Slovenia: The World’s Oldest Vine

Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia is a nation state on the Adriatic Sea, bordering Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Croatia to the south and southeast, and Hungary to the northeast. It covers 20,273 square kilometers and has a population of 2.05 million. It is a parliamentary republic and a member of the European Union and NATO. Its capital and largest city is Ljubljana.

The territory, located in southern Central Europe at the crossroads of main European cultural and trade routes, is mainly mountainous with mainly continental climate, with the exception of the Slovene Littoral that has the sub-Mediterranean climate and the north-western area that has the Alpine climate. Additionally, the Dinaric Alps and the Pannonian Plain meet on the territory of Slovenia. The country, marked by a significant biological diversity, is one of the most water-rich in Europe,[26] with a dense river network, a rich aquifer system, and significant karst underground watercourses. Over half of the territory is covered by forest. The human settlement of Slovenia is dispersed and uneven. The currency is Euro (€)(EUR).

Some interesting facts are:
1. Slovenia’s Adriatic coastline is 46.6 kilometers long.

2. Over 400 brown bears make their home in Slovenia.

3. 216 square kilometers of Slovenia is covered in vineyards.

4. Triglav National Park is one of the oldest parks in Europe, with the first efforts to protect the area dating back to 1906.

5. Some scenes from The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian were filmed in Slovenia’s Soca Valley.

6. Couples can still get married in the church on Bled Island. Tradition says that the groom must carry his bride up the 99 steps to ensure a long and happy marriage.

7. The tallest industrial chimney in Europe is located in Slovenia. It is the thermoelectric power plant’s chimney in Trbovlje, 362 m high. It was built in 1976 within 210 days, whereas 11,866 cubic metres of concrete and 1,079 tonnes of iron were used in its construction.

8. The world’s largest ski jump is here and been the site of 60 world record jumps.

9. Old Vine in Maribor is over 400 years old and the oldest vine in the world. It still bears between 35 and 55 kilos of red grapes annually from which wine is produced.

For more facts visit:
http://www.factmonster.com/country/slovenia.html
http://travelslovenia.org/interesting-facts-slovenia/

Some beautiful places are:

For tourism details visit:
http://www.slovenia.info/
http://www.slovenia.si/visit/

#Europe #Slovenia #OldestVine #Vineyards #SkiJump #Love #World #Facts #Travel #Tourism #LetsNailedTheWorld

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Austria: The Musical Center of Europe

Austria, officially the Republic of Austria, is a federal republic and a landlocked country of over 8.5 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Hungary and Slovakia to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west. The territory of Austria covers 83,879 square kilometers and has an alpine climate. Austria's terrain is highly mountainous, lying within the Alps; only 32% of the country is below 500 meters (1,640 ft), and its highest point is 3,798 meters (12,461 ft). The majority of the population speak local Bavarian dialects of German as their native language, and Austrian German in its standard form is the country's official language. Other local official languages are Hungarian, Burgenland Croatian, and Slovene. The capital and largest city is Vienna. The currency is Euro (€)(EUR).

Some interesting facts are:
1. Austria’s highest point is the Grossglockner at 12,461 feet (3,798 m).

2. Austria’s flag is one of, if not the, oldest national banners in the world. In 1191, Duke Leopold V of Austria’s tunic became blood spattered and, upon removal of his wide sash, a white band was revealed. The red-white-red color combination was then adopted as his banner.

3. Vienna has the oldest zoo in the world, founded in 1752.

4. 62% of Austria is covered by the Austrian Alps.

5. The first postcards were used in Austria.

6. The Austrian Alps boast of being home to the Pasterze Glacier, one of largest glaciers in Europe.

7. The Krimml Falls, with a height of 380 meters, are amongst the highest waterfalls of Europe.

8. The largest natural lake in Austria is Lake Neusiedler.

9. Vienna's Central Cemetery has over 2.5 million tombs including those of Beethoven, Brahms, Gluck, Schubert, Schoenberg and Strauss.

10. Vienna once served as the musical center of Europe.

11. The Semmering Railway, between Gloggnitz and Simmering, built over mountains, was one of the greatest civil engineering works of 19th century. Austria is known for its mountain railways and trains such as the Giselabahn.

For more facts visit:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/austria
http://www.eupedia.com/austria/trivia.shtml
http://reallifeexpatwife.blogspot.in/2011/07/weird-facts-about-austria-and-its.html

Hungary: World’s Largest Geothermal Cave System

Hungary, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Romania to the east, Serbia to the south, Croatia to the southwest, Slovenia to the west, Austria to the northwest, and Ukraine to the northeast. The country's capital and largest city is Budapest. Hungary is a member of the European Union, NATO, the OECD, the Visegrád Group, and the Schengen Area. The official language is Hungarian, which is the most widely spoken non-Indo-European language in Europe.

Following centuries of successive habitation by Celts, Romans, Huns, Slavs, Gepids, and Avars, the foundation of Hungary was laid in the late 9th century by the Hungarian grand prince Árpád in the Honfoglalás ("homeland-conquest"). His great-grandson Stephen I ascended to the throne in 1000 CE, converting the country to a Christian kingdom. By the 12th century, Hungary became a middle power within the Western world, reaching a golden age by the 15th century. Following the Battle of Mohács in 1526 and about 150 years of partial Ottoman occupation (1541–1699), Hungary came under Habsburg rule, and later formed a significant part of the Austro–Hungarian Empire (1867–1918). The currency is Forint (HUF).

Some interesting facts are:
1. The 1986 Hungarian Grand Prix was the first Formula One race to take place behind the Iron Curtain.

2. The University of Pécs, the oldest university of Hungary, was founded in 1367.

3. One of the most valuable incunabulum in the Library of the British Museum in London has a following opening sentence –“Az Ephesom helyeknek yrth Zent Pál levelének elsew capitoliuma”. The text, which is written in Hungarian, is a part of the book that was published in 1533.

4. The famous Lake Balaton is situated here, which is the largest one in entire central Europe. Apart from this, the country is also a home to a number of spa towns and hot springs.

5. Culture in Hungary differs from place to place. You might be able to find a large variety of cultures and languages just by moving a few kilometers. Also, the culture of the Great Plains is different from that in the mountains.

6. Hungarians were the inventors of a few amazing things such as the Rubik’s Cube, ball point pens and holography.

7. The capital city of Hungary, is home for Dohány Street Synagogue, the largest synagogue in Europe and the second largest in the world after one in New York. The Synagogue is made up in the Moorish architectural style and was built in the mid nineteenth century.

8. It is believed that if you are in Budapest and you touch the pen of an anonymous statue which sits in a park near the Heroes square then you would become a great writer. Though the statue looks more like a grim reaper but according to the natives, it is of the chronicler of King Bela.

9. World’s largest geothermal cave system is found in Hungary. It is located in the undergrounds of Budapest. Adding to the fact, there is also present the Europe’s largest underground lake which has been recently discovered and is located under Gellért Hill.

10. Hungarian is officially among the most difficult language to be learnt and spoken. This has been certified by the British Foreign Office survey. As per the European Union figures, Hungary has the highest death rate by cancer and highest female suicide rate in Europe.

For more facts visit:
http://www.eupedia.com/hungary/trivia.shtml
http://www.factmonster.com/country/hungary.html

Some beautiful places are:

For tourism details visit: @HungaryTourism @HungaryUK
http://www.hungary-tourist-guide.com/
http://gotohungary.com/?utm_source=www.gotohungary.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=redirects

#Europe #Hungary #Hungarian #Budapest #GeothermalCave #Old #World #Facts #Travel #Tourism #LetsNailedTheWorld


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Moldova: The World’s Largest Wine Cellar

Moldova, officially the Republic of Moldova is a country in Eastern Europe, landlocked between Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east and south. The capital city is Chișinău.

Moldova declared itself an independent state in 1991 as part of the dissolution of the Soviet Union. A new constitution was adopted in 1994. A strip of Moldovan territory on the east bank of the river Dniester has been under the de facto control of the breakaway government of Transnistria since 1990.

As a result of a decrease in industrial and agricultural output since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the relative size of the service sector in Moldova's economy has grown to dominate its GDP and currently stands at over 60%. Moldova remains, however, the poorest country in Europe.
The currency is Moldovan leu (MDL).

 Some interesting facts are:
1. The largest underground wine cellar in the world, Cricova, is “hidden” in this country.

2. The Milestii Mici’s wine collection of 1.5 million bottles has been included in the Guinness World Records at the category The Largest Quality Wine Collection in the World.

3. Strong Drinks Museum, in Tirnauca village, is the largest building in the world in the shape of a bottle (28m).

4. The oldest oak tree here is 600 years old.

5. Europe’s largest Jewish cemetery is in Chisinau.

6. The biggest animal that ever lived on this territory is “Denoterium”, a breed of what is known to be like an elephant.  The animal’s skeleton is now preserved in the ethnographic museum and is considered to be the second biggest in Europe.

7. Dniester (2m) is the lowest point in Moldova. Beleu and Manta are the largest natural lakes in Moldova.

8. The cave in Criva, Moldova, is amongst the largest caves of the world. The underground path out there is also one of the longest in the world.

9. Moldova has a long history of wine making, going back 5,000 years, with many families using their own recipes and strands of grapes.  The Milestii Mici has the world’s largest wine cellars with 1.5 million bottles, others include Cricova, Purcari, Ciumai, Romanesti and Cojusna.  Much of the wine is exported, making Moldova the 7th largest wine exporter worldwide.

For more facts visit:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/moldova
http://www.factmonster.com/country/moldova.html

Some beautiful places are:

For tourism details visit: +Moldova +Moldova Tours 
http://www.moldovaholiday.travel/index.php?lang=en
http://www.moldova.md/en/turism/

#Europe #Moldova #Poor #FastInternet #Wine #StrongDrinkMuseum #World #Facts #Travel #Tourism #LetsNailedTheWorld

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