subtropical air
masses. These winds blow in particular on natural relief outflows such
as the Mistral in the Rhone Valley and the Bora over the low-lying
passes in the Kvarner Gulf and in front of Istria.
In the north
of Europe there is an arctic climate, in the south-east on the Volga, on
the other hand, there is a continental climate with hot summers and
little precipitation. So it can e.g. For example, there is still snow in
Lapland, while Sicily is complaining about the summer heat, it rains
constantly on the Shetland Islands and Andalusia has been plagued by
years of drought.
The vegetation in Europe can be roughly divided into four zones based
on the climate: arctic, boreal, temperate and Mediterranean. Through
thousands of years of use, the original vegetation of Europe in the
temperate and Mediterranean zone has been destroyed down to tiny
remnants. In northern Europe, only shrubs, mosses and lichens can be
found in the arctic tundra. Further south in Scandinavia and northern
Russia are boreal coniferous forests (mainly of spruce and pine) in
which extensive bogs are embedded. In the temperate zone between the
Atlantic Ocean and the Carpathians, under natural conditions, deciduous
forests would presumably grow mainly with copper beeches, and in the
warmest low-lying areas also with deciduous oaks and hornbeams. East of
the distribution area of the common beech, roughly from the Vistula and
the Dniester to the southern Urals, mixed forests would probably have
developed in which English oak, small-leaved lime, Scots pine and – in
the transition to the coniferous forest zone to the north – spruce play
the most important role. To the south, adjoining this mixed forest zone
north of the Black Sea is a region in which steppe vegetation would have
developed under natural conditions.
The Mediterranean region was
also originally largely forested. Without human influence, the
vegetation there would be characterized by Mediterranean sclerophyllous
forest, which would be dominated by evergreen oak species (mainly holm
oak), in the southernmost and warmest locations also with a strong
presence of olive trees, pistachios and pines. Due to the anthropogenic
influence, however, Macchie or Garrigue plants grow primarily today. In
the cooler areas of the Mediterranean region, various deciduous oak
species, such as the downy oak, also play an important role. The
original vegetation is better preserved in the middle and higher
elevations of the mountains than in the lower elevations. Here, in a
relatively small space, there are several superimposed altitudinal
zones, whereby the individual components of such an altitudinal zone can
be very different, depending on the climate. In the mountain forests of
the middle upper altitudes, fir and pine species are important in
addition to the common beech, in the northern mountains also spruce and
larch. Above the tree line, dwarf shrub heaths, alpine grasslands and,
in the Mediterranean region, thorn cushion vegetation can be found in
the mountains. Towards the top, the closed vegetation is replaced by
individually growing rock and rubble plants.
According to the
controversial megaherbivore hypothesis, however, Europe would have been
less forested before human influence, and varied pasture landscapes
consisting of meadows, bushes and small hut forests would have dominated
extensively, formed by herbivores such as aurochs, bison, tarpan and red
deer. This hypothesis is e.g. supported by the abundance of oak and
hazel pollen and the occurrence of other openland species in Central
Europe during the early Holocene.
Today, most of Europe is
characterized by agricultural use, the remaining forests are used
intensively for forestry. There are areas that are less affected by
humans, especially in the higher elevations of the mountains.
Large predators such as brown bears, Eurasian wolves or lynxes can only be found in larger populations in the north or east. In the extreme north and east of Europe, reindeer and moose are still relatively common. After its extinction, the wisent from zoo stocks was released back into the wild in Eastern Europe. Red deer, roe deer and wild boar can be found in most regions of Europe. A typical European species of large animal is the chamois, which is found outside of the European mountains only in Asia Minor and the Asian parts of the Caucasus. Various species of ibex live in the Alps, Pyrenees and the Caucasus. The saiga antelope was widespread in the Middle Ages as far as the Ukraine; today it is restricted to areas on the lower reaches of the Volga in Europe. Many species were exterminated centuries ago (Ur, Tarpan). The population of birds of prey such as golden eagles, white-tailed eagles and griffon vultures has been severely decimated in recent centuries. Only in southern Europe is there a greater number of species of lizards, snakes and turtles due to the warm climate. Harbor seals and other seal species live on the coast. In the northern seas, the most famous whales are killer whales and porpoises, in the Mediterranean different species of dolphins. The best-known saltwater fish are herring and various species of tuna.
The cities and municipalities form the smallest administrative units
in the administrative structure of the states. Lisbon was one of the
first cosmopolitan metropolises of modern times, as it was the center of
a large colonial empire in the age of imperialism. As recently as 1950,
four cities in today's European Union were among the 20 largest in the
world. Since then, European cities have hardly grown at all, and some
have lost population. These four largest EU cities today were London in
second place behind New York, Paris in fourth place behind Tokyo, and
Milan and Naples, which took 13th and 19th place.
However, in the
second half of the 20th century, the cities of the rest of the world,
especially those of developing countries, e.g. B. Mexico City, Manila or
São Paulo, in terms of population and now lead the table in the world.
Despite stagnation in older cities, there are numerous other processes
in spatial development in the 21st century, such as e.g. B. the
gentrification of inner cities.
A problem when comparing
metropolises is that there are often polycentric conurbations in which
the core cities are very small compared to the conurbation (e.g.
Rhine-Ruhr, the Upper Silesian industrial area or central England).
Therefore they do not appear in the table below, even if they are
sometimes very large.
The United Kingdom, Ireland, Portugal and Iceland have assigned
themselves to Western European Time (GMT/WET), which is identical to
Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). It corresponds to mean solar time at
the prime meridian, which runs through London and eastern England.
All Central and some Western and Eastern European countries use
Central European Time (UTC + 1 hour), these are Spain, France, Andorra,
Monaco, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark, Sweden, Norway,
Germany, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Italy, San Marino,
Vatican City, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Kosovo,
Malta and Albania.
Eastern European Time (UTC + 2 hours) is used
by Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Romania, Moldova,
Bulgaria and Greece.
Moscow time (UST + 3 hours) use Belarus and
a large part of the European part of Russia as well as Turkey.
Most states use Daylight Saving Time from late March through late
October, when clocks are advanced one hour over this period. This
applies to all EU states, most European non-EU states also follow this
example, but not Iceland, Russia, Belarus and Turkey.
According to the most widely used geographical demarcation,
Kazakhstan lies on the Ural River with 5.4 percent of its land area in
Europe. A little more than 20% of the inhabitants are members of
European nations (Russians, Ukrainians, Poles, Germans). It is a member
of UEFA and, as the successor state to the Soviet Union, a member of the
OSCE. It is usually counted politically and culturally as part of
(Central) Asia.
Russia is up to 25 percent of its area in Europe if
you include the North Caucasus. Depending on how the North Caucasus is
assigned, around 65 to 75 percent of the population live in the European
part. The country is ethnographically, historically and culturally part
of Europe. In Asia are the eastern part of the Ural region, Siberia and
the Far East of Russia.
According to the traditional geographical
delimitation on the Bosphorus and Dardanelles, Turkey is 3 percent of
its area in Europe. About 12 percent of the population lives in the
European part, above all in the old town of Istanbul, the largest city
and historical capital. Turkey is a member of the Council of Europe,
forms a customs union with the EU and is usually associated with Europe
at international sporting and cultural events. In the political arena,
the question of Turkey's membership is currently hotly debated,
especially in the context of negotiations on its accession to the EU.
Taking the Caucasus watershed as the inner-Eurasian border, smaller
parts of Georgia and Azerbaijan are also in Europe. Like Armenia, both
countries are members of the Council of Europe.
Politically, Greenland belongs to Denmark, but is autonomous and has
not been part of the European Union since 1985. Greenland is
geographically located in North America.
Spain includes the Canary
Islands off Africa and the sovereign territories off the coast of
Morocco (including the exclaves of Ceuta and Melilla). Geographically
they are part of Africa.
Portugal includes the Ilhas Selvagens, which
are geographically part of Africa.
Territories under the sovereignty
of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland are:
Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, British Indian Ocean
Territory, Falkland Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, Pitcairn
Islands, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, South Georgia and
the South Sandwich Islands , Turks and Caicos Islands
France includes
the following overseas territories: Clipperton Island, French Guiana,
French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Territories, Guadeloupe,
Martinique, Mayotte, New Caledonia, Reunion, Saint-Barthélemy,
Saint-Martin, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, and Valais futuna
The
Kingdom of the Netherlands includes: the “countries” of Aruba, Curaçao
and Sint Maarten; and the "Special Communities" of Bonaire, Saba and
Sint Eustatius.
Norway administers the non-motherland, uninhabited
outskirts of Bouvet Island in the Southern Ocean.
In the middle of the 20th century, the Council of Europe was founded
as the first common European institution, comprising 47 states after the
end of the East-West conflict. Also of great importance is the
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which was
founded in 1975 as the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe
(CSCE) across blocs and to which the USA and Canada belong alongside
European countries.
In 1951, Belgium, the Netherlands,
Luxembourg, Germany, Italy and France joined to form the Montanunion or
EGKS (European Coal and Steel Community). The attempt to found a
European Defense Community (EDC) and a European Political Community
(EPG) failed in 1954 at the French National Assembly. As a result, the
European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) and the European Economic
Community (EEC) were founded in 1957 with the Treaty of Rome. From the
EC merger agreement in 1967, the three European Communities (ECSC,
Euratom and EEC) shared the common institutions of the Commission, the
Council, the Parliament and the Court of Justice. With the Maastricht
Treaty in 1993, the EEC was renamed the European Community (EC) and the
European Union was also founded, which comprised the three communities
and expanded the common foreign and security policy and cooperation in
the area of justice and home affairs to include two intergovernmental
policy areas. In 2002 the ECSC was dissolved and its functions taken
over by the EC. After the eastward expansion in 2004, 2007 and 2013 and
the exit of Great Britain, the EU currently has 27 member states. As of
December 1, 2009, the EC was fully incorporated into the EU as a result
of the Lisbon Treaty. Today 26 European countries are members of the
European Union. The 27th member state of the EU, the Republic of Cyprus,
is geographically part of Asia.
Most of the member states of the
European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which was also founded in the
1950s, have meanwhile joined the EU; only Iceland, Norway, Switzerland
and Liechtenstein are still members. Unlike the EU, EFTA is purely a
free trade zone without supranational decision-making powers.
In
military terms, NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) is of great
importance in Europe. It was founded in 1949 as a result of the emerging
differences between the Western Allies and the USSR after the end of
World War II. In addition to the 23 European members, the USA, Canada
and Turkey are also members of NATO.
The UN's World Health
Organization (WHO) recognizes a region of Europe that includes the
Russian Federation and all of Turkey.
Some states do not belong
geographically to Europe, but are members of European organizations
Cyprus is located in the eastern Mediterranean near the coast of
Asia, which is why it is geographically included. However, historically
and culturally it is closely linked to Europe and politically and
culturally a member of European organizations. Since May 2004, the
Republic of Cyprus has also been a member of the European Union.
Depending on the definition, the Transcaucasian states of Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Georgia are partially or fully assigned to Asia.
Historically and culturally, however, the two predominantly Christian
states of Armenia and Georgia are linked to Europe. All three states are
members of the Council of Europe and are usually assigned to Europe at
international sporting and cultural events.
Israel is geographically
located in Asia. It is often included in international sporting and
cultural events in Europe because of its political isolation in the Arab
world.
With over 700 million inhabitants, Europe is one of the most densely populated parts of the world. The average population density is about 65 inhabitants per km². The population density is relatively high in western, central and southern Europe in particular, while it decreases sharply further towards northern and eastern Europe. The centrally located population concentration in western, central and southern Europe, which stretches in a band between the Irish Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, is classified under the designation "Blue Banana" as a megalopolis of economic and settlement geography.
More than 90 percent of the inhabitants of Europe speak Indo-European
languages. The most common are Slavic, Germanic and Romance languages.
Greek, Albanian, the Baltic and Celtic languages and Romani are also
among the Indo-European languages.
The Uralic languages are the
second largest language family in Europe. They are further subdivided
into the Samoyedic languages, spoken by a few thousand people in far
north-eastern Europe, and the Finno-Ugric languages. These primarily
include Finnish, Hungarian and Estonian as official languages, as well
as the Sami languages spoken in Lapland and some minority languages,
especially in Russia.
In the European part of Turkey, Turkish is
the official and titular language, as is Kazakh in the European part of
Kazakhstan. Other Turkic languages occur as minority languages in
Eastern and Southeastern Europe, such as Gagauz, Tatar and Bashkir. With
Kalmyk, a representative of the Mongolian language family is also spoken
in Europe on the eastern edge of the continent.
Maltese, a
language of the Semitic branch of the Afroasiatic languages, is also
represented on the island of Malta. The Basque language spoken in Spain
and France is not assigned to any larger language family, its origin
could not be reconstructed by modern linguistics and is still unknown.
In addition, numerous other languages from other language families are
spoken in Europe today, brought here by immigrants in more recent times.
Considering the main Caucasus ridge as the south-eastern border of
Europe, numerous Caucasian languages, including the Adyghe-Abkhazian
languages Adygean, Kabardian, Abasinic, and the various Nachish-Dagestan
languages, are among the languages that have closed language areas in
Europe. The Kartvelian languages, Georgian and Swan, are generally
located south of the main ridge, although they slightly exceed the main
ridge to the north in places. Turkic languages spoken in Europe only on
the northern flank of the Caucasus are Azerbaijani, Karachay-Balkarian,
Kumyk and Nogai. Ossetian continued to form an Iranian language island
in the central North Caucasus, in the East Caucasus also regionally
Tatic until the 19th century, the proportion of speakers of which has
since declined significantly.
Based on the number of inhabitants,
the Latin writing system is the most common in Europe, followed by the
Cyrillic alphabet (in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Serbia,
Montenegro, North Macedonia and parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina) and the
Greek alphabet. Thanks to the Roman Catholic Church, the Latin language
has survived into modern times as the written language of the continent.
Christianity and Islam are the most widespread religions in Europe.
About 75% of Europeans are Christians (mainly Catholic, Protestant,
Orthodox).
Due to the steady influx of Christian Assyrians from
northern Mesopotamia, Europe is now home to 500,000 followers of Syriac
Christianity.
Between 42 and 53 million, i.e. 6-8%, are Muslims,
with most Muslims living in the European parts of Russia (13-20
million). Around 16 million are Muslim immigrants and their descendants
in the European Union. 9.5 million live in the European area of Turkey,
2.2 million in Bosnia and Herzegovina and 1.4-2.5 million in Albania.
Almost 1.3 million of the European population are Jews, most of them
in France (about 449,000), the United Kingdom (about 295,000), Russia
and Germany (about 118,000). Other religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, etc.)
are also represented with less than 0.3%.
About 17% of Europeans
are non-denominational, especially in Estonia, the Czech Republic, the
Netherlands, Russia and East Germany, otherwise v. a. in the cities.
However, religious affiliation alone says little about the actual
level of religiosity in a country. According to the European Values
Study, around a third of Europeans described themselves as non-religious
and 5% as staunch atheists.
In Russia, the largest and most
populous country in Europe (the European part of Russia has over 100
million inhabitants), over 50% are Christians, at least 30% are atheists
or non-denominational and around 14% are Muslims.
In comparison,
Germany has the second largest population with over 82 million
inhabitants. Almost 60% are Christians, about 5% Muslims, the rest
mainly atheists and non-denominational. In eastern Germany, however,
non-denominational people account for up to 70%.
Christianity
first reached Europe in the 1st century AD. Islam spread across the
Iberian Peninsula in the 8th century, but was supplanted again in the
course of the "Reconquista" from the 13th to the 15th century. Europeans
spread Christianity through immigration and missions to the Americas,
Australia, and to a lesser extent other continents (parts of Southeast
Asia, Africa, and Oceania). Today Europe is largely secularized.
The Roman Catholic Church has appointed six saints as Patrons of Europe
since 1964.
In the 19th century, Europe was the unrivaled leading economic power
due to the Industrial Revolution that began in England and spread to the
entire continent. Later, various international bodies and organizations,
such as EFTA (European Free Trade Association) and the European
Community - today's EU - brought about a growth spurt that lasted in
many parts of Europe until the 1970s and partly into the 1980s. The
supply of the population of Europe could also be further expanded by
reducing trade restrictions. Eastern Europe is currently experiencing an
economic boom and is catching up with the Western European countries.
Growth is currently [2006] particularly high in the EU states of Latvia,
Estonia, Lithuania and Slovakia, with double-digit growth rates in some
cases.
With the Maastricht Treaty, 12 EU countries initially
formed a currency union from 1999. From January 1, 2002, euro banknotes
and coins were introduced. Today, the euro is legal tender in 18 EU
countries and six other European countries.
Today Europe is a
prosperous continent with large industrial metropolises, productive
agriculture and a growing service sector. However, unemployment has been
a widespread problem in many European countries since the 1970s.
Industry and services are mainly concentrated in the metropolitan areas.
In most European countries, the problem is no longer the lack of food,
but overproduction and obesity. Export goods are mainly machines, steel,
computer supplies and cars. Import goods include cocoa, tea, rubber,
petroleum, natural gas and ores.
Sculpture, painting, literature, architecture and music have a long tradition in Europe. Many cities such as Paris, Vienna, Rome, Berlin and Moscow are now considered cultural centers. In addition, many cities have important theatres, museums, orchestras and other significant institutions.
In all European countries there is compulsory education, in some also compulsory schooling, which often lasts from the 6th or 7th to the 15th or 16th year of life. Primary school is four to five years in most countries, and seven or eight years in a few countries. This is usually followed by a secondary school, which can also include different school types and types. The illiteracy rate is very low in almost all countries due to various subsidies in the education system. In many countries there are also renowned colleges and universities, some with specific specialist areas.
In 2021, under the name "Journey for Life", several Zapatistas traveled to Europe, which they symbolically named Slumil K'ajxemk'op ("Land of the Rebels" in Tzotzil).