10 Fun and interesting facts about Europe

Europe is one of the oldest inhabited continents in the world, filled with ancient history, left behind monuments and ruins of long gone civilisations. As well as natural wonders and UNESCO world heritage sites, it's a varied and diverse continent with a a lot to it - here are some facts about Europe that may surprise you.

Yes, the nation of Iceland is allegedly one of a few countries in the world that can verifiably claim to have none of the insect within its borders. This is due to Iceland's frigid climate and fast changes in weather that make it inhospitable for mosquitoes

Germany is famous for its fairy-tale castles. The most iconic is Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, which inspired Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle. But the central European nation can boast a staggering number of castles, reportedly up to almost 25,000 in fact.

Istanbul, Turkey, is the only city in the world that straddles two continents, Europe and Asia, separated by the Bosphorus Strait. Its unique position has made it an important city and cultural melting pot in ancient times and for hundreds of years since.

As you may know, Switzerland is the birthplace of milk chocolate, with Swiss chocolatiers such as Tobler and Lindt producing delectable treats for over a century. While the first mechanised production of pressed chocolate came into effect even further back in 1819, spearheaded by François-Louis Cailler.

France's Lascaux Caves contain some of the world's oldest known cave paintings, dating back over 17,000 years. These prehistoric masterpieces offer a glimpse into culture and the creativity of early humans.

Norway's Tromsø, also known as the "Gateway to the Arctic," is one of the best places in Europe to witness the mesmerizing Northern Lights, a celestial display of colorful lights dancing across the Arctic skies.

Prague in Czechia is often called the "City of a Hundred Spires" due to its stunning Gothic and Baroque architecture. The historic Old Town Square and Prague Castle are must-see landmarks to name a few.

Venice, Italy, is built on 118 small islands connected by a network of canals and bridges. The Grand Canal, the city's main waterway, is lined with exquisite palaces and is best explored by gondola.

Founded in the 10th century by kings Gorm the Old and Harald Bluetooth, the Kingdom Denmark can lay the prestigious claim to having the oldest monarchy in Europe.

Believe it or not, Norway actually has the longest coastline in Europe and the second longest in the whole world (after Canada at number one), with several fords, islands and inlets. The Scandinavian countries coast is estimated to be around 100,000km.

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