Romania

The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia – for centuries under the suzerainty of the Turkish Ottoman Empire – secured their autonomy in 1856; they united in 1859 and a few years later adopted the new name of Romania. The country gained recognition of its independence in 1878. It joined the Allied Powers in World War […]

Poland

Poland is an expansive country in the heart of Europe. It has become a more popular tourist destination, due to its low cost of living and cultural and historically significant cities. Poland is an ancient nation that was conceived near the middle of the 10th century. Its golden age occurred in the 16th century. During […]

Netherlands

The Netherlands is a small county in North-West Europe. It is bordered by the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east. The Netherlands is often referred to by the name Holland. This terminology is not complete, as the provinces of North and South Holland in the […]

Malta

History The long and rich History of Malta is the result of the inhabitants like the Phoenicians, the Carthaginians, the Romans and the Byzantines who have all occupied Malta at some point in history. As a result visitors can visit many different architectural artifacts. Great Britain formally acquired possession of Malta in 1814. The island […]

Luxembourg

Founded in 963, Luxembourg became a grand duchy in 1815 and an independent state under the Netherlands. It lost more than half of its territory to Belgium in 1839, but gained a larger measure of autonomy. Full independence was attained in 1867. Overrun by Germany in both World Wars, it ended its neutrality in 1948 […]

Lithuania

Lithuanian lands were united under MINDAUGAS in 1236; over the next century, through alliances and conquest, Lithuania extended its territory to include most of present-day Belarus and Ukraine. By the end of the 14th century Lithuania was the largest state in Europe. An alliance with Poland in 1386 led the two countries into a union […]

Ireland

Celtic tribes arrived on the island between 600-150 B.C. Invasions by Norsemen that began in the late 8th century were finally ended when King Brian BORU defeated the Danes in 1014. English invasions began in the 12th century and set off more than seven centuries of Anglo-Irish struggle marked by fierce rebellions and harsh repressions. […]

Italy

Italy is filled with natural and artistic wonders that can take a lifetime to explore. Some of the most famous are the Alpine ski center of Courmayeur, the canals and palazzi of Venice,  the Renaissance art and architecture of Florence,  the monuments of Rome and Vatican City,  the  stunning Amalfi Coast, and  the  Greek temples […]

Hungary

Hungary was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which collapsed during World War I. The country fell under Communist rule following World War II. In 1956, a revolt and an announced withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact were met with a massive military intervention by Moscow. Under the leadership of Janos Kadar in 1968, Hungary began liberalizing […]

Greece

Greece is situated in southern Europe. Greece and the Greek islands are one of Europe’s favorite destinations and proposes many hotels. It is a peninsular and mountainous country unique in charm and beauty. Greece, and it’s capital Athens is famous with travellers for the Acropolis, ancient temples, medieval churches, early modern neoclassical mansions; the birthplace […]