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Travel & Food

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Martenitsa or Martisor on a bouquet of yellow daffodils on a green wooden table top view

Spring Is Here. Say It With a Martenitsa

by Galina Ganeva
9 March 2025
Culture/Bulgaria/Travel & Food

It’s the one accessory that goes with everything and never goes out of style. On March 1st of each year, Bulgarians adorn their clothing and wrists with martenitsas. The ancient bracelet, usually made of twisted red and white woolen or cotton threads, announces the end of winter. And so much more.

Lila Lapanja of USA during the first run of the Audi FIS Ski World Snow Queen Trophy Woman's Salom

What Can You Do When It (Gasp!) Snows in Croatia?

by Weronika Edmunds
4 February 2025
Culture/Slovenia/Travel & Food

Croatia is undoubtedly one of the most popular summer holiday destinations in the Three Seas Region. Fascinating history, lush food, and glorious sun have the power to attract anyone dreaming of a perfect summer break. But have you considered Croatia as a winter destination, too?

Buso carnival, traditional hungarian winter closing festival

How to Scare Away the Winter – the Hungarian Approach

by Weronika Edmunds
4 February 2025
Hungary/Travel & Food/Culture

After a long period of short, cold days and endless, dark nights, there comes a time when something has to be done about it. In Hungary, the people of Mohács might just have the answer.

The Witcher was never lost. His fans though shouldn't leave home without a map

Lost in “The Witcher”? Don’t Worry – a New Map Can Help

by Cynthia Sklodowski
14 October 2024
Romania/Travel & Food

If you’ve ever sat wondering just how far it is from the Skellige Archipelago to Cintra, you’re not the only one! Lucky for us, a team of scientists have created the most detailed map yet of the world of The Witcher to keep us on track.

heaviest building in the world

The Secrets Behind the World’s Heaviest Building

by Naomi Gherman
13 October 2024
Romania/Travel & Food/Culture

Over 10 Churches and 10,000 households were demolished in the making of what is today the world's heaviest building – a monstrosity of a palace built to provide a home for Communist Romania’s leader, Nicolae Ceausescu.

archeological discovery of "female vampire"

Newfound Burial in Northern Poland: Not a Vampire, But Close

by Przemysław Bociąga
8 October 2024
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

The recent archeological discovery of a 17th C. woman’s corpse buried with a sickle around her neck points directly to her being suspected of some undead activity. However, her moniker, the vampiress, isn’t entirely fitting. It’s not that she wasn’t suspected of being undead (she was), but the term “vampire” doesn’t fit her time and place.

Three Seas: The Most Important Geopolitical Project of our Time

by Filip Rey
2 October 2024
Travel & Food/Business/Czechia

The Three Seas Initiative (3Si), a regional forum for cooperation in Central Eastern Europe, was launched during a summit in Croatia in 2016. Over the years, it has developed into a very ambitious project that has the potential of transforming the lives of more than 110 million people living in 12 states in the heart of Europe.

Farfalle with quark and berries

Pasta With WHAT? A Short Guide to Polish Milk Bars

by Weronika Edmunds
1 June 2024
Poland/Travel & Food

Every country has its own idea of cheap yet satisfying food. Poland is no exception. But the Polish idea, now well over a century old, can cause some confusion among first-time visitors. Let us explain.

Sleeping guitar-shaped cabin in Rasnov, Romania.

A One-of-a-Kind Place to Spend the Night

by Naomi Gherman
30 May 2024
Travel & Food/Romania

Have you ever wondered what is it like to sleep inside a guitar? Well, it no longer has to remain a mystery. In Romania, you can do just that!

slovenian restaurants restaurant owner with flowers in hands

The Slovenian Food Scene: An Unexpected Marvel

by Przemysław Bociąga
28 May 2024
Slovenia/Travel & Food/Culture

With two million people, Slovenia is among the smallest nations in Central and Eastern Europe. However, when it comes to internationally recognized cuisine, it is one of the biggest powerhouses. What is the recipe for their amazing culinary success?

Day of Slavonic alphabet. Parade of the Day of Bulgarian Education and Culture, and Slavonic Alphabet, on May 24, 2016, in Sofia, Bulgaria.

5 Words to Celebrate Bulgaria’s Most Important Holiday

by Galina Ganeva
24 May 2024
Bulgaria/Travel & Food/Culture

On May 24, Bulgaria is set to celebrate its biggest national holiday dedicated to the saints of the Bulgarian alphabet, education, culture, and of the Slavonic literature. We asked five Bulgarians working with words on an everyday basis to give us their favorite distinctively Bulgarian words.

Stone Forest of Siedliska

The Polish Forest Where the Trees Have Turned to Stone

by Przemysław Bociąga
23 May 2024
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

Medieval Polish historian Jan Długosz once claimed that trees in the Roztocze Forest turned to stone just a few years after death. The reality is just a bit more complicated.

Young boy elected to play the King attends the Ride of the Kings folklore festival

Ride of the Kings – Pentecostal UNESCO Festival Storms Moravia

by Marek Koten
22 May 2024
Czechia/Travel & Food/Culture

Every year, the inhabitants of Vlčnov pick a young boy who will become the King for that year. And like any other King, he must ride through the town with his knights. Vlčnov Kings has done so for the last 200 years, and there are no signs of stopping.

Promotion balls season kick starts in Bulgaria. A young couple walks hand in hand during the high school graduates parade through the Bulgarian town of Svilengrad, Bulgaria on May 26, 2015.

Where More Is More – Welcome to the Bulgarian Prom

by Galina Ganeva
16 May 2024
Bulgaria/Travel & Food/Culture

It's that time of the year again. In the second half of May, main streets in big cities and small towns across Bulgaria turn into a catwalk. But no, this is not Bulgaria Fashion Week.

National junior individual championships 2023, serious atmosphere in the room.. Photo: courtesy of Romanian Chess Federation

Where Learning Chess Is More Than a Hobby

by Naomi Gherman
14 May 2024
Travel & Food/Culture/Romania

Known for its intellectual properties and unanimously referred to as a mind game, chess is a board game that stimulates mental and psychological development. Which is precisely why in Romania, it is an official curriculum subject that you can study in school.

Forest Megaphone in Estonia

Pump Up the Volume! Forest Megaphone Allows the Trees to Speak Up

by Przemysław Bociąga
12 May 2024
Estonia/Travel & Food

Make some noise for the wooden structures in Võru County, Estonia that amplify the forest's sounds without disturbing the natural order.

Jacket potatoes with salsa

The Humble Potato – King of Polish Cuisine

by Przemysław Bociąga
11 May 2024
Poland/Travel & Food

Though the full-scale potato harvest is an autumn thing, baby potatoes are a late spring/early summer delicacy.

Croatian "klapa" singers from Konavle called Klapa Ostro at a private performance inside the Dominican Monastery in the Old Town of Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Klapa: A Traditional Form of Singing in Croatia

by Ewelina Sadura Marinović
10 May 2024
Croatia/Travel & Food

If you hear a live performance of Croatian klapa even once, you will certainly not remain indifferent to this kind of music. Because klapa has been binding people together for years, stealing their hearts and enchanting them with its unique sound.

Down Town Mill Colonnade-an iconic structure with hot springs-in western Bohemia. Not just the architecture but also the health spas of the city in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic

Where You Can Relax in Aristocratic Style

by Marek Koten
8 May 2024
Czechia/Travel & Food/Culture

The European aristocracy and artists loved the Czech Spas. The fame of Czech healing waters has gradually spread worldwide. The result is the 2021 inscription of the Czech Spa triangle to UNESCO.

The Hall of Honor - sliding ceiling. Photo: courtesy of Muzeul National Peles

Peleș Castle Is a Historic Beauty With a Modern Touch

by Naomi Gherman
6 May 2024
Romania/Travel & Food/Culture

This fascinating royal residence is one of Romania's most splendid castles and one of Europe's most modern palaces. Featuring its very own power plant, an elevator, and a central heating system, Peleș is the perfect blend between vintage and contemporary.

Hvar, Croatia, July 29, 2020: Stage of historical theatre in Arsenal building at Hvar, Croatia

The Oldest Public Theater in Europe

by Ewelina Sadura Marinović
5 May 2024
Travel & Food/Culture/Croatia

"All the world’s a stage. And all the men and women merely players," Shakespeare wrote in “As You Like It.” What if we took a break from the roles in our daily lives to go to a real theater? Perhaps to oldest theater in Europe?

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.

Life on Mars on the island of Pag

A Race to the Mars-like Croatian Island of Pag

by Danijel Bačan
1 May 2024
Croatia/Travel & Food

Have you ever wanted to vacation on another planet? While traveling to distant plants like Mars isn't possible just yet, there is an Earth-bound alternative on the Croatian island of Pag. How did Pag become a famous tourist location dedicated to Mars?

The Deep Underground Hostel Worth Its Salt

by Przemysław Bociąga
29 April 2024
Poland/Travel & Food/Business

The Medieval Wieliczka Salt Mine in southern Poland has many wonders. If a one-day visit is not enough for you, feel free to go on and just spend the night in the underground hostel.

Justine Lupe as Willa and Alan Ruck as Connor Roy in the HBO series : Succession - season 4 (2023). Plot: The Roy family saga continues in the final season of the show.

Connor Roy Was Right About Slovenia

by Przemysław Bociąga
28 April 2024
Slovenia/Travel & Food/Culture

"Vienna for lunch, Venice for dinner... and Dubrovnik for breakfast," contemplate Mr. and Mrs. Connor Roy in the recent episode of "Succession" about a possible stay in Slovenia. However, once they see what the country has to offer, we think they'll want to stay closer to their Ljubljana base for their three square meals.

3 may constitution day

A Clash of Two Holidays Gives Poland a May Vacation Appetizer

by Przemysław Bociąga
27 April 2024
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

On a May day some 250 years ago, Poland declared its first-ever constitution. Along with the communist-propagated Labor Day, also in May, the celebrations for two long and storied traditions give just the right excuse for majówka - extended spring celebrations.

8 Aug 1992: Team Lithuania celebrates after winning the bronze at the Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain.

Why Does Lithuania Love Basketball So Much?

by Augustas Kalinauskas
25 April 2024
Romania/Travel & Food/Culture

Lithuania is one of the few European countries where football does not reign supreme. There are many reasons for this, but the most important is that basketball here has always been closely related to its historical ups and downs.

Voronet is a monastery in Romania, located in the town of Gura Humorului. It is one of the famous painted monasteries from southern Bukovina, in Suceava County. Between May and September 1488, Stephen III of Moldavia built the Voronet Monastery to commemorate the victory at Battle of Vaslui. Often known as the Sistine Chapel of the East, the frescoes at Voronet feature an intense shade of blue known in Romania as Voronet blue. (Aufnahmedatum kann abweichen)

The Most Unique Shade of Blue – Art’s Greatest Mystery

by Naomi Gherman
24 April 2024
Romania/Travel & Food/Culture

One of Romania’s most alluring monasteries is not known just for its beauty. The fascinating frescos painted in this unique, bright shade of blue, called Voroneț blue, have amazed an entire world. The color mix is still a mystery to this day.

Austria Leading the Renaissance of Night Rail

by Sam Baldwin
22 April 2024
Austria/Travel & Food

After almost being derailed entirely, European sleeper trains are making a comeback. Austria's Nightjet is setting the example.

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.

Aerial view of green islands and clouds at summer sunny day. Masurian Lake District in Poland

Set Sail in the Polish Lake District

by Przemysław Bociąga
18 April 2024
Poland/Travel & Food

The beginning of May celebrates the launch of sailing season in the Polish Thousand Lakes Region. The area is not only the crown jewel of Poland’s natural landscapes but also a centuries-old effort to create waterways serving economy and recreation.

Lake view of Hallstatt village and famous church at summer season in Salzkammergut, Austria

12 Must-Visit Places in Central and Eastern Europe

by Weronika Edmunds
17 April 2024
Romania/Travel & Food

Are Central and Eastern Europe destinations underrated? What must-see European places are located here?

Charles University in Prague, Czechia’s Old Town.

Living History – The Story of Czech Universities

by Marek Koten
16 April 2024
Czechia/Travel & Food/Culture

Two important Czech universities are celebrating milestone anniversaries this year. But how old are Czech Universities, and what is the outlook for them in the coming years?

The image shows the lighthouse located on the southern tip of the peninsula on the island of Saaremaa, aerial view

Saaremaa, the Livonian Knights’ Island – As Poetic As It Sounds

by Przemysław Bociąga
14 April 2024
Estonia/Travel & Food/Culture

The largest of the Estonian islands was already inhabited thousands of years ago. In the 21st century, it’s still thriving, and its expansive heritage is just the cherry on top.

Banitza, the beloved cheese-filled filo dough pastry

Wanted in Bulgaria: Bulgarian Restaurants

by Galina Ganeva
7 April 2024
Bulgaria/Travel & Food/Business

Bulgarians love their national cuisine. And yet, Bulgarian restaurants are getting harder to find in Bulgaria. Is this a temporary trend or a long-term crisis?

Vivid painted wooden tombstones at Merry Cemetery, Famous graveyard in Sapanta, county of Maramures, Romania

Exploring the Merry Cemetery

by Naomi Gherman
5 April 2024
Culture/Romania/Travel & Food

We know. “Merry” and “cemetery” aren’t two words that usually go together. So what makes this graveyard, literally, merry? Is it the lively-colored gravestones? Or the humorous poems inscribed on them? Take a look and decide for yourself.

Detail of passenger's hand holding passport of the Czech Republic on the airplane.

A Small but Powerful Book

by Marek Koten
2 April 2024
Czechia/Travel & Food/Business

The Czech Passport has been declared one of the most powerful in the world in 2023. Why is that? How many doors does it open, and are Czechs taking advantage of it?

Top view of a background made with various kinds of tomatoes mixed by varieties, sizes and colors. Predominant colors are red, orange and yellow.

Is the Bulgarian Tomato Going Down in History?

by Galina Ganeva
31 March 2024
Bulgaria/Travel & Food/Business

For more than 130 years, the tomato has been a fixture on the Bulgarian table, but today, its production is on the verge of collapse. What is happening to the vegetable still enjoying the status of 'national pride' in Bulgaria?

1924 - Karol Hala the first winner of the Peace Marathon stands surrounded by people posing for the camera.

The Košice Peace Marathon – The Oldest in Europe

by Martin Hochel
30 March 2024
Slovakia/Travel & Food/Culture

The annual International Peace Marathon in Košice, known as Košice Marathon, is the oldest in Europe and the fourth oldest in the world. In what began as a race with eight runners, today, this marathon series attracts over 10 thousand participants each year, with roughly 1500 running in the main event.

Rip Mountain - popular pilgrimage place, central Bohemian region. Czech Republic.

Czechia’s Magic Hill

by Marek Koten
29 March 2024
Travel & Food/Culture/Czechia

Říp Mountain rises proudly to the sky in Central Bohemia. In good weather, you can see Prague. What is the history of this Czech mountain, which has been attracting people since prehistoric times?

The Underground Airbase That Could Launch Planes

by Przemysław Bociąga
27 March 2024
Latvia/Travel & Food/Business

Is this real life? Is this a fantasy? In Croatia, former Yugoslavia, you can explore abandoned underground airbases. Some of them, like Željava, even have a history of daring escapes from the war-torn country.

Mozartkugeln in Salzburg

Austria, Home to Mozart and His Kugeln 

by Przemysław Bociąga
24 March 2024
Austria/Travel & Food/Culture

In honor of one of the world's greatest composers, his homeland's confectioners created Mozartkugeln – spherical chocolates and Austria's top souvenir for over a century now.

Romuva religion

Native Religion Regains Believers in Lithuania

by Przemysław Bociąga
21 March 2024
Lithuania/Travel & Food

In 1387, Lithuania became the last European nation to convert to Christianity. However,  Romuva, the old, native Lithuanian religion, did not die out. In fact, it’s in the middle of a resurgence, with the number of followers doubling in recent years.

Wiener schnitzel with red cabbage, vegetable and potato salad and hunter's sauce

In Search of a Proper Wiener Schnitzel

by Przemysław Bociąga
16 March 2024
Poland/Travel & Food

The breaded veal cutlet could, and should, be featured on the Austrian coat of arms. So how can you tell the real thing from the wannabes?

Huge tourism balloon floats very close to a church rooftop, in the city of Vilnius

Lithuania’s Airborne Love

by Weronika Edmunds
15 March 2024
Lithuania/Travel & Food/Culture

What do a paper bag, a sheep, a duck, a rooster, and hot air have to do with Lithuania's most beloved hobby?

folk dancers from Transylvania

A Matchmaker’s Paradise: Romania’s Maiden Fair

by Naomi Gherman
14 March 2024
Travel & Food/Culture/Romania

Back in the days before dating apps, people had to improvise. Romanians, merchants by nature, found a way to bring together young people from over 80 villages with a “maiden market,” which, contrary to its name, did not imply any exchange of money but marriage proposals.

The Baltic Way

The Longest Chain of People Holding Hands Extended 600 Kilometers

by Przemysław Bociąga
13 March 2024
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

On one day in 1989, two million people formed Baltic Way: the longest human chain in history. It connected three capitals and represented unity and freedom.

portrait of Milda Mitkute

From Wardrobe Liberator to Unicorn: The Story of Vinted

by Filip Rey
11 March 2024
Poland/Travel & Food

The Lithuanian online marketplace for second-hand clothes has quickly outcompeted other giants such as eBay and Amazon.

old painting of feast at Wierzynek

Two of Europe’s Oldest Restaurants in Poland

by Przemysław Bociąga
10 March 2024
Poland/Travel & Food

One restaurant is the oldest. Piwnica Świdnicka in Wrocław opened in 1275. Only slightly younger is Cracow’s Wierzynek, named after Poland's first famous restaurateur.

Pernik, Bulgaria - January 28, 2023: International masquerade festival Surva

A Joke Mine? This Bulgarian City Is Done Being a Laughing Stock

by Galina Ganeva
10 March 2024
Bulgaria/Travel & Food/Culture

For years, the residents of Pernik, a city of 70,000 near the Bulgarian capital Sofia, have been a subject of countless jokes told about them. What started this endless trove of jokes and how are the people of Pernik fighting back?

Game of Thrones, Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen.

Klis Fortress and “Game of Thrones”

by Ewelina Sadura Marinović
4 March 2024
Croatia/Travel & Food/Culture

Want to see one of the three great cities of the Bay of Dragons? In that case, you won't want to miss the majestic Klis Fortress, a prominent filming location for "Game of Thrones". It was here that the fictional village of Mereen was built.

A man participates in village celebrations in Feistritz an der Gail, in the Austrian province of Carinthia, May 28, 2012. The annual celebrations are centered around an alpine farming custom called "Kufenstechen" which, according to the first written records, dates back to 1630. In turn the unmarried young men ride bareback on Noriker horses, beating a wooden barrel with an iron club until the last wooden splinter has fallen down, followed by a dance "under the lime trees" with the unmarried women wearing traditional "Gailtaler" costumes.

Kirchtags of Kärnten: South Austria’s Rowdy Village Festivals

by Sam Baldwin
2 March 2024
Austria/Travel & Food/Culture

Translated as 'Church Day,' these rowdy, rural festivals are anything but holy. Expect maidens dressed in dirndl, club-wielding men riding horses bareback, and a lot of beer.

Raw small potatoes in a cast iron skillet on a beton background.

Potatoes Again? Yes, Please!

by Galina Ganeva
1 March 2024
Travel & Food

The 3 Seas Region's love for potatoes is real, and there's absolutely nothing you can do about it.

prague zoological garden

The Wild Jungle in the Center of Prague

by Marek Koten
29 February 2024
Czechia/Travel & Food

At only 91 years old, it is not the oldest Zoo in Europe. However, Prague Zoo is repeatedly ranked as one of the best zoological gardens worldwide. Let us give you a virtual tour.

Carnival in Central Europe - Celebrated In Bohemian-Moravian Highlands

Carnival in Central Europe – What Sets It Apart

by Weronika Edmunds
28 February 2024
Hungary/Travel & Food/Culture

By late February, everyone is sick and tired of winter, especially as the eternal cycle of the seasons promises the soon arrival of spring. For millennia, the human race was celebrating that time, trying to scare away the death of winter and invite the season of rebirth and fertility.

Bride Fatme Inus, her face painted white and decorated with sequins, emerges to present herself to villagers towards at her wedding to Mustafa Sirakov on January 12, 2014 in Ribnovo, Bulgaria. The practice of painting the bride's face white and decorating it with sequins and coloured paint is called "gelena" in Bulgarian, is unique to Ribnovo and is a tradition going back centuries. Ribnovo weddings only take place in the winter and the entire village participates with group dances on the main square. Ribnovo, located in the mountains of southern Bulgaria, is predominantly inhabited by Pomaks.

Bulgaria’s Mysteriously Painted “White Brides”

by Galina Ganeva
24 February 2024
Bulgaria/Travel & Food/Culture

In a remote corner of Bulgaria, in a village deep in the Rhodope Mountains, the virginity of a bride is celebrated with a literal bang. Don't be afraid, you're safe.

Bolt car park on the street people crossing

A Bolt in the Sky: The Rapid Rise of an Estonian Mobility Company

by Filip Rey
20 February 2024
Romania/Travel & Food/Culture

One of Uber’s main rivals started off modestly, but quickly turned its creator into Europe’s youngest founder of a billion-dollar company.

Man walking and exploring dark cave with light headlamp underground. Mysterious deep dark, explorer discovering mystery moody tunnel looking on rock wall inside

Rare Discovery in Slovakia Unearths Ancient Trove of Artifacts

by Cynthia Sklodowski
14 February 2024
Slovakia/Travel & Food

The forests can hide untold amounts of treasures. One employee of the Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology in Liptovský Mikuláš learned this lesson first-hand in January when a walk in the forest led to the discovery of a lifetime.

2Cellos Performing In Rome.

The “Smooth Criminals” of the Croatian Music Scene

by Danijel Bačan
10 February 2024
Croatia/Travel & Food

Almost everyone knows Michael Jackson's 1980s worldwide smash hit song "Smooth Criminal", but slightly fewer people know how a cover of this song brought viral fame to two cellists. So how did 2CELLOS become a world-famous musical sensation from Croatia?

Hands holding tea cup over the breakfast table

Drinking Tea in Bulgaria: It’s Complicated

by Galina Ganeva
9 February 2024
Bulgaria/Travel & Food/Culture

"I am Bulgarian, not English. I only drink coffee, not tea." Some nine years ago, Jonathan Allen, then British ambassador to Bulgaria, made a statement most Bulgarians easily support. And while Ambassador Allen might have gone back to drinking tea, Bulgaria's relationship with this beverage remains somewhat lukewarm.

fat thursday poland

Fat Thursday or Mardi Gras? In Poland, We Say, Why Not Both?

by Przemysław Bociąga
8 February 2024
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

Used to fasting and celebrating Easter as a time of penance, many Poles limit indulgences to only a few special occasions each year. But when it’s time to feast time, they do it 100%. Or, in this case, 200%.

man blows the glass in the Kvetna 1794 glassworks

The Czech Glass Class

by Marek Koten
3 February 2024
Travel & Food/Culture/Romania

There are many things the Czech Republic is very well known for, one of them being Czech Glass. To be more specific, Bohemian Crystal. The production of Bohemian Crystal, from the Bohemia and Silesia regions, is a rich centuries-old tradition that is still thriving today.

Dinning

Love Zero-Waste Cuisine? Try Traditional Polish Dishes 

by Przemysław Bociąga
2 February 2024
Poland/Travel & Food

Poles love their pigs – from head to tail, guts and all. Here are some examples of how deeply the “zero-waste” idea is rooted in Poland. 

People in thermal pool, Besenova, Slovakia

Some Like It Hot: The Ultimate Guide to Slovakia’s Thermal Spas

by Przemysław Bociąga
1 February 2024
Slovakia/Travel & Food

…and the country knows exactly how to put them to good use. We're taking a deep dive into some of the best thermal spas Slovakia has to offer.

olive

Greece’s Tree of Life Is Growing Strong

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

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?

Students studying in the library of the University of Vienna.

The Oldest Universities in Central Europe

by Przemysław Bociąga
21 January 2024
Lithuania/Travel & Food

When thinking about the oldest universities in Europe, the first that come to mind are probably Oxford or the Sorbonne. That would be a good guess, as those are indeed among the ten oldest universities in the world, most of which were founded in the 13th century or earlier.

Traditional Hungarian Esterhazy cake, torte with cup of coffee. Marble background. Close up

The Hungarian Sweet Tooth

by Weronika Edmunds
19 January 2024
Hungary/Travel & Food

Dobos cake, Kürtöskalács, Szaloncukor, Rétes. Hungarians know their sweets, and you should get to know them too!

Bohinj lake in Triglav National Park.

Bitstamp of Approval: Slovenia’s Silicon ‘Dolina’

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

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

boy bathing and swimming in the cold water of a lake or river among the ducks, cold therapy, ice swim with forest trees on background

Dive On In! The Water’s Just… Freezing

by Weronika Edmunds
14 January 2024
Travel & Food/Culture

In the middle of the summer, as we are stocking up on that lush, sun-generated heat, it seems safer to think about the growing trend of swimming in icy-cold water in the middle of winter. A sport that unites some of the Baltic countries. Which ones?

Traditional Polish kraut stew bigos with sausage, meat and mushrooms as top view in a cast iron pot and pewter plate on an old rustic board

Vivat Bigos! Polish Hunter’s Stew Still Unites

by Weronika Edmunds
12 January 2024
Poland/Travel & Food

Among Polish dishes, one has enjoyed unfading popularity over the centuries. It is still among the most recognizable flavors of Poland. And a reason why in many Polish houses, during the cold seasons, you may notice a hint of cabbage smell coming from the kitchen.

Fresh snow at the Elatochori ski center on January 30, 2023 in Central Macedonia, Greece.

Ski Greece: Mediterranean Mountains With Serious Snow

by Sam Baldwin
7 January 2024
Travel & Food/Greece

More famous for sand than snow, we explore the unique winter wonderlands of Greece. Though the ski resorts might struggle to compete with well-known Alpine favorites, could the country become a hotspot for backcountry ski touring?

Bowl with tasty bulgarian cheese and tomatoes on grey background

Location, Location, Location. But for Food and Spirits.

by Galina Ganeva
5 January 2024
Bulgaria/Travel & Food/Business

Ingredients are everything. But increasingly, the region of origin of what you put in your shopping basket also sells. Now, more Bulgarian producers are looking to stamp the European Commission's coveted Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) label on their products.

Crowd cheering in front of vibrant firework

New Year Traditions in Central Europe

by Weronika Edmunds
1 January 2024
Croatia/Travel & Food

The clock strikes 12, and we all suddenly find in a new year. New Year's Eve is the one day that unites people of all religions (and time zones) in celebration and has always been connected with many traditions.

Kingsize movie set

The Polish Communist Cola That Turns You Into a Giant Dwarf

by Przemysław Bociąga
30 December 2023
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

Communist countries were jealous of a few things from the West, and one of them was the famous "capitalist" soft drink. A Polish copy became the symbol of attempts at escaping communism – but in a very unexpected way.

A re-enactment of the coronation of Charles IV as king of Bohemia was staged in Prague's St Vitus Cathedral, Prague, Czech Republic, September 4, 2016 at the close of two-day festivity the City of Prague and Charles University jointly organised to mark the Holy Roman emperor's 700th birth anniversary

The Path of Greatness – Prague’s Royal Road

by Marek Koten
27 December 2023
Travel & Food/Culture/Czechia

It is a route that Czech Kings took upon their coronation for centuries. And while there are no kings in Czechia these days, the Royal Road is still a crucial sightseeing trail through Prague.

A church made entirely from ice is seen during the night at Balea Lac resort in the Fagaras mountains

Bâlea Lake Ice Church

by Naomi Gherman
26 December 2023
Romania/Travel & Food

Surely you've heard of Ice Hotels as they are nothing new. But if you are looking for one of a kind place to hold your wedding or christening of your child, then this Ice Church on top of Romania's highest peaks might be the perfect place.

winter sleigh ride in Beskid Żywiecki

Come, Sleigh With Me! In Poland, It’s a Tradition

by Weronika Edmunds
25 December 2023
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

When frosty winter hits, people tend to stay home and warm themselves up with a nice cuppa… not! Not when they're Polish, anyway. Winter at the end of the carnival was considered by the nobles as the best time to hit each other's pads and party.

A vibrant red Christmas wreath made of small wild red rowan berries. The decoration is hanging on a black colored door. In the center of the door is a brass door knocker, in the shape of a fish

We All Eat Carp – Central European Christmas Traditions

by Weronika Edmunds
22 December 2023
Travel & Food/Culture

It is peculiar how people in every country tend to imagine their traditions must be very national. As much as it is true about some, the common roots of the Three Seas States result in many practices we all share. Do you know which ones?

Hipster working with laptop on the rooftop

Working to Live or Living to Work?

by Galina Ganeva
20 December 2023
Travel & Food/Business

Looking for a country offering a life-work balance that satisfies your needs? If you live in the 3 Seas Region, you might already be living in one.

Tea vs chai - etymology and differences

What’s in a Name? More Than You Think When It Comes to Tea

by Przemysław Bociąga
17 December 2023
Lithuania/Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

The whole of Europe can be divided into two parts, just based on the name of this staple drink - tea. The only countries that escape this division are the former members of the Polish-Lithuania commonwealth. So, what can we glean from this fact?

People run during the sauna marathon

Oh, the Weather Outside is Frightful… Let’s Hit the Sauna!

by Weronika Edmunds
16 December 2023
Estonia/Travel & Food/Culture

During the longest, cold winter nights, you may want to curl up under your blanket with a cup of hot cocoa and a favorite film. But why not try something different? Estonians did. And now, each year, they host the European Sauna Marathon!

Happy friends with sparklers celebrating christmas at home feast over snow.

Polish Christmas Eve Explained – 12 Dishes, White Bread, and Hay

by Weronika Edmunds
15 December 2023
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

As Christmas Day is right around the corner, it is interesting to see how countries of the Three Seas region celebrate that time. Poland's Christmas Eve celebration is rather elaborate and has not changed much over centuries.

couple walking on the street with winter decoration

Vilnius: The City of Low-Flying Angels

by Weronika Edmunds
14 December 2023
Lithuania/Travel & Food/Culture

A city foretold by an iron wolf, built by a pagan Duke, developed by Christian kings, drowning in green vegetation, and home to hundreds of angels – Vilnius might just be the most exceptional European capital.

Christmas winter snow family contemplative dad mum child night evening Oberndorf

Turning Christmas Carol Into a Worldwide Hit Song

by Weronika Edmunds
9 December 2023
Austria/Travel & Food/Culture

During Christmas, one melody is sure to unite the world. This carol has been sung for over two hundred years by Christians all over the world. Do you know it? Where does it come from?

portrait of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge in hat

Meet the Bulgarian Designer Dressing Kate Middleton

by Galina Ganeva
8 December 2023
Czechia/Travel & Food/Culture

The impeccable style of Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, has been well-documented. But a closer look behind the scenes at Eponine London, one of the high-end brands favored by the Duchess, unexpectedly takes us to a sleepy Bulgarian town of 12,000 people.

Santa Claus

When Does Saint Nick Really Pay a Visit?

by Weronika Edmunds
6 December 2023
Travel & Food/Culture

We seem to take it for granted that Christmas presents are brought by Father Christmas in his sleigh. That's down to C.C. Moore, but what came before and is still practiced in many Three Seas States?

Tallinn Christmas Market

The Best Christmas Markets in Central Europe

by Weronika Edmunds
3 December 2023
Croatia/Travel & Food

Ho! Ho! Ho! With the merriest time of year around the corner, the cities of Europe are getting into the festive spirit. What better way to do so than by eating, dancing, and Christmas shopping? What are the best destinations to travel to?

Tasty Hungarian goulash soup

Goulash: The King of Stews

by Weronika Edmunds
1 December 2023
Romania/Travel & Food/Culture

Pepper, onions, some meat, paprika, and one pot make for a steaming, hot goodness. This world-famous dish does have its own story to tell.

Ski Jumping World Cup at Planica

Planica: Where Ski Flying Was Born

by Vid Sosic
30 November 2023
Croatia/Travel & Food

In the Slovene Alps, there is a valley called Planica. Although incredibly beautiful, that isn’t what sets it apart from other alpine valleys. What makes it unique is a century-old tradition of ski flying, an extreme version of ski jumping, with much longer distances.

St. Andrew’s Eve Fortune Telling

St. Andrew’s Eve Fortune Telling – The Original Tinder

by Przemysław Bociąga
29 November 2023
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

A national holiday in Romania and a popular customary feast in more countries of Central Europe, the commemoration of St. Andrews Day on November 30 is an occasion to witness ghostly activities and get them to share insights from the future.

Gellert Thermal Baths and Swimming Pool

The World’s Spa Capital

by Weronika Edmunds
25 November 2023
Hungary/Travel & Food/Culture

Hungary is known to have more thermal spas than any other country. With over 1300 springs nationwide, a staggering 123 are found in Budapest alone. Fancy a spa getaway? This is the place to go!

Bouillon served in two bowls

Why Polish Bouillon Base Is Called the “Italian Stuff” 

by Przemysław Bociąga
24 November 2023
Poland/Travel & Food

The magical combination of carrot, parsley, celery, and leek is so ubiquitous in Polish cuisine that it forms its own category called "the Italian stuff”. The tradition dates back to one dynastic marriage in the 16th century. 

The roofs of Tallinn

Going North: Tallinn’s International Appeal Is on the Rise

by Galina Ganeva
17 November 2023
Estonia/Travel & Food

Estonia's capital, Tallinn, occupies a coveted spot among the best cities in the world, at least according to expats. But as great as it sounds, there are still some things Tallinn should work on.

Aerial drone view of small beautiful church on top of a mountain in Slovenia at dawn. Beautiful autumn morning landscape

Slovenia – The Land of Chapels

by Vid Sosic
15 November 2023
Culture/Slovenia/Travel & Food

Slovenia has a rich tradition of building chapels. You can see them everywhere, in any shape and form, old and new. Although visitors to the lands would point to this extraordinary fact, it is unclear why the tradition was so alive among Slovenes.

Circus and street art festival RE RIGA! The street performance “Arrived” by Spanish street theater artist Adrian Schvarzstein and Lithuanian dancer and actor Jūratė Sirvytė-Rukstelė.

The Riga Circus Is More Than a Show

by Przemysław Bociąga
12 November 2023
Latvia/Travel & Food/Culture

This classical building in the center of Riga is very much alive, still serving its main objective: developing the (now-nearly forgotten) art of the circus.

Painting depicting the signature of the armistice in the railway carriage

What’s All the Fuss About November 11?

by Weronika Edmunds
11 November 2023
Travel & Food/Culture

The 11th of November is a day of remembrance virtually within all European countries scarred by the First World War. How exactly did this day shape Europe as we know it?

Roast goose in a roasting tin

Goose, Wine, and Sweets – Saint Martin’s Feast in Central Europe

by Weronika Edmunds
10 November 2023
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

Sometimes referred to as the European Thanksgiving, Sant Martin’s day is a feast that unites many countries in the region. Like every good party, it is marked with traditional specialties – wine, goose, and sweet pastries.

Photo of the image of the country of Romania taken by people. Guinness World Record "Largest human image of a country/continent".

Getting the Big Picture (Literally)

by Naomi Gherman
7 November 2023
Romania/Travel & Food/Culture

One of the most contested Guinness records, "Largest human image of a country/continent," has been held by Romania since 2018 when, on the occasion of the country's centenary, more than 4000 people joined hands in framing the shape of their homeland.

Kihnu family on a motorcycle ride

The Real-Life Island of Estonian Amazons

by Przemysław Bociąga
5 November 2023
Estonia/Travel & Food/Culture

Kihnu is known in Estonia as the land of women and is even called Europe's last matriarchy.

Hancza Lake. Suwałki Landscape Park.

Remnants of the Ice Age in Poland

by Weronika Edmunds
2 November 2023
Poland/Travel & Food

Growing up in Poland, it was always fun to follow weather forecasts (*talking about the weather is not actually only a British thing). As kids, we kept a comparison score of whether it would be as cold where we were as it was in the northeasternmost Polish town of Suwałki.

Night Cemetery at All Saints' Day in Slovakia

All the Dearly Departed

by Weronika Edmunds
1 November 2023
Travel & Food/Culture

Throughout millennia, humans have always paid respects to their dead and laid them to rest with elaborate burial styles. Gradually, these were replaced by rituals. Are you sure you know how they developed and what remains of them today?

Postcard with scene from Dziady

Spirits Awakened During This Slavic-Style Halloween Precursor

by Przemysław Bociąga
28 October 2023
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

In Halloween costumes, light-hearted witchcraft, and door-to-door trick-or-treating, many conservatives in Central Europe see Satanism, postmodernism, and westernization. But in times past, the spirit of Halloween was summoned even here on Forefather's Eve.

Pustinja Blaca stone desert hermitage on Brac, Dalmatia, Croatia, Europe

Blaca Hermitage – A Former Settlement Hidden in a Rock

by Ewelina Sadura Marinović
26 October 2023
Croatia/Travel & Food

There are places on earth that were created as a result of great hardship and human sacrifice. Blaca Hermitage on the island of Brač is one of them. The buildings, which were built into rock under harsh and inconvenient conditions, impresses with its uniqueness and history.

Grey peas with bacon and onions, the national dish of Latvia

The Celebrated Gray Peas of Latvia

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
20 October 2023
Latvia/Travel & Food

Nutritious, versatile, and flavorful, Latvia's big gray peas are a long-term hero of national cuisine. Today, they even stand in for chickpeas in localized versions of hummus and falafel.

The Heads of Wawel

A View From the Top: The Heads of Wawel

by Przemysław Bociąga
15 October 2023
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

One ceiling in Kraków's Wawel Royal Castle is uniquely adorned with busts of Polish rulers, a collection that was lost, found, and later expanded.

Prague, Czech Republic, 3 august 2023. Metro statioin pictogram. Mustek M1.

The Story of Prague’s Metro

by Marek Koten
14 October 2023
Czechia/Travel & Food/Culture

Serving as a primary means of transportation for the city and nuclear shelter in the past, the new vision of Prague Metro introduces a fully autonomous modern intra-city connection.

Pažanga company and Party Headquarters (1934) by Feliksas Vizbaras.

Kaunas’s Architecture of Optimism

by Augustas Kalinauskas
8 October 2023
Culture/Lithuania/Travel & Food

There is no other city in Lithuania where social, political, and cultural trends are reflected in architecture to such an extent. The history of the past few centuries becomes crystal clear in Kaunas as the city gained its modern form only recently.

The city of Split in Croatia in the region of Dalmatia, Froggyland sign.

Frogs Personified at a Unique Croatian Museum

by Danijel Bačan
30 September 2023
Croatia/Travel & Food

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if animals behaved like humans? One incredibly unique Croatian museum is dedicated to exploring this question and is full of exhibits where frogs go to school, work, and even play tennis. Well, kind of.

Hands of three men toasting with beer

A Toast to the Czech Beer Industry!

by Marek Koten
24 September 2023
Czechia/Travel & Food

Beer is intrinsically linked to Czechia. Moreover, the Czechs hold several records in beer consumption. But some of them are not very flattering.

Tour of Slovenia 2018

Breaking Away from the Pack: The Slovene Passion for Cycling

by Agnieszka Sawala
23 September 2023
Romania/Travel & Food/Culture

Cycling is one of the Slovenes' national superpowers. For several years their peloton has been running away from the rest of the world. Who will finally overtake them (and why it won't be that easy)?

Man hands picking mushroom with orange cap

Central Europeans Are Master Foragers

by Przemysław Bociąga
22 September 2023
Travel & Food

The people of Central Europe are widely known to take advantage of the forest's abundant gifts. And it's not all about mushrooms.

Monument to Aleksander Fredro (1793-1876), Polish playwright and poet, 1897, night view, bronze statue by Leonard Marconi (1836-1899), Wroclaw, Poland.

The Pedestal That Got a New Tenant

by Przemysław Bociąga
20 September 2023
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

After World War Two, all the German culture was forced out of Wrocław, and Polish culture swept in. This included the residents switching out the most important monument in the main square.

Hand drawing "Do you speak English?" on green chalkboard.

Austrians’ Excellent English Makes Life Easier for Non-Natives

by Sam Baldwin
19 September 2023
Austria/Travel & Food/Culture

Sprechen Sie Englisch? In the most recent English Proficiency Index, Austria ranks second best in Europe. For those not yet fluent in German, it makes adapting to Austrian life that little bit easier.

Panoramic view over the center of Burgas, Bulgaria, shot with drones

Three Reasons Why Burgas Is Bulgaria’s “It” City

by Galina Ganeva
16 September 2023
Bulgaria/Travel & Food

This southeastern Bulgarian city of close to 200,000 residents wasn't voted "Best city to live" for nothing. But Burgas has more to offer than a stroll along the Black Sea and what seems like a never-ending summer music festival program.

Enthusiasts Commemorate Liberation Of West Bohemia During World War II. DNESICE, CZECH REPUBLIC - MAY 04: A history enthusiast dressed in WWII U.S. Army uniform poses during stop over the 'Convoy of Liberty' event which drive through west Bohemian cities and villages near Pilsen on. May 4, 2013 in Dnesice, Czech Republic. 'Convoy of Liberty' commemorates the 68th anniversary of the World War II ending in Europe and when in 1945 the western part of the Czech Republic was liberated by the U.S. Army from Nazi oppression.

Stars and Stripes Over Pilsen

by Marek Koten
15 September 2023
Czechia/Travel & Food/Culture

Pilsen was the only major Czech city liberated by the American army during World War II. How did this happen, why did the Americans not go further, and how do Pilseners still celebrate this fact today?

Prince Charles, Prince Of Wales, 2013.

Your Majesty, Meet the Bednarczyks

by Przemysław Bociąga
10 September 2023
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

When Charles Windsor became King Charles III, the internet resurfaced the photo of his 1993 visit to a Polish provincial family. It still amuses Poles to this day.

Oscypek - traditional polish smoked sheep cheese.

It’s Oscypek Season, and We All Should Celebrate

by Przemysław Bociąga
9 September 2023
Poland/Travel & Food

A bucket list item for cheese lovers from around the world, smoked sheep cheese from the Tatra Mountains is seasonal and, in Poland, even has a protected name of origin.

Stay in Nidden. At the beach. Standing, from left: Monika Mann with a farm girl, Golo Mann, Katia Mann, Michael Mann, Elisabeth Mann, Thomas Mann, Ilse Dernburg, 1930.

The Curonian Spit, Where Nature Meets History

by Augustas Kalinauskas
8 September 2023
Lithuania/Travel & Food

Sometimes it is called the most beautiful place in Lithuania. And there are thousands of reasons why – the Curonian Spit is a 98-kilometer-long peninsula that forms a lagoon separating Lithuania from the Baltic Sea.

Rijeka dubrovacka, Dubrovnik - Photo shows river Ombla and Franjo Tudjman Bridge in Dubrovnik, Croatia. The Ombla is a short river in Croatia, its course is approximately 30 meters long, and by many accounts, it is one of the shortest river in the world.

Where is Europe’s Shortest River

by Ewelina Sadura Marinović
7 September 2023
Travel & Food/Croatia

Have you ever wondered where Europe's shortest river is? Or maybe the question has crossed your mind how long can it be? If your answer is "yes," then be sure to read this text – you will find all the answers.

Man hiking at mountains with heavy backpack Travel Lifestyle wanderlust adventure concept summer vacations outdoor alone into the wild. Tatra National Park, Poland.

The Unplugged Tourist Shelters of the Polish Mountainside

by Przemysław Bociąga
3 September 2023
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

In the Polish mountainside, you can still find tourist shelters so unplugged that you have to chop your own wood and use a well to get a cup of hot tea.

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.

Saint Anastasia Island in Burgas bay, Black Sea, Bulgaria. Lighthouse tower and old wooden buildings on rocky coast.

Bulgaria’s Little-Known Islands Have a Story to Tell

by Galina Ganeva
1 September 2023
Bulgaria/Travel & Food

If you can't name a single Bulgarian island, there is a good reason for that. Hopefully, that's all about to change.

Young smiling woman holding onto a handle while traveling by public bus.

Riding the Bus With a Mission in Sofia

by Galina Ganeva
28 August 2023
Bulgaria/Travel & Food/Green Transformation

Sofia, among other capitals and cities across the 3Seas Region, offers some good news in the race for cleaner transport. But a lot still must be done.

Colorful birdhouses hanging on branches in front of a brown wall , Groznjan, Istra Croatia.

The Artistic Soul of Grožnjan

by Ewelina Sadura Marinović
26 August 2023
Croatia/Travel & Food

For most of us, art is associated with galleries and museums. In these places, you can see the works of various artists. But what if we told you there is a town that is a huge art gallery in itself?

Camping “Melnsils” is a place to enjoy peace and silence by the sea and nature.

At Melnsils, You Can Sleep in a Boat, Barrel, or Bunker

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
25 August 2023
Latvia/Travel & Food

This campsite in Latvia offers much more than just a bed for the night. Inspired by the sea, local history, and traditional lifestyles, Melnsils has built several unusual cabins for immersing oneself in the rugged coastal landscape.

Curvy road from the high mountain pass in Transalpina, Romania.

Make Way for the Highway: How Romania Is Reconnecting Itself

by Christopher Radovici
23 August 2023
Business/Romania/Travel & Food

In a bid to revamp its mostly uncompetitive road system, Romania seeks to spend more than EUR 20 bln in the upcoming years on ambitious interconnectivity projects to freshen up its infrastructure. When these will turn from ink into concrete remains to be seen.

Polish yacht designer Zygmunt Choren.

A Sailor’s Biggest Dream

by Jakub Warzecha
18 August 2023
Poland/Travel & Food

Are you ready to set sail on an adventure aboard the largest sailing ship in history? Then hop aboard the Golden Horizon, a majestic vessel that will take you on a voyage you'll never forget.

Funicular to the Kaptol hill in Zagreb, Croatia on September 16, 2021.

The World’s Shortest Cable Car Ride

by Ewelina Sadura Marinović
17 August 2023
Croatia/Travel & Food/Business

The world's shortest cable car is in the heart of old Zagreb! The cable car has been a symbol of the city and an attraction among tourists for years. Take a [surprisingly comfy] seat and indulge in the charms of exploring Croatia's capital.

Elblag, 1960s. Polish sculptors prepare their works at the Zamech factory, n/z on the left Magdalena Więcek-Wnuk. The sculpture by Magdalena Więcek-Wnuk was created during the Second Biennial of Spatial Forms in 1967. The form was designed for the surroundings of the stadium of the "Olimpia" sports club, but was eventually set up in Dworcowy Square, opposite the railroad station. In the 1990s, the composition was moved to the courtyard of the EL Gallery. In this work, the author was interested in the problem of extracting spherical forms from space and confronting them in space.

Elbląg’s Biennale Turned the City Into an Open-Air Gallery

by Przemysław Bociąga
12 August 2023
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

An unusual artist project from the 1960s and 70s turned a medium-sized Polish city's public squares into the exposition of the country's best sculptors.

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.

Cup of Cappuccino

Coffee-Drinking Culture in Croatia

by Ewelina Sadura Marinović
7 August 2023
Croatia/Travel & Food

Coffee. Can you imagine a day without it? It puts you on your feet, gives you energy, and is simply irreplaceable. And did you know that Croatia is a country of coffee drinkers?

Alien spacecraft is hovering over the trees

The Polish Monument Marking a UFO Landing

by Przemysław Bociąga
6 August 2023
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

In 1978, a man from the village of Emilcin, Poland, made contact with beings from outer space. And it must be true because there's proof: a monument that says so!

Decorative sticks in the the park.

The Iconic Sigulda Walking Stick

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
2 August 2023
Latvia/Travel & Food/Culture

While still a practical mobility aid for seniors and hikers, the generously patterned and colorful wooden walking stick has also become a symbol of the Latvian town of Sigulda. It is a much-loved souvenir item, and you can even make your own version.

Close up of the traditional istrian huts - Kazun. With blue sky in background.

Kažuni – Croatia’s Igloo-Shaped Stone Houses

by Ewelina Sadura Marinović
31 July 2023
Travel & Food/Culture/Croatia

Hidden among pastures and vineyards, these igloo-like stone houses, forged through skill, determination, and great patience, are an inseparable part of the landscape of Istria and Dalmatia in Croatia.

I.D.C. Holding, a.s. is a proud continuation of the production of many traditional waffles. In several consecutive years, its products have won the Most Trusted Brand award in the biscuits and wafers category.

How Sweetly Satisfying Horalky Wafers Became a Slovakian Staple

by Martin Hochel
31 July 2023
Slovakia/Travel & Food/Business

The most well-known wafer biscuit in Slovakia is undoubtedly Horalka, which has reigned supreme for almost 60 years. With a recipe still under lock and key, the sweet treat has won the hearts of many across the world.

Eurovision 2023. Poland entrant Blanka during the grand opening of the grand final for the Eurovision Song Contest final at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool. Picture date: Saturday May 13, 2023.

Bulgaria’s Polish Connection

by Galina Ganeva
28 July 2023
Bulgaria/Travel & Food/Culture/Poland

Located at the opposite ends of the three seas region, Bulgaria and Poland are connected in myriad ways. But with new countries competing for attention, are traditional cultural ties still going strong?

poster for the

Lake Bohinj “Is Too Beautiful for Murder”

by Agnieszka Sawala
27 July 2023
Slovenia/Travel & Food/Culture

What do Agata Christie, Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce, Ulay, Jackie Chan, and Nick Cave have in common? A Slovenian episode!

Professor Erno Rubik With Daughter

The Hungarian Who Famously Puzzled the World

by Przemysław Bociąga
26 July 2023
Romania/Travel & Food/Culture

Ernő Rubik, the inventor of the world’s famous Rubik’s Cube, with a background in building and furniture design, is now a STEM promotor, game designer, and an acclaimed symbol of Hungary.

Underground glacier in Scarisoara cave, Apuseni mountains, Romania

Romania’s Largest Underground Glacier Is Melting… Quickly

by Naomi Gherman
25 July 2023
Romania/Travel & Food

The world's oldest cave glacier is disintegrating. As in, it is literally disappearing into thin air right before our eyes. The accelerated melting rate is caused by global warming, and sadly, the process is irreversible.

bryndza cheese

Tracing the Slovak Origins of Bryndza

by Martin Hochel
23 July 2023
Slovakia/Travel & Food/Culture

Bryndza is a phenomenon in the Slovak food industry. The origins of this soft cheese can be traced back to the 18th century’s recipe, which was probably developed by the Vlach population. Family businesses were the key to its promotion and export, and their legacy continues to this day.

Saint Dominic’s Fair

Gdańsk Has St. Dominic to Thank For its Best-Known Event

by Weronika Edmunds
22 July 2023
Poland/Travel & Food/Business/Culture

The oldest fair in the world has been held in Frankfurt since 1240. How does the Saint Dominic’s fair, held annually in Gdańsk, compare to that result? You might be surprised.

Fresh red pepper

Pepper Wars: Who is Europe’s Pepper Superpower?

by Galina Ganeva
21 July 2023
Bulgaria/Travel & Food/Business

Before peppers came to Hungary, Bulgaria had already made a name for itself as a power to be reckoned with. And while production of locally grown red peppers is down, the Bulgarian pepper refuses to retire.

Center Noordung named after Space Station theorist

The Slovenian Origins of Space Travel

by Agnieszka Sawala
20 July 2023
Latvia/Travel & Food/Business

Almost a century ago, Slovenian engineer Herman "Noordung" Potočnik published his innovative concept for long-term human habitation of space. As is often the case with visionaries, hardly anyone took him seriously at first.

Hiking in forest

The Green Heart of Europe

by Agnieszka Sawala
19 July 2023
Slovenia/Travel & Food/Culture

Slovenia is not only literally one of the greenest countries in the European Union. Here you can live, travel, and even eat and drink eco-friendly!

Crew of Soyuz-28 Cosmonauts Alexei Gubarev, Vladimir Remek climb into the ship before the start in 1978

The Central European Space Crew of the Past

by Przemysław Bociąga
17 July 2023
Lithuania/Travel & Food/Culture

Bertalan Farkas (Hungarian), Mirosław Hermaszewski (Polish), Vladimir Remek (Czechoslovakian), and Franz Viehböck (Austrian) were among the first astronauts, or cosmonauts as they were called in the Soviet space program, from Central Europe.

Siege of Albazin by the Qing army in the 1780s, late 17th century Chinese drawing from the collection of the US Congress

Jaxa – A Polish Revenge-Colony in the Far East

by Weronika Edmunds
16 July 2023
Travel & Food/Culture/Poland

A good piece of advice – never anger a Pole. Better yet – never anger a Pole by attacking his loved ones. Regardless of how important you may be, chances are you risk one going, "[Polish] Medieval on your ass."

A steam locomotive pulls away from the station.

All Aboard the Bānītis – North Latvia’s Steam Train

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
16 July 2023
Latvia/Travel & Food

A historical narrow-gauge railway in North Latvia connects the towns of Gulbene and Alūksne and charming villages along the way. This part of the country is an ideal destination for railway-themed trips.

Tasty Romanian traditional cake papanasi

Papanași, the Romanian Donut

by Naomi Gherman
15 July 2023
Travel & Food/Romania

Crunchy on the outside yet steamy and soft on the inside, this cheese donut topped with slightly tangy sour cream and the sweetest home-made jam, the humble papanași a dessert that will have you fall in love with instantly and most certainly ruin any current or future diet plan.

Lion resting on a tree

Vienna’s Tiergarten Schönbrunn Is the World’s Oldest Zoo

by Przemysław Bociąga
13 July 2023
Czechia/Travel & Food

Many of the zoological gardens in Europe are direct descendants of royal animal collections. The oldest among them is in Vienna.

Aerial sunset view over cape Kaliakra with windmills farm, huge cliffs on black sea coast in Bulgaria.

Black Sea Holidays: Two Spots for Bulgarians in the Know

by Galina Ganeva
12 July 2023
Bulgaria/Travel & Food

With Bulgaria banking on the return of tourists to its popular Black Sea Coast, finding a quiet place away from big hotels poses a challenge. And yet, it's doable.

The founders of the dobro&dobro coffee shop chain Oleg (left) and Inna (right) Yarovy.

Polish Streets Are Teeming With Ukrainian Chefs

by Przemysław Bociąga
11 July 2023
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

With millions of Ukrainians in Poland, workers and refugees alike, the Polish culinary scene has witnessed a pivot from sushi to potato dumplings.

The Muddy Volcanoes in Buzau, Romania.

Moon Landing on Earth: The Buzău Mud Volcanoes

by Naomi Gherman
8 July 2023
Romania/Travel & Food

Ever wondered what it would be like to walk on the moon? Finding out might be easier than you think, for, in the Romanian county of Buzău, you can do just that - without the weightlessness, though.

Members of Roma community parade through Old Town of Prague during the Khamoro World Roma Festival

Central European Romani Culture Is Vibrant and Distinctive

by Przemysław Bociąga
7 July 2023
Travel & Food/Culture

You may call them nation with no country, but several Central European countries are home to this colorful and original nomadic people.

Aerial view of Kernave Archaeological site, a medieval capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, tourist attraction and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Kernave – A Lithuanian Pompeii

by Augustas Kalinauskas
5 July 2023
Lithuania/Travel & Food/Culture

Anyone who grew up in the early 2000s knows "Gladiator" by Ridley Scott. Yet another Hollywood movie that came out only a year later also tapped into the sword-and-sandals success of its Golden Globe-winning predecessor - but with a Central European twist.

Friends taking selfie at the beach. Black Sea, Bulgaria.

Summer Is Here. Is Bulgaria Ready?

by Galina Ganeva
2 July 2023
Bulgaria/Travel & Food/Business

With the world largely considering the COVID-19 pandemic a thing of the past, its effects are still holding back one of Bulgaria's key industries – tourism. Add the war in Ukraine to the equation, and the question arises: will Bulgaria's tourism sector rebound (soon)?

medieval feast

One of the First Polish Poems Was a Table Etiquette Guide

by Przemysław Bociąga
2 July 2023
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

The first non-religious sample of long-form written Polish language is a poem giving some genuinely sage advice: wash your hands before dinner.

Raftsman rafts tourists on the Dunajec river

Traditional Dunajec Gorge Rafting in Poland

by Weronika Edmunds
1 July 2023
Poland/Travel & Food

Aren’t we all too familiar with the pictures of Venician gondoliers, carefully navigating the channels of Italy’s city of romance? Try something niche! Poland offers its own, wilder version of the same experience and throws in breathtaking views.

Slovakia Czech Republic Sign Flags Concept

A Diminishing Connection of Czechs and Slovaks

by Marek Koten
29 June 2023
Slovakia/Czechia/Travel & Food/Culture

Sociological surveys consistently show that young Czechs and Slovaks are losing their understanding of each other. Two nations that lived together for almost 70 years in a federation and have similar languages might not understand each other in the future.

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.

The great chamber of Coliboaia cave.

Paleolithic Art, Unique to Central Europe, Found in Romania

by Naomi Gherman
24 June 2023
Romania/Travel & Food/Culture

Forms of art created during the oldest era in human history have been found in Apuseni, Romania. The cave paintings, believed to be over 30,000 years old, represent the oldest form of cave art ever discovered in Central Europe.

Goa's idyllic beach, India

Was Dubrovnik a Colonial Power?

by Danijel Bačan
24 June 2023
Croatia/Travel & Food/Culture

British, French, and Spanish colonies are probably the first thing that comes to mind when you think of colonialism, but other European countries also ventured abroad. How did the famous Dubrovnik Republic establish its colony in distant India?

Croatian fans from San Pedro, California cheer as Andre Agassi (USA) losses to Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) during the first round of the Davis Cup at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. on March 4, 2005.

The Croatian Suburb of Los Angeles

by Danijel Bačan
19 June 2023
Croatia/Travel & Food/Culture

At the turn of the 20th century, Croatians who were driven out of their own land by poverty tried to find a place of opportunity that would remind them of their homeland. But how exactly did that lead them to the Los Angeles suburbs?

Wooden Tiny House Interior With Bed Furniture And Triangular Window. stock photo

Polish Recreational House Design Gets the Comeback it Deserves

by Przemysław Bociąga
18 June 2023
Poland/Travel & Food/Business

A-frame vacation homes, named after the Brda River in Poland, became popular in the 1970s. The project was so ingenious though that modern architects eagerly returned to the foundations of the idea.

Vinor rondel next to blocks of flats. Photo: Jana Plavec, Tomas Kopecky, External Relations Division Centre of Administration and Operations of the CAS

The Older Sibling of Stonehenge

by Marek Koten
18 June 2023
Czechia/Travel & Food/Culture

Recently discovered prehistoric excavations in the outskirts of Prague have revealed a site similar to the one at Stonehenge in England. Only much older.

View of the forest from the highest Baltic mountain Suur-Munamagi

Battle of the Baltic Peaks

by Przemysław Bociąga
15 June 2023
Travel & Food/Culture/Slovenia

We can call this episode "That time when Latvians built a tower to have a higher highest point than their neighbor." In reality, the highest Latvian and Estonian peaks just barely classify as "mountains." And at one point, Latvia even built a tower on top of its highest peak just to surpass its Estonian rival.

"Reception at Sepopo's" from Seven Years in South Africa (1881) by Emil Holub, translated by Ellen Elizabeth Frewer, illustrated by Karel Liebscher, Adolf Liebscher and Johann Varrone.

The Czech Explorer of Africa

by Marek Koten
14 June 2023
Czechia/Travel & Food/Business

Part two of the CZExplorers series introduces a doctor turned traveler who explored Africa, became a good friend with a King, and fought warriors, leopards, and diseases.

Friends tasting wine on the vineyard

A PR Crisis Led to the Resurrection of Austria’s Wine Industry

by Przemysław Bociąga
11 June 2023
Austria/Travel & Food/Business

After a scandal of large-scale wine adultery in the vineyard heartland of Austria, it was time to tidy up the fallout. What followed was the successful renaissance of Austrian winemaking. 

kashubian strawberries in bowl

The Wild Shrub That Became The Ultimate Strawberry

by Weronika Edmunds
11 June 2023
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

You won’t taste it during Wimbledon, served with a dollop of cream. Nor will you experience its sweetness on a hot afternoon in Huelva. But believe me – no strawberry in the world is equal to Kashubian strawberries. And there is a paper to prove it!

Berlin Protests Romania's Rosia Montana Mine. For the seventh Sunday in a row, people from Berlin gather in front of the Romanian Embassy to protest against the Rosia Montana gold mining project that plans to use cyanide in the extraction process. Protestors called for the 2,000 year-old site, where the open-cast mine will be located, to be listed as a UNESCO heritage site. The mine is believed to contain 314 tons of gold and 1,500 tons of silver. October 13, 2013.

Roșia Montană, a Land of Hope, Spirit, and Gold

by Naomi Gherman
11 June 2023
Romania/Travel & Food/Culture

When the world's largest, most diverse underground mining complex was set to become Europe's biggest open-pit mine, the people had a word to say against it. How much are Romanians willing to fight to protect Roșia Montană?

Womem in traditoonal orange-color cothes with flower crown. Photo: Dzintars Leja

The Suiti: A Catholic Island in a Lutheran Sea 

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
10 June 2023
Latvia/Travel & Food/Culture

A 17th-century love story between a German nobleman and a Polish aristocrat sparked the formation of a unique Catholic community that still exists in Latvia today. The Suiti are a remarkable and hardy people.

The Gric tunnel was decorated on the occasion of the beginning of Advent in the city in Zagreb, Croatia on November 27, 2022. This year's Advent theme in the Gric tunnel is "Polar dream".

Between Myth and Reality: Underground Tunnels in Zagreb

by Danijel Bačan
8 June 2023
Croatia/Travel & Food/Culture

Have you ever wanted your own private underground tunnel so you could leave your house without anyone noticing? This is precisely what some prominent people from Zagreb demanded - and received.

Romania, Transylvania, Sinca, rock monastery of Sinca Veche

The Destiny Temple, a Place Where Wishes Come True

by Naomi Gherman
7 June 2023
Romania/Travel & Food

It’s unknown who - or what - built the Șinca Veche Temple – an underground sanctuary that allegedly turns all of the desires of the pure-hearted into reality. Step inside the mysterious cave and discover the truth for yourself – if you dare.

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.

A huge soviet radio telescope near abandoned military town Irbene in Latvia. Former super-secret Soviet Army space spying object. Now largest radio telescope in northern Europe and the world's eighth largest.

Former Spy Facility Turned Space Research Center

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
6 June 2023
Latvia/Travel & Food/Business

Once home to Soviet army officers tasked with spying on the West, today the Latvian town of Irbene is the site of advanced space research. The VIRAC has given a new lease of life to the two giant radio telescopes it inherited.

Lavender on island Hvar Croatia, meadow brown butterfly

The Lavender Fields of Croatia

by Ewelina Sadura Marinović
5 June 2023
Croatia/Travel & Food/Culture

Lavender seekers should definitely head to the island of Hvar in Croatia. The small village of Velo Grablje has beautiful lavender fields that look like a spreading purple carpet in late June and early July.

Żurek with with white, Polish sausage

Five Polish Marmite Soups 

by Weronika Edmunds
4 June 2023
Poland/Travel & Food

You either love 'em or hate 'em! Every national cuisine has dishes bound to give goosebumps to those unfamiliar with the flavors. Would you try any of those Polish delicacies?

Polish apples are among the most consumed worldwide

A Polish Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

by Weronika Edmunds
3 June 2023
Croatia/Travel & Food

The apple. Such a ‘common’ fruit. So common, in fact, you might think that this staple of your 5 a day is simple to grow wherever you live. Rightly so. But did you know that globally the most apples consumed come from Poland?

nestinar man and woman are walking on fire

Playing With Fire in Bulgaria

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

In Balgari, a small village in Bulgaria’s Strandzha Mountains, the air is thick with anticipation. Embers are spread around in a large circle. High above the circle sit icons of the two saints, Constantine and Helena, who are being honored today. The fire dance is about to begin.

Group of different sea shells stock photo

The World’s Largest Collection of Shells in Makarska

by Ewelina Sadura Marinović
3 June 2023
Croatia/Travel & Food

Croatia has beautiful beaches, a pristine sea, and a unique underwater world. For centuries, locals have been interested in the treasures that the sea has to offer. Shells, in particular.

A teenage boy student sits in his dorm room with an English language learning book. A focused young man is learning a foreign language at home.

English for All! Foreign Languages in Central Europe

by Galina Ganeva
2 June 2023
Travel & Food/Business

Countries across the Three Seas region are steadily improving their proficiency in foreign languages, with Croatia and Poland placed among the top European countries when it comes to knowledge of English. But, the region is not done yet.

Janusz Korczak and children at the orphanage

Polish Teacher Who Laid Foundations for Modern Children’s Rights

by Przemysław Bociąga
1 June 2023
Czechia/Travel & Food

With a complicated biography, multiple areas of expertise, and a good number of jobs, Janusz Korczak was an exemplary modern teacher. His book for children entitled “Król Maciuś Pierwszy” (eng.: "His Majesty, King Matt the First") is a 1930s coming-of-age novel with a very modern take.

The stork in the Venta river eats lamprey.

Lamprey-Loving Latvians

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
28 May 2023
Latvia/Travel & Food

This eel-like creature in Latvia is much more than a simple food item. The lamprey contributes to the identity of some coastal towns. Every year, locals and visitors indulge in festivals dedicated to the fish.

father and son in amphibious on water

3-in-1 Solution for Camping on Land and Water

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
27 May 2023
Business/Tech/Latvia/Travel & Food

If only camping trips weren’t so challenging… Latvia’s BeTriton has a solution! Their amphibious electric vehicle allows crossing terrain and water at ease and eliminates the need to pitch a tent at night.

Chilled beatroot soup with egg, dill and potato

The Taste of Summer Along the Baltic

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
27 May 2023
Lithuania/Poland/Latvia/Travel & Food

A distant relative of Spanish gazpacho, the cold soup of Lithuania, Poland, and Latvia involves beetroot instead of tomato. The one ingredient they do share is cucumber. Both suit their respective climates at either end of Europe.

Time to Slow Your Roll? There’s a Bulgarian Saying for That.

by Galina Ganeva
20 May 2023
Bulgaria/Travel & Food/Culture

For centuries, generations of Bulgarians have resorted to a trove of proverbs and saying with clear negative undertones. Why is their pessimism still around?

East European Comic Con is an international Multi Genre pop culture convention held in Bucharest, Romania. One of the largest in Europe.

East European Comic Con Celebrates Its 10-Year Anniversary

by Naomi Gherman
19 May 2023
Croatia/Travel & Food/Culture

Ten years, ten editions, and over 100,000 visitors. These are the stats of Central and Eastern Europe's most influential comic book convention in numbers. But what does it like behind the doors?

cabbage dumplings

The Ultimate Guide to Polish Dumplings 

by Przemysław Bociąga
14 May 2023
Poland/Travel & Food

It’s true what food anthropologists say: dumplings are the most ubiquitous food concept in the world. Just think of Italian tortellini, Georgian khinkali, or Japanese gyoza. However, there's a reason that Polish dumplings are known across the globe. Our Pierogi 101 is here to help you navigate this rich world.

Close-up of woman receiving greeting card from her daughter on Mother's day.

The Mother’s Days of Central Europe

by Przemysław Bociąga
7 May 2023
Travel & Food/Culture

People across the countries of Central Europe embrace the spring by celebrating their nearest and dearest – parents, in a series of more or less official holidays. What are the dates to look forward to?

Main building of Tartu University

University of Tartu Founded Three Times by Three Different Rulers

by Przemysław Bociąga
3 May 2023
Travel & Food/Culture/Czechia

The Estonian city home to the University of Tartu has had multiple names and belonged to numerous countries. Despite the constant change, the university has managed to turn its varied heritage into a positive, now known internationally for its high level of education and openness to forward-thinking academic pursuits.

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.

Midsummer Night's Bonfire in Kuressaare

Estonia’s All-Day Party Season

by Przemysław Bociąga
1 May 2023
Estonia/Travel & Food

What is the Central European city that never sleeps - for at least part of the year? Tallinn, of course, where, during the summer solstice, you can take in the midnight sun.

Carafe with schnapps on white elegant tray

Make It Snappy With a Shot of Austrian Culture

by Przemysław Bociąga
30 April 2023
Austria/Travel & Food

Some 20 thousand distilleries, both public and private, operate in Austria. Their specialty is schnapps, a liqueur made from fruits, herbs, and spices.

The Observatory Making Sure “Don’t Look Up!” Stays Fiction

by Przemysław Bociąga
29 April 2023
Romania/Travel & Food

Croatia’s Višnjan Observatory is the most successful in the world when it comes to looking out for asteroids that could possibly crash into Earth.

Minox b camera with a box

Spies of the World Owe Much to This Tiny Latvian Invention

by Przemysław Bociąga
27 April 2023
Lithuania/Travel & Food/Culture

In 1937 Walter Zapp developed the Minox subminiature camera, a boon to real-life 007s across the world. His invention opened up the possibility of quickly and covertly smuggling countless thousands of pages of secret materials out from behind enemy lines.

Close up of Arcul de Triumf in Bucharest, Romania

Romania and Its Dual Identity

by Naomi Gherman
25 April 2023
Romania/Travel & Food/Culture

As the only Orthodox Latin country and the only one located so far east from the cluster, Romania is often referred to as a "cousin" of the Romance family. How close is Romania to its Latin roots, and how much was it influenced by the Slavic and Balkan culture?

People from the Armenian community carry torches in memory of the victims of the Ottoman atrocities

How Bulgaria Became a Second Homeland for Armenians

by Galina Ganeva
24 April 2023
Poland/Travel & Food/Business/Culture

On April 24, known as Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, Armenians in Bulgaria will pay their respects to the victims of the systematic murder of up to 1.5 million Armenians, which took place in the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century.

171 / 5 000 Wyniki tłumaczenia Tłumaczenie Honey harvesting during honey harvesting in the Augustowska Forest. Foresters implement a project to restore traditional bee-keeping to save wild bees living in forests

Pooh Was Onto Something – Bears Really Do Love Polish Honey

by Weronika Edmunds
23 April 2023
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! I wonder why he does. Perhaps because the honey of Polish forest bees has, for centuries, been cherished for its superb quality. Judge for yourself!

Vienna view of St. Charle's church

Vienna, a City With the Highest Standards of Living 

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

Yes, there is a way to measure it - many, actually, depending on who is doing the assessment. For many years now, whenever standards of living are measured, Vienna has managed to snag one of the top spots.

Waves break over the lighthouse, Rab, Croatia

Adriatic Answer is Blowin’ in the Wind

by Agnieszka Sawala
22 April 2023
Croatia/Slovenia/Travel & Food

The ice-cold winds known as a bora, bura, or burja in the Adriatic region might seem violent and terrifying for visitors. The locals believe in its good energy and the upcoming change it brings.

European bison in forest

No Animals Harmed in the Production of Polish Bisongrass Vodka

by Przemysław Bociąga
21 April 2023
Travel & Food/Culture/Poland

As mezcal famously has its worm, this Polish vodka gets its specific yellowish tint from a straw of grass, the same that feeds bison in Eastern Poland.

Valga Central Square from a bird's eye view

One City, Two Countries

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
21 April 2023
Latvia/Estonia/Travel & Food

Residents of Valka, Latvia, and Valga, Estonia, come and go freely, living in one country and shopping, studying, or working in the other, illustrating the human value of open borders. Visitors can explore both within a day or two.

Sofia Fashion Week marriage proposal on catwalk

Say Yes to the (Bulgarian) Dress

by Galina Ganeva
20 April 2023
Romania/Travel & Food/Culture

The question was popped, and the answer is yes. Now what? For many Bulgarian brides-to-be, this question has an easy answer, at least when it comes to finding a bridal gown. It involves a road trip to Asenovgrad, a town in the south of Bulgaria.

Latvian blue cow on the field on sunny day.

The Colorful Cows of Latvia

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
19 April 2023
Latvia/Travel & Food

You could be forgiven for thinking a blue cow is something out of fiction. But it is, in fact, real and roams the fields of Latvia along with another local breed – the Latvian Brown.

A closeup shot of a modern high speed train at the Praha-Vrsovice train station in Prague

From Steam to Speed: The Future of the Czech Railway System

by Marek Koten
19 April 2023
Czechia/Travel & Food/Business/Tech

The Czech Republic stands at a critical crossroads for the future of train transport. While some dream of high-speed rail, others fear for the survival of trains. Will the Czechs get their TGV?

outside view of Hostel Celica

Former Lubljana Prison Promises a Good Night’s Sleep

by Przemysław Bociąga
16 April 2023
Romania/Travel & Food

Would you turn yourself into the cops for a good night's sleep? In Ljubljana, you can skip the drastic measures and still hide behind bars for a few peaceful hours of rest in this prison-turned-hotel in one of the city's most trendy districts.

pyramid of rapa in poland in the forest

A Pyramid Shrouded in Mystery – in Poland

by Przemysław Bociąga
15 April 2023
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

A small pyramid in northeastern Poland holds the final resting place for several members of a wealthy family. But to some it's a places as mysterious and mystical as the pyramids of Egypt.

eggs with a horseshoe in hands

An Egg Adorned With a Horseshoe: A Unique Kind of Art

by Ioana Marandici
15 April 2023
Romania/Travel & Food/Culture

It is well known that any traditional Romanian family usually has eggs on its Easter table. However, some take this tradition to the next level, adorning them with an unexpected accessory.

Anda Penka and Oksana Dāve, co-founders of Fermentful

Buckwheat and Kefir: A Match Made in Heaven?

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
15 April 2023
Poland/Travel & Food

In true start-up fashion, Fermentful took two existing products – buckwheat and kefir – and found how they could work together to create something new. Their plant-based drinks are a gut-and-planet-friendly alternative to the original dairy beverage.

Cold Beetroot Soup

Gazpacho – Lithuanian Style

by Weronika Edmunds
13 April 2023
Lithuania/Travel & Food

Recurring summer heatwaves force many of us to turn to tested tricks of staying cool, such as wearing that favorite linen top, having the mid-day cool shower, or finally putting that souvenir fan to good use. But what to eat when it is just too hot?

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.

map of easter in European languages

Central Europe is a Melting Pot for Easter Names

by Przemysław Bociąga
9 April 2023
Romania/Travel & Food/Culture

Perhaps nothing illustrates the diversity of Central Europe better than the richness of its languages. The perfect example is the way the region's countries approach naming the Easter holiday. The diversity is quite telling.

A.S. Bytom Zaklady Pogrzebowe - a deadly funny meme page

The Most Famous Funeral Home in Poland a Social Media Prank

by Przemysław Bociąga
8 April 2023
Romania/Travel & Food/Culture

The A.S. Bytom Funeral Home found a thousand ways to ridicule the fear of death. It’s among the most prevalent Polish memes on the internet, and thousands perhaps still believe (or hope) it exists. 

latvian rye bread

Rye Bread – The Building Block of Latvian Cuisine

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
8 April 2023
Latvia/Travel & Food

Rye bread is a staple of the Latvian diet. Delicious by the slice, it's also a key ingredient in several unusual sweet and savory recipes. You can try many of them at themed festivals and stops along the Rye Road tourism route.

two boys eggs tapping

A Worldwide Easter Tradition With Central European Roots

by Przemysław Bociąga
7 April 2023
Lithuania/Travel & Food

Although now widespread in the Anglo-Saxon world, "egg tapping" very likely has ties to Central European Easter customs.

Woman making sandwich with mayonnaise at grey table, closeup

Poles Love Mayonnaise So Much That They Fight Over It

by Przemysław Bociąga
6 April 2023
Travel & Food/Poland

Every year before Easter, the Polish consumer press is all hot on one topic: the mayo price index. But following the charts is complicated, as Poles in different regions are hooligans for very specific traditional brands of the condiment.

Avalanche sign in winter Alps with snow

How to Tame an Avalanche

by Weronika Edmunds
3 April 2023
Travel & Food/Austria

Anyone who ever watched old-school cartoons must be familiar with the motif of a Saint Bernard dog with a little cask around its neck that saved victims of snowy atrocities with the cask's magical elixir. While it may seem funny, it’s based in truth.

easter palm

The Polish Village With 30 Meter-Long Easter Palms

by Przemysław Bociąga
2 April 2023
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

Several locally famous families participate in a peculiar contest for the tallest Easter palm each year.

Romanian chicken soup named Ciorba Radauteana

Rădăuți Soup, a Staple of Romanian Cuisine

by Naomi Gherman
2 April 2023
Romania/Travel & Food

Who would have thought that in the late 70s, a family dispute would lead to the creation of one of the most appreciated Romanian soups? All it took was the whim of a husband to have chicken in a traditional beef soup.

Homemade hummus with thyme, olive oil. Top view, flat lay, overhead

Hummus to the Rescue: Bulgaria Steps up Chickpea Exports

by Galina Ganeva
31 March 2023
Bulgaria/Travel & Food/Business

The war in Ukraine is having unexpected effects far and wide. A key source of protein for countries in the Middle East and India, the demand for chickpeas outstripped the supply, with both Russia and Ukraine being among the top producers. Can small players familiar with the crop, like Bulgaria, step up to the challenge?

Tatars in Kruszyniany

Mongolian Tribes Fighting Teutonic Knights Still Live in Poland

by Przemysław Bociąga
31 March 2023
Lithuania/Travel & Food

In Kruszyniany, a small village in northeastern Poland, you can still experience the culture (and even cuisine) of the Tartar. Steppe Warriors were introduced as a lethal weapon against heavy German cavalry. The last Tartar families integrated into a colorful mix of cultures and religions along the eastern borders of Poland.

Aerial view of Kaali crater, in Saaremaa, Estonia

Making a Big Impression, Literally

by Weronika Edmunds
28 March 2023
Travel & Food

The surface of the Earth is peppered with impressions made by outer-space visitors. But by “impressions,” we mean craters, and by visitors, we aren’t talking aliens – we’re talking about meteorites. So where can you find these spots in Central Europe?

A traditional Romanian wooden monastery surrounded by forest. The image was taken in Maramures, in the far north of Romania, and probably the most traditional region. Horizontal color image with copy space

Romania’s Iconic Wooden Churches

by Naomi Gherman
26 March 2023
Travel & Food/Culture/Romania

Hidden among the calloused patches of the evergreen forests or in plain sight, these eight UNESCO-recognized wooden churches stand tall – quite literally - as symbols of faith and determination, emblems of architectural artistry and historical resistance.

Aerial view of Slonevian hills with a church on the hilltop

Slovenia: Where the Grass Really Is Greener

by Przemysław Bociąga
26 March 2023
Slovenia/Travel & Food/Culture

Don't be overwhelmed by the word "green" that appears everywhere Slovenia is concerned. "Green" is such a deeply ingrained concept in every aspect of the country that you might get the feeling that even the bricks in Ljubljana's houses will be green. (For the record, they're not).

pedestrian crossing lights in vilnius Lithuania get a wardrobe change from men to women

Crossing Lights in Vilnius Get the Glow Up Treatment

by Przemysław Bociąga
25 March 2023
Lithuania/Travel & Food/Culture

In Lithuania's capital, pedestrian crossing lights recently got a makeover as part of the celebration to commemorate 100 years of women’s right to vote in the country. Lights featuring figures wearing skirts now dot the intersections of a bustling Vilnius neighborhood.

Papcio Chmiel with his comic picture

Comic Book Author & Warsaw Uprising Combatant Papcio Chmiel

by Przemysław Bociąga
24 March 2023
Hungary/Travel & Food/Culture

"Tytus, Romek i A'Tomek" was the longest-running Polish comic book series. But its creator's biography extended beyond the adventures of a monkey born from an inkblot.

Many beautiful shells of rapan in the sand on the black sea coast

Stowaway Sea Snails in the Black Sea

by Krasimir Cheshmedzhiev
24 March 2023
Bulgaria/Travel & Food

A Japanese delicacy made its west by inadvertently hopping rides on Europe-bound shipping containers. However, far from a welcome treat, uninvited sea snails have been wreaking havoc in the waters of the Black Sea ever since their arrival.

Daily Life In Split, Croatia

The Roman Villa So Large, It Became an Entire City

by Przemysław Bociąga
21 March 2023
Croatia/Travel & Food

There's little doubt that one of the best holiday destinations in Europe is Croatia's Dalmatian coast. This is somewhat old news, as the area was already known as a dream retirement spot 1,700 years ago, attracting even the likes of Roman emperors.

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!

View of Piran

Want to Avoid Crowds on Vacation? Go to Slovenia!

by Agnieszka Sawala
20 March 2023
Slovenia/Travel & Food

In the Slovenian part of the Istria region, you can find everything that one could dream of on holiday. Everything but… the crowds!

Paprika: red chili peppers

Hungary is the Central European Capital of Chili Peppers 

by Przemysław Bociąga
19 March 2023
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

In Hungary, paprika is a staple food ingredient, an icon, and a matter of national identity. 

Couple in front of large map of Livonia from The Palmse Manor

Estonia – the Story of the Most Northern Central European Nation

by Weronika Edmunds
19 March 2023
Estonia/Travel & Food/Culture

Every good story has intriguing protagonists who make you want to figure out who they are and where they came from. In the Three Seas Region, there is a country whose history causes a lot of “I didn’t know that!” reactions. Want to know which one?

Close-up Woman's hand touching perfectly blue water inside of a rock cave next to the ocean, light on fingers and shadows on arm, seabed visible through really clear water. Modra špilja, Biševo. Blue Cave Bisevo.

The Magical Blue Cave of Biševo

by Ewelina Sadura Marinović
18 March 2023
Croatia/Travel & Food

The tiny Croatian island of Biševo attracts huge numbers of tourists every year thanks to a magnificent sea cave. The Blue Cave truly lives up to its name, mesmerizing visitors with its stunning blue vistas.

Plovdiv, Bulgaria, Old Town

All Eyes on Plovdiv, Bulgaria

by Galina Ganeva
17 March 2023
Travel & Food/Bulgaria

Plovdiv, Bulgaria’s second-largest city, is always there for you, although it’s easy to miss. A less than two-hour drive to the south from the capital Sofia, Plovdiv is often seen as a city living in the shadow of its mighty neighbor. Big mistake.

Fresh croissants, together with espresso coffee on a blue background. The view from the top

The Austrian Origin of French Croissants

by Przemysław Bociąga
17 March 2023
Austria/Travel & Food

The world-famous French treat is a descendant of viennoiseries, snacks eponymous with the capital of Austria.

Venus of Piatra Neamț: Archeological Marvel or Elaborate Hoax?

by Przemysław Bociąga
13 March 2023
Poland/Travel & Food/Business

The discovery of the 17,000-year-old Venus of Piatra Neamț figurine in North-Eastern Romania in 2019 was supposed to be an archeological miracle. However, some eagle-eyed journalists discovered that certain puzzle pieces do not fit into the story.

oil painting from 1845 depicting people in front of an inn

The Importance of the Jewish Tavernkeeper in Early Modern Poland

by Przemysław Bociąga
12 March 2023
Culture/Poland/Travel & Food

The Jew as a tavernkeeper remains a staple of any historical narrative based in early modern Poland. And there's a reason for that, as the occupation was virtually reserved for members of this closed society.

Tokaj: The First Official Wine Region in Europe

by Przemysław Bociąga
11 March 2023
Travel & Food/Business/Hungary

The Tokaj region, famous for its wines that have been prized since the 18th century, became an official appellation in 1737, some two centuries earlier than the famous Burgundy.

Top view of baklava desserts served on light blue background

Bulgaria’s Reigning King of Baklava

by Galina Ganeva
11 March 2023
Culture/Hungary/Travel & Food

Most of the shops on this beautiful street in the center of Shumen in northeastern Bulgaria have seen better days. Except for one bakery still bustling with life.

Woman swimming in beautiful clear water in Croatia

Fjaka: The Croatian Secret to Happiness

by Ewelina Sadura Marinović
10 March 2023
Croatia/Travel & Food/Culture

Do you want to be a happier person with nothing standing in your way? All you have to do is learn the Croatian practice of fjaka. The people of Croatia have found their own foolproof recipe for happiness and joy every day – and it’s something that anyone can bring home with them.

Glass of fresh dark podpiwek in male hand close up

Poles Call This Traditional Refreshing Soft-Drink The ‘Underbeer’

by Przemysław Bociąga
10 March 2023
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

Podpiwek, which can be peculiarly translated as 'underbeer', is a traditional beverage made from cereal coffee, hops, and yeast. Not unlike malt beer, it provides refreshment on hot summer days.

Calafat Vidin bridge

Bridges Over the Danube: A Long-Shot or a Future Reality?

by Galina Ganeva
6 March 2023
Romania/Bulgaria/Travel & Food/Business

Bulgaria and Romania share 609 kilometers of border. And yet, despite the fact that the Danube River forms as many as 470 km of that border, the two countries are linked only by two bridges. Is this about to change?

The interior court of the eastern Orthodox Stavropoleos Church in the old city area in Bucharest, Romania

How Romania Created Its Unique National Architectural Style

by Naomi Gherman
5 March 2023
Croatia/Travel & Food/Culture

At a time when European states were looking to establish and reaffirm their culture, Romania decided the best way to cement its identity was through… architecture! Cue the birth of Romanian Revival style that, to this day, continues to brighten up the streets of Bucharest.

Interior of the National Library of Latvia in Riga

The Castle of Light Shining Over Riga

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
5 March 2023
Latvia/Travel & Food

The emotive architecture of one of Riga's most prominent buildings speaks of the Latvian nation's strength, courage, and endurance. This is the home of the National Library of Latvia – a contemporary center of knowledge and culture.

A shot taken from behind of a couple seated on beach chairs

When Czechs Hit the Roads

by Marek Koten
4 March 2023
Travel & Food/Business/Czechia

Croatia has been the number one vacation spot for many Czechs. Is this still the case, or have Czechs changed their vacation preferences and are venturing outside the Three Seas region?

Austria, Vienna, Hundertwasser House by Friedensreich Hundertwasser, residential building, home decor, facade painting, UNESCO World Heritage Site

Hundertwasser House – The Most Peculiar Building in Vienna

by Przemysław Bociąga
4 March 2023
Austria/Travel & Food

One Austrian postmodern artist, in particular, was known for designs that crush your opinions of how a building should look and behave. The perfect example in Vienna is named after its designer, and if you wish, you can even spend a night there.

Giant figure of Saint Casimir carrying by people at traditional theatrical Kaziukas

Saint Casimir’s Fair – A Tradition Uniting Poland and Lithuania

by Weronika Edmunds
4 March 2023
Austria/Travel & Food/Culture

Everyone loves their birthday. In some countries where the Catholic Faith is prevalent, people also tend to celebrate the day of their patron saint. The people of Vilnius make sure the day of Saint Casimir is a party no one wants to miss.

Tourist woman eating bagel obwarzanek traditional polish cuisine snack waling on Market square in Krakow. Traveling Europe in autumn

The Centuries-Old Trademarked Delicacy With Just Six Ingredients

by Weronika Edmunds
3 March 2023
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

If you are planning a trip to Cracow, Poland (if you are not – then you should do), we want to help you avoid one of the most terrible culinary faux pas anyone can commit while in this gorgeous city. One that the locals would not forgive.

Preparing and cooking pork roast in traditional metal pot Peka. Meat and vegetables in traditional Croatian, Mediterranean meal Peka in metal pots called sach, sache - a metal lid covered with hot coals

Peka: The Ultimate Croatian Comfort Food

by Ewelina Sadura Marinović
3 March 2023
Croatia/Travel & Food

Croatian cuisine is famous for its variety of dishes, bridging the gap between Mediterranean cuisine and typical Balkan flavors. Each region has its own specialties, but they’re all connected by a traditional preparation method.

Wood Is Not Just Future Building Material

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
2 March 2023
Estonia/Travel & Food

Some of Riga's wooden buildings date as far back as the 18th century. Witnesses of wars, power struggles, and transformation, the sturdy structures are a living archive. What is their status today?

Blossoming tree branch and martisor against the blue sky

Romanian Mărțișor – the Celebration of Spring

by Weronika Edmunds
1 March 2023
Romania/Travel & Food/Culture

These days much is being said about the carnival season and various celebrations that take place as the Earth prepares for its rebirth. Romania tops it with its very unique take on the welcoming of Spring.

Mural in Mangalia

The Mangalia Mural So Controversial Its Creator Had to Flee

by Przemysław Bociąga
26 February 2023
Romania/Travel & Food/Culture

One of the largest and most elaborate murals from Communist Europe consists of three million porcelain pieces and makes a huge impression. In fact, it had such an impact upon its unveiling that its creator was forced to flee Romania.

Top view of tomato sauce in bottles with shadow on blue background

This Brilliant Map Shows the Polish Ketchup Belt. Wait, What?

by Przemysław Bociąga
24 February 2023
Poland/Travel & Food

It turns out that in ketchup-loving, tomato-growing Poland, all the brands get their produce from factories in just one narrow strip of land. This fact sent the Internet into a tizzy.

Mariacka Street in the old city of Gdansk is the kingdom of the workshops and goldsmiths of amber jewels

Poland’s Rich Amber Shores

by Weronika Edmunds
23 February 2023
Poland/Travel & Food/Culture

About 40 million years ago, a large pine forest was growing on land now long gone. As the Earth was rapidly changing, the forest saw its time was coming to an end. Resigned to its fate, sure of being lost and forgotten for all eternity, it… cried.

Hikers on a bridge over river Soca

The Slovenian-Italian River (Possibly) Fortified by Da Vinci

by Przemysław Bociąga
19 February 2023
Slovenia/Travel & Food/Culture

Spanning 140 kilometers, the Soča may not be the longest or largest European river. Still, it is among the most important and – last but not least – the most stunningly beautiful on the continent.

bulgarian cuisine - Baked stuffed bell peppers filled with cheese, tomatoes, herbs, capers and anchovies on a white wooden background bulgarian food

The Foodie Who Introduced the World to Bulgarian Cuisine

by Przemysław Bociąga
18 February 2023
Bulgaria/Travel & Food/Business

Decades before Anthony Bourdain set out to enlighten a hungry population of would-be food tourists and future foodies about the exotic world of international gastronomy, there was Emil Markov, who was on a mission to bring Bulgarian cuisine to the world.

budapest name origin

Budapest Was Almost Named Pestbuda After a Long Debate

by Przemysław Bociąga
18 February 2023
Hungary/Travel & Food/Culture

It turns out it was far easier to unite the city made up of several different towns than to come up with a proper name for it.

Bulgarians pours a vine with a red wine as dressed with national traditional clothes people play a dance as part of the celebrating of the wine feast called St. Trifon day

Can the God of Wine Help Bulgaria’s Wine Industry?

by Galina Ganeva
14 February 2023
Bulgaria/Travel & Food/Business/Culture

Bulgaria and wine, it’s serious. So serious that Bulgarians honor Saint Tryphon, patron of vine growers and winemakers, not once but twice a year. But is this enough to help Bulgarian wines conquer demanding markets abroad?

view of the medieval fortress Ovech near Provadia Bulgaria europe

Salt, Gold & History: the Competition to Be Europe’s Oldest City

by Krasimir Cheshmedzhiev
13 February 2023
Bulgaria/Travel & Food/Culture

Europe is not called “the old continent” by chance. Civilizations here have spawned for millennia. But three cities in Bulgaria are competing to be Europe’s oldest city.

sezatoarea - Young women spinning and sewing in Bistrita Valley, north-east Romania, photo taken between 1920 and 1945

The Ultimate Romanian Social Gathering Event

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

Winter is coming, and for Romanian peasants, that is good news: they can now indulge in the much-beloved șezătoare, where anything can happen. From song learning to marriage planning, șezătoarea was the place where to catch up on village life.

Gothic gate in the Adrspach-Teplice Rocks Nature Reserve in Adrspach in Czechia

The Czech Rock City That Rocks!

by Przemysław Bociąga
12 February 2023
Czechia/Travel & Food

Adršpach-Teplice Rocks are called Rock City for a reason: a romantic network of “streets” to roam and get lost provides an experience of being both a mountain hiker and an urban flaneur.

Her'lany geyser

This Slovak Geyser Erupts Every Two Days

by Przemysław Bociąga
12 February 2023
Romania/Travel & Food

In a small town in eastern Slovakia, an underground spring shoots a 15-meter-tall column of water every day and a half. This is the only place in Europe outside of Iceland where you can see such a marvel.

The living fires of Buzau county in Romania

The Living Fire That Can Foretell Earthquakes

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

If the phenomenon of a self-burning fire is not mind-blowing enough already, know that the living fire of Vrancea is more than just pretty flames. It is an indicator that the disaster that lies underneath is about to erupt.

Couple toasting with wine in front of the vineyards during a wine tourism

Anything but Chardonnay: 5 Truly Bulgarian Wines

by Galina Ganeva
11 February 2023
Bulgaria/Travel & Food

In the beer-vodka-wine European divide, Bulgaria’s position is clear: Wine, please. While Bulgaria has no shortage of impressive wines based on well-known grapes such as Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, why not impress your sommelier with knowledge of Bulgaria’s lesser-known varieties?

Beehive panel

Where Artistic Expression Flows Like Honey

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

A unique aspect of Slovenian folk art is the way it intermingles with everyday farm life in the form of artfully decorated beehives. It is not only an excellent example of how creativity takes shape in all environments but also how seriously the culture of beekeeping is taken in this country.

top night view of the Hotel Kasprowy in Zakopane

Hotel Kasprowy – The Lux Socialist Hotel in the Polish Tatras

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

Socialism’s great hotel investment in the heart of Polish Tatra Mountains is glamorous again. And it gets one hell of an (unofficial) product placement in the latest production of the most famous Polish opera.

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
Travel & Food/Culture/Bulgaria

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.

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.

Top part of the tower of St. Olaf's Church in Tallinn, Estonia view from the alley

World’s Tallest Building in Estonia (Or, At Least, It Was 500 Years Ago)

by Przemysław Bociąga
4 February 2023
Poland/Travel & Food/Business

Today’s race for the tallest building in the world is usually a competition between the United Arab Emirates and China. However, a few short centuries ago, St. Olaf’s Church in Tallinn held the title. (At least, maybe it did.)

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
Bulgaria/Travel & Food/Culture/Interviews

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
Travel & Food/Culture/Czechia

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.

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.

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.

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.

Sailors on the Vltava River in Davle

Timber Rafting: The Newest Addition to UNESCO Heritage

by Marek Koten
26 January 2023
Croatia/Travel & Food

Despite worldwide usage in the past, timber rafting is very rare today. Last year, a group of countries led by Czechia and Poland nominated and safely navigated it to the UNESCO heritage list.

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.

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
Romania/Travel & Food/Culture

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.

ice road

Would You Drive a Car Across the Baltic Sea? Estonians Do

by Przemysław Bociąga
16 January 2023
Estonia/Travel & Food/Business

Every winter, Estonians can take a shortcut to their islands through the frozen surface of the sea. The roads are even officially recognized by authorities.

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.

Genuss Festival in Austria

Food in Central Eastern Europe

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

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?

Pouring beer on Public beer fountain in the town park at Zalec

Where the Fountains Flow With… Beer

by Vid Sosic
13 January 2023
Slovenia/Travel & Food

The small town of Žalec in Slovenia is home to a unique fountain that flows not with water, but with the hoppy goodness of beer. It is an original project, the first of its kind, and commemorates the local culture and tradition.

Jewelery in a showcase of precious garnet stone

Bohemian Garnet – The Crown Jewel of Czechia

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

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.

Street content of a hungarian mangalica pig

It’s a Pig! No, It’s a Sheep! No, It’s a Mangalica!

by Przemysław Bociąga
12 January 2023
Hungary/Travel & Food

These funny-looking, curly haired pigs are a Hungarian specialty. Their breeding is protected and regulated by law, and their meat is, well, quite simply delicious.

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
Bulgaria/Travel & Food/Culture

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

Homemade lutenica in glass jar on the table

The Magical Mix of Pepper and Tomatoes from Bulgaria and Serbia

by Galina Ganeva
8 January 2023
Bulgaria/Travel & Food

Navigating the Balkan cuisine and claiming dishes as national is a tricky balancing act. And yet, when it comes to the "most Bulgarian" thing you could eat, we think we may have just found it.

Pope Gregory XIII illustratopn

In Central Europe, You Can Celebrate Each Holiday Twice 

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

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.

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
Culture/Romania/Travel & Food

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.

Winter sunset over the Sniezka mount in the Giant Mountains, Karkonosze, Poland

Meteorological Observatory Inspired by UFO Rumors

by Przemysław Bociąga
4 January 2023
Croatia/Travel & Food

A UFO-like set of discs sits atop a mountain peak on the Czechia-Poland border. However, its inhabitants are not extraterrestrials, rather meteorologists who come from far and wide for the unique weather.

Poland Mazurian canal with nazi symbol

The Legend of the Lost German Nazi U-Boat Shipyard in Poland

by Przemysław Bociąga
3 January 2023
Poland/Travel & Food/Business

Some say that the woods in Poland's Masurian Lake District harbor a secret: that an abandoned channel project from the Polish Lake District to the Baltic Sea wasn’t only for an inland trade route - it was to provide access to a secret German WW2 era submarine shipyard.

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.

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