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A number of large ships from the Spanish Armada succeeded in skirting the North of Scotland to perish in the stormy Irish seas. Travel to Ireland and see the astonishing salvages.
Buckland Abbey was home to Francis Drake, privateer, explorer and officer during the naval battle in 1588
The story of the Armada is well-documented. Nonetheless a number of recent books have shed new light on the dramatic happenings in 1588
First stop in search of the Armada is the docks of London where a full-scale replica of Sir Francis Drake's boat can be experienced.
<P><IMG src="/upload/cyclingromesmal.jpg" border=0 ><BR>Archbishop Sigeric the Serious travelled from Canterbury to Rome in 991 to fetch his pallium and famously left a recording of his itinerary. Recently a group of cyclists followed in his footsteps.</P>
<IMG src="/upload/via_romanasmal.jpg" border=0 ><BR>At a time, when Italy is busy selling off its palaces to the highest bidder, the old pilgrim road from Canterbury to Rome, Via Francigena, is blessed with generous funding.
<IMG src="/upload/vivaldi.jpg" border=0 ><BR>French movie collaborates with Virgin Music
<IMG src="/upload/vivaldi.jpg" border=0 ><BR>He left a decisive mark with his popular Baroque music, but as far as we know from his modest funeral, he died in poverty and obscurity, and was almost forgotten until the 20th century. A new movie brings him to life.
Unique prototype made of six cubes complete with Jacobsen design
Arne Jacobsen is world famous for his Danish Design
With Stevenson thorugh the Cévennes
How should wilderness be managed? Prepacked or left on its own?
In ancient Roman times wilderness was abhorred and feared. Today we create national wild parks.
Beatus of Liebana was an ideological keyplayer in the construction of the Kingdom of Asturias and the Cult of St. James.
"Son of Thunder" and "Slayer of Moors"
A pilgrimage is a long journey to a sacred place. The most well-known Christian pilgrim routes are those ending in Jerusalem, Rome and Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
A person may only be released from this vow by the Pope.
The Portuguese explorers sailed the seven seas. Five hundred years later, sailing is still an important part of the Portuguese identity.
If official Portugal is brilliant at spinning its yarn about the history of the nation, we need to know where to get to know the Portuguese.
When all is said and done, one fact about Portugal remains. It occupies a very fertile strip of land along the Atlantic Coast ideal for sailing on great expeditions.
Museums are great for looking into what a nation is all about. Portugal lacks a few.
Portugal and the Portuguese are difficult to get a grip on. The reason is that they wish so much to be (in) somebody else(s shoes).
Portugal is one of the oldest nations in Europe with eight centuries of history and a happy mixture of peoples, cultures and traditions, according to legend.
A reconstruction of an ocean going longship from the Viking Age, ca 1040
Vikings are a fundamental part of the Nordic identity
The Viking ship is a Danish - Irish effort.
Destination Viking - a dormant initiative
Were they peaceful traders or harrowing invaders?
Forn Sidr represents a heathen group in Denmark. They want to raise a Runic Stone near the world heritage site, Jelling.
Which (German) World Heritage Site will be the first ever to be de-listed?
Lübeck is a World Heritage site. But nothing or nobody answers my question: Why visit Lübeck?
Overexploitation, run-down sites and disneyfication were on the agenda at a UNESCO conference in Lübeck.
Sweden had major housing shortages during the first half of the 20th century. An example of a solution that architects all over the world study is Vällingby outside Stockholm built in the 1950s.
Red cottages, farmhouses, and barns characterise the Swedish landscape, but Sweden is also renowned for its "modern movement".
Early Christian Times in Anatolia
There are over 400 churches and chapels in Cappadocia. One has been lovingly restored.
Constantine in Trier
Constantine heard these words from the skies above before the battle of Milvian Bridge in 312: "In this sign you will conquer."
Should the Pope address the parliament in Strasbourg?
Much storm brewed after the Pope's speech at the University of Regensburg. But people misread the Pope.
Theme for 2007 is "People - Who are we?"
Our May guest is Marian Harkin from Ireland
European Ethical debates are shifting from the Rights of Embryos to the Rights of Women.
The annual International Museum Day on May 18th is just around the corner.
This event will take place in Europe on Saturday, May 19.
They’ve all gone Scottish…!
While Europe worries about the election in France, a much more important election has taken place in Scotland.
Why do people dress up as soldiers and playact?
History is high on the agenda in the Scottish Parliament.
Not many years ago we wrinkled our noses when factories emitted towers of dark smoke.
A spinning story from Germany and England
It all started with natural and synthetic dyes in the world's largest chemical cartel.
Rotterdam harbours 6th European Maritime Heritage Congress
Sea, sun, sand - and sex
Employment trends in maritime sectors in EU
Forget all about the Titanic, upper-class passengers and rough seas.
High-rise concrete, peasant dwellings, and magnificent castles. Romanian architects have much to be proud of, but also much to be embarrassed about.
Peles Castle, a dream of a castle
The conference is organized by The International Eco-tourism Society and takes place in Oslo 14 -16 May 2007.
A new European network is set up to help develop sustainable agriculture and promote agro-tourism through the preservation of old breeds.
Eco-museums and Open-Air museums
Protection of the natural environment, the welfare of our animals and the support for small, traditional agro-businesses...
From Britain to Russia, Greece to Sweden
The Peace Palace in The Hague, Holland was the appropriate setting for a meeting March 9 on European Foreign Policy and Culture.
Robert Schuman is an interesting acquaintance.
On March 25, 1957 a 6-member exclusive group comprising France, West Germany, the Benelux trio, and Italy met in Rome’s Capitoline Museum.
EU leaders struggle to write a common birthday message – or the Berlin Declaration marking the half-century since the signing of the founding Treaty of Rome on March 25, 1957.<IFRAME border=0 frameBorder=0 width=1 scrolling=no height=1></IFRAME>
In search of their roots used to be a major reason for travels to Ireland.
March 17 has become a holiday to celebrate all things Irish.
Lent is the time and Madrid the place for the highly acclaimed "Festival of Sacred Art".
A new film premieres in Madrid. Catholic bishops are furious.
For the first time in modern Greece the cremation of the dead is permitted.
Greek shadow theatre Karagiozi with Turkish roots once enormously popular.
Europe has an abundance of religious sites that already are being invaded by religious tourists or are waiting to be. But Greece isn't just going to wait for it to happen. The Ministry of Tourism in Greece has put religious tourism on their agenda.
Lesser sites, such as Bilbao in Spain, are successful in creating museums and exhibition-spaces, while the most important national collections of the world are dragging their feet.
European Opera houses, 89 to be more specific, have joined in a weeklong celebration of opera as a form of art and as an emblem of European culture.
Opera-lovers all over the world will recognize the very special thrill that spreads through the audience, when the lights are dimmed and the noise of the orchestra tuning up for the show suddenly is deadened.
Portrait of Edith Piaf premieres on Valentines Day in France together with a number of events commemorating the singer, who died in 1963, only 47 years old.
Historical films do not generally enamour the professional film critic. Three films have however succeeded in entering the top competition at the Berlinale.
Every European country has its golden era. For Spain it is decidedly the hundred years following upon Columbus’ discovery of the New World.
From land of coal and steel to arts, culture and entrepreneurs
This year Sweden is celebrating the Swedish botanist and explorer Carl Linné or Carolus Linnaeus’ 300-year birthday.
Dark tourism is tourism travelling to places associated with suffering, disaster, depravity and death.
Exhibitions, gardens, flower shows, an anniversary book and "Linné was here"
Artisans in Alsace and Jutland
Ovens in western and eastern Africa
2007 is the year Scotland celebrates Highland culture with a special program
Tile stoves, gingerbread, Moravian community...
Hans Dines Schmidt is ninth generation producing ovens much the same way as they did back in 1780’s.
This year Great Britain is celebrating the 300-year anniversary of the union between Scotland and England. But the Scots, are they also joining in on the celebrations?
This year has witnessed a number of situations where freedom of the press and respect for our cultural diversity and heritage have been under attack. It is no small wonder that the Enlightenment is currently put on the research agenda and is gaining renewed interest in the media and among politicians.
Knowledge, Techniques and Cultures in the 18th century
Voltaire and Emilie du Châtelet
This year has witnessed a number of situations where freedom of the press and respect for our cultural diversity and heritage have been under attack.
Recently a ratification of The EUNESCO convention on the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions took place in Brussels.
Since 1980 worldwide surveys have been undertaken in order to uncover the wide variety in values and attitudes among different populations.
Idomeneo is staged all over the Western World in 2007
It is probably no coincidence that museums and publishers currently seek to put the Enlightenment on the agenda with its stress on its scientific and realistic urges as well as the continued emphasis on freedom of the press.