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The European
Union
During the last century, Europe was devastated by two world
wars which resulted in the deaths of millions, shattered Europes
economy and changed the borders of several countries. In order
to guarantee that this would not happen again, some European
leaders decided that their countries should work together to
ensure peace and prosperity for the future.
The result is the European Union (EU). EU Member States now
work together on many areas of common interest. Each Member
State has a voice in this process and decisions are made
collectively by the member countries and elected members of the
European Parliament.
Ireland has been a member of the EU for more than 40 years.
Since 1973, EU membership has helped to transform Irelands
economy, infrastructure and environment. It has influenced the
lives of Irish citizens by supporting the farming community,
improving consumer rights, and changing the status of women.
One of the greatest advantages of EU membership is that Irish
people can travel, study or work in any other EU country.
Today, there are 28 Member States in the EU. But what do we
know about them? Lets take a tour of the EU and see what we
can learn about our neighbours.

Austria
Grss
gott
Capital: Vienna
Size:
83 870 km
Population:
8.3 million
Language: German
National Day:
26 October
Vienna Prater: This is a large
public park in the middle of Vienna.
It also houses an amusement park
with over 250 rides, including the
Riesenrad, which is a ferris wheel.
Emperor Joseph II opened the park
to the public in 1766.

Find the flag!

Hundertwasser House: The

Hundertwasserhaus is an
apartment and office building
designed by Austrian artist
Friedensreich Hundertwasser.
Unique features include uneven
floors, a grass rooftop and large
trees growing from inside rooms.
Food: Austrians enjoy Wiener
Schnitzel (breaded veal cutlet),
Tafelspitz (boiled beef served
with apple and horseradish
sauce) and Apfelstrudel (apple
and pastry dessert).
Famous Austrians: Gustav Klimt (artist), Wolfgang Amadeus
Mozart (composer), Franz Kafka (writer).
Find out: Which popular ballroom dance originated in Austria?
Did you know? Francis Maurice Lacy was an Irish general in the
Austrian army of the 18th century. He was a favourite of Austrian
emperors and lived in a magnificent estate and house in the
Vienna Woods.

STERREICH

Belgium
Hallo
Salut
Capital:
Brussels
Size:
30 528 km
Population:
10.7 million
Languages: German, French
and Dutch
National Day:
21 July
The Atomium: Built in 1958, the
103-metre-tall monument represents
a magnified iron crystal. Recently
renovated and open to the public, the
Atomium not only hosts interesting
exhibitions, especially for children,
but also boasts some of the best
views of Brussels.

Find the flag!

The Manneken Pis: Sculpted

in 1619, this statue, literally
translated as the little man
weeing, has survived through the
ages to become one of Belgiums
most loved monuments. He even
has a wardrobe of over 600
costumes!
Food: Belgium is famous for
its moules-frites (mussels and
chips), as well as its chocolate!
Famous Belgians: Justine Henin
(tennis player), Eddie Merckx
(cyclist), Tintin, the Smurfs!
Find out: See if you can find a picture of the Atomium and stick
it in your passport.
Did you know? Ireland has many historic connections with
Belgium. The Irish College in Leuven educated Irish priests for
many centuries.

BELGIQUE/BELGI

Bulgaria
Zdrav

ei

Capital:
Size:
Population:
Language:
National Day:

Sofia
110 910 km
7.6 million
Bulgarian
3 March

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral:

Situated in Sofia, this cathedral is
one of the largest Eastern Orthodox
cathedrals in the world. It was built
in the early 20th century to honour
the Russian soldiers who died in the
187778 war with Turkey. It is a
cross-domed basilica with the Lords
Prayer inscribed in gold on the central
dome.

Find the flag!

Rila National Park: This is

the biggest national park in
Bulgaria and it is located about
100 km south of Sofia. It is an
area of conservation for many
endangered wildlife species. The
name Rila comes from the word
Roula, which means lots of
water.
Food: Kavarma (a meat and
onion stew), shopska salata (a
salad with tomatos, cucumber,
peppers, onions and white
cheese), bob chorba (a bean and
chilli soup), banitza (pastry with white cheese) and kiselo mliako
(yoghurt).
Famous Bulgarians: Julia Krusteva (philosopher), Christo
Javacheff (artist).
Find out: What colours are the Bulgarian national flag?
Did you know? An Irish man, Pierce OMahony, established St
Patricks Orphanage for boys in Sofia in 1904. There is a street
dedicated to him, Piers OMahoni in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Croatia
Doba
dan r
Capital:
Size:
Population:
Language:
National Day:

Zagreb
56 594 km
4.4 million
Croatian
25 June

Dubrovnik: The city of Dubrovnik is

known as the Pearl of the Adriatic.
Dubrovnik has several beautiful
churches, monasteries, palaces and
fountains. The city is located on the
Dalmatian coast, where the black and
white Dalmatian dog originates.

Find the flag!

Plitvice Lakes National Park:

A UNESCO World Heritage site,
Plitvice Lakes National Park
contains a series of beautiful
lakes, caves and waterfalls.
The park is also home to bears,
wolves and many types of rare
birds.
Food: With its long coastline, it
is not surprising that fish and
shellfish are very popular in
Croatia. Paticada (beef stew) is
a typical dish from Dalmatia and
a popular dessert is orehnjaa
(walnut loaf).
Famous Croatians: Goran Vinji (actor), Luka Modri
(footballer).
Find out: What popular piece of clothing originated in Croatia?
(Clue: its Croatian name is kravata).
Did you know? The Irish writer, James Joyce, once worked as an
English-language teacher in Croatia. He lived in the city of Pula
from October 1904 until March 1905. A life-size bronze statue of
James Joyce can now be found in one of the citys cafs.

HRVATSKA

Cyprus
Yias

ou

Capital:
Size:
Population:
Language:
National Day:

Nicosia
9 250 km
0.8 million
Greek
1 October

The Archbishops Palace:

Archbishop Makarios was the first
president of Cyprus from 1960
to 1977. His palace, in Nicosia, is
open to the public and it contains
a Byzantine museum with a large
collection of religious icons.

Find the flag!

Petra tou Romiou: Known in

English as the Rock of Aphrodite,
this spot not only has amazing
views of the sea, but, is also the
birthplace of the Greek goddess
Aphrodite, also known as Venus.
Legend has it she rose out of the
sea at this point and the event is
portrayed in a famous painting
called The Birth of Venus.
Food: Meze (a series of
appetisers and savouries),
fasolada (bean soup).
Famous Cypriots: Hseyin alayan (fashion designer), Zeno of
Citium (philosopher), Marcos Baghdatis (tennis player), Michael
Cacoyannis (film-maker).
Find out: What was Aphrodite the goddess of?
Did you know? Irish soldiers have served with the United
Nations in Cyprus on peacekeeping duties since 1974.

Czech Republic
Ahoj

Capital:
Size:
Population:
Language:
National Day:

Prague
78 866 km
10.5 million
Czech
28 October

St Vitius Cathedral: The most wellknown church in the Czech Republic,

this cathedral is Gothic in style and
is the seat of the Roman Catholic
Archbishop of Prague. It is one of the
most popular tourist attractions in
Prague.

Find the flag!

St Charles Bridge: This

medieval bridge was constructed
in the 14th century. It is named
after King Charles IV and spans
the river Vltava.
Food: Knedliky (dumplings),
bramboraky (potato pancakes).
Famous Czechs: Alfons
Mucha (artist), Antonin Dvok
(composer), Milan Kundera
(writer), Petr ech (footballer).
Find out: Which famous Czech
tennis player became an American citizen in 1981?
Did you know? Legend has it that the potato was introduced to
the Czech diet in the 17th century by Irish Franciscan monks.

ESK REPUBLIKA

Denmark
Hej

Capital:
Copenhagen
Size:
43 094 km
Population:
5.5 million
Language: Danish
National Day:
5 June
The Tivoli Gardens: The amusement
park and gardens were built in the
middle of the 19th century and are
home to one of the worlds oldest
wooden roller coasters, still in use
today. It is also used for openair concerts and plays during the
summer.

Find the flag!

The Little Mermaid: This

mermaid owes its fame to the
Hans Christian Andersen fairy
tale on which the sculpture
was based. She sits on a rock
in Churchill Park in Copenhagen
harbour. The sculptor, Edward
Eriksen, used his wife as the
model.
Food: Frikadeller (meatballs)
are very popular as is smoked
fish and smrrebrd (open
sandwiches).
Famous Danes: Ole Kirk Christiansen (inventor of Lego), Hans
Christian Andersen (author), Sren Kierkegaard (philosopher).
Find out: Can you name three Hans Christian Andersen fairy
tales?
Did you know? Danish Vikings invaded and settled in Ireland in
the 9th century.

DANMARK

Estonia
Tere

Capital:
Tallinn
Size:
45 000 km
Population:
1.3 million
Language: Estonian
National Day: 24 February
The Town Hall Pharmacy: Situated
on the Town Hall Square in Tallinn,
the Town Hall Pharmacy dates
back to 1422 and is still used as a
pharmacy today, although medieval
medicines like bat powder and
snakeskin potion are no longer sold!

Find the flag!

The Town Hall: This town hall

was built before the pharmacy
and is thought to date from the
early 13th century. Its Gothic
architecture has been well
preserved. It is currently open to
the public and is sometimes used
for receptions.
Food: Classic Estonian dishes
include verivorst (blood sausage),
leib (black bread) and kartulid
(potatoes).
Famous Estonians: Carmen
Kass (model), Mart Poom (footballer), Markko Mrtin (racing
driver).
Find out: See if you can find a picture of the Town Hall Pharmacy
and stick it in your passport.
Did you know? The year 1999 saw the signing of an agreement
of cultural exchanges between Ireland and Estonia. This has
resulted in exchange visits of theatre, musical and dance groups
from both countries.

EESTI

Finland
Hei

Capital:
Helsinki
Size:
338 000 km
Population:
5.3 million
Languages: Finnish,
Swedish
National Day:
6 December
Helsinki Cathedral: Situated in
Senate Square, this distinctive
Helsinki landmark was built by Carl
Ludvig Engel, who also designed the
square and surrounding buildings.
Though religious ceremonies are
still conducted in the cathedral, it
also attracts over 350 000 tourists
each year.

Find the flag!

Finlandia Hall: Designed by the

architect Alvar Aalto, Finlandia
Hall in Helsinki is used as a
conference centre and concert
venue. Its architectural goal
was that it should be modern
and functional, with nothing to
distract an audience from the
stage or the event they had come
to participate in.
Food: Finland is famous for
silli (pickled herring), lihapullat
(meatballs) and graavilohi (cold
salmon).
Famous Finns: Kimi Rikknen (racing driver), Fredrik Idestam
(founder of Nokia), Jean Sibelius (composer).
Find out: Which world-famous person comes from Lapland?
(Clue: he visits once a year!)
Did you know? Since 1986 an Irish festival has been held in
Finland every year. Concerts celebrating Irish music and culture
take place in cities across Finland.

SUOMI/FINLAND

France
Bonjo

ur

Capital:
Size:
Population:
Language:
National Day:

Paris
550 000 km
64.3 million
French
14 July

Notre Dame: Built in the Middle

Ages, the Parisian cathedral was in a
state of disrepair until the
mid 19th century when the French
novelist Victor Hugo wrote The
Hunchback of Notre Dame. The
success of the book launched a
campaign to restore the cathedral to
its former glory in 1845.

Find the flag!

The Eiffel Tower: The tallest

structure in Paris is the most
visited paid monument in the
world. Named after its architect
Gustave Eiffel, the structure of
the tower weighs 7 300 tons and
sways 67 centimetres in the
wind.
Food: French cuisine is world
renowned. French cheese such
as Camembert and Brie, and the
traditional French baguette and
croissant, are well known.
Famous French people: Coco Chanel (fashion designer), Daft
Punk (music duo), Pierre-Auguste Renoir (painter).
Find out: What is Frenchman Jean Monnet famous for?
Did you know? Patrice de MacMahon, a descendant of Irish
emigrants, was president of France from 1873 to 1879.

FRANCE

Germany
Guten
tag
Capital:
Size:
Population:
Language:
National Day:

Berlin
504 782 km
82 million
German
3 October

Brandenburg Gate: This gate is the

former entrance to the city and the
symbol of Berlin. Built between 1788
and 1791, it was commissioned by
King Frederick William II of Prussia
and is a symbol of peace.

Find the flag!

The Reichstag: Almost

destroyed by fire in 1933 and
again during World War II, the
newly renovated Reichstag has
been the symbol of German
reunification since its inception
as the seat of the German
Parliament in 1999.
Food: Sauerkraut and Bratwurst
(pickled cabbage with sausages).
Famous German people:
Ludwig van Beethoven
(composer), Friedrich Nietzsche
(philosopher), Heidi Klum (model and TV presenter).
Find out: Find a picture of the Brandenburg Gate and stick it in
your passport.
Did you know? St Killian, an Irish missionary, converted many
Germans to Christianity and is still honoured in the German city
of Wrzburg.

DEUTSCHLAND

Greece
Yias

ou

Capital:
Size:
Population:
Language:
National Day:

Athens
131 957 km
11.2 million
Greek
25 March

The Acropolis: Dedicated to the

goddess Athena, this impressive
monument dating back to Ancient
Greece dominates the Athenian
skyline. Built in the 5th century
BC, it was the pinnacle of the
achievements of Ancient Greece.

Find the flag!

Olympia: The birthplace of the

Olympic Games, Olympia was
dedicated to the god Zeus and
became the most important
religious and athletic centre in
Ancient Greece.
Food: Moussaka (aubergine and
meat dish), keftedes (meatballs),
baklava (a sweet pastry dessert).
Famous Greeks: Plato
(philosopher), Aristotle Onassis
(shipping magnate), Alexander
the Great (king and conqueror).
Find out: How many countries competed in the 2004 Olympic
Games?
Did you know? Sir Richard Church, a native of Cork, was
commander of the Greek forces during the war of Greek
Independence in the 19th century.

Hungary
Szia

Capital:
Budapest
Size:
93 000 km
Population:
10 million
Language: Hungarian
National Day: 15 March
The Hungarian Parliament: One
of the biggest parliament buildings
in Europe, the Hungarian Parliament
was inaugurated on the 1 000th
anniversary of the country in 1896.
Located in Budapest, over 40 million
bricks, half a million precious stones
and 40 kg of gold were used in its
construction.

Find the flag!

The Chain Bridge: This

suspension bridge links the two
cities of Buda and Pest which are
divided by the river Danube. As
a result of the construction of
this bridge at the end of the 19th
century, Budapest experienced an
economic revival, changing the
city from two provincial towns
into a growing metropolis.
Food: Typical Hungarian fare
includes goulash (soup), halszl
(fish and paprika) and vanilias
kifli (vanilla croissant).
Famous Hungarians: Harry Houdini (magician), Ern Rubik
(inventor of the Rubiks cube), Ferenc Pusks (footballer).
Find out: Name two EU Member States that border Hungary.
Did you know? James Joyce refers to the Hungarian town of
Szombathely in Ulysses and the town celebrates the annual event
of Bloomsday in Joyces honour.

MAGYARORSZG

Ireland
Dia
dhuit
Capital:
Size:
Population:
Languages:
National Day:

Dublin
70 000 km
4.5 million
English, Irish
17 March

Dublin Castle: Once the site of

a Viking fortress, this historical
landmark has been in existence since
930 AD, though in different forms.
For centuries it was the seat of
government in Ireland and was also
used as a jail.

Find the flag!

Newgrange: Built between

3300 and 2900 BC, Newgrange
is the oldest standing building
in the world, pre-dating even
the Egyptian pyramids! It is a
Neolithic passage tomb lit by the
rising sun each year at the time
of winter solstice.
Food: Ireland is home to Irish
stew and bacon and cabbage.
Famous Irish people: Bono
(singer/songwriter), Colin Farrell
(actor), Bram Stoker (author).
Find out: What well-known book did Bram Stoker write and
which other European country was the main character from?

IRELAND

Italy
Ciao!

Capital:
Rome
Size:
301 263 km
Population:
60 million
Language: Italian
National Day:
2 June
The Coliseum: One of the bestpreserved Roman monuments, the
Coliseum was built to hold 50 000
people who came to see gladiatorial
fights, games and even executions
in Roman times. Though the
amphitheatre has not been used for
entertainment since the early Middle
Ages, it is a major tourist attraction
and an iconic symbol of Ancient
Rome.

Find the flag!

Pompeii: This city was destroyed

by a massive volcanic eruption
of Mount Vesuvius in 79
AD, covering the city and its
inhabitants in volcanic ash
until its discovery at the end of
the 18th century. Excavators
discovered human remains in
volcanic ash as well as a wealth
of art, jewellery and other
materials, allowing archaeologists
a valuable insight into how life
was lived during that time.
Food: Italy is most famous for its
pasta and pizza. Italians are very fond of gelato (ice cream)!
Famous Italians: Leonardo da Vinci (painter, sculptor, inventor),
Christopher Columbus (who discovered America), Enzo Ferrari
(founder of the Ferrari motor-car company).
Find out: Which famous lady did Leonardo da Vinci paint?
Did you know? Guglielmo Marconi, who invented the radio,
was half Irish and married Beatrice OBrien, daughter of Baron
Inchiquin of Dromoland Castle, County Clare.

ITALIA

Latvia
Sveik

Capital:
Size:
Population:
Language:
National Day:

Riga
65 000 km
2.3 million
Latvian
18 November

The Doma Cathedral: Built in the

13th century, the Doma Cathedral
is thought to be the largest church
in the Baltic States. One of its key
attractions is its magnificent organ
which dates back to 1844.

Find the flag!

The Historic Centre of Riga:

Rigas centre has been declared
a UNESCO World Heritage
site; it is renowned for its Art
Nouveau architecture. This style
of architecture peaked in the
early 20th century and is defined
by flowing, curved designs often
including floral motifs.
Food: Latvians enjoy Ju siers
(caraway cheese), rasols (potato
and meat salad) and pickled
mushrooms.
Famous Latvians: Krlis Baumanis (composer), Vizma
Belevica (Nobel Prize winner in Literature), Mark Rothko (painter).
Find out: See if you can find a picture of Latvian Art Nouveau
architecture and stick in onto your passport.
Did you know? Edward ORourke, a priest of Irish ancestry, was
appointed the first Bishop of Riga in 1918.

LATVIJA

Lithuania
Laba

Capital:
Vilnius
Size:
65 000 km
Population:
3.3 million
Language: Lithuanian
National Day:
16 February
Gediminas Castle: Legend has it
that the Grand Duke Gediminas had
a dream in which he saw an iron
wolf howling like 100 wolves where
the castle now stands. He thought
the dream meant that it was Gods
will that the castle be built there
and so in 1230 it was.

Find the flag!

Trakai: The historic capital of

Lithuania, Trakai is noted for
its beautiful surroundings as
well as Trakai Castle which is
an excellent example of Gothic
architecture. It was home to
Grand Duke Vytautas before
Vilnius became the Lithuanian
capital.
Food: Lithuanians enjoy kibinai
(similar to Cornish pasties),
cepelinai (meat-filled dumplings)
and sweet or savoury pancakes.
Famous Lithuanians: Salomja Nris (poet),
Laurynas Guceviius (architect), Steponas Darius
and Stasys Girnas (pilots).
Find out: What event does the National Day commemorate?
Did you know? In 1935, Lithuanian/American pilot, Feliksas
Vaitkus, became the sixth person to fly solo across the Atlantic
and landed in a field in Ballinrobe, County Mayo.

LIETUVA

Luxembourg
Moien

Capital: Luxembourg
Size:
2 856 km
Population: 0.5 million
Languages: French, German

and Luxembourgish
National Day: 23 June
The Grand Ducal Palace: Originally
built as a town hall in 1572, the
palace is now the official residence of
the Grand Duke of Luxembourg and
his family. During World War II, the
buildings interior and art collection
was extensively damaged. However,
the palace has since undergone two
major restorations.

Find the flag!

Adolphe Bridge: This bridge

is one of Luxembourgs most
popular tourist attractions and
is 17.2 metres wide and carries
four lanes of traffic. Designed by
Paul Sejourne and Paul Rodange,
it was built between 1900 and
1903.
Food: Thuringer (small sausages),
pt, quetsche tort (type of tart).
Famous Luxembourgers:
Joseph Kutter (painter), Gabriel
Lippmann (Nobel Prize winner),
Frank Schleck (professional cyclist).
Find out: What did Gabriel Lippmann win the Nobel
Prize for?
Did you know? In 1693, Patrick Sarsfield was a commander
in the army of the Duke of Luxembourg when he was fatally
wounded in the battle of Landen.

LUXEMBOURG

Malta
Bong

Capital:
Size:
Population:
Languages:
National Day:

Valletta
316 km
0.4 million
English, M
 altese
8 September

Valletta: Named after the Grand

Master of the Order of St John, Jean
Parisot de la Valette. Construction of
this fortress city began in 1566 and
was completed in a remarkably short
15 years.

Find the flag!

St Pauls Cathedral: Built on

the site of a Norman church
which was destroyed in an
earthquake in 1693, St Pauls
Cathedral crowns the city
of Mdina and is topped by a
magnificent dome designed by
the cathedrals architect Lorenzo
Gafa.
Food: Traditional food includes
fenek (rabbit) and pastizzi
(savoury pastries).
Famous Maltese people:
The Knights of Malta, Dun Karm Psaila (poet), Giuseppe Cal
(painter), Edward de Bono (philosopher).
Find out: Complete the title of the famous thriller The
Maltese ....
Did you know? Irishman Richard More OFerrall was
appointed as the first civil governor of Malta in 1847.

MALTA

Netherlands
Hallo

Capital:
Amsterdam
Size:
41 526 km
Population:
16.4 million
Language: Dutch
National Day:
30 April
Windmills: Although over 1 000
windmills are still standing in the
Netherlands today, many of them
are no longer in use. Windmills
were mainly used to drain water, to
produce paper and oil and to saw
wood. For five centuries, windmills
were the primary source of power in
the Netherlands.

Find the flag!

Volendam: This historical village

is one of the most popular tourist
destinations in the Netherlands
today. It is famous for its fishing
boats and traditional Dutch
costume which is still worn by
some residents today.
Food: Typical Dutch food includes
hutspot (stew), vla (cooled milk
with custard) and blinde vink
(meatballs).
Famous Dutch people: Vincent
Van Gogh (painter), Anne Frank
(diarist and holocaust victim), Arjen Robben (footballer).
Find out: The name of the city that is the seat of government in
the Netherlands (it is not the capital!).
Did you know? The Battle of the Boyne was won by a Dutchman,
William of Orange, who became King of England.

NEDERLAND

Poland
Cze

Capital:
Size:
Population:
Language:
National Day:

Warsaw
312 679 km
38.1 million
Polish
11 November

Warsaws Old Town: Originally

built in the 13th century, Warsaws
Old Town was built around the Royal
Castle. The Old Town was destroyed
during World War II. After the war, it
was painstakingly rebuilt, much of it
brick by brick, and is now a UNESCO
World Heritage site.

Find the flag!

Lenin Shipyard, Gdansk: This

is where Lech Wasa started
the Solidarity movement, the
anti-communist trade union
that altered the course of Polish
and European history in the late
20th century. Though no longer
the huge shipyard it once was,
it is considered the birthplace of
Polish resistance to communism.
Food: Poland is home to urek (a
type of sour soup). The national
dish is bigos (cabbage and meat).
Famous Poles: Pope John Paul II, Fryderyk Chopin (composer),
Maria Skodowska-Curie (physicist and chemist).
Find out: What was the birth name of the late Pope John Paul II?
Did you know? In the 17th century, Dr Bernard OConnor, from
Kerry, was personal physician to the king of Poland.

POLSKA

Portugal
Ol

Capital:
Size:
Population:
Language:
National Day:

Lisbon
92 072 km
10.6 million
Portuguese
10 June

The Vasco da Gama Bridge: This

is the longest bridge in Europe,
measuring 17.2 km in total. The
bridge has six lanes and was built
to alleviate traffic on Lisbons other
bridge (the 25 de Abril Bridge).

Find the flag!

Belm Tower: The tower,

situated in the Belm district
of Lisbon, was built in the early
16th century to commemorate
Vasco da Gamas expedition. The
influence of Moorish art can be
found in the arched windows and
balconies.
Food: Bacalhau (salted cod),
sardinhas (sardines), pastis de
nata (Portuguese custard tarts)
Famous Portuguese people:
Vasco da Gama (explorer),
Cristiano Ronaldo (footballer), Fernando Pessoa (poet).
Find out: What naval route did Vasco da Gamas expedition
discover?
Did you know? There was an Irish college in Lisbon from 1590
to 1834.

PORTUGAL

Romania
Buna

Capital:
Size:
Population:
Language:
National Day:

Bucharest
237 500 km
21.5 million
Romanian
1 December

The Parliament Palace: At

330 000 m, this is the largest
parliament building in the world.
Built by order of the dictator Nicolae
Ceauescu, many had argued that it
be destroyed after he was deposed,
so hated was his regime. However,
it is now a symbol of Romanian
democracy.

Find the flag!

Bran Castle: Built in 1212, this

castle is commonly referred to as
Draculas Castle, as legend has
it that the castle was once home
to Vlad III Dracula, the prince on
whom the novel Dracula was
loosely based.
Food: Mititei, the national
dish, which is a small, skinless
sausage.
Famous Romanians: Eugne
Ionesco (writer), George Enesco
(composer), Constantin Brncu si (sculptor), Angela Gheorghiu
(soprano opera singer).
Find out: What was the original name for the Parliament Palace?
Did you know? Dracula, the famous book about a vampire from
Romania, was written by the Irish author Bram Stoker.

ROMNIA

Slovakia
Ahoj

Capital:
Size:
Population:
Language:
National Day:

Bratislava
48 845 km
5.4 million
Slovak
1 September

St Michaels Gate: This is the sole

remainder of Bratislavas medieval
fortifications and is one of the towns
oldest historic monuments. Originally
one of four gates, it dates back to
1300.

Find the flag!

Bratislava Castle: This is the

main castle of Bratislava and
stands on the hill of the Little
Carpathians. On a good day, the
view from it extends as far as
Hungary and Austria. The castle
itself contains four towers, a
courtyard and an 80-metre-deep
well.
Food: Well-known dishes include
potato dumplings with sheeps
milk cheese and cabbage soup
and sausage.
Famous Slovakians: Peter Sagan (cyclist), Andy Warhol (artist
of Slovakian descent).
Find out: Bratislava is just an hours drive from which other
European capital city?
Did you know? Todays Slovaks are descendants of the Slavic
tribes, but Slovakia is also a region where Celts once dwelt. As
you know, the Irish are descendants of the Celts.

SLOVENSKO

Slovenia
Zhivj

Capital:
Size:
Population:
Language:
National Day:

Ljubljana
20 273 km
2 million
Slovenian
25 June

Postojna Caves: Carved by the

Pivka River, the Postojna Caves are
the longest caves in the country and
one of the top tourist attractions.
Ancient signatures at the entrance
passage show that the caves have
been visited since the 13th century.

Find the flag!

Tromostovje: The Tromostovje,

or Triple Bridge as it is known in
English, is one of the symbols of
Ljubljana. It consists of a stone
arch bridge as its central part and
has a pedestrian bridge on either
side.
Food: Slovenian food includes
potica (cake).
Famous Slovenes: Joef Stefan
(writer), Franc Mikloi (linguist),
Joe Plenik (architect).
Find out: What mountain is depicted on Slovenias
national flag?
Did you know? Irish writer James Joyce spent the night of 19
October 1904 in Ljubljana train station. He was on his way to
Trieste, Italy, and accidentally got off the train early thinking
he had already arrived. Today the train station has a plaque to
commemorate his stopover.

SLOVENIJA

Spain
Hola

Capital:
Size:
Population:
Language:
National Day:

Madrid
504 782 km
45.8 million
Spanish
12 October

Sagrada Familia: Designed by

Antoni Gaud, this cathedral was
unfinished at the time of his death in
1926 and is still under construction
today. This cathedral is an excellent
example of Art Nouveau architecture
and is located in Barcelona.

Find the flag!

El Escorial: This one-time

monastery and royal palace is
close to Madrid and is now a
museum and art gallery.
Food: Spanish food includes
paella (chicken, seafood and rice),
tortilla (potato omelette) and
chorizo (sausage).
Famous Spanish people:
Penelope Cruz (actress), Salvador
Dal (artist), Fernando Torres
(footballer).
Find out: Find a picture of the Sagrada Familia church and stick
it in your passport.
Did you know? Many of Irelands wild geese such as Red Hugh
ODonnell, settled in Spain after fleeing from Ireland.

ESPAA

Sweden
Hej

Capital:
Size:
Population:
Language:
National Day:

Stockholm
449 964 km
9.2 million
Swedish
6 June

Gamla Stan: This is the old town

of Stockholm. It dates back to the
13th century and consists of cobbled
medieval streets and alleyways. It is
home to Stockholm Cathedral and the
Nobel Museum.

Find the flag!

The Royal Palace of

Stockholm: Home to the
Swedish Royal Family, Carl XVI
Gustaf and Queen Silvia. The
palace was completed in 1760
and is situated next to the
parliament.
Food: Swedish food includes
artsoppa (pea soup), gravad lax
(cured salmon) and falukorv
(sausage).
Famous Swedish people: Alfred
Nobel (chemist, set up the Nobel
Peace Prize), Sven-Gran Eriksson (football manager), ABBA
(music group).
Find out: Name three multinational Swedish companies.
Did you know? Swedish home-furnishings company, IKEA,
opened its first Irish branch in Dublin in July 2009.

SVERIGE

United Kingdom
Hello

Capital:
Size:
Population:
Language:

London
244 820 km
61.7 million
English

Tower Bridge: This is a combined

bascule and suspension bridge over
the river Thames in London. The
bridge was opened in 1894 by the
then future king, Edward VII.

Find the flag!

Big Ben: Perhaps one of the

most famous clocks in the world,
Big Ben is the worlds largest
four-faced chiming turret clock.
Construction was completed
in 1858. The clock has since
become an international symbol
of London and the United
Kingdom.
Food: British food includes bacon
and eggs, fish and chips and
Shepherds pie, to name but a
few dishes!
Famous British people: David Beckham (footballer), J.K.
Rowling (author), William Shakespeare (playwright and poet).
Find out: Can you name two of Shakespeares plays?
Did you know? Approximately 6 million Britons or 10 % of the
population of the United Kingdom claim Irish ancestry.

UNITED KINGDOM

Crossword
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.
7.

8.

9.
10.

11.

14.

15.

12.
13.
16.
18.

19.

20.

21.
23.

22.

17.

24.
25.

26.

27.

28.

29.
30.

Across

31.

1. The home of pizza (5)

5. One part of the Hungarian capital (4)
7. Mobile-phone company founded by Finnish man Fredrik Idestam (5)
8. The European flag features 12 of these (5)
9. Item of clothing from Croatia (3)
10. One of two EU countries which borders the Black Sea (8)
12. Hello in Cyprus (6)
13. Democracy was invented in this country (6)
15. The smallest country in the European Union (5)
16. European capital which was divided by a wall for more than a quarter
of a century (6)

18. In 1973, Ireland joined this organisation (8, 5)

23. Lithuanian castle built in the 13th century (9)
25. Inventor of the popular multicoloured puzzle cube (5)
28. A form of greeting in Sofia (7)
29. Complete the name of the famous Italian Renaissance artist:
Leonardo da _____(5)
30. Greek goddess Aphrodites other name (5)
31. Ljubljana is the capital (8)

Down

2. Famous Belgian cartoon character (6)

3. Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo is fluent in this language (10)
4. The longest river in the European Union and the subject of a
famous waltz (6)
5. Central European capital located in Bohemia (6)
6. The first of this month is a holiday is most European
countries (7)
8. Nationality of footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic (7)
9. This European city has a pharmacy which is almost 600 years
old! (7)
11. Romance language spoken in Transylvania (8)
14. The common currency of many European countries (4)
16. The capital of Slovakia (10)
17. This tower in Paris is one of the most famous landmarks in
Europe (6)
19. Poland in Polish (6)
20. The capital of Cyprus (7)
21. Northern European country known as Suomi to its residents (7)
22. Baltic state (6)
24. Nationality of Vincent Van Gogh (5)
26. This castle was Draculas home in the hills (4)
27. How to greet your friends in Florence and Rome (4)

Austria: Arnold Schwarzenegger

Bulgaria: White, green, red
Croatia: Tie
Cyprus: Love
Czech Republic: Martina
Navratilova
Denmark: The Emperors New
Clothes, The Princess and the Pea,
The Ugly Duckling, Thumbelina,
The Little Match Girl, The Little
Mermaid, and many others.
Finland: Santa Claus
France: He was one of the
founders of the European Union
Greece: 201
Hungary: Austria, Romania,
Slovakia, Slovenia
Ireland: Dracula, Romania
Italy: Mona Lisa
Lithuania: The signature of
the Act of Independence on
16 February 1918
Luxembourg: Physics
Malta: Falcon
Netherlands: The Hague
Poland: Karol Wojtya
Portugal: The route from Europe
to India
Romania: The Peoples House
Slovakia: 1913 (although the idea
of parachutes had existed earlier)
Slovenia: The Triglav mountain,
the highest mountain in Slovenia

Sweden: IKEA (furniture), Volvo

(cars), H&M (clothing), Ericsson
(mobile phones), etc.
United Kingdom: Hamlet, Romeo
and Juliet, King Lear, Macbeth,
Othello, A Midsummers Night
Dream, The Merchant of Venice,
and many others.

Crossword
ACROSS:
1. Italy; 5. Pest; 7. Nokia;
8. Stars; 9. Tie; 10. Bulgaria;
12. Yiasou; 13. Greece;
15. Malta; 16. Berlin;
18. European Union;
23. Gediminas; 25. Rubik;
28. Zdravei; 29. Vinci; 30. Venus;
31. Slovenia
DOWN:
2. Tintin; 3. Portuguese;
4. Danube; 5. Prague;
6. January;
8. Swedish; 9. Tallinn;
11. Romanian; 14. Euro;
16. Bratislava; 17. Eiffel
19. Polska; 20. Nicosia;
21. Finland; 22. Latvia;
24. Dutch; 26. Bran; 27. Ciao

Answers Page

Notes

Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2014

Catalogue number: NA-01-14-052-2L-C / NA-01-14-052-EN-N (English version)
ISBN:
978-92-79-35532-5

978-92-79-35996-5 (English version)
doi: 10.2775/14209

10.2775/27519 (English version)
European Union, 2014
Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.
Printed in Luxembourg

Flags of the
European Union
Member States

Austria

Belgium

Bulgaria

Croatia

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Estonia

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Hungary

Ireland

Italy

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malta

Netherlands

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Slovakia

Slovenia

Spain

Sweden

United Kingdom