Updated 2022
Our Day Translations blog is exploring our beautiful globe once more and this time we’ve landed in the European Union. Made up of 51 countries, Europe is home to places such France, Germany, and even parts of Russia. And we’ve got some weird and fun facts you probably didn’t know about Europe!
Of course, there’s so much for us to get into. So let’s not waste any more time and instead dive right into the Europe facts!
Top Fun Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About Europe!
They Speak More than 200 Languages Throughout Europe
Europe is a melting pot of cultures. With this in mind, different languages exist from every corner of the continent. With more than 200 spoken languages across Europe, only 24 of them are recognized as formal languages. Of these 24 languages, 3 of them are declared procedural languages, which means they are the main languages spoken when doing business for example.
There are 10 Monarchies in Europe
If you didn’t know before, then now you do. The British Monarchy isn’t the only royal family in the world. As a matter of fact, Denmark has the oldest monarchy in Europe. It was formed in 935 by Viking Kings Gorm the Old and Harold Bluetooth.
The other 8 monarchies that exist within Europe are Spain, Sweden, Norway, The Netherlands, Liechtenstein, Andorra and Belgium.
The European Continent is Home to More than 400 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
There are over 400 UNESCO World Heritage sites in Europe, some of these featured locations are bound to be familiar, while others are lesser-known gems we’re sure you’ve never heard of!
The Country with the Highest Life Expectancy in the European Union is Monaco
Based on data collected and shared, it is said that people in Monaco live to be 89.4 years on average. Fun fact, this isn’t only the highest life expectancy rate in Europe but in the world.
It is believed that Monaco’s high life expectancy comes about as a result of its beautiful geographical location that is along the French Riviera. Apparently, it’s also due to its highly educated staff within the medical field.
Most of Europe’s Castles are in the Czech Republic
If you want to see castles, visit European countries. There’s so much fascinating history to be explored and diverse cultures to be uncovered. This amazing continent is truly home to attractions that no other country or continent can stand up to. But were you aware that the Czech Republic had the majority of castles? Sure, Europe boasts some pretty cool historic attractions, but the Czech Republic was home to many royal families, which is why it’s the country with the most castles! All in all, there are 932 castles in the Czech Republic alone. And to top it off, there are approximately 1,187 other ‘stately homes’ within the country.
No Kissing on French Train Platforms
From as far back as 1910, kissing was banned from all French train platforms. An interesting fact for this becoming a law was to help keep the trains running on time and to keep the crowd always moving.
Austria is Home to the World’s Oldest Zoo
The Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna Austria is not only Europe’s oldest zoo, but also the oldest zoo in the world. The zoo is located within the confines of the Schönbrunn Palace. Initially, the zoo was a private collection for the Hapsburg royal family. We don’t need to say it, but this is Austria’s most visited attraction too!
The Largest Company in European Countries is Volkswagen
We all know the famous VW logo, but some people may not know that it’s actually a German company. Volkswagen generates lots of profits; profits as high as 240.4 billion dollars in revenue. It’s a fact that Volkswagen is actually the 7th largest company in the entire world and has sold over 11 million cars.
Talk about interesting things.
No Cappuccino After 11 Am in Italy
Another fun fact about Europe is that in Italy, they don’t consume cappuccino after 11 AM. Within Italian culture, anything with ‘frothy milk’ is considered a breakfast drink. So next time you’re in Italy, don’t bring attention to yourself by ordering Cappuccino past the ‘stipulated’ hours.
Fries were Invented in Belgium
French fries are a beloved food by many all over the world. So much so that many believe this food was invented in the USA. The truth is however, that French fries is native to Europe, more specifically Belgium.
The Belgian word for fries is ‘frites’ and is broadly enjoyed with mayonnaise by the locals. Belgians love fries so much that there’s a museum completely dedicated to it called ‘Frietmuseum’.
Fun fact indeed!
Vatican City is the World’s Smallest Country
Not known by many, Vatican City is a country. In fact, it is the smallest country in the world measuring 0.02 miles. Vatican City is known worldwide as the official residence of the Pope. Naturally, this ‘country’ is alsohome to the smallest European population! Vatican City is also quite self-sufficient (to an extent), because it has its own mint to print euros, issuing its own passports as well as having its own media houses, anthem and even stamps.
There are Over 400 Words for Snow in Scotland
Apparently, there’s a lot of snow in Scotland and as such they have lots of words that mean ‘snow’. There are over 400 words that mean snow in Scotland, 421 words if you want to be exact. All the words for snow have meanings such as – ‘flinkdrinkin’ which stands for ‘a light snow’ or ‘unbrak’ which means ‘the beginning of the thaw’.
In Sweden, Donald Duck is a Christmas Staple
Who would have related Donald Duck with Christmas? In Sweden, Donald Duck plays a big part in their Christmas traditions. On Christmas Eve, it is customary for Swedish families to watch reruns of Donald Duck’s Christmas special. Many locals that hail from Germany have also adopted this tradition.
Wrapping Up
We hope you enjoyed our time spent on the European continent as much as we did. We’ve armed you with enough quirky facts to get you planning for your next trip to a country in the European continent, right?
Did you enjoy reading through these Europe facts? Or do you have some fun Europe facts of your own you’d like to see added to this list?
Catch us next time. Who knows where we’ll be landing next?