The Great Schism was a papal feud that had erupted between Avignon and Rome for papal supremacy. Many people do not realize that Avignon, France was the seat of power for the popes. In 1309, Pope Clement V had moved the papacy from Rome to Avignon and the papacy did not return to Rome until…
DetailsThe Crusades were a series of medieval military expeditions to the Holy Lands of the Bible by several European countries with the intention to recover land and territories from the occupying Muslims. First launched by Pope Urban II in 1096, they lasted off and on for another 250 years, including the tragic Children’s Crusade of…
DetailsCountry Saint Memorial Day Reason for Sainthood England St. George 23 April Died c.304AD at Lydda, Palestine Scotland St. Andrew 30 November Wales St. David 1 March Ireland St. Patrick 17 March Effectively converted Ireland to Christianity In Downpatrick, Ireland check out the Saint Patrick Centre which chronicles his extraordinary life story. See…
DetailsIt was Alfred B. Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, out of remorse for those who were maimed or killed by his invention, who bequeathed $9,000,000 upon his death with the provision that the interest of it be distributed yearly (the Nobel Prize) to those who had most benefited mankind in various fields. These days on…
DetailsA perennial issue, whether or not governments should move toward legalizing drugs seems to be an active and ongoing debate among many of the EU’s members. More importantly, the stance of viewing drug use and its associated problems as a treatable social issue instead of a criminal issue is gaining in popularity. The ‘war on…
DetailsIn April of 2002, the Netherlands became the first country in Europe to legally sanction euthanasia, shortly followed by Belgium in September 2002. While it is still a massive subject of debate with many complicated moral dilemmas raging as we speak, the principle issues affecting its legality involve what is referred to as active euthanasia…
DetailsThe following are regarded as teaching the “highest” accent of each respective language and for producing the finest or purest dialects representative of the culture, which surprisingly isn’t always the capital. All regarded as the premiere spots to study within each country. French The Sorbonne University in Paris Alliance Francaise Castillian (Spanish)…
DetailsCountry Percent Rate (Year) Switzerland 52% (1998) Germany 50% (2000) Austria 49.7% (2000) Netherlands 46% (1998) Norway 40% (2000) United States 31.5% (1998) Spain 20% (1997) France 14% (1995) Italy 13% (1997) England 12% (00/01) Scotland 6.9% (00/01) Northern Ireland 5% (98/99) Wales 4.7% (98/99) Courtesy of The Guardian- July 12,2002 (a UK daily newspaper)
DetailsMention Brenner Pass, Czech & Portuguese 2-lane roads, etc. Deaths per 100,000 Registered Vehicles in 1999 Country Country Turkey 84.1 Italy 17.9 Romania (1997-survey) 98.6 Finland 17.9 Poland 74.0 Germany 16.0 Portugal 44.7 Netherlands 15.8 Belgium 29.3 Switzerland 15.4 Spain 25.8 Norway 14.2 France 25.6 Sweden 13.4 Austria 24.8 United Kingdom 11.1…
DetailsFinland was the first country in Europe to grant women suffrage rights. Verify Portugal-1976, Hungary -1953, Bulgaria-1947, Romania-1946, Liechtenstein-1984, and Monaco-1962 Liechtenstein 1986 Netherlands 1919 Switzerland 1971 Belgium 1919 Bulgaria 1947 Poland 1918 Yugoslavia 1945 West Germany 1918 Italy 1945 Austria 1918 France 1944 U.S.S.R. 1917 Spain 1931 Denmark 1915 Sweden 1919 Norway 1913 Ireland…
DetailsCountry Chief of State (excluding monarchs) Address Austria Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel Belgium PM Guy Verhofstadt Britain PM Tony Blair #10 Downing Street, London Denmark PM Anders Fogh Rasmussen Finland President Tarja Halonen France President Jacques Chirac Elysee Palace in Paris Germany Chancellor Gerhard Schroder Chancellor’s Building opposite the Reichstag in Berlin…
DetailsVAT is simply the acronym for “Value Added Tax” which is a sales tax in effect throughout the EU. However, rates can and do vary widely with each member state. Reduced/Essential Goods are defined as items like food, Luxury Items would fall under another category and include things like cars, Country (EU) Essential Goods %…
DetailsCountry (City/Exchange) Index Relative Value Website Austia (Vienna) ATX Index 1,286.1 www.wbag.at Belgium (Brussels) BEL-20 Index 2,146.7 www.stockexchange.be Britain (London) FTSE 100 Index 4,989.1 www.londonstockexchange.com Denmark (Copenhagen) KFX Index 214.4 www.xcse.dk Finland (Helsinki) HEX Gen. Index 5145.91 www.hex.fi France (Paris) CAC 40 Index 4,079.5 www.bourse-de-paris.fr SBF 250 Index 2,728.9 — Germany (Frankfurt) Xetra…
DetailsThere are only four EU countries that refuse to use nuclear power: Austria, Italy, Portugal, and the Republic of Ireland. However it must be said these same countries may at times purchase energy created by nuclear plants from the grid. Also, many countries now refuse to continue using currently existing reactors or build any future…
DetailsStarted by Henri Dunant in xxx after his alarm at witnessing troops senselessly dying from lack of adequate field treatment, revolting medical conditions, and preventable infections along the Italian Austrian fronts in xxx. Should you happen to be touring in Geneva, Switzerland don’t miss the state of the art museum located just across the street…
DetailsThis has been one of the biggest political debates in recent years, especially in places like Britain where controls and processing systems in place are ridiculously inadequate, plagued by inefficient bureaucracy and poor management. This in effect has managed to overwhelm most immigration authorities who often have little or no control and successful monitor immigrant…
DetailsThis following is a breakdown of how the nations within NATO actually relate to eachother in terms of both defense spending and gross domestic product. More importantly, it also indicates the massive rift in how the European nations view defense spending and allocate their money accordingly. For example, even if all the European countries were…
DetailsToday in Europe, conscription (the mandatory and compulsory drafting into the armed forces at a specified age-generally 18) still remains a living reality in many counties. In all cases, regardless of whether they observe conscription or not, countries will also maintain a paid professional (voluntary) army as well. In countries where conscientious objection is recognized,…
DetailsThe Alhambra in Granada-See www.alhambra-patronato.es-Official Site. For tickets see www.alhambratickets.com or call +34 902 441 221 for the info hotline or +34 902 224 460 to book tickets and have credit card details, # of tix, and specify either the am/pm visit (suggest am). Checkpoint Charlie Museum in Berlin. See www.mauer-museum.com The Forum and Palatine…
DetailsEuropean graveyards are full of really cool historical figures if you’re into being a “Tombstone Tourist”. They’re also an entertaining alternative to visiting another museum or church. Depending on who you’re interested in, a great place to start your search is or get general info on someone deceased (or even locating a dead family member…
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