When he created the iconic "Count Dracula" accent that endures today, Hungarian actor Bela Lugosi had a secret weapon: simply not speaking English well. The myth is that he memorized sentences he couldn't understand. However, the truth is more of a grey area.
Over 10 Churches and 10,000 households were demolished in the making of what is today the world's heaviest building – a monstrosity of a palace built to provide a home for Communist Romania’s leader, Nicolae Ceausescu.
Few people know that the first jet engine was built by Romanian engineer and aviation pioneer Henri Coandă. This engine was very different from modern designs.
History has its way of creeping into the present as it is fused with certain images, sounds, gestures, or customs. For locals, they’re quite obvious (or culturally embedded), but they may not be as clear to those visiting.
The Three Seas Initiative (3Si), a regional forum for cooperation in Central Eastern Europe, was launched during a summit in Croatia in 2016. Over the years, it has developed into a very ambitious project that has the potential of transforming the lives of more than 110 million people living in 12 states in the heart of Europe.
Read MoreIf you’ve ever sat wondering just how far it is from the Skellige Archipelago to Cintra, you’re not the only one! Lucky for us, a team of scientists have created the most detailed map yet of the world of The Witcher to keep us on track.
Read MoreThe recent archeological discovery of a 17th C. woman’s corpse buried with a sickle around her neck points directly to her being suspected of some undead activity. However, her moniker, the vampiress, isn’t entirely fitting. It’s not that she wasn’t suspected of being undead (she was), but the term “vampire” doesn’t fit her time and place.
Read More"Tytus, Romek i A'Tomek" was the longest-running Polish comic book series. But its creator's biography extended beyond the adventures of a monkey born from an inkblot.
Read MoreIn 1978, an entire village was evacuated to accommodate what was to become the waste drainage pool for Europe's largest copper mine. Today, only the top of what used to be the local church can be seen peeking out of the infected waters that drowned the city.
Read MoreBat? Check. Ball? Check. Teams? Also, check. We just described baseball – or did we? What is Oina, Romania's national sport? And is it the precursor of American baseball?
Read MoreYou’ve probably seen or heard the name “Czechia” used instead of “Czech Republic” and may have wondered what the deal was - which name is right? It’s an easy answer: both. Depending on the situation, of course.
Read MoreIn 1977, a vinyl record featuring the Bulgarian folk song "Izlel ye Delyo Haydutin" (Eng: Come out rebel Delyo) began its journey aboard the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecrafts. The song's journey continues to this day.
Read MoreIs this real life? Is this a fantasy? In Croatia, former Yugoslavia, you can explore abandoned underground airbases. Some of them, like Željava, even have a history of daring escapes from the war-torn country.
Read MoreMost countries across Europe, especially those of Central Europe, have a strain of DNA in common. They all were once influenced by the Habsburgs, a dynasty that for centuries ruled in different parts of Europe.
Read MoreWith a narrative spanning from the famous CIA headquarters in Langley, VA to exotic Thailand, Netflix's latest blockbuster set most of its action in-between the two, right in the heart of Central Europe. And don't worry – thanks to the power of CGI, no actual locations were harmed during filming.
Read MoreIn Central Europe, the acceptance of traditional EU policies is high. The situation is already different in Western European countries. These two trends will determine the future of the EU.
Read MoreThe idea of washing in water that pours down from above your head was introduced by controversial balneology and alternative medicine pioneer Vincenz Priessnitz.
Read MoreWith the advent of modern science, there also came modern detectives. One of the first was Juan Vučetić, born in Hvar, Croatia, who pioneered dactyloscopy and was the first person in history to identify a killer based on a bloody fingerprint.
Read MoreFor years, the residents of Pernik, a city of 70,000 near the Bulgarian capital Sofia, have been a subject of countless jokes told about them. What started this endless trove of jokes and how are the people of Pernik fighting back?
Read MoreWith two million people, Slovenia is among the smallest nations in Central and Eastern Europe. However, when it comes to internationally recognized cuisine, it is one of the biggest powerhouses. What is the recipe for their amazing culinary success?
Read MoreAnastasia Soare fled communist Romania in search of her “American dream.” The road to success was paved with obstacles and hardships, but the Romanian-born Anastasia never gave up on building her beauty empire.
Read MoreOn May 24, Bulgaria is set to celebrate its biggest national holiday dedicated to the saints of the Bulgarian alphabet, education, culture, and of the Slavonic literature. We asked five Bulgarians working with words on an everyday basis to give us their favorite distinctively Bulgarian words.
Read MoreMedieval Polish historian Jan Długosz once claimed that trees in the Roztocze Forest turned to stone just a few years after death. The reality is just a bit more complicated.
Read MoreIf you’ve ever sat wondering just how far it is from the Skellige Archipelago to Cintra, you’re not the only one! Lucky for us, a team of scientists have created the most detailed map yet of the world of The Witcher to keep us on track.
Read MoreWhen he created the iconic "Count Dracula" accent that endures today, Hungarian actor Bela Lugosi had a secret weapon: simply not speaking English well. The myth is that he memorized sentences he couldn't understand. However, the truth is more of a grey area.
Read MoreOver 10 Churches and 10,000 households were demolished in the making of what is today the world's heaviest building – a monstrosity of a palace built to provide a home for Communist Romania’s leader, Nicolae Ceausescu.
Read MoreHistory has its way of creeping into the present as it is fused with certain images, sounds, gestures, or customs. For locals, they’re quite obvious (or culturally embedded), but they may not be as clear to those visiting.
Read MoreThe recent archeological discovery of a 17th C. woman’s corpse buried with a sickle around her neck points directly to her being suspected of some undead activity. However, her moniker, the vampiress, isn’t entirely fitting. It’s not that she wasn’t suspected of being undead (she was), but the term “vampire” doesn’t fit her time and place.
Read MoreThis may come as a surprise, but Bulgaria was once a computer superpower. Well, at least behind the Iron Curtain. It was
Read MoreThe previous century was a time of abundant changes. To live in early 20th-century Poland was to be stuck in the middle
Read MoreThe “New York Sun” named her “the most glamorous and gifted opera singer of our time.” “Sunday Times” called her “the most
Read MorePlaywright, poet, musician, teacher, traveler, philosopher, inventor, scientist, criminal, and sportsman. This is just a short list of what Jára Cimrman was
Read MoreThere are 35 million digital nomads globally. Three Seas Initiative countries are fighting hard to gain a significant share of this community.
Read MoreHave you ever paid attention to where the drugs your doctor prescribed you come from? If so, you may have noticed that a popular antibiotic for throat infections comes from Croatia.
Read MoreLithuanian lasers are very well-known worldwide, with an estimated 10% of world scientific lasers made in the country. This is the story of how a small country has become a powerhouse in innovative laser technology.
Read MoreThe Medieval Wieliczka Salt Mine in southern Poland has many wonders. If a one-day visit is not enough for you, feel free to go on and just spend the night in the underground hostel.
Read MoreNestled within the picturesque landscapes of Czechia lies a testament to human creativity and decisiveness – the Baťa Canal. This remarkable engineering marvel stands as a tribute to the vision of its creator, Tomáš Baťa, and continues to play a crucial role.
Read MoreIf grabbing a to-go cup of coffee at your local café is your daily ritual, you’re not alone. One company in Bulgaria wants to make that habit as sustainable as possible with their edible, biodegradable wafer cups.
Read MoreIn September 2022, The Three Seas Initiative Investment Fund (3SIIF) acquired a significant interest in BMF Port Burgas, a major port operator in the Port of Burgas on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast.
Read MoreThe sidewalks of Tallinn bustle with people going about their daily lives. They are also full of adorable, 6-wheeled delivery robots ferrying take-out and groceries to hungry patrons. A strange sight to some, here, it's just a part of daily life.
Read MoreGreek scaleup DeepSea is slashing shipping emissions with its AI technology. By optimizing route planning and vessel efficiency, freighters can cut carbon and costs. Will it usher in a sea of change?
Read MoreAfter the post-communist transition in Romania, Farmec continues its odyssey. The company continued to innovate from Ana Aslan’s Gerovital, which brought it international fame until it became one of the largest regional beauty products producers.
Read MorePeople all over the world wear pants, bras, and pajamas made in Latvia. A lot of the garments originate from Liepāja. How did this coastal city become the Northern country’s unofficial capital of lingerie?
Read MoreIn order to develop, Central Europe needs nothing more than innovation. Countries of the region are more and more aware of that.
Read MoreCroatian car manufacturer Rimac Automobili launched in 2009 intending to make the world’s fastest cars and has been leaving the competition in the dust ever since. The wunderkind behind the company, Mate Rimac, has no intention of slowing down now.
Read MoreA remote island in Greece's Dodecanese archipelago has become the first in the Mediterranean to become entirely self-sufficient in energy. How has this changed life on Tilos, and will it inspire other islands to follow suit?
Read MoreAt Jagiellonian University in Cracow, the world's first prototype of a prism fuel cell was created using a technology that eliminates the need for cobalt and graphite. But that's not all.
Read MoreThree Seas Initiative countries want to make the most of the economic opportunities opened up by the development of clean hydrogen technologies.
Read MoreRecycling in Slovenia has grown by 2000% in twenty-five years. How did Ljubljana go from landfill city to zero-waste leader?
Read MoreSince carrots tend to stick more in consumers' minds than sticks, Romania jumpstarted its green revolution through an array of incentives for electric vehicles instead of restrictions on their fuel-driven counterparts.
Read MoreWeronika Edmunds
Holder of a DPSI in English Law and an MBA, she believes in lifelong learning.
Marek Koten
Master's student in economics, political consultant, and history enthusiast from the Czech Republic.
Galina Ganeva
a journalist with experience working for some of the most influential Bulgarian publications.
Lelde Benke
A Riga-based writer, content marketer and translator, and founder of LifeInRiga.com
Naomi Gherman
Romania-based reader, writer and content creator with a strong interest in journalism and politics