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Culture - Page 2

Explore the Rich Culture & History of 3Seas Region

Wooden barrels in front of wine museum in a of city of Melnik a small town in southwest Bulgaria in Pirin Mountains famous with its traditional architecture and local wine

Wine and History: The Story of Melnik, Bulgaria’s Smallest Town

by Galina Ganeva
10 February 2023
Bulgaria/Travel & Food/Culture

The 2021 census in Bulgaria confirmed something that most Bulgarians know: the town of Melnik’s spot as one of the smallest towns in Europe is safe.

Ruins of Doftana prison

Romania’s Bastille: A Hotbed for Communist Thought Leaders

by Przemysław Bociąga
9 February 2023
Poland/Culture/People

Doftana Prison, located in Prahova county at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains, was notorious in the early 20th century for its harsh confinement of political prisoners, and ultimately became a veritable breeding ground for future leaders of a Red Romania.

łazy radio mast

Polish Radio Mast Unseated as World’s Tallest by Burj Khalifa

by Przemysław Bociąga
8 February 2023
Poland/Culture/Tech

At almost 650 meters tall, the radio mast in Konstantynów was the tallest structure of its time. Although it toppled in 1991, it held the record until the completion of Burj Khalifa in 2008.

Summer view of Cesky Krumlov old town. Cesky Krumlov is a small city located in South Bohemia

The Real Life Fairy Tale City of Český Krumlov

by Marek Koten
7 February 2023
Czechia/Travel & Food/Culture

It's like walking through a fairytale city. When you add snow, you feel like you're in a romantic movie. All this is Český Krumlov, a town in Southern Bohemia where time seems to have stood still.

polish crooked forest

Mysterious Shape of These Trees in Poland Give Rise to Myths

by Przemysław Bociąga
5 February 2023
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

In a small corner of the West Pomeranian forest in northwestern Poland, a grove of pine trees grow in unique shapes that might seem more suited to a fantasy film rather than wildlife reality. The origin of this curiosity is still up for debate.

Authentic tour of The Coal Mining Museum of Slovenia in Velenje with heirs of mining – Sailing on Velenje lake and virtual dive into the past

The Mysterious Underwater Villages of the Šalek Valley

by Vid Sosic
5 February 2023
Slovenia/Travel & Food/Culture

In the Šalek Valley in Slovenia, new lakes were unintentionally created as a consequence of coal mining. They covered old villages where people have lived for millennia, which are now to be found at the bottom of the lake, hiding a mysterious underwater world.

Closing Concert "Following the Starry Path" during The Song and Dance Celebration

Latvian Song Becomes the Unofficial Anthem of Catalonia

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
4 February 2023
Latvia/Culture

A song, which some Latvians would like to see become the national anthem, has become an unofficial anthem of a faraway place - Catalonia. The Catalan independence movement gave the song new lyrics and meaning with the composer's blessing.

The steering wheel of a 1977 ARO car

The Birth and Death of the Glorious Romanian ARO

by Naomi Gherman
3 February 2023
Romania/Culture/Tech

The “Romanian SUV” took over the world in the mid-90s. What followed was a success story that made a hit around the globe and put Romania on the map of the automobile world, only to disappear into thin air less than 50 years later.

The Neptun restaurant in the Sunny Beach resort in Bulgaria

The Rebranding of Bulgarian Cuisine Behind the Iron Curtain

by Galina Ganeva
3 February 2023
Travel & Food/Culture/Interviews/Bulgaria

Can sweeping political changes impact what and how we eat? You bet, argues historian and writer Dr. Albena Shkodrova, author of “Communist Gourmet.”

cartoon krtek in the forest with lollypop in his hand

Czech(ia) This Out – the Name Debate Solved

by Cynthia Sklodowski
3 February 2023
Czechia/Travel & Food/Culture

You’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.

Language family tree

The Truly Eastern Roots of the Central European Languages

by Weronika Edmunds
2 February 2023
Hungary/Culture

The formation process of the world’s languages is one of the most fascinating stories humanity has ever written. At least for language geeks. Or can you get sucked in too?

Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams in episode 105 of Wednesday

Romania the Setting for Netflix’s Wednesday

by Naomi Gherman
1 February 2023
Culture/Romania/Travel & Food

Step inside the filming set of the newest adaptation of Adams Family, Wednesday, the coming-of-age spin-off that took the world by storm. From the ordinary city of Jericho to the outstanding Nevermore Academy, discover the locations of one of the most binge-watched series.

ointment with natural beeswax component on light grey stone table

The Curious Case of Evija Ointment, Beloved by Latvians

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
31 January 2023
Latvia/Culture

Found in bathroom cabinets around Latvia, the ointment is said to help ease colds and soothe burns and muscle aches in humans and pets. While several products co-exist on the market, only one claims to be the real Evija.

Sexy woman in swim suit with snowboard on spring mountains

Springtime on the Slopes in Central Eastern Europe

by Przemysław Bociąga
30 January 2023
Slovenia/Travel & Food/Culture

Not ready to hang up your skis come April or May? No need to worry. Some of Central Eastern Europe's top ski resorts will keep you on the trails well into spring.

Baobab trees along the rural road at sunny day in Madagascar

How Lithuania (Almost) Moved to Madagascar

by Augustas Kalinauskas
30 January 2023
Lithuania/Culture

Lithuania has always been at the crossroads between East and West, with hardly any moment in history when the people were not fighting for their freedom. The 20th century is no exception, but exactly then, a brand-new idea of ensuring security emerged.

RAF-22031 Latvija

A Legendary Minibus for the Masses 

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
29 January 2023
Latvia/Culture

The RAF Latvija minibus, a close relative of the Volkswagen Type 2, never managed to achieve the same legendary status as its competitor beyond the borders of the Soviet Union. But then again, it was little more than an inferior copy, after all.

statue in europos park in Lithuania

The Center of Attention: Lithuania’s Europos Park

by Przemysław Bociąga
28 January 2023
Lithuania/Travel & Food/Culture

Europos Park is a “monument valley” on the outskirts of Vilnius to celebrate the spot being exact center of Europe. But the celebration was a bit hasty, as now one of claimants to the title is 11 km away.

10 bani banknote from 1917

The World’s Smallest Printed Money

by Naomi Gherman
27 January 2023
Romania/Business/Culture

We know – pockets are getting smaller, and wallets are only becoming heavier. This would be no problem for the world’s tiniest print money – which measured a mere 27.5 x 38 mm. How much could you fit in your pocket?

happening of Orange Alternative

Tiny Bronze Dwarves a Monument to 1980s Opposition

by Przemysław Bociąga
26 January 2023
Lithuania/Culture

"Can you treat a police officer seriously when he is asking you: "Why did you participate in an illegal meeting of dwarfs?" This was the ethos of Poland's Orange Alternative movement - and the origin of the dwarves that now adorn Wrocław's streets.

Srot Park

Unexpected Beauty – Scrap Metal Art in Central Eastern Europe

by Przemysław Bociąga
24 January 2023
Travel & Food/Culture

In this outdoor cabinet of curiosities on the outskirts of Bratislava, Slovakia, animals made of the most unlikely of materials – scrap metal – come to life. It is an art form that is quickly growing in popularity across Eastern Europe.

Traditional folklore dances

Old Is New: The Return of the Bulgarian Folk Costume

by Galina Ganeva
22 January 2023
Croatia/Travel & Food/Culture

Bulgarian folk costumes, once considered a thing of the past, now live on Instagram, attracting younger crowds along the way

Vegetable Bulgarian shopska salad. Wooden background. Top view

Shopska Salad: the Most Iconic Dish of the Balkans

by Przemysław Bociąga
22 January 2023
Travel & Food/Culture/Slovenia

Shopska salad is a bone of contention between a few Central European nations. However, its origins are easily traced to the post-war creation of Bulgaria as a socialist paradise of sun, relaxation, and good food. The red, green, and white salad easily fits the image of traditional Bulgarian cuisine.

plane ejection seats

Bringing Safety to the Flying Dream

by Ioana Marandici
22 January 2023
Lithuania/Travel & Food/Culture

The 20th century: a time when everyone wanted to touch the sky, but few were thinking about the dangers. Apart from one whose work was centered around the question of, “How can one survive if things go wrong?”

View of Predjama castle

The Magic Castle in the Mountain Wall

by Vid Sosic
21 January 2023
Croatia/Travel & Food/Culture

Predjama Castle is a unique medieval castle in Slovenia that was built into a cave entrance in a mountain wall. Thanks to its position, it has never been truly conquered and impresses visitors and architects from all over the world. Its heritage includes a legend of a bad knight and his end.

Truffles

Sniffing For Hidden Treasures

by Agnieszka Sawala
21 January 2023
Slovenia/Travel & Food/Culture

An unusual hunt: digging for truffles in the forests of Slovenia’s Istria.

Transfagarasan road, most spectacular road in the world, Romania in the evening

World’s Best Road, Paved With Blood, Sweat and Tears – Literally

by Naomi Gherman
20 January 2023
Poland/Culture

We’ve all heard of California’s Route 1 and Australia’s Grand Ocean Road - the world’s most stunning drives. If either tops your must-do list, you really should visit Romania’s Transfăgărășan. Even Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson agrees.

Jesus Christ with open arms statue in front of Pilgrimage Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and St. Cyril and Methodius at Velehrad Monastery, Moravia, Czech Republic

Czechia: An Atheist’s Heaven

by Marek Koten
20 January 2023
Czechia/Culture

The Czech Republic has often been crowned the most atheistic country in Europe, sometimes even the world. Is it so that all Czechs are non-believers, or is it a bit more complicated?

France v Croatia - FIFA World Cup 2018 Final Croatia supporters at Luzhniki Stadium on July 15, 2018

The Origins of the Croatian Chessboard

by Danijel Bačan
19 January 2023
Travel & Food/Culture/Romania

When the Croatian national football team played the final of the World Cup in 2018, the whole world noticed the red and white squares on the Croatian fans and players. These same squares are also found on the Croatian coat of arms and are popularly called a chessboard.

Women's hands hold many shopping bags

Making ends meet: The European Income Gap Is Closing

by Mateusz Walewski
18 January 2023
Poland/Culture/People

Households in our region have to allocate relatively high shares of their budgets to basic needs. Their ability to buy non-essential items is limited. The consumption structure in our area will converge to the western European average in line with closing the income gap.

Students meeting in library

Baltic States Have the Highest Literacy Rates in the World

by Przemysław Bociąga
17 January 2023
Lithuania/Culture

Perched high atop the list of countries with the most literate people in the world are Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania... and North Korea. While the first three have some solid proof behind the statistics, the fourth makes the list based on more dubious claims.

house of Hungarian music in Budapest

Where Nature and Music Collide

by Cynthia Sklodowski
15 January 2023
Lithuania/Culture

Nestled amongst the trees in a park in the center of Budapest, Hungary, the much-anticipated House of Music, designed by famed Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto, has finally opened its doors to the public.

Valley in czech national park Giant mountain- Krkonose

The Majestic Krkonoše Mountains: A Lush Forest Haven

by Marek Koten
15 January 2023
Poland/Czechia/Travel & Food/Culture

The Krkonoše Mountains are like a wall, yet they are a bridge linking Czechia and Poland. They consist of deep woods and crystal-clear rivers, yet they are very open to the public. This is the story of the wilderness haven.

woman lay on sand on beach

Balkantourist – Communist Airbnb but with Donkeys

by Przemysław Bociąga
14 January 2023
Bulgaria/Travel & Food/Culture

Contrary to popular belief, the Airbnb travel model wasn’t invented in the 2000s. Examples of it can be found 60 years earlier with Balkantourist, travel agent in communist Bulgaria.

group of women

Rural Girl Power! The PR Specialists of the Polish Countryside

by Weronika Edmunds
14 January 2023
Poland/Culture/People

The countryside is the bread and butter of every nation. Undoubtedly, a vast part of Polish cultural heritage originates in Polish villages and fields. It could not be so if it weren’t for the women!

Genuss Festival in Austria

Food in Central Eastern Europe

by Weronika Edmunds
14 January 2023
Hungary/Travel & Food/Culture

French, Italian, American, Mediterranean, and so on – cuisine from all over the world seems to enjoy recognition. After all, tasting local specialties is an integral part of any travel. So what about Eastern Europe? What do people eat there?

old post card showing przemsza

The Spot Where Three Empires Converged

by Przemysław Bociąga
13 January 2023
Poland/Culture/People

Przemsza is the name of a Polish river that is nearly impossible for non-Polish speakers to pronounce. Regardless, three Emperors speaking these languages had to know its name, as their countries joined at its junction for decades. Now it's almost forgotten in the middle of modern-day Poland.

Jewelery in a showcase of precious garnet stone

Bohemian Garnet – The Crown Jewel of Czechia

by Marek Koten
12 January 2023
Culture/Czechia/Travel & Food

The blood-red bohemian garnet is considered the national gem of the Czech Republic. Not only is it good-looking, but legends also say that this beloved stone can replace bad moods with joy.

Head of white cabbage closeup shoot

Cabbage – The Queen of Central European Cuisine

by Weronika Edmunds
11 January 2023
Travel & Food/Culture

Due to the climate, which tends to bring rather cold winter months, the nations of the Three Seas Region developed their cuisines following the particularities of each season. But one vegetable dominated all four of them.

Mask dancers take part in a parade during the the International Festival of Masquerade Games Surva in the town of Pernik. n ancient times the old Thracians held the Kukeri Ritual Games in honor of the god Dionysus

Move Over, Evil Eye – The Kukeri Are in the House

by Galina Ganeva
9 January 2023
Culture/Bulgaria/Travel & Food

At the end of January, masked people with countless bells tied around roam the streets in villages across Bulgaria. But despite their scary outfits, locals are not intimidated. These are the Kukeri, and they are here not to scare onlookers but to chase away the evil forces

Pope Gregory XIII illustratopn

In Central Europe, You Can Celebrate Each Holiday Twice 

by Przemysław Bociąga
7 January 2023
Bulgaria/Travel & Food/Culture

Everyone knows that Christmas is on 25 December. It's just that we can't agree on exactly when 25 December should be. The same is true for movable feasts, such as Easter. And - say - the anniversary of the October Revolution, which falls in November. 

Beautiful Christmas setting, decorated fireplace with woodburner, lit up Christmas tree with baubles and ornaments, lantern, stars and garlands, selective focus

Christmas in Bulgaria: A Cozy Fire and Fortune-Telling

by Galina Ganeva
7 January 2023
Bulgaria/Travel & Food/Culture

The fire by the Christmas table is not meant only for Instagramming: try this Bulgarian fortune-telling Christmas tradition instead.

Statue of Marco Polo in the window of souvenir shop

Marco Polo Could, In Fact, Be (Sort of) Croatian

by Przemysław Bociąga
6 January 2023
Croatia/Culture/Tech

The original traveler-storyteller is thought to have been born not in Venice but on the Croatian island of Korčula.

A man kisses wooden crosses thrown by Orthodox archbishop in the Danube river

The Floating Cross and Other Epiphany Traditions

by Naomi Gherman
6 January 2023
Romania/Travel & Food/Culture

Would you swim in the frozen waters during Romania’s coldest month to fetch a cross thrown by the Priest? Some wouldn’t - but many would. Or so the tradition proved for the past hundreds of years. Learn about Romania’s most astonishing Epiphany traditions.

team of the restaurant

Dining in the Dark to Shed New Light

by Galina Ganeva
3 January 2023
Bulgaria/Travel & Food/Culture

While the concept of dining in the dark is not novel, in most such restaurants, the point is to have you guessing at what you’re eating, provided you’ve been able to locate your plate first. In Bulgaria, one restaurant takes this a step further to educate.

woman and man looking at the grapes in wine yard in Poland Europe

Winemaking and Poland: The Perfect Pairing

by Cynthia Sklodowski
2 January 2023
Travel & Food/Culture/Romania

Friday night. Chic restaurant. Notable chef. You've finally picked a mouthwatering main dish, and the sommelier recommends pairing it with... a Polish wine? Seems crazy, right? Not if a new crop of Polish winemakers has anything to do with it.

The Great Wall of Jinshan Mountains in the Cloud Sea

Europe Divided Over Its Attitude to China

by Agaton Koziński
31 December 2022
Business/Culture

Until 1989, Europe was partitioned by the Berlin Wall. Now, it is divided by the Great Wall of China. CEE countries are looking at Beijing with caution, but Western European states are looking for business opportunities with China.

People talking toasting in a pub with the beers stock photo

Beer-Drinking Culture May Become a National Heritage in Czechia

by Przemysław Bociąga
31 December 2022
Czechia/Travel & Food/Culture

In Czechia, the beer-drinking culture without a shadow of a doubt constitutes its national heritage. Activists are now fighting for official recognition of this fact by UNESCO.

Ruzyne Airport in Prague. Archive photo of flight attendant in front of the plane

It’s OK to Fly Czech

by Marek Koten
30 December 2022
Czechia/Business/Culture/Tech

Wherever you are flying with Czech Airlines, it will always be OK. Why? Because OK is the Czech Airlines callsign. Let us tell you the story of the fifth-oldest airline in the world.

Struve Geodetic Arc

The 3,000 km Long Monument That Proved the Earth’s Shape

by Przemysław Bociąga
30 December 2022
Culture

The Struve Geodetic Arc is a network of triangulation towers spanning Scandinavia to the Black Sea. They made it possible to take the first accurate measurement of a meridian arc.

Euro money euro banknotes in bronze bowl.

Is it Always the Euro? Currencies in Central and Eastern Europe

by Weronika Edmunds
29 December 2022
Business/Culture

Those traveling to Europe often think it will be sufficient to bring along some Euro, but this is not always the case. So what currency do you need when you find yourself in the Three Seas States?

Postcard From Austria

Remember Postcards? The First Were an Austrian Invention 

by Przemysław Bociąga
28 December 2022
Travel & Food/Culture/Poland

On 1 October 1869, the Austrian Post Office issued its first postcard. Today merely a collectible, they were for decades a communication staple, as texting is now.

lider of polska partia przyjaciol piwa drinking beer

The Rise of the Polish Beer-Lovers Party

by Przemysław Bociąga
27 December 2022
Poland/Culture

English-style beer consumption stole some ground from vodka territory when a jokingly named quasi-political movement called the Polish Beer-Lovers Party gained Members of Parliament (MPs) in the early 1990s.

School of sea bream fish, Sarpa salpa, swimming to water surface

Feeding the Planet: Turning Sunlight Into Seafood

by Martin Hochel
26 December 2022
Travel & Food/Business/Culture

Austrian startup Blue Planet Ecosystems has been presenting its product on efficient, bio, eco-friendly, and sustainable fishing production called LARA systems (Land-based Automated Recirculating Aquaculture). The product aims to address future food shortages.

Beautiful nativity scene with baby Jesus. Traditional Christmas background of Christian holidays.

Christmas in Czechia: A More Secular Affair

by Marek Koten
26 December 2022
Travel & Food/Culture/Lithuania

With Christmas approaching, let's look at how it is celebrated in the Czech Republic, where little attention is paid to faith and church. And is Christmas here still a Christian holiday?

Kutya, candles and christmas decor on a wooden table. Christmas Slovenian food. Traditional Christmas sweet dishes in Ukraine, Belarus and Poland. Christmas dinner kutia.

Three Central European Christmas-Only Dishes

by Weronika Edmunds
25 December 2022
Travel & Food/Culture

Many festive dishes tend to be present in some shape and form throughout the year. But can you find dishes that are so Christmas-exclusive that you can’t really taste them outside of the season?

Statue of Adalbert of Prague

Czech Heaven: The Home of the Saints of Czechia

by Marek Koten
25 December 2022
People/Czechia/Culture

Despite being called the most atheist country in Europe, Czechia has a rich religious history. Including having many saints.

Christmas Eve red borscht with ravioli and beet chips and other dishes

Polish Christmas Eve Feast One of the Healthiest in the World

by Przemysław Bociąga
24 December 2022
Travel & Food/Culture/Poland

Yes, there is a ranking of the world’s healthiest traditional feasts. And guess who’s at the top of the ranking? Poles with their fish-abundant, vegetable-based Christmas Eve supper. Never mind that it consists of twelve courses!

archive photo of men in the bar talk to bartenders

Can Europe Be Divided Into Wine, Beer, and Vodka Regions?

by Przemysław Bociąga
24 December 2022
Travel & Food/Business/Culture

Some say that cultural divides can be explained by the kind of alcohol we imbibe. But is there any actual distinction between "vodka Europe" vs. "beer Europe" vs. "wine Europe"?

1950s USA Levi's Magazine Advert

The Latvian Contribution to the Origin of Jeans

by Przemysław Bociąga
23 December 2022
Latvia/Culture/People

Though merchant Levi Strauss is mainly credited for the invention of jeans, little would have happened in this area if not for Latvian-born tailor Jacob Davis. In 1871 in Reno, Nevada, Davis found denim to be the perfect fabric for workhorse pants.

Kid is eating fast food at Christmas market. Cute child is tasting festive sweets, fritters, chocolate doughnuts outside in old town street. Cozy fair atmosphere in Dubrovnik, Croatia

Christmas in Croatia – Get Your Fireplace Ready!

by Weronika Edmunds
23 December 2022
Croatia/Travel & Food/Culture

Believe it or not, winter in Croatia can get pretty cold. Most households used to have fireplaces, which served as the basis for developing an interesting Christmas tradition.

Welcome to the Year 7528!

by Mihail Petrov
22 December 2022
Culture

The date is the 18th of the second month. The year is 7527. And no, there is nothing wrong with your calendar. According to the Ancient Bulgarian Calendar, the year is very accurate, recognized by UNESCO as the most accurate calendar in the world.

Krampus Creatures Parade In Search Of Bad Children

Christmas in Austria – Not Even Krampus Dares to Disturb

by Weronika Edmunds
22 December 2022
Austria/Travel & Food/Culture

It has been said and will never cease to be repeated that Austria – the home of Silent Night, the world's revered Christmas carol – certainly knows how to turn Christmas into a special time of year, spiced up with a short visit by the underworld demons.

Croatia, Dalmatia, Brac island, Pucisca village, Klesarska skola stonemasonry school

The Marble Kingdom of Brač Island, Croatia

by Weronika Edmunds
21 December 2022
Croatia/Travel & Food/Culture

The second largest island in Croatia is the home of the town of Pučišća. I know – it most probably doesn’t tell you anything. And it should, as its quarry has been supplying the world with marble for centuries.

Holiday Gold place setting, funny Christmas table with ornaments and natural berries on wooden table

Why Latvians Need a Big Table for Christmas

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
21 December 2022
Romania/Travel & Food/Culture

Never ones to leave their guests hungry, on one particular day of the year, Latvians load the table with nine foods. Traditionally, this was Yuletide to mark the winter solstice. Today, many celebrate Christmas but still keep up with tradition, too.

Woman with stroller at sunset, walking on the beach

The Czech’s Effective Response to Europe’s Demographic Crisis

by Agaton Koziński
19 December 2022
Travel & Food/Business/Culture

The Czech Republic has recorded a gradual increase in the number of children born in the country - proof that an effective pro-natalist policy can be pursued. It seems that the key is maintaining respect for the value of the family.

Truffle Harvest

Bulgaria’s Truffle Treasure

by Galina Ganeva
17 December 2022
Culture/Travel & Food

Hidden in the forests of Bulgaria are immense riches. How should one go about obtaining them?

A waitress at a cafe terrace on archive photo from 1930 waiting for tip

A Tourist’s Guide to Tipping Culture in Central Europe

by Przemysław Bociąga
16 December 2022
Czechia/Culture/Austria

How much exactly should you tip in Central Europe? We've made a handy guide to help you figure it out.

Close-up of woman holding a hands full of sugar cubes in front of her open mouth

The Bloody History of a Czech Invention: The Sugar Cube

by Przemysław Bociąga
16 December 2022
Austria/Travel & Food/Culture

The history of sugar is not as straightforward as a mere ingredient for sweetening your tea or cakes. At various points in history, it has been used as medicine, a spice, and even a symbol of both royalty and oppression. The invention of the sugar cube only adds to the story.

Front of Nobel prize medal

Austria – Land of Prodigies

by Weronika Edmunds
15 December 2022
Austria/Culture/People

Is Austria a factory of geniuses? It certainly looks like it! Let us briefly remind ourselves what the Nobel Prize is and what it is awarded for.

shop with black balsam elixir in Riga

The Latvian Elixer Spicing Up Cocktails and Curing Indigestion

by Przemysław Bociąga
14 December 2022
Latvia/Travel & Food/Culture

Riga Black Balsam, concocted by a pharmacist in the mid-18th century, was used as a magic cure for numerous diseases. Today it's a drink, cocktail ingredient, cure for indigestion, and, most importantly, Latvia's pride.

participants of the Herring March

Can You Walk Like a Herring?

by Weronika Edmunds
13 December 2022
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

Are you able to survive in water for a few hours at one time? Can you swim (advisable)? Do you like challenges? If your answer to the above question is ‘yes,’ then we have a proposition you won't want to pass up.

The Colindat Men’s Group

The Colindat Men’s Group, a UNESCO Christmas Tradition

by Naomi Gherman
13 December 2022
Romania/Travel & Food/Culture

Christmas is one of the most celebrated holidays worldwide. In Romania, the Christmas spirit is spread around by the Juni – a group of young men who carol the streets and houses for days in a row.

Poster of Czech-Slav etnographic exhibition in Prague from 1895

1895: The Year Slavic Folk Was Born

by Przemysław Bociąga
13 December 2022
Czechia/Culture

Prague’s Czechoslavic Ethnographic Exhibition of 1895, the Central European answer to the World Expo (of sorts), was the first time the people of Central Europe noticed the richness of regional folk culture. It immediately started a folk craze.

one milliard pengo

How Much Could You Buy for One Hundred Million Billion Pengő?

by Przemysław Bociąga
11 December 2022
Hungary/Business/Culture

A massive level of inflation in Hungary created the need to issue the highest-nominated banknote ever.

man in the air swings in Estonia

Estonians – The Master Swingers

by Przemysław Bociąga
11 December 2022
Estonia/Travel & Food/Culture

In most European countries, you grow out of swinging in your early teens. But not in Estonia, where kiiking, or swinging, is a national sport recognized by the Estonian Sports Association.

Mushroom picking, illustration to III tome of Pan Tadeusz

Polish Romantic Prophet-Poet Was Basically a Foodie

by Przemysław Bociąga
9 December 2022
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

Adam Mickiewicz was perhaps the most important figure in Polish 19-century culture. His epic novel Pan Tadeusz – the epitome of Polish national sentiment – contains descriptions of more traditional Polish dishes than any other features.

Cup of herbal tea and an assortment of ingredients, herbs, fruits and flowers

Teetaimed: The Original Estonian Hot Drink

by Przemysław Bociąga
9 December 2022
Culture/Estonia/Travel & Food

If you order tea in an Estonian café, you can expect a wide variety of herbal drinks, though not necessarily what we usually call tea. Influenced by Russian culture, the social division between Estonian tea vs herbal infusion drinkers has left traces to this day.

Closeup of a weaving loom with colorful ropes stock photo Romania, Tradition, Wool, Loom, Art

Rug Craftsmanship, A Way for Romanians to Express Themselves

by Naomi Gherman
8 December 2022
Travel & Food/Culture/Lithuania

Many communities and cultures would use words, foods, melodies, or actions to express themselves – not the Romanian people, however. For them, the deepest feelings of the human soul were best transmitted through a rug.

thinly sliced salami on a wooden cuttingboard

The Origins of (Not-Entirely) Romanian Sibiu Salami

by Naomi Gherman
8 December 2022
Culture/Romania/Travel & Food

Sibiu salami, a trademark of Romanian cuisine, is not even made in Sibiu. In fact, it wasn’t even invented by a Romanian. How did this internationally-appreciated aliment gain popularity, and where did the name actually come from?

frame from the film's trailer

Watch Hollywood-style Treatment of Polish 1946 Children’s Classic

by Przemysław Bociąga
7 December 2022
Poland/Culture/People

"Mr. Blot's Academy" was a magical school described by Jan Brzechwa six decades before "Harry Potter." In the character of the Professor, some see Janusz Korczak, a pedagogue so dedicated to the Jewish orphans in his care that he went with them all the way to the gas chamber.

city where houses have eyes

Sibiu’s Houses Are Watching You

by Naomi Gherman
5 December 2022
Romania/Travel & Food/Culture

They’re everywhere. And they’re all watching you. However, this is not a horror story but rather the charming story of the Sibiu roofs, known for their “eyes” that watch over the city.

detail od traditional colorful Czech tourist marking on hiking trails

Heritage in Three Stripes

by Marek Koten
4 December 2022
Czechia/Travel & Food/Culture

The Czech Republic is crisscrossed by one of the most perfect and dense networks of hiking trails. The marking system is so good that it is used worldwide.

Dark bread kvass

Kvass Redux. Popular Eastern European Drink on the Rise

by Przemysław Bociąga
3 December 2022
Travel & Food/Culture/Poland

Popular across Central and Eastern Europe from Poland to Estonia to Caucasus, this refreshing drink, which comes sweet or savory, is a zero-waste drink from bread leftovers. Its most recent Polish iteration has taken a turn to promote more responsible beer drinking.

Mickey Mouse

That Time Romania Cancelled Mickey Mouse

by Naomi Gherman
3 December 2022
Romania/Culture

In 1935, the Romanian government banned any visual representation of Mickey Mouse, and the reason behind this drastic measure might make you take a double look at Disney’s most beloved character.

Closer to the Moon (2014) - filmstill

The Communist Heist of 1959

by Naomi Gherman
1 December 2022
Romania/Culture

You’d have to be pretty out of your mind to rob a bank – let alone during the communist times. But it happened, and the authorities were so shocked that they documented the investigation in a movie, casting in the leading roles the real-life protagonists of the heist.

portrait of Tomas Rousek, the New Prague architect

“New Prague”, or the Czech City in Space

by Marek Koten
30 November 2022
Czechia/Culture/People

Next year, Czechia will celebrate 45 years since the first Czech entered space. Even though the country is not a space superpower, it has plans for a base on the Moon. And a lot more!

Colour image of hands demonstrating ASL sign language letters

SignAll Invents Revolutionary Tool to Translate Sign Language

by Martin Hochel
30 November 2022
Hungary/Business/Culture/Tech

Hungarian-American startup SignAll has been intensely working for over a decade to invent the SignAll Lab tool, which translates American Sign Language (ASL) into American English.

Stalactites and stalagmites inside the Postojna cave

The Mysterious Classical Slovenian Karst

by Vid Sosic
28 November 2022
Slovenia/Travel & Food/Culture

Slovenia has proportionally more karst than any other country. It shaped its history and identity. It was here that most karst phenomena were studied very early on. Even the name karst came from the Kras region in Slovenia, a smaller region within the Slovenian Classical Karst.

Christmas tree in fire

The Fir Tree and the Christmas Miracle

by Przemysław Bociąga
27 November 2022
Latvia/Travel & Food/Culture

Not sure if you want to believe the legend that a fir tree in this exact spot is one of the oldest Christmas traditions in Europe? Heirs to the Brotherhood of the Blackheads can show you historic proof.

mole cartoon

The Story of the Mole

by Marek Koten
26 November 2022
Czechia/Culture

No, this is not a story of an enemy spy inside the Czech secret service. It is a story of a Czech icon that raised generations at home and abroad. And even made it to space!

old typewriter detail

Central European Diacritic Letters: A Typewriter Buying Guide

by Przemysław Bociąga
26 November 2022
Culture

The rise of national languages in Central Europe led to the expansion of diacritic letters, unique to a few groups of them. Nowadays, Unicode has given us an easy computational solution. But the fight for diacritic inclusiveness lasted for decades.

Ripe, fresh sea buckthorn, Hippophae in a tin mug. Harvesting, vintage style. Selective focus

Immunity-Boosting Sea Buckthorn Thrives in Latvian Soil

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
25 November 2022
Latvia/Business/Culture

Developing since the 1980s, Latvia's sea buckthorn industry is now well and truly ripe. Not only is export on the rise, but growers are creating new products to introduce people to the vitamin-packed berry and its powers.

Brazilians girls of Polish descent

Polish Is the Official Language in… a Brazilian Town

by Weronika Edmunds
24 November 2022
Hungary/Business/Culture/Tech

Polish citizens, who found themselves under a foreign rule for 123 years, were often forced to leave their native lands in pursuit of opportunities unavailable to them under new rulers. Collectively, they are referred to as Polonia.

moszna castle

A Disney Castle Lost

by Weronika Edmunds
22 November 2022
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

Everyone has heard of Neuschwanstein, the real-life Disney castle in Bavaria. If only tourists knew this picturesque destination has a long-lost sibling in a much more accessible and equally unexpected location in Southern Poland.

Karel Gott surrounded by women

The Frank Sinatra of the East

by Marek Koten
22 November 2022
Czechia/Culture/People

Karel Gott's story is about passion and love for music. After becoming a revered Czech pop legend, his talent and name spread to the world, becoming a symbol.

Rhodope bagpipers playing tunes on a famous Rozhen folklore festival

Bulgaria’s Eternal Love for Bagpipe Music

by Galina Ganeva
22 November 2022
Bulgaria/Travel & Food/Culture

At the two opposite ends of Europe, two countries hold the bagpipe in the highest esteem possible. What links Bulgaria and Scotland when it comes to bagpipe music?

main visual of the Vilnius G-spot campaign

Sex Sells. Vilnius Hits the Marketing G-Spot

by Przemysław Bociąga
20 November 2022
Lithuania/Travel & Food/Culture

This award-winning promotional campaign for the capital of Lithuania will make you pant and scream.

annual Poland Snuffing Championships

Snuff Your Way to Poland’s Kashubia Region

by Weronika Edmunds
19 November 2022
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

Certain species of plants and animals tend to raise in importance in different areas of the world. Such is the case with tobacco. Brought to Europe from North America, it found a special place among Kashubians.

Young attractive woman with bright umbrella. Amazing sunrise on trocadero place and eiffel tower in Paris

How Bulgaria (Sort of) Became a French-Speaking Country

by Galina Ganeva
18 November 2022
Czechia/Culture/People

In 2023, Bulgaria will celebrate three decades of belonging to the global Francophonie family without ever speaking French as an official language. What happened?

KAPKA KASSABOVA

Bridges and Borders: The Role of the Balkans in Europe

by Galina Ganeva
17 November 2022
Travel & Food/Culture/Hungary

Writer Kapka Kassabova has made it her mission to go back to the Balkans, bringing closer to readers a part of Europe that is still either unknown or misunderstood.

The months and days of the year on calendar paper stock photo

The Unusual Slovenian Calendar

by Agnieszka Sawala
16 November 2022
Slovenia/Culture

Although Slovenia uses the common Gregorian calendar, the local names of the months might seem confusing.

windows in old wooden house

Čičmany, the First Folk Architecture Reserve in the World

by Przemysław Bociąga
15 November 2022
Czechia/Culture/People

It is neither a museum nor a theme park. Opened in 1977, this Northern Slovakian village is a unique merger of tourism and folklore studies.

Ita Rina

Ita Rina: A Forgotten Movie Star

by Vid Sosic
15 November 2022
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

Ita Rina was a movie superstar in Europe in the 1930s, when she starred in many successful movies, the only Slovenian to make it that far. She was even offered work in Hollywood but turned it down to focus on her family. Today she is a forgotten yet legendary icon of that period in film history.

forest eagle

The Polish Eagle Drawn Into Nature

by Jakub Warzecha
14 November 2022
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

It took a lot of planning and hard work – and still, from up close, there's not much to see... However, the picture comes into focus as you rise above the horizon. The image of the white eagle, the emblem of Poland, miraculously depicted with trees into the Polish landscape.

Basilica on the Holy Mountain

The Famous Venetian Church Near a Small Polish City

by Przemysław Bociąga
14 November 2022
Culture/Poland/Travel & Food

If you cannot afford to visit Venice’s Santa Maria della Salute church, you can visit Gostyń instead. This town, like many others in Poland, has one unexpected feature: a church based on virtually the same blueprint.

Gurion visits the 101 Squadron

Defending the Star of David

by Marek Koten
13 November 2022
Slovakia/Czechia/Culture

When Israel declared its independence in 1948, it was immediately attacked by its neighbors. The desperately needed weapons, planes, and other supplies came from an unlikely source: Czechoslovakia.

Zawoja mountain village

You Could Hike All Day Long in the Longest Village in Poland

by Przemysław Bociąga
12 November 2022
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

Zawoja is the longest linear village in Poland, spanning 18 kilometers, which may be considered an average day’s hike. But to perpendicularly cross such a village, a few minutes is usually enough.

Tombul Mosque at night

Inside Bulgaria’s Most Stunning Mosque

by Galina Ganeva
12 November 2022
Bulgaria/Travel & Food/Culture

Built in 1744, Sherif Halil Pasha Mosque is preceded in size only by Selimiye Mosque in Edirne, Turkey, on the Balkan Peninsula.

emblem of poland

The Eagle Has Landed! Origins of the Polish National Emblem

by Weronika Edmunds
11 November 2022
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

Poles and Americans have a lot in common, like respect for national flags and taste in national symbols. For both, the eagle reigns supreme, and while the US favors the bald eagle, Poles are 100% devoted to their white eagle. When did this noble bird steal the Slavic hearts?

Czechoslovak Pavilion in Brussels

EXPO 58: The Czechoslovakian Triumph in Brussels

by Marek Koten
10 November 2022
Slovakia/Czechia/Travel & Food/Culture

The World EXPO is an always an event unlike any other. However, the EXPO of 1958 was particularly special for Czechoslovakia because it won the Golden Medal, despite going through the darkest times of the Communist regime.

propaganda poster with Stalin

Remnants of Nazism and Communism Still Hang Over Central Europe

by Agaton Koziński
10 November 2022
Culture/People/Three Seas Initiative

The countries of Central Europe still have not shaken off the stigma left on the region by the two forms of totalitarianism that dominated the 20th century: Nazism and Communism.

Monument of Grand Duke Gediminas Vilnius Lithuania

The Unbelievable (and Absolutely True) History of Lithuania

by Weronika Edmunds
9 November 2022
Lithuania/Travel & Food/Culture

In the north of the 3 Seas Region, you can find a land adorned in a green gown of forests and crowned with the gold of sandy beaches. With her majesty accentuated by blue jewels of lakes, Lithuania is a mysterious land where the tales of old don’t seem old at all.

morning photo of tourists group on popular lookout tower

Bohemian Switzerland: The Sandcastle of Czechia

by Marek Koten
8 November 2022
Czechia/Travel & Food/Culture

A tourist paradise in the Elbe Canyon, home to sandstone formations of European importance and the scene of a recent catastrophe. Welcome to the Bohemian Switzerland National Park.

Dancers in traditional costumes perform at the Grand Folk dance concert of Latvian Youth Song and Dance Festival

16,000 Singers in One Choir? Yes, It’s Possible!

by Weronika Edmunds
5 November 2022
Culture

The Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are throwing the biggest folk festivals in the world. The event is so grand that it takes four years on average to prepare. What is it all about?

Bear in Belitsa Bear Sanctuary

How Brigitte Bardot Saved Bulgarian Bears

by Galina Ganeva
5 November 2022
Bulgaria/Travel & Food/Culture

For 22 years now, bears, which were used to act in shows across the Balkans, get a new chance for life in a unique bear sanctuary sponsored by French actress, Brigitte Bardot.

Moving Stage Curtains

Bulgarian Theater Enters the Stage

by Galina Ganeva
4 November 2022
Bulgaria/Travel & Food/Culture

A new permanent exhibition in the city of Shumen will soon tell the story of Bulgaria’s first theater performance in 1856. One issue: Another Bulgarian town claims they got there first.

Fishermen on boats and ashore catch fish using fishing net

Czechia: The Fish Farming Superpower

by Marek Koten
4 November 2022
Travel & Food/Business/Culture

Fish farming in Czechia has a tradition dating back to the early Middle Ages. It helped the landlocked country to secure enough fish supply. What started as a food variety necessity became part of national identity and Czech culture.

Zofia Rydet's collage

The Photographer Who Set to Capture Every Household in Poland

by Przemysław Bociąga
3 November 2022
Poland/Culture/People

The Sociological Record was a 1960s art project by photographer Zofia Rydet that did precisely what it says on the lid - it captured Polish society in the transformation process. Until her death, Rydet managed to document some 20 thousand Polish households.

collage of capitals of 3 seas countries

The 12 Capitals of Central Europe in a Nutshell

by Weronika Edmunds
2 November 2022
Travel & Food/Culture

There are many types of capitals - like business capital (London, UK), love capital (Paris, France), or food capital (San Sebastian, Spain). Such flashy tags are bound to attract tourists from all over the world. Do conventional capitals stand a chance?

River Angara in winter

Kralovec Was the Beginning. Now Poles Claim Siberia’s Irkutsk

by Przemysław Bociąga
2 November 2022
Lithuania/Travel & Food/Culture

Czechs claiming Russia’s Kaliningrad was a political statement heard around the world. Inspired, Poles reached even further, declaring the annexation of the Siberian city of Irkutsk to protect its Polish minority. How did Poles end up thousands of kilometers from home?

The Union of Lublin painting of Jan Matejko

When the Polish King Lit a Candle Stub for the Devil

by Przemysław Bociąga
1 November 2022
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

Among the early modern empires of Central Europe, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth is perhaps the least known. It was in a state of forming for some two hundred years and remained more than a strategic alliance for another two centuries, shaping the culture and history of more than those two nations.

Professor Ivaylo Ditchev

Where Is Bulgaria, Actually?

by Galina Ganeva
1 November 2022
Bulgaria/Culture

Over three decades after the fall of communism in 1989, Bulgaria seems to be at a crossroads, with four parliamentary elections in less than two years and forces pulling the country into opposite directions: West and East.

painting of Jacek Malczewski

A Guide to Central Europe’s Supernatural Creatures

by Przemysław Bociąga
30 October 2022
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

Pop culture warns us of ghosts appearing at midnight. But according to Central European beliefs, demons could possess you even at noon – or at any other time if you find yourself in the wrong places.

Skulls In bone chapel - Sedlec Ossuary

Christian Chapels Decorated With Human Bones

by Przemysław Bociąga
30 October 2022
Poland/Czechia/Travel & Food/Culture

In past centuries, wars and epidemics were so frequent and their death toll so huge that all you could do to the dead was reduce, reuse, and recycle.

eastern european flags

Central European Flags

by Weronika Edmunds
25 October 2022
Culture

Ever wondered who came up with the colors and patterns on national flags? Is there even any purpose to them? Well, not just a purpose but a whole lot of history. Let us tell you about the flags of the Three Seas States.

painting of Polish Legionnaires in Saint-Domingue

The 9th Generation of Poles… in Haiti

by Weronika Edmunds
24 October 2022
Poland/Culture

When, 200 years ago, Napoleon sent Polish troops to the Haitian islands, even he – one of the greatest strategists of all time – could not have foreseen what was about to happen.

Gothic Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Most, Czech Republic

A Traveling Church? Just Another Part of a Traveling City!

by Marek Koten
24 October 2022
Czechia/Culture

In 1975, Czechoslovakia and the World experienced something that had never happened before. A church in the city of Most made it to the Guinness Book of World Records. Why? Because it took a train ride.

Martin Strel swimming

The Man Who Swam It All

by Vid Sosic
23 October 2022
Travel & Food/Culture/Slovenia

Meet Martin Strel from Slovenia. He is a 67-year-old retired guitar teacher, he is overweight, he enjoys Cviček, a sort of wine from his native Lower Carniola region, a bit too much, and he might just be the most powerful athlete alive.

interior of one of the oldest and most famous Ruin-pubs

Budapest Ruin Bars Live Up to Their Name

by Przemysław Bociąga
21 October 2022
Hungary/Travel & Food/Culture

It seems that Hungarians don’t care about the design of their drinking venues as they made so-called “ruin bars” an iconic part of their imbibe culture.

Saltpans in Piran in summer

Slovenian Salt: The “White Gold” of Piran

by Agnieszka Sawala
21 October 2022
Culture/Slovenia/Travel & Food

Time stopped about seven centuries ago in the Slovenian salt pans on the Adriatic Sea. This is the story of the traditional harvesting of exceptional salt.

living stones in Romania

Mr Living Stone, I Presume?

by Naomi Gherman
20 October 2022
Romania/Travel & Food/Culture

“How is it possible for a rock to grow or move on its own?” is the question many, if not all, who visit the enchanted realm of the trovanți ask themselves. What is this place, and how can these huge rocks change their size - and location almost overnight?

Otton III

The Medieval EU: Facts & Gossip From the Congress of Gniezno

by Przemysław Bociąga
20 October 2022
Poland/Culture

When Otto III, Caesar of the Western Roman Empire, came to the capital of still-forming Poland, could he have hoped to establish a new geopolitical initiative in Eastern Europe?

Emil Racovitza as diver

A Deep Dive Into the Life of Biospeleology Founder Emil Racoviță

by Naomi Gherman
19 October 2022
Romania/Culture/People

The Romanian founder of biospeleology did not study sciences – he studied law. But his true calling was too prominent to be ignored, so Emil Racoviță pulled a one-eighty and completely changed not only his life but the world we live in today.

Norwegian temple Wang in Karpacz

The Oldest Wooden Church in Poland, Imported From Norway

by Przemysław Bociąga
18 October 2022
Poland/Czechia/Travel & Food/Culture

In the case of a church called Vang in southwestern Poland, it is not custom or faith that was imported but the building itself. It is a rare occasion when one construction can write several cities into its itinerary.

American Pop Artist Andy Warhol, half-length Portrait in front of Marx Brothers Screen-print

Slovakian Town Hosts the 2nd Largest Collection of Andy Warhols

by Przemysław Bociąga
18 October 2022
Slovakia/Culture/People

Although one of the most notable artists of the 20th century was born in Pittsburgh, the Slovakian town of Medzialiborce, where his parents were born, now displays 160 original works of the pop-art master in the Andy Warhol Museum of Modern Art.

Laibach group

Stateless Passport to Utopia

by Agnieszka Sawala
17 October 2022
Slovenia/Culture

Originating in Slovenia, Neue Slowenische Kunst (NSK) has spread all over the world. A country with no land, but with a passport.

gogea mitu

Gogea Mitu, the Romanian Goliath

by Naomi Gherman
17 October 2022
People/Romania/Culture

Gogea Mitu was Romania’s tallest sportsman and the world’s tallest boxer. With a promising future in front of him, Mitu was just about to make his debut in the United States when he tragically – and mysteriously - died. What really happened to the “Romanian Goliath”?

map of the world

Where is Central Europe?

by Weronika Edmunds
17 October 2022
Three Seas Initiative/Business/Culture

That, my friend, is an excellent question. Everyone seems to know where Western Europe is. And everyone seems to be an expert on calling everything else the East. But hey! What happened to the Center?

Hungarian doctor and journalist Edith Bone holds a cat

How a Hungarian Professor Remained Sane After 7 Years Alone

by Przemysław Bociąga
16 October 2022
Hungary/Culture/People

Born in Budapest and educated in the West, Edith Bone was imprisoned for alleged espionage in Communist Hungary. The story of her 7-year solitary confinement is an extraordinary account of human survival skills.

Bridge over the water surrounding the island village of Nim in Croatia

The Smallest Cathedral in the World

by Weronika Edmunds
15 October 2022
Croatia/Travel & Food/Culture

It is surprising how the charming little town of Nin in Croatia is the home of many wonders. Among such riches as salt and mud (yup!) is a Cathedral fit for the size of the town – namely, very small. In fact, it’s the world’s smallest.

Romanian bride poses with mock kidnappers holding a toy weapons at the Triumph Arch in Bucharest Romania

Hide Your Wife – Or Be Ready to Pay Up

by Naomi Gherman
14 October 2022
Romania/Travel & Food/Culture

One look away and oops, she’s gone! Best advice for the groom? To keep his eyes on his bride. The sudden disappearance of the bride is a normal thing during a Romanian wedding reception. And getting her back does not come cheap.

The Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia

The Rise and Fall of the Common Country of Czechs and Slovaks

by Przemysław Bociąga
13 October 2022
Czechia/Culture/People

Natural as it is now, the existence of two separate states of Czechia and Slovakia is a rather new thing in the region. Here’s how it happened.

Portrait of young caucasian woman college student in eyeglasses hiding behind a book and looking at camera.

The Best Cities for Bookworms in Central Europe

by Weronika Edmunds
13 October 2022
Travel & Food/Culture

Nowadays, when reading books could be considered a dying pastime, it is refreshing to learn that book-reading is still important enough to rank based on their friendliness toward bookworms. So which cities are the best and which are the worst?

Winston Churchill in a jeep

The Iron Curtain Speech: How the Communist Block Was Born

by Przemysław Bociąga
12 October 2022
People/Bulgaria/Culture

In March 1946, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill delivered a speech declaring the new, post-war division of Europe. His view on the new world order was strict, and a sharp boundary of the Iron Curtain turned out to be one of the most prolific ideas in modern history.

Patek Philippe products are displayed during the press day

Admire Swiss Watches? The Industry Was Started by a Pole

by Przemysław Bociąga
12 October 2022
Poland/Business/Culture/Tech/People

Born in Piaski Szlacheckie, an inconspicuous village near Lublin, Poland, Antoni Patek made his name as part of the most prestigious brand in the history of watchmaking. A true trailblazer in the industry.

portrait of Marisa de Lempicka and painting of Tamara Lempicka

The Lasting Legacy of Tamara de Lempicka

by Danuta Nierada
11 October 2022
Poland/Culture/People/Interviews

3Seas’s Creative Director, Danuta Nierada, recently sat down with Marisa de Lempicka, the great-granddaughter of iconic artist Tamara de Łempicka, to talk about the life and times of the third most expensive female painter ever, also widely considered the greatest Art Deco artist of all times.

swan lake ballet

The Phoenix of Prague

by Marek Koten
11 October 2022
Czechia/Culture

While walking along the banks in Prague, the capital of Czechia, you will encounter the majestic building of the Czech National Theatre. The building was built with contributions from everyday Czechs and… burned down right after its completion.

Aerial view of Old Town Square in Prague

Which City Is the Fairest of Them All?

by Weronika Edmunds
11 October 2022
Culture/Travel & Food

Ever thought of an idea of a beauty pageant starred by…cities? People behind the Online Mortgage Advisor did and, acting as the grand jurors, decided which ones should be crowned as the most beautiful.

A group of tourists walking down along the the Walls of Ston, towards the ancient town of Ston, Croatia

The Great Wall of Croatia

by Weronika Edmunds
10 October 2022
Croatia/Travel & Food/Culture

As the old saying tells us: good fences make good neighbors. And it is pretty convincing since, throughout history, great rulers have insisted on building walls to stop their enemies. It happened in China, Great Britain, and… Croatia.

Trakai castle

Why You Should Want to See the Ghost at Lithuania’s Trakai Castle

by Weronika Edmunds
10 October 2022
Lithuania/Travel & Food/Culture

The most fascinating medieval castles are those which were impossible to force by the enemy. And, of course, those haunted by ghosts. Trakai Castle belongs to both categories.

statue of Franz Kafka in Prague

Anxiety, Absurdity, and Alienation: The Life of Franz Kafka

by Marek Koten
9 October 2022
Czechia/Culture

Franz Kafka's troubled life made him one of the most successful writers of all time. Unfortunately, not many people know his story, and many don't know that he was Czech.

Galleon Adler von Luebeck

Hanseatic League – The Medieval One Sea Initiative

by Przemysław Bociąga
8 October 2022
Poland/Travel & Food/Business/Culture

Spanning from the Netherlands to Baltic Countries, this important trade and geopolitical project had an enormous impact on Europe’s history. Consequently, some seaside cities across Europe are more like each other than to other cities in their respective countries.

Couple having breakfast in nature

Slovenia Is A Food-Lover’s Paradise

by Agnieszka Sawala
7 October 2022
Slovenia/Travel & Food/Culture

If Slovenia didn't provide enough reasons for someone to fall in love with the country, here's one extra: through the stomach to the heart!

Is There Truth to Czechia’s Claim on Kaliningrad? (*Hint – Yes.)

by Przemysław Bociąga
6 October 2022
Business/Culture/Tech/People/Poland

In October 2022, Russian forces held a sham vote on annexing parts of Ukrainian territory to Russia. In response, the Czechs invented a claim to the Russian enclave on the Baltic Sea. Its basis was simple: Kaliningrad, formerly known as Königsberg, was named after the Bohemian king.

inventor Jan Szczepanik in his laboratory

The FBI Would Not Be Bulletproof Without This Polish Inventor

by Weronika Edmunds
5 October 2022
Poland/Culture/People

“FBI, open up!” We’ve all seen films where a team of armed law-enforcement officers storms a bad-guy hideout – usually all dressed up with the characteristic, bullet-proof vests. These vests have their own history, the origins of which can be traced back to a Polish inventor.

Opening of Hungarian exhibition for millennium old illustration

A Party to Remember: Budapest’s 1896 Millennial Exhibition

by Przemysław Bociąga
4 October 2022
Czechia/Culture

The thousandth anniversary of crowning the first Hungarian king was marked by the World Exhibition in Budapest. And boy, did the city get a glow-up to celebrate this monumental anniversary.

Uzupis street sign, Photo: ©Go Vilnius

One District in Vilnius Is an Entire Country

by Przemysław Bociąga
4 October 2022
People/Poland/Culture

Bohemian Užupis looks like a typical city district, but it has its own constitution, flag, and international recognition (by UNESCO). Once, it even had an army of 11 soldiers, but now its only line of defense is its cultural value.

ancient Dacian gold bracelet is seen on display for the media at the National History museum in Bucharest Romania

The Dacian Fortresses Where Decebalus Hid His Golden Treasure

by Naomi Gherman
3 October 2022
Romania/Travel & Food/Culture

This important religious and administrative capital of the Dacia historical region of Romania was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1999 for its intricate fusion of both military and spiritual concepts. But it holds far greater secrets.

Woman of advanced years, portrait in house

25 Ways to Say “Grandma” in Just One Language

by Agnieszka Sawala
2 October 2022
Slovenia/Culture

Slovenia is a tiny country with more than 40 dialects, making Slovenian the most diverse Slavic language.

Statue of Stephen I

The Hungarian King Made a Saint in Two Religions

by Przemysław Bociąga
1 October 2022
Culture

Stephan I, the first Hungarian king crowned in or around the year 1000, was declared a Catholic saint soon after his death and an Orthodox saint a thousand years later.

Vintage postcard of hotel polonia

In Ruined Warsaw, One Hotel Became Embassy District

by Przemysław Bociąga
1 October 2022
People/Poland/Culture

In 1945, Warsaw had been destroyed to such an extent that the only place which offered conditions for reopening foreign embassies was the centrally-located Hotel Polonia. Looking for France? Room 22, s'il vous plaît.

prosek in glass

Croatian Winemakers Fighting Italians Over Trademark Name

by Przemysław Bociąga
30 September 2022
Croatia/Travel & Food/Culture

Prosecco’s Italian name is a direct descendant of the Slavic prošek. The latter word is still used in Croatia, but for a different kind of wine. Now the argument has made it to the European Council.

Csikos cowboy giving display of horsemanship skills

Csikós, the Hungarian Cowboy Culture 

by Przemysław Bociąga
29 September 2022
Croatia/Travel & Food/Culture

Like the American Great Plains, Hungary's "puszta" has its unique version of horseback herders and easy riders

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shaking hands with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during their meeting in Kyiv

How the War Changed the Political Perspective of Central Europe

by Agaton Koziński
29 September 2022
Czechia/Culture

The war in Ukraine has highlighted cardinal differences between democracy and autocracy. In reaction, citizens of Central European states started looking for closer relations with the West - but in the knowledge that the West is also divided on many issues.

Soviet atomic statue

Sillamäe, The Top-Secret Estonian Stalinist Town

by Przemysław Bociąga
28 September 2022
Bulgaria/Travel & Food/Culture

During Stalinist times, this now-Estonian town evaporated from the map as it turned into a militarized zone and a source of uranium ore for the Soviet nuclear program.

oil wrestling tournament

Catch Me If You Can: Bulgaria’s Oil Wrestling Scene

by Galina Ganeva
27 September 2022
Bulgaria/Culture/People

Contestants smeared with oil. Naked torsos. Tight-fitting leather shorts. Are you ready for a traditional oil wrestling competition?

Dr. Solomon Passy

Back in Warsaw: The Future Leaders Conference 2022

by Jakub Warzecha
27 September 2022
People/Three Seas Initiative/Culture

The war in Ukraine caused by revived Russian imperialism requires us to remember the real meaning of the word freedom. The Three Seas Generation Freedom Conference will once again bring together recognized experts from around the world.

View of the astronomical clock tower in Prague, Czech Republic

Prague’s Astronomical Clock: One of the Oldest Still in Operation

by Przemysław Bociąga
27 September 2022
Czechia/Culture/People

Along with its counterpart in Gdańsk, Poland, this Czech masterpiece of medieval engineering gives you as many details on time and astronomy as the present-day three iPhone widgets.

Portrait of Brice Pierre in Winnetou

Did Winnetou Live in Croatia?

by Weronika Edmunds
26 September 2022
Croatia/Culture

When German author Karl May wrote his most famous story of Winnetou he must have been thinking of the wild, North American landscapes with their waterfalls and the Rocky Mountains. But why go so far when you can travel to Croatia - where the movies were filmed?

people standing on to of a limestone rock in Kadzielnia nature reserve in Kielce Swietokrzyskie Voivodeship Poland

The Coral Reef in a Landlocked Polish City

by Przemysław Bociąga
26 September 2022
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

Some four hundred kilometers from the nearest seashore, a former quarry in Kadzielnia is home to remains of a coral reef, not dissimilar to that near the Bahamas.

Nicolas Cage as himself in HISTORY OF SWEAR WORDS

In Lithuania, Swear Words Are Imported Goods

by Przemysław Bociąga
25 September 2022
Hungary/Business/Culture/Tech

Lithuanians brag about the mildness of their native language. So in order to keep it clean, they simply use either Russian or English whenever they want to say something particularly naughty.

Turda Salt Mine: An Underground World of Wonders

by Naomi Gherman
23 September 2022
Travel & Food/Culture/Poland

You may have visited spectacular salt mines before. However, with a panoramic wheel, an amphitheater, and mini-golf trails, Romania's Turda Salt Mine, 120m below the surface, is like no other. Upon stepping on the very first stairs you are instantly transported to another world, not outer space, but underground.

red coral Corallium rubrum

Croatia’s Island of the Bloody Coral

by Weronika Edmunds
22 September 2022
Culture/Croatia/Travel & Food

Zlarin, also called the Golden Island, is a place known for its natural treasure – the unique coral (and sponges. Natural sponges – nothing to do with cakes.) It also must be the least motorized place on the planet. But let’s start at the beginning.

The Little (Polish) Engine That Could

by Przemysław Bociąga
22 September 2022
Business/Culture/Tech/Poland

Commonly known as a "Maluch” (Eng: "the little one”), the Fiat 126p was a car that Poles dreamed of for decades. Even though it's been out of production for years, it is still attracting unexpected admirers. Like Tom Hanks (yes - that one).

Jiří z Poděbrad

George of Bohemia: The Father of the European Union

by Marek Koten
21 September 2022
Three Seas Initiative/Business/Culture

George of Poděbrady, the king of Bohemia in the 15th Century, came up with a crazy idea. He dreamed of creating an organization to include all European nations. They would hold important meetings on an international level and vote on topics in a parliament-like manner. Crazy right?

Simona Kossak with animal

The Real-Life Polish Dr. Dolittle, Simona Kossak

by Przemysław Bociąga
21 September 2022
Poland/Culture/People

In one famous photo, a woman dines in her house at the table together with a half-ton wild boar. The same woman grieved the loss of her lynx as if it was her daughter. Am I talking about a fictional character from children’s books? No. In fact, I am recalling an actual Polish larger-than-life zoopsychologist.

Iga Swiatek of Poland celebrates with the winner's trophy

The Polish Open – Pronouncing Tennis Superstar Iga Świątek’s Name

by Przemysław Bociąga
20 September 2022
Poland/Culture/People

After Polish tennis player Iga Świątek won the US Open, commentators from all around the world struggled to pronounce her name. Here’s how to do it right.

Slavko Avsenik sits on grass in the mountain

The Most Famous Song You’ve Never Heard Of

by Vid Sosic
20 September 2022
Slovenia/Culture/People

“Yesterday,” “Thriller,” “Happy,” “Poker Face,” “With or Without You”… these are all the hits we know and love, and we heard them so many times. But there is a melody you might have heard and yet have probably no idea what the name is or who recorded it.

Two windows viewed from outside, one is closed and another is open with white curtain caught on wall stock photo

Romanians and Their Much-Dreaded Fear of the “Curent”

by Naomi Gherman
19 September 2022
Romania/Travel & Food/Culture

There aren’t many things Romanians agree on. But there is one that 20 million people have believed, and continue to believe generation after generation, despite scarce medical evidence. It is called the curent (aka a draft) and it is the reason you can’t have two windows open in the same room - ever.

People gather in the graveyard to remember the dead relatives

Far From Morbid: Latvia’s Cemetery Festival

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
19 September 2022
Culture/Latvia/Travel & Food

A ritual of great importance on Latvian family calendars, the Cemetery Festival gathers relatives from near and far. The curious day’s events are less about mourning and more about celebrating life and togetherness.

Close up on midsection of male hands holding drinking glasses pouring homemade domestic brandy slivovitza standing outdoors celebrating

The Battle for the Origins of Rakija

by Weronika Edmunds
16 September 2022
Bulgaria/Travel & Food/Culture/Croatia

Polish vodka can be safely claimed by Poles. When it comes to rakija, well… opinions are as divided as there are varieties of this alcoholic drink. Taking into account its unfading fame, it’s no wonder Croatia claims ownership of the best recipe.

Queen Elizabeth at Golden Jubilee Parade

The Origin of the Word ‘Coach’, Explained in Simple Hungarian

by Przemysław Bociąga
15 September 2022
Croatia/Culture/Tech/People

Have you ever wondered why there is the same word for a tourist bus and a person who trains athletes? There is a good reason, and it comes straight from a small village in Hungary.

The Central Market in Ljubljana

The Architect Who Built the Soul of a City

by Vid Sosic
14 September 2022
Slovenia/Culture/People

There aren’t many cities visually influenced by one man. However, every so often, a genius is born who leaves such a mark to the point of it being recognized as a world heritage site. Meet Jože Plečnik (1872-1957), the man who changed Ljubljana.

Cerknica lake

The Disappearing and Reappearing Lake

by Vid Sosic
12 September 2022
Slovenia/Travel & Food/Culture

In Slovenia, there is a magic lake. Normally, lakes are simply there as we know them. Some freeze in the winter, but we can still admire them. Cerknica Lake, however, could confuse someone who does not know about it, as it’s there one day and gone the next.

19th century Illustrated Sanskrit

The Lithuanian Language: Closer to Indian Than Any Other Around

by Przemysław Bociąga
12 September 2022
Lithuania/Culture

Surrounded by entirely different language groups, the language Lithuanians speak is closer to Sanskrit than anything else.

harry houdini

It’s Magic! Harry Houdini in the Erik Weisz Disappearing Act

by Przemysław Bociąga
11 September 2022
Hungary/Culture/People

Harry Houdini, son of a Rabbi from Budapest, was not only a pioneer in his discipline of entertainment but also a master in breaking the chains of countries’ boundaries as he gained truly international fame.

Beautiful young woman outdoors on a sunny day

Why Do Bulgarians Shake Their Heads for Yes and Nod for No?

by Galina Ganeva
10 September 2022
Bulgaria/Travel & Food/Culture

They say the language of love is universal, but sometimes, knowing another language helps. A popular story in Bulgaria tells of an American who fell in love with a Bulgarian woman. Alas, the story doesn’t end in “happily ever after” thanks to confused gestures.

Suncuius Beach in Romania in the heart of the apuseni mountains

When Nature Gives You Water, Make a Beach

by Naomi Gherman
10 September 2022
Romania/Travel & Food/Culture

A new beach surfaced overnight in the county of Bihor – no less than 800 kilometers far from the Romanian seashore. How did this happen, and why is this place compared to Thailand‘s Railay Beach?

Traditional polish pierogi with crispy bacon and onion

The Controversial ‘Ruskie’ Dumpling and Why It Is Misunderstood

by Weronika Edmunds
9 September 2022
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

They come in many sweet and savory varieties – wild berry, cabbage-and-mushroom, meat, and white cheese among the classic fillings. But there is one particular version of this classic Polish dish that has inspired mixed feelings in recent months.

A copy of the 1910 type EDA V plane flies during an airshow

Edvard Rusjan: A Cooper Who Reached for the Sky

by Vid Sosic
7 September 2022
People/Slovenia/Culture

For thousands of years, at least since Icarus, man dreamed of flying. Only recently, we’ve been lucky enough to see the world from above, with taking a plane almost as easy as taking a bus these days. But that didn’t happen overnight – it took innovators like Edvard Rusjan.

Representatives from Parish Godowa, dressed in traditional folk costumes, seat near their Parish wreaths and loaves during the Holy Mass at the 2015 edition of the annual Harvest Festival in Rzeszow

Poles And the Tradition Of Dożynki: Annual Harvest Celebration

by Weronika Edmunds
6 September 2022
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

The old Slavic custom of celebrating the harvest is still holding on strong in Poland. Dożynki, as it is called, is celebrated nationwide and provides a great way for villages to remind the city dwellers of the richness hidden in the countryside.

Ljubljana Marshes Wheel with axle

The Mother of All Inventions Found in Slovenia

by Przemysław Bociąga
5 September 2022
Czechia/Travel & Food/Culture

The old saying goes, "Stop trying to reinvent the wheel." However, often overlooked in this statement is exactly how many times the wheel has, in fact, been reinvented. The Ljubljana Marshes Wheel found Slovenia is the oldest wheel ever found.

Crowd of people relaxing on the green grass at holiday in the city park

The Oldest European Park, Right in the Heart of Budapest

by Przemysław Bociąga
4 September 2022
Culture/Romania/Travel & Food

Varosliget, or City Park, was established in Pest (before it was connected to Buda) over three decades before the same was done in London – a city now known for its parks.

dalmatians

101 (Croatian) Dalmatians

by Weronika Edmunds
3 September 2022
Croatia/Travel & Food/Culture

You might think tracing an origin of a breed of dogs is a simple task. Not quite so simple when it comes to the adorable white dogs covered in characteristic black spots.

rhytons of Thracian Panagyurishte treasure

It’s Wine O’Clock in Ancient Thrace

by Galina Ganeva
3 September 2022
Bulgaria/Culture

The ancient Thracians, who resided mainly in modern-day Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey, left behind a priceless trove of artifacts that are still being unearthed to this day. As the search continues, the question looms: Who will get to them first? Archeologists or treasure hunters?

Boletus in a wooden tray and female holding one by the hand

Beware of Devils and Look for Hens – Poland’s Fungi Season

by Weronika Edmunds
2 September 2022
Poland/Culture

Depending on where you live in the world, forest mushrooms may be considered a delicacy. They can be such a luxurious product that you must pay a lot to purchase a small amount. Think about this: in the past, it was enough to go to the forest. In Poland, it still is.

Uber Eats food delivery courier on a bike in high speed

At Your Service? For Central Europe, It Is Not Enough

by Agaton Koziński
2 September 2022
Business/Culture

Countries with the right balance between services and manufacturing economies are more resilient to various shocks. This is the lesson from the crises in the last two years, and Central Europe has done its homework.

Ropik Czechoslovak border fortifications Giant mountains Krkonose national park Zlate navrsi

Bunker Mentality – The Fortified Czech Border

by Marek Koten
1 September 2022
Czechia/Culture

Taking inspiration from France's Maginot Line, the defensive system of bunkers on the French-German border, Czechoslovakia also tried to fortify its borders with Germany. Despite never being used in action, the bunkers serve various purposes until today.

murale of Penkala in lower town in Zagreb, Croatia

Croatian Inventor Who Sparked Promotional Gadget Craze

by Weronika Edmunds
31 August 2022
Croatia/Culture/Tech/People

Every now and again, a genius is born. A person of so many talents that during their lifetime they come to invent several everyday items later generations cannot imagine their lives without. One of such people came from Croatia.

Jeffrey Schlagenhauf

Learning From Each Other: OECD and the Three Seas

by Adam Starzynski
30 August 2022
Three Seas Initiative/Business/Culture

3SeasEurope sits down for an interview with the Deputy Secretary-General of the OECD Jeffrey Schlagenhauf.

Jan Matejko Christianization A.D. 965 painting

10th Century Polish Economy Based on Syrian Currency

by Przemysław Bociąga
29 August 2022
Poland/Culture

It looks as if the only people spending money in 10th-century Poland were Syrians from Damascus. What were they buying with their dirhams?

Rock sculpture of Decebalus in Danube gorge

The How and Why Behind Europe’s Tallest Rock Sculpture 

by Naomi Gherman
29 August 2022
Travel & Food/Culture/Romania

One may think Europe's tallest rock sculpture could not go unnoticed, but did you know it can be found in Romania? Find out who made it, who requested it, and, most importantly, why would someone invest over one million dollars to have the face of Decebalus in rock?

Businessman pointing arrow graph corporate future growth plan

The Iron Curtain of Non-Innovativeness Has Been Breached

by Szymon Wieczorek
29 August 2022
Culture/Czechia/Travel & Food

Innovativeness is a glamourized factor that is supposed to cure all the economic problems of the countries and the world. But do all countries need to be innovative to grow their economies?

House of Humour and Satire in Gabrovo

Bulgaria’s House of Funny

by Galina Ganeva
28 August 2022
Poland/Culture

Welcome to Gabrovo, Bulgaria’s capital of humor. In this Central Bulgarian town, legends say that they cut the tails of cats so that the door closes faster after them. It’s such a prevalent story they erected a bronze cat sculpture that has been attracting visitors for two decades.

Hiking in Julian Alps with views towards Triglav

Climbing Mt. Triglav: A Slovenian Rite of Passage

by Agnieszka Sawala
27 August 2022
Slovenia/Travel & Food/Culture

One of Slovenia's most recognizable landmarks, Mount Triglav, is much more than just the country’s highest mountain and a national symbol. It is a three-headed god, the gateway to becoming a true Slovenian.

Image of Kempelen's "The Turk"

Artificial Intelligence in the 18th Century

by Leonardo Marsovszky
27 August 2022
Travel & Food/Business/Culture

Most people assume that AI is a product of our time while, in fact, engineers have been seeking to discover it for centuries. The vision of designing a machine superior to the human mind caught global attention as early as the 18th century.

archive photo from 1917 of the Brandenburg C-I plane

From Cracow to Vienna: The First Civil Long-Distance Air Route

by Przemysław Bociąga
25 August 2022
Czechia/Business/Culture/Tech

People, goods, and mail were moved by air for the first time at the beginning of the 20th century. And the first regular route for long-distance air travel was between European cities in Austria-Hungary.

Coiffeur Antoine à Paris

Bernice‘s Bob Never Would Have Been Without a Polish Hair Stylist

by Weronika Edmunds
24 August 2022
People/Romania/Culture

A bob. The symbol of strong femininity. Famously used in a short story of innocence lost, written by an American writer. However, Fitzgerald’s tale would never have been without that iconic haircut. And it so happens that a Pole wielded the scissors.

Still from The Gray Man located in Prague

Netflix’s Gray Man Blows Through Central European Settings

by Przemysław Bociąga
24 August 2022
Croatia/Austria/Czechia/Travel & Food/Culture

With 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.

student reaches for an inflated globe

Searching for the Common Ideals of Democracy in Central Europe

by Agaton Koziński
24 August 2022
Three Seas Initiative/Culture

People from Central European countries are more attached to their personal liberty than Westerners. This is one of the consequences of almost 50 years of communism in the region.

Teutonic Knight Malbork Poland

Malbork Is the Largest Gothic Castle in the World

by Przemysław Bociąga
23 August 2022
Poland/Culture

With up to 21 hectares of area, Malbork in northern Poland was, by far, the largest gothic stronghold of the Teutonic Order. It was never conquered and only changed sides for political reasons.

Madara Rider Shumen Bulgarian ancient carving

Who Is the Madara Rider and What Mysteries Does He Hide?

by Mihail Petrov
22 August 2022
Bulgaria/Travel & Food/Culture

In the spiritual center of Bulgaria’s First Kingdom, carved into rock on a cliff 100-meters high, lies a unique representation of a knight on horseback defeating a lion. The monument, known as the Madara Rider, still poses a riddle with regards to what is depicted on it.

Hel peninsula Poland (Baltic Sea)

Go to Hel. No, Really.

by Przemysław Bociąga
21 August 2022
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

Hel Peninsula, we mean. Not to be confused with Hell (and quite the opposite), this long, narrow strip of land has become the epitome of the Polish summer holiday.

Remoska: The Unexpected Popularity of a Czech Multicooker

by Przemysław Bociąga
20 August 2022
Czechia/Culture

Invented in the late 1950s, this simple, sturdy aluminum electric cooker didn’t even have power regulation. But it was so handy and ingenious that Russian housewives called it a "miracle oven,” and even today, some Polish cooks can’t imagine life without it.

Waiter Serving Cafe

How Austria Brought Coffee to Europe

by Przemysław Bociąga
20 August 2022
Austria/Czechia/Culture

When Austrian and Polish soldiers captured Turkish positions after the Battle of Vienna, they thought that the tiny, brown seeds they found were horse fodder. However, soon enough, they were all enjoying a new kind of brew that was exported across Europe.

Old vintage shoes with typified red brick family Bata house in background, Zlin, Moravia, Czech Republic, sunny summer day

Running a City as a Company: A Success Story from Zlín 

by Marek Koten
18 August 2022
Czechia/Culture/People

Tomáš Baťa, a businessman from the Moravian city of Zlín, inspires entrepreneurs from all around the world to this day. Not only entrepreneurs but also politicians. Have you ever heard the expression "To run a country as a company"? Take a seat then - the journey starts in Zlín.  

old sewing machine ad

The Ultimate Revolutionary Machine Was Invented in Austria 

by Przemysław Bociąga
17 August 2022
Austria/Culture/People

In 1818, Joseph Madersperger invented the sewing machine. A few decades later, none other than Karl Marx called it the ultimate tool of the revolution. 

ships on lake Balaton

Balaton: Landlocked Seaside

by Przemysław Bociąga
16 August 2022
Romania/Hungary/Culture

Hungary is famous for being a landlocked country. However, the great lake of Balaton makes up for that fact to Hungarians, who appreciate this lake so vast, it allows you to enjoy a riviera.

17th c. Croatian Soldiers Had French Fashion World Tied in Knots

by Przemysław Bociąga
16 August 2022
Croatia/Culture

The French word for necktie is 'cravat' – and it comes from Croatian soldiers, who one 17th-century French king found to be trés chic.

A protester holding a placard with words 'Stop War!

The Specter of War Divides Europe

by Agaton Koziński
16 August 2022
Three Seas Initiative/Business/Culture

For many years Europe has been deeply divided over attitudes to war. Russia's aggression in Ukraine showed that Central European countries were more realistic about the risk of armed conflict.

portrait of Ksawery Brzostowski from National Museum In Warsaw collection

The Tiny 18th-Century Republic Where Progressive Ideas Reigned

by Przemysław Bociąga
15 August 2022
Lithuania/Travel & Food/Culture

At 16 square kilometers, the Lithuanian enclave of the Republic of Paulava was one of the tiniest countries in the known world. It was a progressive realm where personal freedom was protected, and even peasants could own land.

tarot card reading wheel of fortune teller astrologer divination selected focus

Future Unclear? In Bulgaria, a Fortune Teller is a Call Away

by Galina Ganeva
15 August 2022
Hungary/Travel & Food/Culture

Seeking answers to personal questions with the help of psychics and fortune-tellers is hardly a novelty. But in Bulgaria, these services continue to be wildly popular three decades after their onset. Why?

Manager looking at many different cv resume and choosing perfect person

The Dark Side of Low Unemployment in CEE

by Szymon Wieczorek
15 August 2022
Three Seas Initiative/Culture

Central and Eastern European countries observe relatively low rates of unemployment, which are generally lower than in “Old EU” countries. While this might be seen as a success, the reality is not as optimistic as the data suggests.

hungarian wine

Not Just Tokaji – Famous Wines of Hungary Everyone Should Know

by Weronika Edmunds
12 August 2022
Culture/Travel & Food

Hungarian, aside from Turkish and Greek, is the only other language in which the word “wine” does not come from the Latin 'vinum'. Instead, ‘bor’ is of Celtic origin. And Celtic culture much predates the Romans, who came to these lands. But what does this actually mean?

ceiling of the Church

Czechia: Home to the Most Castles in Europe

by Przemysław Bociąga
11 August 2022
Czechia/Travel & Food/Culture

With almost a thousand castles and another 1100 stately homes, Czechia tops the list of places to visit for those in search of aristocratic residences. In fact, one castle in Prague is considered the largest ancient building in the world. So how did Czechia become the land of castles?

Monument of Krisjanis Valdemar

“Tautas Atmoda”: The Latvian National Awakening

by Jakub Warzecha
11 August 2022
Latvia/Culture

Rationalism - the keyword in the creation of Latvian nationhood and statehood. How the modern Latvian nation came into being, and what rational considerations guided its founding fathers.

Jaroslav Heyrovsky, one of the Czech inventors

Four Particularly Impressive Discoveries by Czech Scientists

by Jakub Warzecha
10 August 2022
Czechia/Culture/Tech/People

Czechia is known around the world for its gorgeous landscape, tasty food, and... beer(!), but a not-quite-as-obvious fact is that Czechs have been blazing trails in science for centuries. We've picked four innovative achievements with Czech origins that deserve recognition.

Szentendre Hungary landscape of city by Danube in summer

An Artistic Paradise With the EU’s Seal of Approval

by Weronika Edmunds
9 August 2022
Hungary/Travel & Food/Culture

A small town with a decisively Mediterranean feel. It would not be surprising if it weren’t for the fact that Szentendre is located in the vicinity of Budapest, the capital city of Hungary.

Donald Trump (C) gives two thumbs up as Donald Trump Jr. (L) and Ivanka Trump (R) stand and cheer for Eric Trump

A Who’s Who of Czechs in US Politics

by Marek Koten
8 August 2022
Czechia/Culture

What do a former Secretary of State of the United States, the Special Assistant to several US presidents, and a former Mayor of Chicago have in common: they were all born in Czechia.

Dubrovnik city, capital of Ragusa

Ragusa Was a Social Experiment Centuries Before Its Time 

by Przemysław Bociąga
4 August 2022
Croatia/Culture

Also called the Dubrovnik Republic, this progressive country was the bridge between medieval Venetian and Napoleonic empires. 

Witkacy, Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz

Witkacy: Coffee, Drugs, and Pure Form in Art

by Weronika Edmunds
3 August 2022
Austria/Czechia/Culture

Have you ever thought about how what you eat or drink may influence your perception? Had a cup of coffee this morning? Maybe a cigarette? Chances are, these could make you produce a piece of art different from what you would have created after a cup of tea with a biscuit. At least in theory.

Founders of the Bulgarian State Monument in Shumen

Concrete Scarecrow or Source of Bulgarian Pride?

by Galina Ganeva
2 August 2022
Hungary/Culture

Perched atop a plateau overlooking the northeast Bulgarian town of Shumen, the aesthetic appeal – and permanence - of The Founders of the Bulgarian State Monument is still up for discussion, 40 years after its unveiling.

sphinx in romania

Romania’s Sphinx: Natural Wonder or  Extraterrestrial Marvel

by Naomi Gherman
1 August 2022
Culture/Romania/Travel & Food

Bucegi Mountains may not be Romania's tallest mountains, but they sure are the most mysterious ones. Discover the Romanian Sphinx, a natural wonder of the country that, unlike the Sphinx of Giza, was not crafted by hands. At least not those of a human.

Detail of a gable at a traditional farmhouse in Holasovice

Living in a (UNESCO) Dream 

by Marek Koten
28 July 2022
Czechia/Travel & Food/Culture

Abandoned after World War Two and repopulated again in the 1990s, this small village of Holašovice, Czechia, has architecture so remarkable that it made it onto UNESCO World Heritage Site List.

Modern architecture in Bulgaria: The Invisible Architecture of Modernity exhibition

Totally Bulgarian: The Hidden Merits of Post-War Architecture

by Galina Ganeva
27 July 2022
Travel & Food/Culture/Bulgaria

A new exhibition in Sofia is taking a closer look at six examples of post-war architecture in Bulgaria, from a kindergarten to a planned neighborhood and an airport, with the hope of providing answers and maybe, a whole new perspective.  

icon of Saints Cyril and Methodius

Cyrillic and Latin Scripts in Central Europe

by Przemysław Bociąga
26 July 2022
Hungary/Travel & Food/Business/Culture/Green Transformation

To easily navigate through Central Europe, you should know at least a few languages and no fewer than two scripts. The border between Latin and Cyrillic scripts is one of culture and politics.

Slovakia vs Slovenia

Identity Confusion: “They Say Slovakia, We Say Slovenia”

by Agnieszka Sawala
23 July 2022
Slovenia/Travel & Food/Culture

People notoriously mix these two countries and their names. Here’s the ‘Donald Trump method’ and other tips on how to tell them apart.

Czech composer Jaromir Vejvoda

The Czech Folk Song Known All Around the World

by Marek Koten
19 July 2022
Hungary/Travel & Food/Culture

A song composed by the Czech songwriter Jaromír Vejvoda and later enriched with text by Vašek Zeman made it all around the world. In fact, it's so ubiquitous that in just the Three Seas countries, each has its own special name for this simple Czech folk song.

flute

Archaeological Discovery To Change History of Music

by Vid Sosic
18 July 2022
Slovenia/Culture

Who invented music? This integral part of humanity, without which we can’t imagine our lives, has been a part of us for what seems forever. And yet, there must have been a time of silence before those first notes.

Hide the Pain Harold as happy senior

“Hide the Pain Harold” Smiles His Way to Fame in Budapest

by Przemysław Bociąga
16 July 2022
Poland/Culture

András Arató, a “silver” model for stock photos, became an internet phenomenon a few years ago. Recognized for his incredibly unique smile, some were surprised to learn he’s an actual person, and a Hungarian too.

Katowice

19 Cities Form Poland’s Largest Urban Area 

by Przemysław Bociąga
15 July 2022
Bulgaria/Travel & Food/Culture

With two million citizens and a whopping 1.5 thousand kilometers squared, the Silesian Conurbation is a much larger urban area than the Polish capital – Warsaw. It consists of multiple cities that grew to meet each other’s borders.

Emperor Maximilian I

The Habsburg and How the Austrian Dynasty Influenced Europe

by Przemysław Bociąga
14 July 2022
Slovenia/Travel & Food/Culture

Most 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.

Punk's not dead - not during Jarocin Festival

Jarocin Festival Was the Biggest Rock Festival in Eastern Bloc

by Przemysław Bociąga
14 July 2022
Lithuania/Culture

The festival was also the birthplace of punk rock under communism, despite the fact that it was considered a safety mechanism to prevent a youth-led revolution against socialist power.

Claes Bang in Draculą

New Dracula Series Castle Is the Real Deal

by Przemysław Bociąga
12 July 2022
Hungary/Culture

Dracula's Transylvanian castle is huge enough to be a symbol of vampire menace. While it may appear to be a castle made from pure fantasy, it is, indeed, quite real. But it's actually in Slovakia.

czech days

Wilber, Nebraska: The Czech Capital of the USA 

by Marek Koten
12 July 2022
Czechia/Culture/People

If you ever happen to be driving in southern Nebraska, located in the heart of the US midwest, you may come across the town of Wilber. And if you happen to be Czech, you will be greeted twice as warmly. That's because this is the Czech Capital of the USA, the cultural center of the Czech diaspora there. 

origin of hungarian language

The Barbaric Origins of the Hungarian Language 

by Przemysław Bociąga
11 July 2022
Hungary/Culture

Unlike that of any of its neighbors, the roots of the Hungarian language come directly from the last Barbarian invasion of Europe.

man kiss the police woman hand

The Chivalrous Polish Custom That Raises Foreigners’ Eyebrows

by Przemysław Bociąga
9 July 2022
Poland/Culture

In 2019 right after the Polish parliamentary election, the Parliamentary Committee for Women's Rights took up a cause particular to Poland. One against the tradition of greeting women by kissing their hands.

The Chronicles of Narnia Prince Caspian

The Naturally-Formed Labyrinth in Poland That Became Narnia

by Przemysław Bociąga
8 July 2022
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

The blockbuster screen adaptation of the famous "Chronicles of Narnia" was partially set in Poland. The country owes this to an unusual rock formation called the Errant Rocks – part of the Stołowe Mountains (Table Mountains) chain.

vikings black sea

How Vikings Sailed From the Baltic to the Black Sea 

by Przemysław Bociąga
8 July 2022
Hungary/Culture

The Varangian colonization of Ruthenia (modern-day Ukraine) was possible thanks to a river route flowing all the way from Lithuania through to the Black Sea. 

Ludovit Stur

The Guy Who Put ‘Slovakia’ in Czechoslovakia

by Jakub Warzecha
7 July 2022
Czechia/Culture

Founding father of Slovakia, L'udovit Štúr, was a national activist, linguist, codifier of the Slovak language, and undisputed national hero. His contribution was crucial to the formation of the Slovak nation. 

oina

Batter Up! Is It Baseball, Or Is It Oina? 

by Naomi Gherman
6 July 2022
Romania/Travel & Food/Culture

Bat? 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?

The Gigantic Monument That Switched Sides

by Przemysław Bociąga
5 July 2022
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

St. Anne’s Mountain in Poland was a part of the German territory when the Nazis decided to commemorate the Battle of Annaberg with a mausoleum, theater, and a monument park. After the war, it changed allegiances and now honors members of the uprising.

Bertha von Suttner

First-Ever Nobel Peace Prize for Woman Went to Austria

by Przemysław Bociąga
4 July 2022
Poland/Culture/People

In 1905, novelist and journalist Bertha von Suttner was the first person ever to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Starka Vodka: Where the Barrels Are Buried

by Przemysław Bociąga
1 July 2022
Romania/Travel & Food/Culture

Starting as far back as the 15th century, people in Poland and Lithuania would pour vodka into oak barrels and bury them underground for many years. Making Starka, barrel-aged vodka, was connected to the maturing process of their children.

dacia rome

Why the Ancient Romans Wanted Dacia, aka Modern-Day Romania

by Razvan Constantin
29 June 2022
Romania/Travel & Food/Culture

Even today, some would argue that the motivation behind the Roman conquest of Dacia (present-day Romania) was Dacian gold. In reality, the economic goal was salt, Dacia having one of the most bountiful salt resources in the known world. Dacian gold was just a bonus.

Bronislaw Pilsudski recorded the Ainu group

How Polish Founding Father’s Brother Saved Japanese Culture 

by Przemysław Bociąga
18 June 2022
Poland/Culture/People

While Józef Piłsudski worked on his leading role in the politics of future Poland, his brother Bronisław became an ethnographer. He is credited with the only remaining recordings of a lost spoken Japanese language. 

Otto Wichterle

The Real Story Behind the Czech Invention of Contact Lenses

by Marek Koten
17 June 2022
Austria/Czechia/Culture

Millions of people worldwide wear contact lenses every day. However, not many of these people know the origin story of this simple-looking yet genius invention.

cinema

One of the World’s Oldest Cinemas Is in Szczecin, Poland 

by Przemysław Bociąga
16 June 2022
Poland/Culture

The Pionier 1907 Cinema may not be the most modern and state-of-the-art movie theater in the world, but its name is no accident. Though it recently lost its title as oldest running cinema in the world, it is still in a close second, with a title made official on a Guinness Record certificate. 

Hungarian Revolution of 1956 was the beggining of goulash communism

Meet Goulash Communism – Hungary’s Attempt to Spice Up Politics

by Przemysław Bociąga
15 June 2022
Hungary/Travel & Food/Culture

Hungary's ruling politicians under Soviet rule took inspiration from the country's most famous traditional dish, using it as a model for running its politics. Though the ingredients were different, the methods for combining them had certain similarities.

curzona line

How Poland’s Present-Day Eastern Border Was Born

by Przemysław Bociąga
13 June 2022
People/Three Seas Initiative/Culture

Russia has repeatedly either "invited" Poland to take part in partitioning Ukraine or accused Poland of plans to do so. The Curzon Line, drawn a hundred years ago, helps to understand the distinction amid the current military buildup.

photo of angel angelov

The Number of Roma Graduates in Bulgaria is Increasing

by Galina Ganeva
13 June 2022
Bulgaria/Culture/People

First, the good news. According to a new study by the Trust for Social Achievement and Alpha Research, the number of Bulgarian Romani with a university degree increased six-fold from 2011 to 2019. Now, the not-so-fast moment: that translates to only 1.2% of Bulgarian Romani.

Michalina Wisłocka

Michalina Wisłocka & Sex Education, 1970s Polish-Style

by Przemysław Bociąga
11 June 2022
Poland/Culture

"The Art of Love," a guide to satisfactory sex, effective conception, and contraception, was a scandal – and an immediate success – in Poland in the 1970s. 

Painting showing Gregor Mendel

The Monk Who Cracked the Laws of Genetics 

by Marek Koten
7 June 2022
Travel & Food/Culture/Poland

One of the many passions of Gregor Johann Mendel, an Augustinian monk, was gardening. And it was this passion, along with the help of a few pea plants, that helped him discover the laws of heredity. To this day, we know him as the "father of modern genetics." 

vistula spit canal - Polish Canal a Cold Shower for Putin

New Polish Canal a Cold Shower for Putin

by Filip Rey
7 June 2022
Poland/Business/Culture/Tech/People

No more dependency on Russia for vessels crossing the Vistula Spit.

Ecological catastrophe view of flooded church Geamana, Rosia Montana, Romania

The Heartbreaking Story of Geamăna, the Sinking Village

by Naomi Gherman
4 June 2022
Travel & Food/Culture/Romania

In 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.

Bruce Willis once invested in Polish vodka

Bruce Willis Helped Poles in Their Claim to Have Invented Vodka

by Przemysław Bociąga
3 June 2022
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

The decades-long debate between Poland and Russia over who invented vodka started to turn in Poland's favor when an A-list Hollywood star stepped in to help the old myths to die hard.

Nadia Comaneci giving autographs

Nadia Comăneci – The Olympics’ First-Ever Perfect ’10’

by Naomi Gherman
1 June 2022
Lithuania/Travel & Food/Culture

On 18 July 1976, history was made. And it was made by Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci, who achieved the first perfect 10 in the history of the Olympics. A score so high, the scoreboard couldn't even display it. 

George Enescu

George Enescu, Child Prodigy

by Naomi Gherman
23 May 2022
Romania/Culture/People

George Enescu first played the violin at the tender age of four, was admitted to the Vienna Conservatory at the age of 7, and by age 10 had played a private concert at the Court of Vienna for Emperor Franz Joseph himself. The meteoric rise of Romania's national treasure knew no bounds.

filming in bulgaria

Bulgaria Is the New ‘It’ Location for Hollywood Productions

by Mihail Petrov
20 May 2022
Bulgaria/Business/Culture

From New York to London to the Middle East, these are all fascinating film locations that can make for a great Hollywood film. But what if I told you that some of Hollywood's most memorable films were actually shot in Bulgaria?

A Nation With No Country in the Spotlight at the Venice Biennale 

by Przemysław Bociąga
12 May 2022
Three Seas Initiative/Business/Culture

Artist and minority activist Małgorzata Mirga-Tas's work has taken the Polish Pavilion at the Venice Biennale of Art 2022 by storm. Her exhibition shows tapestries, attempting to weave the history and contribution of the Roma community back into European art history. 

Central European Geopolitical Initiatives

Central European Geopolitical Initiatives

by Jakub Warzecha
11 May 2022
Three Seas Initiative/Business/Culture

One of the results of the Central European awakening has been a series of geopolitical initiatives undertaken by nations trying to find their way in this new reality. An idea made even more relevant in the face of Russian aggression in Ukraine.

NATO membership for Sweden and Finland approaches

Swedish and Finnish NATO Membership a Blessing for Baltic States

by Adam Starzynski
10 May 2022
Czechia/Three Seas Initiative/Culture

The imminent NATO membership application from the two Nordic states will transform regional security in the Baltic Sea region, much to the benefit of the three NATO member states most exposed to Russian aggression.

concept of cybernetics and people

Cybernetics, Invented in Romania in 1938

by Naomi Gherman
10 May 2022
Romania/Culture/People

Norbert Wiener revolutionized the world in 1948 when he introduced the concept of cybernetics. However, a Romanian scientist had done precisely the same ten years earlier. 

Housing prices rise in all CEE capitals

Housing Prices in Three Seas Capital Cities

by Szymon Wieczorek
9 May 2022
Lithuania/Travel & Food/Culture

Thanks to significant economic growth in the Three Seas region over the last few decades, housing prices have risen accordingly. In today's housing market, where can you find the best deals, and which cities are the most expensive?

PM of Bulgaria meets President Zelensky in the shadow of Russian attack on Ukraine

Bulgaria Curtails Russian Influence

by Adam Starzynski
5 May 2022
Lithuania/Travel & Food/Culture

The government in Sofia is taking measures to replace Russian gas ahead of the warming season this winter while also helping Ukraine to survive the Russian’s Army’s onslaught in the Donbas. 

Dad with his little son walking in the field holding flag of Poland

A Different Order. A Polish View on Poland’s Geopolitical Position

by Marcin Roszkowski
25 April 2022
Poland/Culture

For the first 20 years after the political changes of 1989, it seemed to us that Poland was on the periphery of world events. This thinking was complemented by Francis Fukuyama's message about the "end of history" with the fall of the "iron curtain," the Warsaw Pact, and ultimately all evil in the form of the Soviet Union.

an old illustration showing smigus dyngus created by zofia stryjenska - wet monday poland

Easter Monday in Poland: No Work, Just Splashing Water

by Przemysław Bociąga
17 April 2022
Poland/Culture

Hide the dry-clean only outfits for the day! Śmigus-dyngus is the age-old, day-after-Easter Polish tradition where splashing cold water on friends, loved ones, or even complete strangers is common practice.

Crowd walking on global map. Composition made with antique map from 1779

The Wild Hunt for the Exact Center of Europe

by Przemysław Bociąga
11 April 2022
Croatia/Culture/Tech

Central Europe is, well… central, but different countries claim to be more central than others. This is where you can look for the most central place in Central Europe.

Cave woodlouse. Close-up of two Armadillidium sp. woodlice found only in the Movile Cave, Romania. Life in this cave has been cut off from the outside world for the past 5.5 million years

A Romanian Cave of Wonders

by Przemysław Bociąga
11 April 2022
Czechia/Culture/People

How far would you have to go to find an animal species different to anything you might find on Earth’s surface? If you are a skilled expert on caves and near Romania's Black Sea coast, 200 meters of underground tunnel could be just enough.

A marshalling yard it he evening

Moving Mountains on One of Europe’s Main Trans-Alpine Routes 

by Filip Rey
6 April 2022
Austria/Travel & Food/Culture

The Baltic-Adriatic Corridor rail freight corridor will speed up with the opening of two major tunnels.

Interior view from a railway platform of a first class dining a

Bullet Trains to Become New Orient Express of Central Europe 

by Filip Rey
28 March 2022
Bulgaria/Culture/People

Works are in full swing on a High-Speed Rail Network in the heart of Europe.

thermal power plant interior nuclear power energy

Coal or Nuclear: the Three Seas About to Reach Critical Mass?

by Filip Rey
27 March 2022
Lithuania/Culture

Most Three Seas states support nuclear energy included in the EU's green taxonomy.

Stack of containers in the harbor Europe

Can the COVID Pandemic Serve as an Economic Ladder?

by Filip Rey
26 March 2022
Travel & Food/Culture/Czechia

COVID has created chaos in global supply chains - but Central Eastern Europe can paradoxically profit.

Lithuania wife carrying world competition

How to Win Your Wife’s Weight in Beer, Estonian-Style

by Cynthia Sklodowski
25 March 2022
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

Each summer on a day in early July, a small town in Finland attracts visitors from around the world, cheering as husbands clamber over rough terrain with their wives on their backs. Why, you ask? For the ultimate prize: the wife’s weight in beer.  

railway lines leading into the distance and sunlight

Rail-2-Sea on Track to Bring Freight Back

by Filip Rey
24 March 2022
Poland/Business/Culture/Tech

Railway transport was a key component of Polish-Romanian interwar cooperation and is now making a grand comeback.

electricity pylon view from below

The Prospect of Baltic Electricity Security on the Horizon 

by Filip Rey
21 March 2022
Lithuania/Culture

With the help of Poland, the Baltic States will soon synchronize their electricity grids with that of continental Europe instead of Russia and Belarus.

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