EUROPE

EUROPE

EUROPE

 The planet's 6th largest continent includes 47

countries and assorted dependencies and

territories.



 In exacting geographic definitions, Europe is

really not a continent, but part of the peninsula of

Euroasia which includes all of Europe and Asia.

However, it's still widely referred to as a

continent.

EUROPE

 The European continent is separated from Asia

by Russia's Ural Mountains, and the Caspian and

Black Seas.



 Europe's highest point is Mt. Elbrus in European

Russia at 18,481 ft (5,633m), just north of the

Georgia/Russian border. Europe's lowest point is

on the surface of the Caspian Sea, at 92 ft (28m)

below sea level.

WESTERN EUROPE

Western Europe:

United Kingdom

Ireland

is a self-governing Crown dependency, located in

Isle of Man the Irish Sea at the geographical centre of the British

Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who

Belgium holds the title of Lord of Mann.



France

Netherlands

Liechtenstein

Luxembourg

Monaco

Southwestern Europe:

Andorra

Portugal

Spain

WESTERN EUROPE

The United Nations definition considers Western

Europe to consist of the following nine countries,

except in the case of United Nations Regional

Groups, in which the term also includes northern

and southern Europe:

Austria

Belgium

France

Germany

Liechtenstein

Luxembourg

Monaco

Netherlands

Switzerland

MAJOR GEOGRAPHIC

CHARACTERISTICS:

 Western Europe has a highly urbanize, skilled,

and well- educated population

 The climate is moderate for its northern location

 It is the home of Industrial Revolution

 It is one of the wealthiest regions of the world

 It has an outstanding network of transportation

and communications

MAJOR GEOGRAPHIC

CHARACTERISTICS:

 Western Europe is the most densely

populated region of the world.

 Most of the countries of Western Europe

were colonial powers and still have

considerable influence in countries that

were former colonies

 It is one of the major trading centers of the

world

MAJOR TOURISM

CHARACTERISTICS:

 Western Europe generates more tourists

than any region of the world

 It receives more tourists than any region of

the world

 It has a long and well- established history

of travel

 It has a highly efficient tourism industry

NORTHERN EUROPE

 The United Nations defines Northern Europe as:



 Åland Islands (Finland)

 Channel Islands: Guernsey and Jersey

 Denmark

 Estonia

 Faroe Islands (Denmark)

 Finland

 Iceland

NORTHERN EUROPE

 The United Nations defines Northern Europe as:



 Iceland

 Republic Of Ireland

 Isle of Man

 Latvia

 Lithuania

 Norway

 Svalbard and Jan Mayen (Norway)

 Sweden

 United Kingdom : England, Scotland, Wales and

Northern Ireland.

MAJOR GEOGRAPHIC

CHARACTERISTICS:

 Northern Europe has a high –latitude

location and rugged physical geography

 It is relatively isolated.

 The Lutheran religion predominates in

Northern Europe

 Individual countries have high standards of

living.

MAJOR GEOGRAPHIC

CHARACTERISTICS:

 The lingua franca for the region is English.

 The population is highly urbanized, highly

skilled, and highly educated

MAJOR TOURISM

CHARACTERISTICS:

 The major attractions are scenic and

outdoor sports related.

 The character of the travel industry varies

greatly from country to country

 Fewer tourists visit Northern Europe than

other regions of Europe

SOUTHERN EUROPE

Iberian Peninsula

 Andorra

 Gibraltar

 Portugal (including: Madeira and Azores).

 Spain (including: Balearic Islands



Southern France

 France (including: Corsica)

 Monaco



Italian peninsula

 Italy (including: Sardinia, and Sicily.)

 Malta

 San Marino

 Vatican City

SOUTHERN EUROPE

Balkan Peninsula

 Albania

 Bosnia and Herzegovina

 Bulgaria

 Croatia (only Southern Croatia)

 Greece (including: Aegean Islands, Crete and Ionian

Islands.)

 Kosovo

 Montenegro

 Republic of Macedonia

 Serbia

 Slovenia

 Turkey (only East Thrace)

MAJOR GEOGRAPHIC

CHARACTERISTICS:

 Southern Europe has a Mediterranean

climate

 Mountains have formed a barrier between

Western Europe and Southern Europe

 It occupies three major peninsulas

 Southern Europe nations have increased in

wealth as a result of joining the European

Union.

MAJOR GEOGRAPHIC

CHARACTERISTICS:

 The nations share a common cultural

heritage created from the Greek and

Roman empires

 Populations are located on coastal or

riverine plains

 Agriculture is concentrated in coastal and

river plain locations.

MAJOR TOURISM

CHARACTERISTICS:

 The region‟s major tourism emphasis for

Europeans is sun- sea-sand

 Tourism costs are lower than in Western

and Northern Europe

 Religious pilgrimages are important to the

region

MAJOR TOURISM

CHARACTERISTICS:

 Cruises and excursions are popular in the

region.

 Tourism to the region is mostly destination

oriented

 The archaeological and cultural heritage of

Western civilization is an important

attraction.

EASTERN EUROPE



 The United Nations Statistics Division

considers Eastern Europe to consist of the

following ten countries: Belarus, Bulgaria,

Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova,

Poland, Romania, Russia (a

transcontinental country), Slovakia,

Ukraine.

EASTERN EUROPE



 The 2007 Time Almanac defines Eastern

Europe as the following 24 countries:

Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus,

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria,

Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia,

Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania,

Republic of Macedonia, Moldova,

Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia,

Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine

MAJOR TOURISM

DESTINATIONS:

SCENIC EUROPE

London

 Buckingham Palace - The London residence of the

Queen, Buckingham Palace is an imposing site and a

historic landmark. Try to catch the ceremony of the

Changing of the Guards.

 London Eye – Take a breathtaking trip up the world‟s

biggest observation wheel, where you are guaranteed the

most spectacular views of London‟s skyline.

 Tower of London - A prison, a palace, a place of

execution and the home of the Crown Jewels. The Tower

of London is steeped in English history and legend,

dating as far back as 1066.

London

 Houses of Parliament - This beautiful mock

gothic building has become a familiar landmark

and houses not only the countries government but

also Big Ben - the largest clock face in the

country. Listen out for its hourly chimes.

 St Paul's Cathedral - St Paul‟s is an architectural

triumph and an imposing sight on the London

skyline. In the crypts of the cathedral you‟ll find

medieval relics and from its dome, awe inspiring

views of London. It is also the location of the

wedding ceremony of Prince Charles and

Princess Diana.

Brussels

 Grand Place - One of Europe's finest squares, the

Grand Place is in the centre of the Petit Ring, a

network of boulevards around the centre of the

city.

 Mannequin Pis - An infamous statue of a little

boy (urinating), which garners much pride from

the residents of Brussels.

 Atomium -The Atomium monument was built in

1958 for the Universal Exhibition. As the name

suggests, it is an oversized scale model of an

atom.

Brussels

 Horta House -The Horta House is well

worth a visit. It is where Victor Horta the

creator of Art Nouveau lived and worked

until 1919. It is the perfect setting in which

to familiarise yourself with Horta‟s

amazing interiors and furniture.

 Cathédrale St-Michel et Ste-Gudule -

Construction of the cathedral began in

1226 and thanks to restoration and

cleaning, the white Gothic towers of the

cathedral now gleam out over the city.

Lucerne

The medieval city

looks out upon the

frosted peaks of the

Alps and the clear,

blue waters of Lake

Lucerne, and

reveals fascinating

and humorous

pieces of history as

you wander through

its small streets.

Lucerne

 Bridges of Lucerne - Lucerne has two famous and

beautiful medieval bridges, Kapellbrucke and

Speuerbrucke.

 The Lion Monument - Described as the saddest piece of

rock in the world, the poignant Lion Monument was

carved out of natural rock in 1821. The monument is

dedicated to the 726 Swiss guards who lost their lives in

the French Revolution.

 Pilatus Kulm - Make your way to the top of this

mountain overlook near Lucerne by foot, cable-car, or the

world's steepest cogwheel railway. Amazing views await

you at the top.

Lucerne

 Swiss Transportation Museum - This lakefront

museum has trains, planes and automobiles and

includes an IMAX theater and Swissorama, a 20-

minute, 360º film that whizzes you around the

sights of Switzerland as if you were travelling by

air, sea, road and foot.

 Water Tower - Lucerne's trademark, this 34

meter octagonal tower was built around 1300 as

part of the city wall. It has been an archive, a

treasury, a prison and a torture chamber.

Venice

 Venice is a

dazzling blend of

waterways,

bridges, land and

glorious

architecture.

Venice

 St Mark’s Basilica - One of the most spectacular

churches in the world the Basilica is adorned

with Byzantine domes and gilded mosaics. Built

in honour of St. Mark the city‟s patron saint, after

his bones were kidnapped from Egypt in the 9th

Century.

 St Mark's Square - Filled with café‟s,

restaurants, pigeons and music - it‟s no wonder

Napoleon dubbed this central gathering place as

the 'finest drawing room in Europe'.

Venice

 Palazzo Ducale - The Palace of the Doges

housed Venice's rulers for more than six

centuries. It connects to the adjacent Prigioni

Nuove ("New Prisons") via the Bridge of Sighs

made famous by Lord Byron.

 Grand Canale - Venice is connected by 150-

canals and 400-bridges. The Grand Canale is the

most beautiful “street” in Venice and flows

between opulent architecture - a gondola ride is a

must do in this unique city.

Rome

 The range of landmarks

within the bounds of the city

is staggering: there is the

grand Colosseum and lavish

Vatican City, the Sistine

Chapel and so much more.

“Roma” is a magnificent

combination of old and new,

and positively hums with

lively markets, cheery cafés

and of course, traffic.

Rome

 The Vatican City - The Vatican city is not only a truly

spiritual place but is impressive for its grandeur, art and

of course

 St Peters – the biggest church in the World. Also not to

be missed is the Sistine Chapel, whose ceiling is home to

Michelangelo‟s mural masterpiece.

 Colosseum - Known to the Ancient Romans as the

“Flavian Amphitheatre” this symbol of the Roman

Empire was host to 450 years of gladiators, lion feedings

and “games”. It is a truly impressive sight.

Rome

 Trevi Fountain - A beautiful rococo design, the Trevi

Fountain is the place to stir romance. Legend has it by

throwing a coin over your shoulder, into the fountain, you

will return to Rome.

 Pantheon - Nearly 1900 years after its construction this

2nd century AD pagan temple to the gods is remarkably

still intact. Converted to a church in 608AD, Marcus

Agrippa‟s extraordinary dome is the largest masonry

vault ever built.

 Spanish Steps – Nicknamed Rome‟s living room, the

Spanish Steps are the perfect place to sit and people

watch. Both tourists and locals can be seen sitting and

relaxing on the steps that overlook the piazza.

Florence

 It is this distant, celebrated

past that has made modern-

day Florence the thriving

tourist centre that it is.

With the opportunity to

wine and dine in true

Florentine style, visit

historically colossal sights,

gaze at artistic perfection

and watch the sun set over

the Arno, Florence is

simply unrivalled.

Florence

 Duomo - This Italian Gothic cathedral was

finished around 1367 and was originally

completely covered with coloured marbles. The

dome of the cathedral is an impressive sight on

the Florentine skyline.



 Piazza della Signoria - Florence's best piazza, this

busy square is a place to sip coffee and take

photo's of the Fountain of Neptune.

Florence



 Palazzo Vecchio - This grand palace was home to

Florence's most famous rulers - the Medici Family. The

interior is filled with its treasures of Florentine art and

history.



 Santa Croce Church - Built in the 14th century and started

by St. Francis of Assisi, the church today entombs

Florence's most famous historical figures including

Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Rossini and a memorial to

Dante. Outside you'll find numerous street vendors.

Pisa

 Pisa used to lie directly

on the sea, with boats

docking at the walls of

the main square the

Campo dei Miracoli,

but the centuries of silt

has pushed it further

inland.

Pisa

 The square Campo dei Miracoli (Field of

Miracles) is flanked by Pisa's most famous

monuments, the Duomo, the Baptistery (famous

for its incredible acoustics), the Camposanto

cemetery (known as 'the most beautiful cemetery

in the world') and the iconic leaning Tower. The

latter is in fact the Cathedral's campanile (bell

tower) - construction began in 1173 and the

original architect remains unknown. The famous

story of Galileo dropping canon balls off the

tower as part of his experiments, is unfortunately

widely considered to be a myth.

Milan

 The thriving

metropolis of Milan

is now Italy‟s

principal financial

centre

 the Milanese are

renowned for their

love of shopping

Italian Phrases

 Hi / Bye - Ciao (Chow)

Good Day - Buongiorno (BWON JOR noh)

Good Evening - Buona Sera (BWON-ah SEH-

rah)

Yes - Si (See)

No - Per Fevore (PAIR fah-VO-reh)

Thank you - Grazie (GRAH-zy-eh)

Thank you very much - Grazie mille (GRAH-zy-

eh MILL-eh)

It's a masterpiece! - É un capo lavoro! (Eh oon

CAH-po lav-OHR-oh)

Nice

 Popular amongst tourists

for its food culture, great

summer weather and

proximity to the French

Riviera, Nice is both

elegant and simple. To the

west you‟ll find the 18th

and 19th century stucco

villas and to the north, the

glamour of the Cimiez

district.

Nice

 Cours Selaya Flower Market - Packed with fresh produce

this area is great for dining, café‟s and seafood. There are

also several souvenir stalls, gourmet shops and boutiques

here.

 Vieux Nice (Old Nice) - Next to the market these narrow

streets are filled with great shops, bars, café‟s and ice

cream shops.

 The Promenade des Anglais - The beach promenade is

filled with sectioned areas of private beach and

restaurants, where you are able to rent a chaise lounge

and food and drinks meters from the ocean. The ocean is

normally an azure blue and the beach a pebbled

adventure.

Nice

 Zone Pietonne - This pedestrian only zone is

great for a stroll and an ideal spot to sip a coffee

and watch the world go by. Cheap souvenir t-

shirts and trinkets are available here.

 The Chateau - On top of a rock hill overlooking

the old town of Nice and its quaint port is the

remnants of a castle and roman ruins. This outing

offers fantastic views over the city, however be

warned it is a hike up the many steps.

Paris

 The embodiment of the French

„mode de vie‟ - from Michelin

stars to the Mona Lisa,

Napoleon Bonaparte to

gorgeous boutique-lined

streets, you will encounter that

special Parisian „je ne sais

quoi‟. Sip on a „café au lait‟

and watch as Parisians rush by,

or enter the fictional world of

the „Da Vinci Code‟ at the

Louvre.

Paris









The

Louvre

Paris

 The Seine - The lifeline of the city, this river

makes its way under numerous bridges - perfect

for romantic moments. Take a boat trip down the

Seine or just stroll along its banks and discover

this great city.

 The Louvre - Paris artistic soul may come from

the artist quarter of Montemarte, but it is stored

in The Louvre. Within The Louvre lies a myriad

of paintings and sculptures. Not least the world‟s

most famous painting – the Mona Lisa.

Paris

 Arc de Triomphe - Built to commemorate Napoleon‟s

victories, this impressive arch is a symbol of French

pride. Eiffel Tower - The definitive symbol of Paris, and

indeed France, the Eiffel tower dominates the city

skyline. At night from atop its viewing decks Paris

sparkles and earns its name as the „City of Lights‟.



 Champs Elysees - This is Paris‟ grand boulevard and a

great place to stroll and soak up the atmosphere of elegant

stores, restaurants, theatres and hotels.

French Phrases

 Hello - Bonjour (bohn-ZHOOR)

Good Day - Bonjour (bohn-ZHOOR)

Yes - Oiu (Wee) No - No (NOH)

Please - S‟il vous plaît (see voo PLAY)

Thank you - Merci (MehrSEE) Do you

Speak English? - Parlez-vous anglais

(PAHR-lay voo zahn-GLAY)

Vienna

 At the height of the

Habsburg legacy, the city

was a haven for talent –

whilst the city‟s coffee

houses became vessels for

intellectual debate,

concert halls were graced

by the great virtuosos,

including Mozart,

Beethoven and Brahms.

Vienna

 Hofburg - Originally a medieval castle

dating from the 13th century, the Imperial

Palace of the Hapsburgs grew over 600

years into a massive complex of buildings.

 Kunsthistorisches Museum - One of the

finest art museums in Europe, it‟s

collection includes the work of Rubens,

Raphael and Rembrandt.

Vienna

 Spanish Riding School - Here you‟ll find

the world famous Lipizzaner stallions

performing „equine ballet‟ to classical

music.

 Stephansdom - It took 75 years to build

this Gothic church and the view from the

south tower, nicknamed Steffl, is one of

the best over Vienna

Barcelona

 Barcelona proudly

endorses its

individuality… and

rightly so. Located on

the north-eastern part

of the Iberian

Peninsula, it is the

city of summer

fiestas and 2-3 hour-

long siestas

Barcelona

 Museu Picasso - The museum has the most

important works by the young Pablo Picasso,

focusing on the years that he lived in Barcelona.

 La Sagrada Familia - Still unfinished, this

Cathedral is the work of Barcelona‟s design

genius Antoni Gaudi.

 Barri Gótic - The centre of old Barcelona, this

district is filled with cafés, bars and medieval

buildings from the 14th and 15th centuries.

You‟ll also find the Barri Gótic Cathedral – one

of Spain‟s greatest Gothic buildings.

Barcelona

 La Pederra - Designed by Gaudi this apartment

block is one of the world‟s architectural wonders

with its uneven stone design and wave effect.

Visitors can tour the building and from the roof

enjoy spectacular views over the city. There is

also a museum dedicated to Gaudi‟s work located

in the building.

 La Rambla - This boulevard is for pedestrians

only and is filled with performers, street sellers, a

bird market, the Mercat de la Boqueria (Europe‟s

best produce market) as well as an opera house.

Madrid

 The administrative

and financial centre

of Spain pulsates

with activity, but it

was only until the

mid-16th century that

Madrid became home

to Hispanic kings, the

royal court and

consequentially, was

titled “capital”.

Madrid

 Habsburg Madrid – One of the oldest

districts in Madrid. You‟ll find the city‟s

key historical attractions such as the Plaza

Mayor with its numerous open-air cafés.

 Palacio Real - The Royal Palace holds

some 2,800 rooms and offers visitors the

chance to bask in the lavishness of the

royal house of Habsburg.

Madrid

 Parque del Buen Retiro - For a chance for some

peace in the heady bustle of Madrid wander

through this 350-acre park located in the heart of

the city.

 Musueo de Prado - This art collection includes

artists such as Botticelli, El Bosco, Velazquez

and Goya.

 Las Ventas Bullring - Bullfighting is popular in

Madrid and this famous bullring has played host

to only the bravest bullfighters.

Spanish Phrases

 Hello - Hola

Good Morning - Buenos dias (bwonos dee

as)

Good bye - Adios (a dee os)

Yes - Si (See)

No - No

Thanks - Gracias (Gra see ass)

Amsterdam

 Enjoy the aquatic

ambience as you

see the colours of

the flower market

or witness the

grandeur of Dam

Square and the

Royal Palace.

Amsterdam

 Anne Frank House - A testament to human bravery, Anne

Frank house is where the Frank family went into hiding to

try to escape the Nazi‟s during occupation. Anne's diary

was found in the annexe and has since been translated

into 55 languages. Royal Palace - Queen Beatrix's royal

residence and seat of the house of Orange.

 Red light district -The red light district of Amsterdam

draws in millions of visitors every year to wander the

streets and take a glimpse of Amsterdam‟s world famous

sex industry.

Amsterdam

 Van Gogh Museum - The now famous son of the

Netherlands tragic life and beautiful

impressionist paintings are the topic of this

museum. The collection consists of

approximately 200 paintings by Van Gogh,

including famous works such as The Potato

Eaters and The Yellow House in Arles.

 Canals - Amsterdam by boat is charming and the

views of the bridges, houseboats and tall narrow

townhouses from the canals are magnificent.

Prague

 The Czech capital is

wonderfully preserved,

having largely avoided

damage from bombers in

World War II. Prague‟s

many architectural and

cultural pleasures stand as

a reminder of the robust,

but at the same time

delicate, precious and

stunning nature of this

city.

Prague

 Prague Castle - Founded in the 9th century, this

glorious building was the seat of power for Czech

Princes and Kings.

 Old Town Square - Dating from the 12th, century

the square contains the Old Town Hall with its

famous Astronomical Clock. Here you‟ll also

find the Gothic Church of Our Lady Before Tyn

and the Church of St. Nicholas. This square is

considered to be the heart of Prague.

Prague

 St. Nicholas Cathedral - One of the most

beautiful buildings of Bohemian Baroque design,

the cathedral was designed by famous Baroque

architect Krystof Dientzenhofer.

 Charles Bridge - Built by Charles IV in 1357, this

Gothic style bridge was the only bridge in Prague

up until the 19th century.

 Josefov (Jewish Quarter) - This district contains

the oldest synagogue still standing in Europe,

dating from 1270.

SCANDINAVIA

 Scandinavia is a region of northern Europe that

geographically consists of Norway and Sweden

(two countries that form the Scandinavian

Peninsula) and the country of Denmark.



 In modern times, Finland, Iceland and the Faroe

Islands (Faeroe) are also considered a part of this

geographical area, especially in terms of cultural

and historic relationships.

Iberian Peninsula





 Located on the southwestern tip of the

European continent, the Iberian Peninsula,

includes the countries of Andorra, Portugal

and Spain, and the British Crown colony of

Gibraltar. At the nearest point, it is only 5

miles (8km) from the continent of Africa.

Baltic States

 The Baltic States are located in north-central

Europe, on the eastern edge of the Baltic Sea, and

along the western border of the Russian

Federation and Belarus.



 The Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and

Lithuania gained their independence from the

former U.S.S.R. in 1991. Prior to World War II,

Finland was occasionally deemed the fourth

Baltic state by Nazi Germany.

The Balkan Peninsula, or (the

Balkans)

 Extending to the south from central Europe into

the Mediterranean Sea, the Balkan Peninsula

(colored dark gray) includes the countries of

Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria,

Croatia, Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro,

Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, and the

geographical/political region of European

Turkey.



 The frequently referred to 'Western Balkans,'

bordering the Adriatic Sea, includes the countries

of Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia and

Montenegro.

European Union

 The European Union (EU) is a political

and economic community of twenty-seven

member states, located primarily in

Europe. It was established in 1993 by the

Maastricht Treaty, adding new areas of

policy to the existing European

Community.

European Union

 The European Union is composed of 27

independent sovereign countries which are

known as member states: Austria, Belgium,

Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark,

Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,

Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,

Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland,

Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,

Sweden, and the United Kingdom. There are

three official candidate countries, Croatia, the

former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and

Turkey; the western Balkan countries of Albania,

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia

are officially recognised as potential candidates.

European Union

 To join the EU, a country must meet the

Copenhagen criteria, defined at the 1993

Copenhagen European Council. These

require a stable democracy which respects

human rights and the rule of law; a

functioning market economy capable of

competition within the EU; and the

acceptance of the obligations of

membership, including EU law.