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People

Get to Know the Locals (Past & Present) Making a Name for Themselves & Setting Trends in the Region

Moonchild Snowboards. Testing experimental snowboard.

Full Moonchild: Slovenia’s Mad Scientist of Snowboard Design

by Sam Baldwin
3 February 2025
Slovenia/Business/People

A snowboard shaped like a kitchen spatula? An ice cream cone? Batman? Up in Slovenia's Julian Alps, a mad scientist is building unique shapes, and the snowboarding world is taking note.

Woman under shower

Czech-Austrian Shower Inventor’s Name Became a Household

by Przemysław Bociąga
3 June 2024
Czechia/Culture/People

The idea of washing in water that pours down from above your head was introduced by controversial balneology and alternative medicine pioneer Vincenz Priessnitz.

Juan Vucetic developed the concept of fingerprint analysis

Bloody Fingerprint No Match for This Croatian-Born Policeman

by Przemysław Bociąga
2 June 2024
People/Czechia/Culture

With the advent of modern science, there also came modern detectives. One of the first was Juan Vučetić, born in Hvar, Croatia, who pioneered dactyloscopy and was the first person in history to identify a killer based on a bloody fingerprint.

Variety & WWD Stylemakers Presented by Anastasia Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, USA - 17 Nov 2016. Anastasia Soare.

Anastasia Beverly Hills: California-Made, Romanian-Born

by Naomi Gherman
26 May 2024
Romania/Culture/People

Anastasia Soare fled communist Romania in search of her “American dream.” The road to success was paved with obstacles and hardships, but the Romanian-born Anastasia never gave up on building her beauty empire.

An Apple II clone, the Bulgarian made Pravetz is seen in Warsaw, Poland during the Retroapple 0.2 meetup on January 28, 2018.

How One Musician Created Bulgaria’s First Computer

by Galina Ganeva
25 May 2024
Bulgaria/Tech/People

This may come as a surprise, but Bulgaria was once a computer superpower. Well, at least behind the Iron Curtain. It was all thanks to the genius of Ivan Marangozov, a flute player turned computer engineer credited with the creation of Pravetz, Bulgaria’s first computer.

Ludvic Lazarus Zamenhof (right) an ophthalmologist, philologist, and the inventor of Esperanto, a constructed language designed for international communication in 1910

Esperanto: More Than Just a Language

by Weronika Edmunds
18 May 2024
Poland/Culture/People

The previous century was a time of abundant changes. To live in early 20th-century Poland was to be stuck in the middle of a diverse society with influences from at least three different cultures - with multiple differing languages. This is where Ludwik Zamenhof comes in.

Soprano singer Angela Gheorghiu performs during the opening ceremony of the traditional Opera Ball (Opernball) in Vienna, February 16, 2012

Angela Gheorghiu, One of the World’s Greatest Opera Singers

by Naomi Gherman
17 May 2024
Romania/People

The “New York Sun” named her “the most glamorous and gifted opera singer of our time.” “Sunday Times” called her “the most interesting soprano voice of our time.” This is Angela Gheorghiu, the golden voice of international opera, born in Vrancea, Romania.

A model of the sculpture "Jara Cimrman in the fog" by Petr Suta during the veiling before the unveiling ceremony and the launch of the collection for the creation of the life-size work on 13th June in Tanvald, Jablonec region. Jara Cimrman, a fictional genius from the time of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, has had his own cycle path in the Jizera Mountains for three years. It also leads to the places where the Jara Cimrman Theatre set its famous plays. The authors called the cycle path "On the bike around Liptakov" and tourists will find nine stops on it.

The Most Prominent Czech Who Never Lived

by Marek Koten
15 May 2024
People/Czechia/Culture

Playwright, poet, musician, teacher, traveler, philosopher, inventor, scientist, criminal, and sportsman. This is just a short list of what Jára Cimrman was in his lifetime. Too bad he never lived.

An exhibition room with the sculpture "Charakterkopf Nr. 31: Geruch, der zum Niesen reizt", by Franz Xaver Messerschmidt, from about 1775 photographed in the new exhibition "The face. A search for clues" ("Das Gesicht. Eine Spurensuche") in the German Hygiene Museum in Dresden, Germany, 17 August 2017.

The Sensational Faces of Franz Xaver Messerschmidt

by Przemysław Bociąga
9 May 2024
Austria/Culture/People

Active mainly in Vienna and Bratislava, this 18th-century sculptor left an unusual oeuvre of marble busts depicting distorted facial expressions. His inspiration could have been mental illness or belief in the paranormal.

Artist Christo unveils his first UK outdoor work, a 20m high installation on Serpentine Lake, with accompanying exhibition at at The Serpentine Gallery on June 18, 2018 in London, England

It’s a Wrap: The World of the Bulgarian-Born Christo

by Galina Ganeva
4 May 2024
Bulgaria/Culture/People

In the 1950s, one student of the Academy of Fine Arts in Sofia was dispatched to Bulgaria's countryside to help farmers whose land was located along the route of the Orient Express. This state-ordered visit might have given the world one of the greatest artists of the late 20th and early 21st century.

Hala Gasienicowa, Tatra Mountains Zakopane, Poland.

The Man Who Bought the Tatra Mountains

by Weronika Edmunds
3 May 2024
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture/People

We take so many things for granted. And although we are theoretically aware that country borders (and what's within them) have shifted over centuries, the story of how Poland kept its Tatra Mountains is bound to be one of a kind.

Albatros, a Bulgarian military aircraft, 1912-13. First Balkan War, Bulgaria.

The Bulgarian Nurse Who Made History in the Skies

by Galina Ganeva
2 May 2024
Bulgaria/People

During the First Balkan War in 1912, a 15-year-old Bulgarian volunteer nurse became the first woman in the world to participate in a combat flight. Despite enormous risks and a lack of training, Rayna Kasabova threw propaganda leaflets over Edirne, in today’s Turkey, making history along the way.

screen shot from cyberpunk game shows man in the future city

The Rise of the Gaming Industry in Central Europe

by Jakub Warzecha
30 April 2024
People/Bulgaria/Tech

Cyberpunk 2077, a Triple-A class title, created by Polish company CD Project Red, has become a worldwide success with over 14 million copies sold. It’s only one of a number of titles created by companies in the 3Seas region taking the world by storm.

Bowl with Vegeta spices on table

The Croatian Inventor Who Brought Umami Spice to the Table

by Danijel Bačan
19 April 2024
Croatia/Travel & Food/People

We all have different spices in the kitchen for various dishes, but one always stands out. Vegeta is an unmistakable blend of salt and spices that has become a kitchen staple in many homes across the world. The story of its inventor is almost as rich as the condiment itself.

Traditional Lithuanian dish Zeppelin, boiled potato dumplings stuffed with minced pork, on a colored ceramic plate on a gray concrete background

The National Dish Named After an Airship

by Przemysław Bociąga
13 April 2024
People/Czechia/Culture

Cepelinai dumplings, the fist-sized Lithuanian delicacies, derive their name from Zeppelins - the long, cylindrical airships of the early 20th century to which they bear a striking resemblance. And like their dirigible counterparts, cepelinai will leave you high... on carbs.

General plan from the House of Prayer of bombed Mariupolis in smoke.

Lithuanian Director Died Filming Best European Documentary

by Przemysław Bociąga
4 April 2024
Lithuania/Culture/People

"Mariupolis 2," a documentary film by Mantas Kvedaravičius, was named the Best in Europe in 2022. Mantas was murdered by the Russian Army in Mariupol while shooting it.

Tresorit founders

The Hungarian Company That Will Help You Keep All Your Secrets 

by Filip Rey
1 April 2024
People/Estonia/Business/Tech

Hungarian company Tresorit grabbed the world's attention in 2013 when it offered hackers a $50,000 prize to the person who could break the layers of defenses protecting their startup. After a year and a half, nobody had cracked the new end-to-end encryption service. 

Equilibrists Siegmund Breitbart who is 'the living quarry' in Busch's Circus, Berlin - 1921

Poland’s Real-Life Superman

by Weronika Edmunds
28 March 2024
Poland/Culture/People

Behind every superhero, there is an inspiration. One Polish Jew was probably more than that. He is claimed to have been a real-life prototype of Superman.

Kaarel Kotkas and Janer Gorohhov

Global Digital Identity on the Rise with Estonia Leading the Way

by Adam Starzynski
19 March 2024
Business/Tech/People/Estonia

Veriff, the company founded in 2015 by the 27-year-old prodigy Kaarel Kotkas, provides technology that enables online identification through a simple selfie and is quickly taking over new markets.

Still from Pocahontas, Disney movie from 1995

Captain Smith Was a Central European Hero

by Przemysław Bociąga
9 March 2024
Culture/People

Remember that guy from Pocahontas? He was a real thing, and before colonizing the Americas, he was a swashbuckler in Central Europe.

statue of Jan Zizka near Vitkov

Raising the Chalice Banner

by Marek Koten
5 March 2024
People/Czechia/Culture

The Czech Kingdom of the 15th Century became the birthplace of what we would later know as Protestantism. It was thanks to Hussites, an armed religious group that vowed to reform the Catholic Church.

Volkswagen Advertisement from 1930s

Luxurious and Democratic: Porsche for the Masses 

by Przemysław Bociąga
27 February 2024
Austria/Czechia/Business/Tech/People

Eponymous with both luxury supercars and the designer of the Beetle, the most renowned democratic car of the first half of the 20th century, Ferdinand Porsche is the most important Czech-Austrian contribution to automotive history.

Portrait of Jan Amos Comenius (Komensky) (1592-1670). Czech humanist and educator. Expelled as predecessor of the Moravian or Bohemian Brethren Church and settled in Amsterdam since 1656.

The Teacher of Nations

by Marek Koten
25 February 2024
Czechia/Culture/People

"School by Play" is one of the most famous thoughts of the Czech philosopher and pedagogue nicknamed The Teacher of Nations. Although Jan Ámos Komenský was Czech, he influenced the whole of Europe.

Nobel

Central Europe Is Full of Nobel Prizes

by Agaton Koziński
21 February 2024
Three Seas Initiative/Culture/People

Representatives of 13 Three Seas Initiative countries have won a total of 43 Nobel Prizes over time. Add this to the dozens of laureates who have roots in the region.

Albin Polasek

Albín Polášek, America’s Most Famous Sculptor

by Marek Koten
17 February 2024
People/Czechia/Culture

Although he was born and began his career in the Czech Republic, Americans consider Albín Polášek to be their most important sculptor.

Monument of Polish cryptologists in Poznan

The Crypto Bros: Polish Scientists Revolutionize Cryptography

by Jakub Warzecha
15 February 2024
Tech/People/Estonia/Business

Quantum physics is not the most intuitive of scientific disciplines. The group of people who can grasp its essence is quite elite and includes a large proportion of Polish scientists. Will Polish scientists trigger a long-awaited quantum revolution?

The Central Andean Railroad. LIMA, PERU - JUNE 29: View of the train at the top of the way during a trip in the world famous Railroad 'Ferrocarril Central Andino' on June 29, 2018 in Lima, Peru. The Ferrocarril Central Andino crosses the highest railway point in America and second in the world, crossing a height of 4782 msn in the Peruvian Andes.

Ernest Malinowski – Taking Railway to a Whole New Level

by Weronika Edmunds
13 February 2024
Culture/People/Poland

He was one of the dreamers who seriously took to heart the saying that the sky is the limit. Educated as an engineer and damn good at his job, Ernest became a national hero for two countries. It's time the world was reminded about his achievements.

portrait of Ivo Boscarol in plane

Pipistrel: A Slovenian Success Story

by Vid Sosic
6 February 2024
Romania/Culture/People

Ivo Boscarol is a Slovenian entrepreneur and aircraft designer with a great success story. Throughout his continuing success, he has remained true to his birthplace and dedicated a lot of made money to local causes.

Actress Angelina Jolie an audience with Queen Elizabeth II

The Magic Carpets of Bulgaria

by Galina Ganeva
31 January 2024
Interviews/Bulgaria/Business/People

In the 1500s, the Persian carpets entered the halls of European monarchies by way of the Ottoman empire. Once these pieces of art were laid out on floors in castles across Europe, they stayed for good.

Vilhelms Purvītis. In Spring (Springtime). Ca 1933–1934. Oil on cardboard. Collection of the Latvian National Museum of Art.

Vilhelms Purvītis: the Latvian Philosopher of Snow

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
28 January 2024
Latvia/Culture/People

Vilhelms Purvītis laid the foundations for Latvian landscape painting. His emotive works capture the fragile beauty of nature throughout the seasons in unrivaled detail. Still today, he is a revered cultural figure.

Members of Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares perform at The Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, England.

Bulgaria’s Polyphonic Singing Takes the Stage

by Galina Ganeva
27 January 2024
Bulgaria/Culture/People

Ask Google "Why is Bulgarian music so good?" and you'll find out that "Bulgarian folk music is unique in Europe for its "asymmetrical" rhythms, where the musical time is not split in even beats, but in longer and shorter." Thanks, Google, but this is only part of the story.

olive

Greece’s Tree of Life Is Growing Strong

by Galina Ganeva
26 January 2024
Travel & Food/People/Interviews/Greece/Bulgaria

Greek olive oil producers are not worried by numbers showing that Greece is behind the world's top producers in terms of production volume. Quality, not quantity, they say.

Hannes Schneider Demonstrating for Ski Students

A Central European Skiing Heaven

by Weronika Edmunds
25 January 2024
Austria/Travel & Food/People

Which of the Central European countries has in total over 7000 kilometers of ski runs and about 2,500 ski lifts? This whole infrastructure comes complete with guaranteed snow. I can hear you're sold. Want to know where to book your tickets?

powerful medical team

Startup Designs App to Improve Cardiovascular Disease Detection

by Martin Hochel
23 January 2024
Slovakia/Business/Tech/People

Cardiovascular diseases are the most common cause of death, according to WHO (2020). Powerful Medical, a new Slovak startup, hopes to reduce these deaths by introducing an AI-based diagnostic tool that detects cardiovascular conditions and provides recommendations tailored to patients' needs.

Dr. George E. Palade, who pioneered research into the structure and functions of a cell

The Charmed Life of George Emil Palade

by Naomi Gherman
20 January 2024
People/Romania/Culture

The Independent called him “the most influential cell biologist ever.” He was the first Romanian to win the Nobel Prize. George Emil Palade, the founder of modern molecular biology, was not just a genius - he was a very lucky man, too.

1960s SMILING COUPLE WITH ARMS AROUND EACH OTHER WOMAN HOLDING PEN & MAN HOLDING BLANK CARD

No More Inkblots! How a Hungarian Revolutionized Writing

by Weronika Edmunds
18 January 2024
Hungary/Culture/People

The frustration that boils your blood when a computer crashes just as you were to save the work you have been sweating over the past hour is known to all. Our great grandfathers could relate, as an inkblot could ruin a carefully written page of a letter. Someone had to put an end to it!

Bohinj lake in Triglav National Park.

Bitstamp of Approval: Slovenia’s Silicon ‘Dolina’

by Sam Baldwin
17 January 2024
People/Slovenia/Travel & Food/Business

How a Slovenian crypto-exchange led to the rebirth of a legendary lakeside hotel.

Czechoslovakian-born tennis player Martina Navratilova makes a shot during her straight-set victory match against Helena Sukova in the women's final of the U.S. Open at the National Tennis Center, New York City, September 7, 1986.

The Tennis Legend from Czechia

by Marek Koten
13 January 2024
Czechia/People

A tennis legend widely regarded as one of the best players of all time. She started winning before she was an adult and stayed at the top until she was 50. This is the story of Martina Navrátilová.

group of spectators sitting in a movie theater wearing 3-D glasses

From 3D Movies to Microwave Ovens: Romania’s Famous Inventor

by Naomi Gherman
6 January 2024
Romania/Culture/People

Do you enjoy the experience of watching a 3D movie and getting to “live” every minute of it? It is all thanks to the Romanian inventor Theodor Ionescu who brought 3D images to TV and cinema and created one of the biggest industries in the world.

Lady Gaga performs during her JAZZ & PIANO residency at Park Theater at Park MGM on January 20, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada

Binoculars and Crystals as Big as the Ritz

by Weronika Edmunds
31 December 2023
People/Austria/Business

Africa is known for its diamonds, but how many of you know that a European country supplies the world with much more popular, dazzling, and kinder stones to your wallet? There is a chance you own one.

Sisters Sandra & Karla Klincheva, the founders behind swim and apparel label MORÉ NOIR

Slow Fashion, Made in Bulgaria

by Galina Ganeva
29 December 2023
Bulgaria/Business/People

Can Bulgarian fashion designers make a name for themselves in Europe and beyond? 3Seas Europe sits down with some of the Bulgarian designers determined to create in Bulgaria, no matter the various obstacles.

Maciej Malenda and Tomasz Rudolf

Is There a Doctor in the House?

by Weronika Edmunds
21 December 2023
Poland/Business/Tech/People

Doesn’t it seem that whenever you get sick, there never are any appointments available? Doctor.One, a Polish start-up, developed a unique solution to this problem. So much so that it is heavily invested in, and its future is painted in bright colors.

Travel planning

The Power of Paper

by Galina Ganeva
18 December 2023
Three Seas Initiative/Culture/People

How strong is your 3Seas region country passport? Very.

Woodcut portrait of Michał Boym by Athanasius Kircher

The First Expert on China – The Polish Marco Polo

by Weronika Edmunds
2 December 2023
People/Poland/Culture

It is a little crazy to imagine that Chinese civilization, which came up with many great inventions that changed the course of the history of mankind, was largely enveloped in mystery. Enter Michał Boym.

Painting of the Ulma Family

The Ulma Family Beatification

by Adam Starzynski
29 November 2023
Poland/People

In a first ever case for the Catholic Church, Pope Francis approved the beatification of an entire family, including their youngest - unborn - child. The Ulma family of South East Poland were shot by the Gestapo in March 1944, for sheltering Jews. Their actions nevertheless inspired others in their village of Markowa to follow their example, and the family have been revered in the region ever since.

Electronic circuit board close up

The Father of Modern Electronics

by Jakub Warzecha
21 November 2023
Poland/Tech/People

It is quite safe to say that the world would be a different place without a groundbreaking invention by Polish chemist Jan Czochralski, which you can thank for the scores of products you use daily. Think smartphones, laptops, and scores of other electronic gadgets.

E. Wedel chocolate pump room on Szpitalna Street in Warsaw.

Mr. Wedel – Poland’s Willy Wonka

by Weronika Edmunds
19 November 2023
Poland/Business/People

So perhaps Mr. Wedel did not hide five golden tickets to invite children to his factory, but he wasn't far off. In many ways, he even surpassed Willy Wonka's flamboyant behavior.

Martin Scorsese

Martin Scorsese’s Undying Love of Polish Cinematic Masterpieces

by Przemysław Bociąga
18 November 2023
People/Poland/Culture

One of the most famous Hollywood directors and a vocal admirer of the art of the cinema is openly in love with the Polish film school of the 1960s and 1970s.

Christopher Harant Baron of Polzicz and Bedruzicz and in Pecka S. C. M. Councilor and Chamberlain

Kryštof Harant: Explorer and Renaissance Gentleman

by Marek Koten
3 November 2023
Czechia/Culture/People

For some, travel is not so much a once a year luxury, but rather a way of life. For one 16th-century Czech explorer, his passion for travel was so great, he spent his life exploring what the world had to offer. And then his last trip cost him his head.

portrait of Marian Eile

The Socialist Lifestyle Magazine With a “Civilizing” Mission 

by Przemysław Bociąga
7 October 2023
Poland/Culture/People

Established in 1946, Poland's "Przekrój" was a unique concept for an opinion and lifestyle magazine in a country where opinions were suppressed, and lack of style was due to scarcity. 

A student holds a placard with a portrait of Milada Horakova while commemorating the 70th anniversary of her execution, on Charles Bridge in Prague, Czech Republic, 25 June 2020. Horakova, a Czech lawyer and politician who opposed the single-party communist system, was the victim of judicial murder during the communist political show trials in the 1950s. She was convicted on fabricated charges of conspiracy and treason and executed on 27 June 1950.

4 Czech Women Who Have Left Giant Marks on History

by Marek Koten
21 September 2023
People/Czechia/Culture

Lawyers, singers, and writers. Those are some of the roles that four of the most influential women in Czech history have played. And even though they are often overshadowed by their male counterparts, their roles are equally significant.

Sigmund Freud poses for sculptor Oscar Nemon, 1931, in Vienna.

Where Freud Met His Mother

by Przemysław Bociąga
2 September 2023
Austria/Czechia/Travel & Food/People

Sigmund Freud, who forever fixed psychoanalysis on the map of human ideas, is still celebrated in his native city. Contrary to what you might assume, it's not Vienna. In fact, it's not even in Austria. It's actually in Czechia.

Board game "Breeding Animals" created by Karol Borsuk. The re-edition of the game can be purchased from the Warsaw Uprising Museum.

The Polish Board Game That Saved a Man From German Occupation

by Przemysław Bociąga
14 August 2023
Poland/Culture/People

Super Farmer is a new edition of the 1940s cult classic created to teach children to count and allow a math professor to survive unemployment under Nazi rule in Warsaw.

American Actor Telly Savalas Stars in the TV series 'Kojak', 1986.

Romanian Cult Lollipop Brand Named After Detective Kojak

by Przemysław Bociąga
13 August 2023
Romania/Culture/People

The bald Greek-American detective played by Telly Savalas was so famous in Romania that his favorite sweet treat was named after him.

Dragons in Love sculpture in the Sea Garden at the coast of Black Sea in Varna, Bulgaria.

A Celebration of Varna, Bulgaria

by Galina Ganeva
11 August 2023
Bulgaria/Travel & Food/Culture/People

Ahead of Varna Day, celebrated on 15 August, 3Seas Europe talks to four local residents about what makes their city so special.

Poster with Billy Gladstone. Screenshot from youtube.com

Billy Gladstone Marched to the Beat of His Own Drum

by Naomi Gherman
1 August 2023
Romania/Culture/People

He was more than a drummer. He was a multi-instrumentalist, a fine percussionist, a revolutionary inventor, and a visionary. This Romania-born ‘jack of all trades’ mastered it all and was considered the world’s greatest snare drummer.

Malcolm McDowell as Alex in the 1971 film "A Clockwork Orange" directed by Stanley Kubrick from the novel by Anthony Burgess.

Two and a Half Polish Translations of “A Clockwork Orange”

by Przemysław Bociąga
30 July 2023
Poland/Culture/People

Anthony Burgess' masterpiece models the English language as it could sound were it overwhelmingly influenced by Russian. Polish translator Robert Stiller recreated the experiment in Polish in multiple versions.

Portrait of Frederic Chopin

Żelazowa Wola, the Birthplace of Chopin’s Romantic Style

by Przemysław Bociąga
27 July 2023
Poland/Culture/People

One of the most internationally famous Poles began his career at his parent’s manor just an hour outside of Warsaw. Given the scale of folk inspiration in Chopin’s music, Żelazowa Wola (The Iron Village) is the likely source of the “musical ore” he refined.

Nikifor Drowniak, 1963.

A World-Class Artist With a First-Grader’s Artbox

by Weronika Edmunds
22 July 2023
Poland/Culture/People

At some point in their lives, every child grabs hold of a pencil, crayon, and perhaps paintbrush, and they begin to create. Some become classically educated artists, but only a small handful are able to teach themselves and still find acclaim. Such is the case of Nikifor Krynicki.

Behind the desk, University of Bucharest. Photo: courtesy of Horia Hulubei National Institute for Physics and Nuclear Engineering, IFIN-HH, Romania

Horia Hulubei – Master Physicist and Jack of All Trades  

by Naomi Gherman
20 July 2023
People/Romania/Culture

A physicist by nature, a military pilot, a diplomat, and a rector by choice. Or talent, as many would say. This Romanian 4-in-1 scientist did not let anything get in the way of achieving his dream of making the name of Romania stand tall worldwide.

This posthumous portrait of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was painted by Barbara Kraft at the request of Joseph Sonnleithner in 1819, long after Mozart died.

Mozart – The Austrian Genius Everyone Knows. Or Do They?

by Weronika Edmunds
14 July 2023
Austria/Culture/People

Who was the greatest musician ever alive? A celebrity by today's definition – famous, talented, and wealthy? Whose compositions are known to practically every human, even if they have no idea about classical music? There is only one answer – Mozart!

Jan Hus at the Council of Constance

Jan Hus: The First Reformer in Central Europe

by Marek Koten
6 July 2023
Czechia/Culture/People

The story of Jan Hus is the story of perseverance, courage, and staying true to your beliefs and principles. Jan Hus never backed down on his beliefs, which resulted in him being jailed and executed by the Catholic Church.

Eugene Ionesco, writer, 01 May 1972.

Eugen Ionescu, Pioneer of the Theatre of the Absurd

by Naomi Gherman
3 July 2023
Culture/People/Romania

Often seen as the Dadaism of the theatre, Absurdism plays were initially confusing for the general public. But it didn’t take long for critics and enthusiasts to find sense in the seemingly meaningless life portrayed by Ionescu’s characters.

Portrait of Constantin Levaditi in his laboratory at the Institut Pasteur. Work on ultraviruses (rabies, herpes, poliomyelitis), syphilis, tuberculosis and antibiotics. Photo: gallica.bnf.fr / National Library of France

Constantin Levaditi and the Study of Virology

by Naomi Gherman
27 June 2023
Romania/People

A four-time Nobel nominee, a revolutionary scientist, a talented violinist, and a brave soul - this is Constantin Levaditi, one of the founding fathers of virology.

View of the exhibition "In the Near Future" (14.02-31.08.2014) at the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw. Photo shows the project of a monument to victims of fascism in Auschwitz-Birkenau.

The Abandoned Project to Cross Out Auschwitz

by Przemysław Bociąga
25 June 2023
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture/People

Architect Oskar Hansen's winning bid for the 1958 commemoration of Holocaust victims was a plan to let the concentration campsite degrade to allow our psychological recovery from the horrors of World War II.

parachutes silhouette in a light of sunrise

The Slovak Inventor of the Parachute and the Rebirth of a Legacy

by Martin Hochel
22 June 2023
Slovakia/Culture/Tech/People

For a long time, little was known about the Slovak inventor of the parachute, whose life reveals a fascinating story almost forgotten.

Speedometer of a car close-up, with the arrow frozen at a speed of 120 km/h. Details and interior of a black luxury car. Stock photo.

When the Pedal Hits the Metal, Thank Goodness for the Speedometer

by Ewelina Sadura Marinović
21 June 2023
Croatia/Culture/Tech/People

We've all had that moment on an open stretch of highway when the speed starts creeping up. Luckily, these days we've got handy speedometers to help us avoid awkward meetings with the local police officers. You can thank Croatian inventor Josip Belušić for that.

Matinee at Liszt's home. (Composer Hector Berlioz, the composer Carl Czerny and the violinist Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst), 1846.

Could Chopin Rock It Like Liszt Did?

by Weronika Edmunds
17 June 2023
Austria/Hungary/Culture/People

The answer is – probably not. Franz Liszt was more than just a brilliant piano virtuoso and gifted composer. He became what we would call a pop icon in his lifetime. But was he as flamboyant as Mozart, and did he really build his name on plagiarism?

Cara Delevingne in a scene from the ©Columbia Pictures new film : Life in a Year (2020). PLOT: The movie follows 17-year-old Daryn who finds out that his girlfriend is dying. He sets out to give her an entire life in the last year she has left.

Applause, Please: How a Slovene Became a Polish Filmmaker

by Agnieszka Sawala
17 June 2023
Poland/Slovenia/Culture/People

If a perfectionist skates but doesn't think they're good enough, they have three options - give up, try harder, or... become a filmmaker!

Poland's Wladyslaw Kozakiewicz happily claims the victory of gold after clearing the best height and setting a new world record in the Olympic pole vault event on Wednesday, July 30, 1980 in Moscow, Soviet Union. The new world record was 5.78 meters ( 18 feet 11 1/2 inches).

The Polish Offensive Arm Gesture With a Political Subtext

by Przemysław Bociąga
16 June 2023
Poland/Culture/People

Not technically a middle finger, a gesture named after Polish sportsman Władysław Kozakiewicz was simultaneously a celebration of victory and an important political claim.

Joy Division at the YMCA in London in August 1979

The World-Famous Punk Band That Was Almost Named “Warsaw”

by Przemysław Bociąga
10 June 2023
Poland/Culture/People

Before love tore apart Joy Division, its leader Ian Curtis named his band Warsaw, which correlated with his impression of the Polish capital.

Unique exhibition of Alphonse Mucha "iMUCHA – A Famous Collection in Motion".

Alfons Mucha and the Slavic Epic

by Marek Koten
10 June 2023
Czechia/Culture/People

Alfons Mucha is known primarily as the spiritual father of the Art Nouveau style. But he is also the father of 20 giant canvases depicting the history of the Slavic people.

Max Factor Applying Makeup to Josephine Dunn, 1930

Beauty Brands You Didn’t Know Were Founded by Poles

by Weronika Edmunds
9 June 2023
Poland/Business/People

Did you know it was a Pole that first painted the faces of the biggest Hollywood stars? And another who developed the formula to save our skin from the scorching sun? Meet five big health and beauty brands with Polish roots.

Warsaw, 1967 Oskar Hansen - architect, sculptor and painter, professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw.

The Polish Architect Who Dreamed of Linear Megacities

by Przemysław Bociąga
6 June 2023
Poland/Travel & Food/People

Visionary Polish architect Oskar Hansen dreamed about Poland with only four cities, one street wide, stretching from the southern to the northern border of the country.

Group of kindergarten kids friends arm around sitting together

Newborns and a Two-Speed Europe

by Agaton Koziński
1 June 2023
Business/People

In Central Europe - much more often than in Western Europe - more people affirm Kundera's view that "The child makes us care about the world."

Still from the film "On the Silver Globe," directed by Andrzej Zulawski, 1987.

The Difficulties in Getting Poles to the Moon

by Przemysław Bociąga
23 May 2023
Poland/Culture/People

A 120-year-old Polish book about people in space was supposed to make one of the most important Polish movies. Instead, it turned into decades of vicissitudes with peculiar effects.

Among the countries with the best developed e-government is Estonia. Virtually all public services are available online – citizens can even vote in elections via the internet.

A Short Guide to Building an E-Administration

by Agaton Koziński
18 May 2023
Tech/People/Estonia/Business

Central European countries are increasingly aware that developing their own IT capabilities will determine their position in the modern world.

Statues of Wenceslas IV, St Vitus and Emperor Charles IV on the Old Town Bridge Tower at Charles Bridge, Prague, Czech Republic

Czechia – A Country of Seized Opportunities 

by Weronika Edmunds
14 May 2023
Czechia/Culture/People

The history of Central Europe is one that weaves together stories of countries and peoples, present and past, drawn to these lands. Among them, Czechia has its own. Ready to hear it?

Model on New York street wearing Romanian fashion clothes

Traditional Romanian Fashion With an International Appeal

by Ioana Marandici
13 May 2023
Culture/People/Romania

Romanian motifs and symbols are recognizable around the world. The traditional outfits, bright and intricately embellished, are even inspiring big fashion houses like Yves Saint Laurent and Dior.

"The Heroes of the Revolution" by Frederick Girsch. Left to right: General George Washington and officers Johann De Kalb, Baron von Steuben, Kazimierz Pulaski, Tadeusz Kosciuszko, Marquis de Lafayette and John Muhlenberg, with Continental Army troops during the American Revolutionary War. Steel engraving, mid- to late 19th century.

(Un)recognized Founding Fathers of the US Military

by Jakub Warzecha
12 May 2023
Poland/People

Tadeusz Kościuszko and Kazimierz Pułaski – two Polish war heroes – played significant roles in the American Revolutionary War and considerably influenced the development of the US military.

Portrait of David Cerny

The Artist Who Insulted All of Europe

by Marek Koten
9 May 2023
Austria/Culture/People

Czech artist and sculptor David Černý is seen by many as a controversial figure. This controversy goes beyond Czechia, as does his art. His “Black Babies” invaded Prague, his “Golem” Poznan, and his “Bus” London.

portrait of Tristan Tzara

The “Da” in Dadaism

by Naomi Gherman
7 May 2023
Romania/Culture/People

You may have heard of the somewhat controversial and much-disputed art movement called Dadaism. But do you know what it is? What does “Dada” mean, and what does Romania have to do with it?

Raimonds Pauls

Raimonds Pauls: The Latvian Master of Melody

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
6 May 2023
Latvia/Culture/People

A man of many talents, Raimonds Pauls is best known for his work as a composer and pianist. Fast approaching 90 years of age, the acclaimed Latvian musician still performs, charming audiences with his catchy melodies.

1965, still from the film "Pharaoh," directed by Jerzy Kawalerowicz, with Barbara Brylska oh the photo.

The Story of an Epic Movie Filmed Behind Iron Curtain

by Weronika Edmunds
5 May 2023
Poland/Culture/People

The 1960s cinema saw two great films set amidst the backdrop of ancient Egypt. One was the famous 1963 American production "Cleopatra". What was the other?

Fausto Veranzio's illustration

The 17th Century Croatian Version of Leonardo da Vinci

by Przemysław Bociąga
4 May 2023
Croatia/Culture/People

Although his colleagues, such as Johannes Kepler and Tycho Brahe, are more remembered today, Šibenik-born Fausto Veranzio can be credited with many inventions, including the suspension bridge, parachute, and wind turbine - all in the 17th Century.

Florentina Mosora in Post restant

Florentina Mosora: From Beloved Actress to Formidable Biochemist

by Naomi Gherman
3 May 2023
Romania/Culture/People

Florentina loved to be in the spotlight, but even more than that, she loved being in the laboratory studying chemistry and nuclear physics. And unlike in the cinema world, she did not need spotlights to shine - her talent and hard work were enough to have all eyes on her.

Tenement House Under the Sign of Spider, Cracow

Polish Neogothic Architect’s Legendary Narratives

by Przemysław Bociąga
2 May 2023
People/Poland/Travel & Food

Active at the beginning of the 20th century, Teodor Talowski was the genius behind several buildings in Cracow that, though built from scratch, look as if they were centuries old with a history of being partly demolished and rebuilt. And every one of them has a story to tell.

Baron Roman Nikolai Maximilian von Ungern-Sternberg, White Russian commander of anti-bolshevik forces in Mongolia and Lake Baikal region, 1886-1921, captured in Irkutsk and executed by the Bolsheviks, The Mad Baron, The Bloody Baron, russian civil war. Ungern-Sternberg in Irkutsk under interrogation at the headquarters of the 5th Red Army. Ungern-Sternberg in a Mongolian deel uniform with Russian Order of St. George 4th Class

Roman von Ungern-Sternberg: The Last European Rabble Rouser

by Przemysław Bociąga
16 April 2023
Culture/People

Born in Austria and Raised in Estonia, this czarist officer ended up as a self-appointed anti-communist Mongolian leader; his story is mind-boggling.

john vincent atanasoff inventor of first computer

The Little-Known Inventor of the Computer, Faithful to His Bulgarian Roots

by Galina Ganeva
14 April 2023
Bulgaria/Culture/People

Look closer at this monument in a village in southern Bulgaria, and an inevitable question arises. Why is Prof. John Atanasoff, the American-born scientist credited with the invention of the first electronic digital computer, being honored here of all places?

Collage with female portrait and plaster head model

Beauty for Sale: Do Bulgarians Love Beauty Enhancement Too Much?

by Galina Ganeva
13 April 2023
Business/People/Poland

The premiere of the new season of the Bulgarian edition of "The Bachelor" quickly revealed that many of the women fighting for the heart of the man in the spotlight have one thing in common: an affinity for injectable facial treatments and plastic surgery. What makes Bulgaria a special case when it comes to beauty enhancement?

Luka Modric of Croatia looks on during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group F match between Morocco and Croatia at Al Bayt Stadium on November 23, 2022 in Al Khor, Qatar.

Croatian Football Superstar Luka Modrić Defies the Odds

by Danijel Bačan
12 April 2023
Croatia/People

Sometimes the best things in life come from moments of tension and difficulty. That's how Luka Modrić started his football career - in exile from a raging war. How did he go from shepherd to Ballon d'Or winner?

Popeye, the cartoon character created by EC Segar.

The Real-Life Popeye Sailed From Poland

by Weronika Edmunds
10 April 2023
Poland/Culture/People

We bet you're familiar with the famous sailor who gets superhuman strength from downing cans of his ever-present favorite snack - spinach. Generations of people are. However, not everyone knows that he was based on a real person.

Right: Margarethe Schuette-Lihotzky, circa 1935. Left: Modern fitted kitchen Frankfurt. Designer: Grete Schütte-Likotzky, 1926

The Viennese Mind Behind Modern Kitchen Design

by Przemysław Bociąga
9 April 2023
Croatia/Travel & Food/People

Pioneering female architect Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky may have stayed close to the stereotype by choosing not to focus on designing monumental architecture but rather on a kitchen laboratory. Nonetheless, her designs started a revolution.

Portrait of Professor Leon Danaila

Leon Dănăilă, Devoted to Neurosurgery for 89 Years and Counting

by Naomi Gherman
7 April 2023
Culture/People/Romania

Who is Romania's most skilled neurosurgeon – and the most internationally admired for his abilities and heart of gold? The story of Europe's best surgeon, who often operates free of charge, is quite phenomenal.

Equestrian portrait of Elisabeth at Possenhofen Castle, age 15, 1853

The A-List Celebrity of 19th Century Vienna

by Przemysław Bociąga
5 April 2023
Austria/Culture/People

Rebel Empress Elizabeth of Austria is well-remembered in "her" city of Vienna, but with the release of her new biopic movie, word of her unusual nature is going global.

woman laying on bed with fountain pen in hand

A Fountain of Genius: The Romanian Who Invented the Pen

by Ioana Marandici
1 April 2023
Romania/Culture/People

Have you ever wondered to whom you owe the fact that you can write every day with that tool that you call a pen? The answer might just surprise you.

Maria Plachkova, a Ukrainian-born journalist of Bulgarian descent

The TV Journalist Connecting Bulgaria and Ukraine on Air

by Galina Ganeva
30 March 2023
Bulgaria/People/Interviews

3Seas Europe's Galina Ganeva sits down with Maria Plachkova, a Ukrainian-born journalist of Bulgarian descent, to talk about the past and, most importantly, the future of the many minorities populating Ukraine.

Vojtech Dyk as Josef Myslivecek. Movie still

The Miller Who Inspired Mozart

by Marek Koten
28 March 2023
Czechia/Culture/People

The story feels like a Hollywood movie script: a trained miller-turned-composer inspires musical master Mozart. This is the story of a man who was nicknamed Il Divino Boemo – The Divine Czech.

Stoyanka Mutafova on stage

The Bad Girl of the Bulgarian Theatre

by Galina Ganeva
27 March 2023
Culture/People/Czechia

The loss of a beloved artist is always a painful loss. The loss of Stoyanka Mutafova in 2019, who, at 97 years old, was one of the oldest actors in the world still working, shook Bulgaria profoundly. After all, the country lost its uncontested "Queen of Comedy."

Puppets of Spejbl and Hurvínek

The Family That Pulls All the Strings

by Marek Koten
26 March 2023
Czechia/Culture/People

Every Czech child knows Mr. Spejbl, his son Hurvínek, and their dog Žeryk. What does it matter that they are puppets? Their humor has entertained generations and will, no doubt, entertain more to come.

Photo shows pilot Assen Jordanoff, who brought the Leonardo Da Vinci from New Castle, Del. It is said he will accompany Cesare Sabelli, in a proposed transatlantic flight. May 15, 1933

Renaissance Man? This Bulgarian Inventor Did It All

by Galina Ganeva
25 March 2023
Bulgaria/People

He was an inventor, an engineer, and an aviator. He inspired thousands of pilots around the world, like astronaut Neal Armstrong, the first person to walk on the moon. And yet, Assen Jordanoff, the Bulgarian-American inventor of, among other things, the airbag, is hardly known in his home country.

Magdalena Abakanowicz Exhibition: Every Tangle Of Thread And Rope

Famous Polish Sculptor Magdalena Abakanowicz Takes Over London’s Tate Modern

by Przemysław Bociąga
22 March 2023
People/Poland/Culture

"Every Tangle of Thread and Rope" is the title of Magdalena Abakanowicz's retrospective in the most notable British modern art museum. The late artist's relationship with her body takes the form of unusual sculptures.

Lajkonik tradition in Cracow

The Unlikely Symbol of Cracow, Poland Explained

by Weronika Edmunds
20 March 2023
Poland/Travel & Food/People

Ever wondered what a Mongolian man on a hobby horse is doing representing one of the most gorgeous and historical Polish cities? There is a valid explanation!

Aritst mark Rothko standing in front of his paintings

Mark Rothko: The Latvian Artist Who Pioneered a Movement

by Przemysław Bociąga
16 March 2023
Bulgaria/Culture/People

Latvia's second-largest city, Daugavpils, is home to the Mark Rothko Art Center, named after one of the most famous artists in the world, who was born in the city in 1903.

Warsaw, Poland. Main Square of the Old Town. Warsaw Mermaid - symbol of the city - in front on the right side, many tourists looking visiting the place and feeding pigeons on the left side, and the colorful antique tenements in the background.

Warsaw Voted European Best Destination for 2023

by Przemysław Bociąga
14 March 2023
Three Seas Initiative/Culture/People

Is it the city's beauty or just the collateral benefit from Poland’s role in the most important historical event in years, namely the war on Ukraine? Regardless, it suffices to say that Warsaw deserves its title of the European Best Destination of 2023.

Victor Babes, young, after he published the first Treaty of Bacteriology

The World-Changing Destiny of Victor Babeș

by Naomi Gherman
12 March 2023
Romania/Culture/People

Romania’s most renowned bacteriologist, Victor Babeș, dreamt of being an artist – until a tragic event changed the path of his life forever.

A statue of ruler Charles IV stands next to the Charles Bridge

Ruling Europe From Prague: The Story of Charles IV

by Marek Koten
11 March 2023
Czechia/Culture/People

Czech King and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV is considered the most influential ruler of the High Middle Ages. Despite his education in France, he always remembered where he was born: Prague.

Marie Sklodowska Curie

The Alternative Career of Marie Skłodowska-Curie 

by Przemysław Bociąga
9 March 2023
Poland/Business/Culture/Tech/People

Before becoming a genius physicist, Marie Skłodowska-Curie was a Polish language teacher and a national-democratic activist. 

A June 29, 1898, editorial cartoon by Leon Barritt depicts Pulitzer and Hearst each pushing for war with Spain

The Pulitzer Prize Is Named After a Hungarian Journalist 

by Przemysław Bociąga
26 February 2023
Bulgaria/Culture/People

The founder of the most prestigious awards in journalism was a lifelong rival of William Randolph Hearst. It was this rivalry that set the stage for modern journalism.

archive photo from 1959 shows students running out of school

Poland Celebrated 1000 Years of Christianity with… 1000 Schools

by Przemysław Bociąga
17 February 2023
Poland/Culture/People

Known as the "Millennium Schools," characteristic buildings made with one ingenious design are still the most prevalent of their kind in Poland.

karl ernst von baer Walpurgis Night

The Estonian Statue With The Champagne Treatment

by Przemysław Bociąga
11 February 2023
Czechia/Culture/People

One of Estonia’s most famous scientists is the founder of embryology, Karl Ernst von Baer. Each year, Estonian students honor his life and achievements by giving his monument in Tartu Park a bubble bath to remember - with champagne and beer.

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.

Elisa Leonida Zamfirescu processing scientific data obtained from laboratory investigations

Europe’s Pioneering Female Engineer

by Naomi Gherman
5 February 2023
Romania/People

Elisa Leonida Zamfirescu was born into a family of intellectuals and scientists. Out of eight bright siblings, she had to face the harshest conditions, all because her passion for engineering did not agree with her gender.

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.

group of women

Rural Girl Power! The PR Specialists of the Polish Countryside

by Weronika Edmunds
14 January 2023
People/Poland/Culture

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!

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.

R.U.R ROSSUM'S UNIVERSAL ROBOTS 1921 science fiction stage play by Czech writer Karel Capek

A Robot Invasion? Blame the Czechs Who Invented Them

by Przemysław Bociąga
5 January 2023
Poland/Business/Tech/People

2022 marks the one-hundredth anniversary of the word “robot,” brought to you by famous Czech science-fiction author Karel Čapek. However, the term, actually coined by his brother, has deep historical ties to centuries of feudal economics.

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.

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.

farmhouse

Polish Barn Wins International Prize

by Weronika Edmunds
20 December 2022
Poland/Business/People

The architecture MasterPrize award is open for entries from architects at every stage of their careers. It is considered the second most important out of the five leading international awards in architecture. This year, Poles were among the winners.

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.

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.

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!

A group of children in a computer shop gathered round an Atari ST

The Polish Creator of the Computer for the Masses

by Przemysław Bociąga
30 November 2022
Bulgaria/Tech/People

Born Idek Trzmiel in Łódź, Poland, Jack Tramiel was the creator of the Commodore 64, the computer that holds a Guinness World Record for being the best-selling machine of its kind.

Young woman customer is satisfied with her online order. She is checking if t shirt she ordered fits her.

Gucci for All: The Bulgarian Platform Changing Shopping Habits

by Galina Ganeva
29 November 2022
Poland/Business/People

Bulgaria might not be known for its fashion brands, and yet one local company is keeping Europeans fashionable.

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.

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?

windows in old wooden house

Čičmany, the First Folk Architecture Reserve in the World

by Przemysław Bociąga
15 November 2022
Culture/People/Czechia

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.

propaganda poster with Stalin

Remnants of Nazism and Communism Still Hang Over Central Europe

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

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.

Aurel Persu car

The Romanian Invention That Had Ford and GM in a Bidding War

by Naomi Gherman
9 November 2022
Austria/Czechia/Business/Tech/People

In 1923, Romanian engineer Aurel Persu concluded that aerodynamics played an important role not just up in the air but down on earth, too. By introducing wheels inside a car's frame, he successfully built the very first aerodynamic vehicle. 

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.

Tesla studying electricity in the laboratory

Nikola Tesla – A Controversial Pioneer in Green Transformation

by Weronika Edmunds
26 October 2022
Croatia/Green Transformation/People

Long before anybody had any idea of sustainable energy Nicola Tesla was preoccupied with finding new energy sources. Europe’s first hydropower plant is just one of his genius inventions. Get to know the man behind your dynamo.

winner

Central European Women in the Vanguard of Change

by Agaton Koziński
25 October 2022
Business/People

Women in Central Europe have long played an important role in the home and also in public spaces. Centuries of fighting for independence, defending against the Nazis and the communists have meant that women in this part of Europe have emancipated themselves in many fields relatively quickly compared to other parts of the world.

Emil Racovitza as diver

A Deep Dive Into the Life of Biospeleology Founder Emil Racoviță

by Naomi Gherman
19 October 2022
Culture/People/Romania

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.

Łukasz Koźlik

The Terminator. Made in Poland.

by Weronika Edmunds
19 October 2022
Business/Tech/People/Poland

For the past eight years, a Polish inventor, Łukasz Koźlik, has been fulfilling his dream of building a robot that he hopes will eventually become our best housework buddy.

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.

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”?

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.

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.

Winston Churchill in a jeep

The Iron Curtain Speech: How the Communist Block Was Born

by Przemysław Bociąga
12 October 2022
Bulgaria/Culture/People

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.

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

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

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.

Rumen prototype by Roumen Antonov from 2005

The Man From Bulgaria Who Changed the Concept of Speed

by Jakub Warzecha
5 October 2022
Bulgaria/Tech/People

His ideas have been used by the world's biggest car companies. The dashing Bulgarian inventor and entrepreneur Roumen Antonov made waves in the automotive world with his avant-garde ideas and daring technical solutions.

Uzupis street sign, Photo: ©Go Vilnius

One District in Vilnius Is an Entire Country

by Przemysław Bociąga
4 October 2022
Poland/Culture/People

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.

Vintage postcard of hotel polonia

In Ruined Warsaw, One Hotel Became Embassy District

by Przemysław Bociąga
1 October 2022
Poland/Culture/People

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.

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
Three Seas Initiative/Culture/People

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.

iew of the illuminated old town Hvar and the harbor with Pakleni Islands at dusk

Croatia – The Silenced State That Regained Its Voice

by Weronika Edmunds
26 September 2022
Croatia/Travel & Food/People

Croatia, now one of Europe’s prime holiday destinations, has long been an actor in the complicated historical drama of the Balkan states. And by no means a boring one! Here’s the story of how your favorite holiday resort came to be.

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.

dr George Friedman

Friedman: Central Europeans Can Deter Russian Aggression

by Adam Starzynski
21 September 2022
People/Interviews/Three Seas Initiative

Geopolitical forecaster George Friedman says that a regional military alliance, with some supporters from the US, can be strong enough to keep Russia from invading the Three Seas region.

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.

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.

bar studio

Warsaw’s (Not So) Controversial Stalinist Monument

by Przemysław Bociąga
15 September 2022
Poland/Business/Tech/People

The iconic Palace of Culture and Science is a monumental skyscraper in Warsaw's city center, now considered somewhat controversial due to its Stalinist genesis. Even so, it turns out that Varsovians now have a soft spot for this cultural landmark and do not want to see it demolished.

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.

Wall fresco paintings of the Horezu Monastery in Romania

Horezu Monastery, the Epitome of Spirituality and Culture

by Naomi Gherman
13 September 2022
Poland/Business/Tech/People

Prince Constantin Brâncoveanu built this holy place as a place of worship. Today, it is a UNESCO world heritage site that stands tall not just as a meaningful clerical site but also as Romania’s most emblematic piece of Brancovan architecture.

Anthony Daniels as C-3PO in a scene from the Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

C-3PO Confirms: There Are Poles in Galaxies Far, Far Away

by Przemysław Bociąga
13 September 2022
Poland/Business/Tech/People

In one scene of "Return of the Jedi," a protocolar android addresses a person in Polish. Was Jabba the Hut's servant a Socialist economic migrant, or did American producers just want to impress viewers with an exotic language?

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.

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
Slovenia/Culture/People

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.

murale of Penkala in lower town in Zagreb, Croatia

Croatian Inventor Who Sparked Promotional Gadget Craze

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

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.

Thurzó Zoltán on mount Everest

High Notes: The Piano Concert on Mt. Everest

by Naomi Gherman
30 August 2022
Romania/Travel & Food/People

How high is too high? For Oradea-born pianist Thurzó Zoltán, there is no such height. Zoltán, internationally renowned for his out-of-this-world attempts to enter the Guinness World Book of Records, has finally made it with his concert atop Mount Everest.

Coiffeur Antoine à Paris

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

by Weronika Edmunds
24 August 2022
Romania/Culture/People

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.

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
People/Czechia/Culture

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. 

Jaroslav Heyrovsky, one of the Czech inventors

Four Particularly Impressive Discoveries by Czech Scientists

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

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.

James Bond wearing digital watch

The Story of Peter Petroff and the First Digital Watch

by Mihail Petrov
27 July 2022
Bulgaria/Tech/People

A NASA engineer and inventor who developed heart-monitoring equipment and originated the first-ever digital wristwatch. These are just some of the accomplishments used to describe Bulgarian inventor Petar Petroff. But, before becoming one of the twentieth century's most productive inventors, Petroff led an eventful and adventurous life that few know about.

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. 

Beata Daszyńska Muzyczka

The 3 Seas Initiative Can Mitigate the Global Food Crisis

by Adam Starzynski
6 July 2022
People/Interviews/Poland/Three Seas Initiative

3SeasEurope spoke with Beata Daszyńska-Muzyczka, the Chairperson of the Supervisory Board of the Three Seas Initiative Investment Fund, about her thoughts on the 3SI intra-regional cooperation and what can the Initiative do for the Western Balkans 6 and Ukraine.

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.

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. 

curzona line

How Poland’s Present-Day Eastern Border Was Born

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

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.

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.

Estonia first introduced online voting in 2005

Estonia: The World’s First Country to Introduce Online Voting

by Przemysław Bociąga
1 June 2022
People/Estonia/Business/Tech

This former part of the Soviet Empire is known for being one of the most digitally-advanced societies globally. It was the first to offer the possibility of sending votes via the internet.

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.

View of a woman charging the vintage electric car

Bulgaria’s Electric Vehicles Decades Before Musk

by Krasimir Cheshmedzhiev
23 May 2022
Business/Tech/People/Austria/Czechia

While cars made in the Soviet Union were often mocked by westerners, communist Bulgaria had a hidden gem - an electric vehicle with far superior capabilities to similar projects developed at the time by Ford and Hitachi.

Edgar Bondars

The Annual Three Seas Initiative Summit 2022: Latvian Ambitions 

by Adam Starzynski
18 May 2022
Latvia/Three Seas Initiative/People

We asked Latvia’s Ambassador for the Three Seas Initiative, H.E. Edgars Bondars, about Latvia’s vision for this year’s Three Seas Initiative summit.

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. 

Ukraine Refugee Assistance Project

Star Architect Revolutionizing Refugee Housing in Poland

by Przemysław Bociąga
20 April 2022
Poland/Business/Tech/People

Famed Pritzker Prize-winning architect Shigeru Ban has created a novel solution to grant refugees dignity and privacy. His work has been successfully introduced in Poland during the Russian war on Ukraine.

Jaan Tallinn, portrait in his garden in Tallinn, Estonia, Baltics

The Estonian Programmer Who Might Just Save the World

by Filip Rey
13 April 2022
Estonia/Business/Tech/People

Jaan Tallinn did not just create Kazaa and Skype; he could also save humanity from terminators.

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.

the ceo and co-founder of UiPath Daniel Dines

Romanian Robots are the Future

by Filip Rey
8 April 2022
Tech/People/Romania/Business

Romania’s richest man and his company, UiPath, envision a future in which every person has a virtual robot.

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.

woman and man on a bike in Warsaw Poland at night

Expat Spotlight On: Poland

by Cynthia Sklodowski
21 March 2022
Poland/Travel & Food/People

Moving to a new country can be a daunting but enlightening experience. We've asked expats from around the Three Seas countries the same five questions to give us a bit of insight into the good, bad and unexpected aspects of their new homes.

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