The main sights of Europe: photos and descriptions, the most interesting places. Main geographical characteristics. The Republic of Belarus is an ancient Slavic country with protected forests and picturesque lakes

Europe is one of the smallest continents on earth. About 40 thousand years ago in Europe modern people ousted the Neanderthals, and since then European civilization has begun. According to ancient Greek mythology, Europe was the daughter of the Phoenician king Agenor and Telefassa, who was kidnapped by Zeus. Subsequently, Europa became the wife of Zeus.

Europe is washed by the waters of the Arctic Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, as well as the Mediterranean, Black and Caspian Seas. The eastern border of Europe runs along Ural mountains.

The continent of Europe includes numerous islands, peninsulas and archipelagos. The coastline of continental Europe covers 38,000 kilometers. total area Europe - 9.938 million sq. km (this is 2% of the Earth's territory). Europe is part of the Eurasian Peninsula.

The climate in most of Europe is temperate, in southern Europe it is Mediterranean and even partially subtropical with warm, humid winters and hot summers. On the Svalbard archipelago, which geographically also belongs to Europe, the climate is subarctic and arctic.

The most long river in Europe - the Volga (3645 km), flowing through Russia. The list of the largest European rivers also includes: the Danube (2960 km), the Dnieper (2201 km), the Don (1870 km), the Kama (1805 km), the Dniester (1352 km), the Rhine (1233 km), the Elbe (1165 km) , Ural (2428 km), Vistula (1047 km), Tahoe (1038 km), Loire (1012 km), Oder (854 km) and Neman (937 km).

In Europe, there are several very large, and also very beautiful, lakes. Among them are Ladoga, Chudskoe and Lake Onega in Russia, Lake Vänern in Sweden, Lake Balaton in Hungary and Lake Geneva in Switzerland and France.

Approximately 17% of the territory of Europe is occupied by mountains - the Pyrenees, the Alps, the Apennines, the Carpathians, the Balkans, the Caucasus, the Urals and scandinavian mountains. The most high mountain of this continent - Elbrus (Russia), its height is 5,642 meters.

On this moment The population of Europe already exceeds 842 million people. This is about 13% of the total population of the Earth. Most Europeans live in Eastern Europe.

Almost the entire population of Europe belongs to the Caucasoid race, which is divided into several smaller races:

Atlanto-Baltic race (Great Britain, Ireland, Scandinavia, Iceland, northern Germany, the Netherlands, Estonia and Latvia);
- Central European race (central regions of Western Europe, most of territory of Eastern Europe, Ukraine and the European part of Russia);
- Balkan-Caucasian race (Albania, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, northern Greece, Bulgaria, southern Austria and northern Italy);
- Indo-Mediterranean race (Spain, Italy, France, southern Greece, Cyprus and Malta);
- White Sea-Baltic race (northern territories of Russia, Lithuania and partly Latvia).

At the moment, there are 56 countries in Europe (of which 6 countries are the so-called unrecognized republics). The largest European country is Russia (its territory occupies 17,098,242 sq. km), and the smallest is the Vatican (0.44 sq. km). By the way, more than 291 million people now live in Russia.

Sometimes Europe is divided into 5 regions (Western, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Central), which in turn are divided into seven geographical sub-regions:

Scandinavia (Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark);
- British Isles(UK and Ireland);
- Western Europe (France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Monaco);
- Southern Europe (Portugal, Spain, Andorra, Italy, Malta, San Marino and the Vatican);
- Central Europe(Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary);
- South-East Europe (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece and the European part of Turkey);
- Eastern Europe (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Russia, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan).

Many cities in Europe were founded before our era. Istanbul is now the most densely populated city in Europe. former capital Turkey, which is home to more than 12.2 million people.

Other major cities in Europe are Moscow, London, St. Petersburg, Berlin, Madrid, Rome, Kyiv, Paris, Bucharest and Budapest. However, some European cities, which play a prominent political and cultural role in the world, have relatively few inhabitants. These cities include Athens, Oslo, Brussels, Copenhagen and Geneva.

Europe is called the part of the world that lies in the western part of the Eurasian continent in the Northern Hemisphere, and together with Asia forms a single continent. Its area is 10 million km 2, about 20% of the total population of the Earth (743 million people) lives here. Europe is the largest economic, historical and political center having importance worldwide.

Geographical position

Europe is washed by the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, its coastline is notable for its considerable indentation, the area of ​​​​its islands is 730 thousand km 2, ¼ of the entire area is occupied by peninsulas: Kola, Apennine, Balkan, Iberian, Scandinavian, etc. The border between Europe and Asia conditionally passes along the eastern coast of the Ural Mountains, the Emba River, the Caspian Sea. Kumo-Manych depression and the mouth of the Don.

Main geographical features

The average surface height is 300 meters, highest point- Mount Elbrus (5642 m, Caucasian mountains in Russia), the lowest is -27 m (Caspian Sea). Most of the territory is occupied by plains (East European, Lower and Middle Danube, Central European), 17% of the surface is mountains and plateaus (Urals, Carpathians, Pyrenees, Alps, Scandinavian mountains, Crimean mountains, mountains Balkan Peninsula), Iceland and the islands of the Mediterranean are in the zone of seismic activity.

The climate of most of the territory is temperate (the western part is temperate oceanic, the eastern part is temperate continental), the northern islands lie in the arctic and subarctic climatic zones, southern Europe - mediterranean climate, Caspian lowland - semi-desert.

The amount of water flow in Europe is about 295 mm, this is the second largest in the world after South America, however, due to the much smaller area of ​​the territory, the volume of water runoff (2850 km 3) exceeds the readings of Africa and Antarctica. Water resources are unevenly distributed across Europe, runoff inland waters decreases from north to south and from west to east. Most of the rivers belong to the basin of the seas of the Atlantic Ocean, a smaller part - to the basin of the Arctic Ocean and the basin of the internal flow of the Caspian Sea. The largest rivers in Europe are located mainly in Russia and Eastern Europe, there are also large rivers in Western Europe. The largest rivers: Volga, Kama, Oka, Danube, Ural, Dnieper, Don, Dniester, Rhine, Elbe, Vistula, Tahoe, Loire, Oder, Neman. The lakes of Europe have tectonic origin, which determines their considerable depth, elongated shape and heavily indented coastline, these are flat lakes Ladoga, Onega, Vattern, Imandra, Balaton, mountain lakes - Geneva, Como, Garda.

In accordance with the laws of latitudinal zoning, the entire territory of Europe is located in various natural areas: the extreme north is the zone of arctic deserts, then comes the tundra and forest-tundra, the zone of deciduous and mixed forests, forest-steppe, steppe, subtropical Mediterranean forest vegetation and shrubs, the extreme south is the zone of semi-deserts.

Countries of Europe

The territory of Europe is divided between 43 independent states officially recognized by the UN, there are also 6 officially unrecognized republics (Kosovo, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Transnistria, LPR, DPR) and 7 dependent territories(in the Arctic and Atlantic oceans). 6 states due to their very small size belong to the so-called microstates: the Vatican, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, San Marino. Partially in Europe are the territories of such states as Russia - 22%, Kazakhstan - 14%, Azerbaijan - 10%, Georgia - 5%, Turkey - 4%. 28 states of Europe united in a national association European Union(EU), have a common currency euro, common economic and political views. According to cultural, geographical and political characteristics, the entire territory of Europe is conditionally divided into Western, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Central.

List of countries in Europe

Major European countries:

(with detailed description)

Nature

Nature, plants and animals of Europe

The presence in Europe of several natural and climatic zones provides a rich and varied plant and animal world who are under the influence economic activity humans have undergone a series of changes that have led to a decrease in their biodiversity and even to the complete extinction of some species...

On Far North, in the Arctic climate, mosses, lichens, polar buttercups, poppies grow. Dwarf birches, willows, and alders appear in the tundra. To the south of the tundra there are vast expanses of taiga, which is characterized by the growth of such typical coniferous trees as cedar, spruce, fir, and larch. Due to the temperate climate zone prevailing in most of Europe, significant areas are occupied by huge woodlands from trees of deciduous and mixed species (aspen, birch, maple, oak, fir, hornbeam). Oak forests, steppe grasses, cereals, shrubs grow in the zone of steppes and forest-steppes: feather grass, irises, steppe hyacinths, blackthorn, steppe cherry, dereza. The Black Sea subtropics are characterized by the predominance of forests of fluffy oak, juniper, boxwood, and black alder. For southern Europe subtropical vegetation is characteristic, palm trees and lianas are found, olives, grapes, citrus fruits, magnolias, cypresses grow.

The foothills of the mountains (Alps, Caucasian, Crimean) are characterized by the growth of coniferous trees, for example, such as relic Caucasian plants: boxwood, chestnut, Eldar and Pitsunda pines. In the Alps, pines and spruces give way to subalpine tall grass meadows, on the peaks there are alpine meadows, striking beauty its emerald green.

In northern latitudes (subarctic, tundra, taiga), where human influence on surrounding nature appears to a lesser extent more quantity predators: polar bears, wolves, arctic foxes. Reindeer, polar hares, walruses, seals live there. Red deer, brown bears, lynxes and wolverines, sables and ermines are still found in the Russian taiga, wood grouses, hazel grouses, black grouses, woodpeckers, and nutcrackers live here.

Europe is a highly urbanized and industrialized region, therefore large mammals are practically absent here, the largest inhabitants of European forests are deer and fallow deer. In the Alps, Carpathians and on Iberian Peninsula wild boars, chamois still live, moufflons are found on the islands of Sardinia and Corsica, Poland and Belarus are famous for their relic animals from the bison genus bison, which are listed in the Red Book and live exclusively in reserves. The lower tiers of deciduous and mixed forests are inhabited by foxes, hares, badgers, ferrets, weasels, and squirrels. Beavers, otters, muskrats and nutria live on the banks of rivers and reservoirs. Characteristic inhabitants of the semi-desert zone: gazelles, jackals, a large number of small rodents, snakes.

Climatic conditions

Seasons, weather and climate of European countries

Europe is located in four climatic zones: the Arctic ( low temperatures, in summer not higher than +5 С 0, precipitation - 400 mm / year), subarctic (mild maritime climate, January t - +1, -3 °, July - + 10 °, the predominance of cloudy days with fogs, precipitation - 1000 mm / year), temperate (marine - cool summers, mild winters, and continental - long winters, cool summers) and subtropical (hot summers, mild winters) ...

The climate of most of Europe belongs to the temperate climatic zone, the west is influenced by Atlantic oceanic air masses, the east by continental, the south by Mediterranean air masses from the tropics, and the north is under the influence of arctic air. The territory of Europe has sufficient moisture, precipitation (mainly in the form of rain) is distributed unevenly, their maximum (1000-2000 mm) falls on Scandinavia, the British Isles, the slopes of the Alps and the Apennines, a minimum of 400 mm in the east of the Balkan Peninsula and the southeast of the Pyrenees .

The peoples of Europe: culture and traditions

The population living in Europe (770 million people) is diverse and colorful. ethnic composition. In total, there are 87 nationalities, of which 33 are the national majority in any single independent state, 54 are a minority (105 million or 14% of the total population of Europe) ...

In Europe, there are 8 groups of peoples, whose number exceeds 30 million, together they represent 460 million people, which is 63% of the total European population:

• Russians of the European part (90 million);
• Germans (82 million);
• French (65 million);
• British (55-61 million);
• Italians (59 million);
• Spaniards (46 million);
• Ukrainians (46 million);
• Poles (38 million).

About 25 million Europeans (3%) are members of the diaspora of non-European origin, the population of the EU (approximately 500 million people) is 2/3 of the total population of Europe.

Covadonga, Mdina, Pag, Kashubia or the Salzkammergut - have you ever heard of these places?
Surely not. Meanwhile, these places are impressive and are located ... in Europe traveled up and down!

Travelers all over the world love Europe. The Old World has something to offer even the most fastidious tourist, for example, in terms of architecture - so many medieval streets not preserved anywhere else. But Europe is especially good in terms of nature, it has everything - from snowy mountain peaks and smoking volcanoes to blue lakes And deep caves. Many of them have been passed over by inquisitive tourists, but those that few people know about have survived. They are not very popular, but, believe me, they are really worth a visit, moreover, for very little money.

The TOP of little-known attractions in Europe presented below is also interesting because these places are also suitable for budget holiday. It is compiled on the basis of a number of criteria, including the beauty of the area, popularity among tourists, the ability to pay without cash, the cost of living and the level of infrastructure development.

ASTURIA AND THE MONASTERY OF COVADONG, SPAIN
Asturias (Principality of Asturias) - a small mountain Autonomous region in the north of Spain, located off the coast Bay of Biscay. Empty and amazing beautiful beaches with crystal clean water, nearly a third of the region nature reserves, most of which are under the protection of UNESCO.

Attractions
Among the main ones: the Peaks of Europe National Park, the lakes of Covadonga and Enol, the monastery of St. Vincent. The most visited place, however, is the sacred altar of the Virgin of Covadonga and the chapel with the image of the Virgin and the remains of Pelayo, the first king of Asturias. After his death, Pelayo was buried in a cave, and there is also a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Covadonga. The holy cave quickly became a place of pilgrimage.

Accommodation around € 25 ( approximate price double room in a 3-star hotel or guest house per night for one person), dinner approx. € 18 (average price per dish in a restaurant).

How to get there
There are 16 different flights to Asturias Airport: the easiest ones to fly here are from London, Barcelona and Madrid.

MDINA AND ZEBBUJ, MALTA
The city of Mdina is one of the most mysterious cities in Malta. The Maltese themselves call this place the "Silent City" - its population is now only about 300 people.

Attractions
Tourists usually come here to look at the old main and greek gate Mdina, Cathedral named after St. Paul, built in the 17th century, as well as the Mdina dungeon, which is now a museum of torture instruments.

Accommodation in a guest house can be found for approx. €25

How to get there
By bus from Valletta Central Bus Station.
As for Zebbug, one of oldest cities in Malta, the most interesting attraction here is the Church of St. Peter in Chains. The easiest way for tourists to get to the city is by car or bus - the city is only 6 km from international airport Malta.

SALZKAMMERGUT, AUSTRIA
Historical region in Austria east of Salzburg. A truly picturesque lake district.

Attractions
In addition to numerous crystal clear lakes (more than 70), tourists visit this place for the sake of the tiny town of Hallstatt. The city, together with the Hallstättersee lake, the salt mines and the immediate surroundings, is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
In tourist walking route also be sure to include the famous natural caves Dachstein and the cozy Eherntal valley with its "ice garden".

Accommodation approx. €35, dinner approx. €25.

How to get there
Short journeys around the Salzkammergut are best made from Salzburg or Linz.

AZORES, PORTUGAL
Archipelago in Atlantic Ocean, consisting of 9 islands volcanic origin. Here is located active volcano Pico (2351 m).

Attractions
San Miguel is the largest and most visited island in the archipelago. From the capital of the island, Ponta Delgada, it is convenient to make day trips to lakes, craters, hot springs and rocky shores. To the west is the largest volcanic crater in the Azores, Caldeira das Sete Cidades. Also on the island of San Miguel there are hot springs, and, accordingly, thermal clinics are equipped. Sulfur caves can be seen on the island of Theseira.

How to get there
International airports in the Azores are located on three islands: Sao Miguel, Santa Maria and Faial. The most convenient option for a flight from Russia is a flight with a transfer at the Lisbon airport at the Joao Paulo II airport in Sao Miguel.

PERAST, MONTENEGRO
Old tiny town on the coast Bay of Kotor Adriatic Sea. About 300 people live in Perast on a permanent basis. You can see this place in just a few hours.

Attractions
Directly from the waterfront of the city opens scenic view on the Bay of Kotor, church Mother of God on the Cliff and St. George's Island. Tourists should also definitely climb the tower of St. Nicholas.

Accommodation approx. €15, dinner approx. €15

How to get there
For travelers, it will be most beneficial to visit Perast and Kotor in one day by purchasing a group tour of the Bay of Kotor for €25 per person. Or get here on your own by car or bus from Budva.

LEDNICE-VALTICE, CZECH REPUBLIC
Landscape complex in the Czech Republic (Moravia), included in the list world heritage UNESCO. It is located 50 kilometers southeast of Brno, in a triangle where the borders of three neighboring countries- Austria, Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Attractions
People come here for the sake of the grandiose medieval Gothic castle Lednice, which is part of the entire castle and park complex. The castles of Valtice and Lednice, in turn, are interconnected by luxurious seven-kilometer alleys, called the "Gardens of Europe". Wine tourism is also very developed in this region of the Czech Republic - there is a chance to bring real Moravian wine from here, little known in Russia, but very tasty and appreciated by gourmets.

Accommodation approx. €20, dinner approx. €10.

How to get there
The Lednice-Valtice complex can be easily visited during day trip coming here from Prague, Brno, Bratislava or Vienna.

PAG ISLAND, CROATIA
A picturesque island stretching for 60 km along the Adriatic coast. It is famous for its delicious Page cheese and exquisite lace, but not only for them.

Attractions
The city of Pag with the episcopal and princely palaces as examples of medieval urban planning, and the ancient small town Novalja, which is now called the "Croatian Ibiza" because of the beaches and noisy discos. Is here and unique places of unexplored origin, for example, the Pag Triangle - a large-scale area of ​​scorched earth, along which there is a very clear and orderly marking.

Accommodation approx. €30, dinner approx. €13.

How to get there
The easiest way to get here is by ferry Prizna-Zhiglen or by car. In the southwest of the island there is a road bridge connecting the island with the mainland.

SAAREMAA ISLAND, ESTONIA
The fourth largest island in the Baltic Sea after the islands of Zeeland, Funen and Gotland. Former name- Kuressaare, which means "land of storks".

Attractions
The Kaali meteorite crater, formed about 3500 years ago, the ruins of the Maasi castle, built by the master of the Livonian Order in 1345, windmills (business card islands!) and a national park with 30 species of mammals (including gray seals) and over 200 species of birds. The island can be called a real lake district - there are more than 80 lakes here, most of which are located in the northwestern part of the island.

Accommodation approx. €23, dinner approx. €18.

How to get there
The easiest way to get to Saaremaa from Tallinn is by bus. The ferry crossing is included in the ticket price.

VOLOS AND PELION, GREECE
hair is small quiet town by the sea, which turns into a popular ski resort in winter.

Attractions
One of the most interesting places in Volos is Mount Pelion with traditional villages, serpentine roads and picturesque nature. On Mount Pelion, according to legend, centaurs lived. The wisest of them - Chiron, was the tutor of Achilles and the famous Asclepius, who was engaged in healing and made the snake a symbol of medicine.
There is also a theater with a symphony orchestra, an embankment, a university and Archaeological Museum Volosa, one of the top ten in Greece.

Accommodation approx. €25, dinner approx. €15.

How to get there
The most convenient way to get here is by bus or train from Athens or Thessaloniki.

VELIKA PLANINA, SLOVENIA
Extremely popular place with picturesque alpine grasses and flowers for weekend hikes, as well as a world famous ski resort.

Attractions
Magnificent view from the mountains to the valley, the town of Kamnik and its surroundings. To all lovers of active and family vacation there is an opportunity for hiking and cycling, individual and group excursions to the mountains. The most popular attraction here is the shepherd's settlement, one of the few surviving settlements of this size and color in Europe.

Accommodation approx. €40, dinner approx. €15.

How to get there
The easiest way is by plane or train - Velika Planina is located 44 kilometers from Ljubljana.

KASHUBIA, POLAND
West Slavic ethnic territory of the Kashubians in northwestern Poland. There are no major tourist centers and there are no crowded events. But, nevertheless, among travelers with small children, lovers active rest and hiking this place can be considered one of the most popular.

Attractions
It is worth going here for picturesque lakes and rivers, folded hills, valleys and gorges. Due to its unusual geological structure, part of the region is called Kashubian Switzerland. In summer you can swim in the lakes, admire flocks of cranes, and in winter you can go skiing. The best tourist centers of the region for traveling on the Kaszub lakes are the town of Kartuzy and the resort of Chmielno.

Accommodation approx. €20, dinner approx. €12.

How to get there
The fastest way to get here is by bus or car from Gdansk.

NAARDEN, THE NETHERLANDS
A star-shaped walled city, one of the few surviving Dutch bastions and the only fortress in Europe with unique double walls and moats.

Attractions
In fact, the whole city can be considered the main attraction. But tourists should also look at the bell tower of the Great Church, the "Spanish House" and the museum of the fortress, where it will be interesting to learn about the past of the city and defensive structures.

Accommodation approx. €60, dinner approx. €30.

How to get there
There are several options: by train from Amsterdam in 20 minutes, by bike from Vespa or by bus 101 from the Amstel station in Amsterdam.

CAPE KOLKA, LATVIA
Kolka (Kolkasrags) is the most pronounced cape on the coast of Latvia, separating the open Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga.

Attractions.
During the period of bird migration, tens of thousands of birds can be seen here. Tourists here should visit the village of Kolka, and in it the Liv Cultural Center and churches of three different confessions: the Kolka Lutheran Church, the Orthodox Church of the Nativity of Christ and catholic church Our Lady of the Starfish. Also on the cape begins a journey through national park Slitere.

Accommodation approx. €20, dinner approx. €14.

How to get there
A bus runs from Riga to Kolka four or five times a day. The cost of a one-way ticket is about €7.

DANUBE DELTA, ROMANIA
One of the largest and best preserved river deltas in Europe.

Attractions
The Danube Delta includes numerous ecosystems, which are home to a significant number of flora and fauna (93 fish species, 350 bird species). In 1998, the Danube delta region was formed on the territory of Romania and neighboring Ukraine. biosphere reserve under the auspices of UNESCO. It is for him that many tourists come here. Also here it is worth visiting the city of Tulcea, and in it the fortress of Aguessus, the historical and archaeological museum, the Museum of Natural History "Danube Delta" and the Museum of Folk Art and Ethnography.

Accommodation approx. €15, dinner approx. €10.

How to get there
The easiest way to get to Tulcea is by plane from Constanta Airport. Or take a direct train from Bucharest to Tulcea Station.

BALATON HIGHLIGHTS, HUNGARY
Balaton itself can be considered the most important resort center in Hungary. People come here for beach and outdoor activities, as well as for treatment and rehabilitation: there are many thermal and mineral healing springs around the lake.

Attractions
The key place for tourists here is national park Balaton Upland at the northern edge of Lake Balaton. In this area with a volcanic landscape, people move only hiking trails. Famous places of the park are the Tihany peninsula, the basins of the Kali and Tapoltsa rivers, the Tapoltsa caves, the mountains of South Bakony and Kish Balaton.

Accommodation approx. €20, dinner approx. €13.

How to get there
It is convenient to get to Lake Balaton from Budapest along the modern 115-kilometer motorway (the journey will take about an hour and a half) or by rail.

According to materials:

The name "Europe" comes from the Assyrian "erebus" - "west", which in Greek sounds like "Europe". So in ancient Greece called the lands lying west of the Aegean Sea. According to the myth, Europa was the name of the daughter of the Phoenician king.

Fascinated by her beauty, Zeus the Thunderer turned into a meek bull and bowed to the girl, offering her a ride. Europa climbed onto the back of an affectionate animal, but suddenly the bull rushed to the sea. He sailed to the island of Crete, where he took the form of a beautiful young man, and became the husband of Europe. The "father of history" Herodotus connects this legend with the daughter of the Phoenician king, who was kidnapped by Cretan merchants. A part of the Western Mediterranean was named after Europe, and then the western part of the major continent planets - Eurasia.

Today Europe is a common home for 50 independent states. The area of ​​Europe (10.5 million km²) covers only 2% the globe and about 6.8% of its land, but 830 million people live in this small area, and 70 different peoples develop their culture. Europe is washed by the waters of the Atlantic and North arctic oceans and their seas. Climatic zones create an amazing variety natural landscapes: the silence of the Arctic deserts, the harsh beauty of the fjords, the majesty of the mountains and the radiance of the glaciers of the Alps, the fabulous jungle of forests, azure warm seas and endless steppes strewn with flowers.

The great rivers sung by poets - the Volga, Danube, Dnieper, Rhine, Elbe - give a unique picturesque landscape. The mineral springs of Europe, rest and treatment "on the waters" are popular among the people, whether it is the bourgeois resort of Baden-Baden, respectable Karlovy Vary or the sanatoriums of Kavminvod.

Europe is a hotbed of centuries-old traditions

Europe is a single, but contradictory space, where the most important stages of world history are imprinted - from the emergence of Roman and Hellenic (Greek) civilizations to the fall of fascist Germany.

The European powers conquered the whole world by creating colonial empires. Europe is rightfully considered a "hotbed of high culture": democracy, Western Christianity, the Italian Renaissance and humanism were born here. Not by chance European part the continent of Eurasia was called the "Old World", this name contains deep meaning. Having survived all the horrors of the Inquisition, executions, murders of monarchs, epidemics and terrible wars, Europe still remained a beauty. The rich historical past is reflected in the architecture of European countries, where Roman ruins, medieval castles And gothic cathedrals peacefully coexist with luxurious baroque palaces and steel skyscrapers.

Russia is a country of majestic nature and ancient Russian architecture

The expanses of Russia stretched from the Arctic steppes in the north to the Black Sea subtropics. Being largest country in the world, Russian Federation occupies 12.65% of the land inhabited by humans.

Italy - a country of Mediterranean beauties and cultural masterpieces

“Whoever was in Italy will say goodbye to other lands. Whoever was in heaven will not want to go to earth, ”N.V. Gogol wrote about his beloved country, in which he lived for more than one year.

Spain is a country of eternal celebration, bullfighting and flamenco

In Spain, the atmosphere of an eternal holiday reigns. Incendiary flamenco dances, bullfights with formidable bulls and fearless bullfighters, midday bliss of siesta, fragrant paella and sparkling sangria from wine with fruits create a unique palette of Spanish reality.

Germany - Alpine fairy tale

The nature of Germany is very diverse: the sandy wastelands of Pomerania and Schleswig are adjacent to the coasts of the North and Baltic Seas, and the snow-capped Alps sunny valley Rhine, famous for its wines.

France is a country of contrasts, ancient castles and vineyards

France boasts access to both the North and mediterranean seas and, most importantly, geographic compactness. Just 2 hours drive from Paris- and the tourist can swim on the beaches of Normandy, enjoy fresh oysters and apple cider.

Great Britain - the charm of foggy Albion

Ancient Romans conquering overseas lands, got to distant England (in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bmodern Dover) and were amazed by its dazzling white rocks. According to the color of the rocks, the Romans gave the name to the country "Albion", which means "white".

The Republic of Belarus is an ancient Slavic country with protected forests and picturesque lakes

Only 1 hour 20 minutes by plane from Moscow, and the tourist arrives in Belarus. For such a trip, you do not need to apply for visas or learn foreign languages, while in the Republic of Belarus you can have a good time in nature, visit sights and improve your health in sanatoriums.

Poland is a country of Baltic beaches, picturesque lakes and ancient cities

Tourist Poland, which has become fashionable among the Germans, remains little known to guests from Russia. As part of excursion tour in Poland, Russians visit only Krakow and Warsaw, although this country can offer many interesting routes.

Ukraine is a close, hospitable, sunny and inexpensive country

More than 50 sanatoriums, boarding houses and hotels in Ukrainian Truskavets offer effective treatment. Truskavets salt "Barbara", extracted from highly mineralized brine, is a worthy analogue of the famous Karlo-Vary salt.

Turkey - eastern country-fairy tale

At the end of the 20th century mediterranean resorts Turkey has become an "all-Russian health resort". The Turkish Riviera in the mind of a tourist is associated with endless beaches, a kaleidoscope of entertainment and inexpensive vacation on the system "all inclusive".

Portugal - sunny embankment of the European region

Portugal is not a large country, uniting, nevertheless, on its territory a rich historical heritage and a large number of attractions.

Ireland - the emerald isle at the edge of Europe

If a tourist has ever dreamed of being in a fairy tale, then he has a direct road to Ireland. No wonder this country is called " Emerald Isle”, all shades of green are present here: green pastures, green trees entwined with ivy, and the same green ivy on the walls medieval castles, lost in the thick of forests, where, according to legend, fabulous elves and trolls live.

Norway - Land of the Midnight Sun

The main wealth of Norway is its nature. Fruit trees grow in the south of the country, moss and dwarf shrubs grow in the north, and picturesque fjords encircle the coast. Mountains covered with forests and valleys treated with glaciers create a unique flavor of the northern kingdom.

Estonia - a small Baltic country for a grandiose vacation

In search of medieval castles, paradise islands and SPA-rest it is not necessary to go to distant countries. Just 1 hour 45 minutes on the way from Moscow by plane or just under 8 hours by bus from Petersburg, and the traveler arrives in Estonia.

Croatia - a necklace of 1000 green islands

The thousand-kilometer coast of Croatia is replete with bays, rocks and pine trees rising to the very edge of the water. It is no coincidence that since ancient times, Roman patricians built villas in Croatia, and in the 20th century Yugoslav politicians chose these resorts.

Belgium is a small country and a big treasure trove

Belgium - small state V Western Europe, which can be crossed in any direction in just a couple of hours. Tem more surprising fact, how many interesting things this miniature country can offer its guests.