Situated in the Balkan Peninsula, the Republic of Bulgaria is bounded on the north by Romania, on the south by Turkey and Greece and on the west by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Once an independent kingdom, Bulgaria was under the control of the USSR from 1946 to 1990, when it’s once – dominant agricultural sector was overtaken by manufacturing.
Sarajevo was the most Oriental city in Europe till the war in 1992, retaining the essence of its rich history with its mosques, markets and picturesque old Turkish Bazaars. Despite being heavily scarred by the three – year war, Sarajevo has regained a degree of normalcy, and is slowly being transformed into a vibrant metropolis.
Sandwiched between Croatia and Serbia, the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina is located in southeastern Europe on the Balkan Peninsula. Formerly a constituent republic of Yugoslavia, the country became independent in 1992, following which a civil war broke out among the Muslims, Croats and Serbs here. The war is officially over now and travelers are beginning to trickle in once again.
The culturally rich and interesting kingdom of Belgium has more history, art, cuisine and architecture than any other country in Europe. Located in northwestern Europe, Belgium is bounded on the north by the Netherlands, on the east by Germany and Luxembourg and on the south and southwest by France.
A jewel in the heart of Europe, Austria is known for its natural beauty and cultural wealth. The cradle of western classical music, Austria is a popular tourist destination today. Ruled by the mighty Hasburgs in 14th and 15th centuries, Austria was once a dominant political force in Central Europe.
The imperial cities, spectacular vistas, Alpine splendor, skiing, pulsating nightlife, sophisticated shopping, classical culture and culinary adventure-Austria offers the best of Europe in a nutshell.
As Serbia and Montenegro emerged from the Byzantine Empire for which Orthodox Christianity was the state religion, the Orthodox Church greatly influenced the early development of art in Serbia and Montenegro. The Byzantine influence can be found in the country's many beautiful monasteries that contain many beautiful frescoes and icons. Though the art of this religion suffered under the Ottomans, Western artistic movements influenced the artists during the 19th and 20th century.
Social Realism became a force to reckon with after World War II, forcing a lull in the cultural development of the country. Yugoslav music and dance is built on a strong folk tradition, similar to that of neighboring Bulgaria. Serbia neofolk music is very popular among rural people and workers. Serbian rock groups are very popular and old Serbian church music has also revived.
Romania is roughly oval in shape, with a long chain of mountain ranges that curve through northern and central Romania. Most of central and northwestern Romania comprises of an extensive elevated plateau region called Transylvania. Transylvania is surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains, a large mountain system of central and Eastern Europe. Moldoveanu (8343 ft), the country's highest peak is located in the southern Carpathians.
The geological structure of the Carpathians has caused many severe earthquakes in the past. The Danube is the most important river in Romania and the other major rivers such as the Mure, the Some, the Olt, the Prut and the Siret are all part of the Danube System. Romania has many small freshwater mountain lakes, but the largest ones like Lake Razeim are saline lagoons on the coast of Black Sea.
Monaco is one of the famous resort in the world. The country is known for its glamorous lifestyle, and has a reputation of being the playground of Europe's elite. The total national population is 32,150 and it covers an area of 1.95 sq km. The languages spoken by people in Monaco are French, Monegasque, Italian and others. The major economy of Monaco is tourism and their currency is called as French Franc.
Monaco is bordered on the south by the Mediterranean sea and on the north, east and west by the French department of Alpes-Maritimes. The principality is composed of four districts: Monaco, the capital; La Condamine; Monte Carlo and Fontvielle.
Monaco has one of the highest population densities in the world, at 16,428 people per sq km. Most of the people who live here have come from elsewhere lured by the tax-free income.
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