history
Most expensive EU TV production Borgia: outsiders from Spain in renaissance Italy
The fifteenth century Italian crime family is the subject of a hit Franco-German TV series originally filmed in Prague and screened as of this summer in three European countries. We discuss reality and fiction with French Borgia expert Pol Bruno at his welcoming home on the Breton coast
Searching for my German great-grandfather in Siberia
In summer 2010 my grandfather and I travelled to Rubtsovsk to find his father’s grave' he had died there as a prisoner of war in 1945. Far from civilisation, Rubtsovsk is a town of around 160, 000 inhabitants on the Russian-Kazakh border in southwest Siberia. My grandfather had been hoping to find his father’s burial place for over 65 years
history, germany, second world war , russian federation, society
Bonfire night: Guy Fawkes, Europe's first 'indignant' citizen
The image of Guy Fawkes is everywhere at the moment, inspiring the worldwide anonymous and occupy movements. What would he have thought if he had known that over four hundred years after his death thousands of people in Europe and beyond would be wearing masks of his face while protesting against today’s all-encompassing global political system?
history, london, 'indignant citizens' movement, culture, united kingdom, politics, death
Odessa to Vilkova: Ukraine's Venice
Inspired by British website 'Nerdy Day Trips', we should say that cafebabel.com isn’t just about metropolises and life in the big city, but also Europe’s far-flung corners. A German correspondent discovers pelicans, tortoises and old believers in a sleepy fishing village in Ukraine
history, nature, travel writing, post-soviet states, ukraine, lifestyle, travel
Expats: from London to Srebrenica this July
The difference between summer in the UK and summer in Bosnia-Herzegovina is much more apparent around the date of the anniversary of the massacre in July 1995, when 8, 000 Bosniak men were killed. Notes from an expat abroad on cafebabel.com's official Sarajevo blog
history, bosnia and herzegovina, ratko mladić, blogs, serbia, srebrenica, politics
Green Rome’s periphery: get thee to the Casale Podere Rosa cultural centre
On the urbanely disfigured periphery of the Italian capital, activists have spent the last two decades using tools such as squats, organic food markets, film projections, solar panels and the idea of Italian environmental memory to promote a more convivial and environmentally friendly way of life
history, italy, green cities, rome, green europe on the ground, activism, ecology
Nikola Tesla: unknown inventor, national hero in Balkans
His dream was free electricity for the world with no cables involved. David Bowie has incarnated him in Hollywood and Serbia's biggest airport is named after him. Why is it that we have barely heard of this scientist in western Europe?
View from Belgrade's historical museum: Serbia, Europe and obsessions with history
The EU is not a compromise on the dream of a proud, independent Serbia, but rather the affirmation of it. The extremists behind such events as the nationalist riots at the gay pride march in October are merely the Serbian answer to a fringe movement in every country that gets louder when the uncertain future requires change. In other countries, radicals might cite immigration or the economy as their cause. In Serbia, they use history
history, identity, belgrade, kosovo, culture, european union, museum
Catch Istanbul if you can
We're not even sure what Europeans think and know about Istanbul. It seems like it should be capital of Turkey, but it hasn't been since 1923. Its rich past reveals how it was a kind of European Union even before this one - where formal membership negotiations began five years ago in October - even existed. From religious clothing to boom-box playing imams via politically-affiliated university food, a first time glance at a metropolis from two districts which seem to bleed European references. Istanbul for beginners
- Read the special edition Catch Istanbul if you can
- Getting to grips with Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul and Europe
- Modern myths: politically divided university canteens in Istanbul
- Sorry, we’re women: inside Istanbul’s modern-traditional Blue Mosque
- Gay culture in Istanbul: ‘We have the balls to say it out loud’
- Islam for beginners: first stop Istanbul
Islam and Europe: a five step waltz
The more widespread an idea, the more erroneous it is. Since the Middle Ages, each period imagines that the question of islam in Europe is a new phenomenon, too often forgetting history, which has not always been about the mode of conquest. A brief overview of a stormier past than one could have imagined
history, discrimination, europe, culture, catholicism, islamophobia, spain
A French, German and Italian go to Berlin's Adolf Hitler exhibition…
Since 15 October, 20, 000 people have already flocked to the German History Museum in Berlin to find out more about one man - the most famous dictator in Europe. 'What made Hitler possible? That's the question we're trying to answer in this exhibition, which runs until 6 February', explains a spokesperson. Three young Europeans chart their emotions
history, hitler, germany, berlin, culture, culture calendar, jews
Poland: Solidarnosc 30th anniversary through Hackers cinema keyhole
'I'm taking over the TV network'...When we Poles watch the cult movie Hackers (1995) featuring Angelina Jolie, one line from the movie's main character makes us feel good to remember that the real takeover of the Polish TV network took place ten years before
history, poland, solidarnosc, internet, television, politics, trade unions
'Come to Romania': quest to brand Bucharest
Forging a skate culture, redesigning lei banknotes and offering a story to tourists, aside from the palace of parliament hotspot, the result of dictator Ceaucescu's tearing down a third of the city in communist times. These are just some of the ideas to boost the image and GDP of a crisis-riddled country
history, eucrisis on the ground, money, urbanism, advertising, bucharest, centrist
Berlin film festival: 60 years of masterpieces
The Berlin international film festival (or Berlinale) has been fraught with political struggles. Created by the allies of west Berlin right under the noses of communist dictators, it was a way of opening a window to the 'free' world. Over the years, it has developed into an unmissable world cinema event
history, cinema, film, berlin wall, berlin, cold war, jean-luc godard
John Demjanjuk: one of Europe's last Nazis takes the stand
Undoubtedly one of the last acts of de-nazification in history has been playing out inside the appellate court of Munich since 2 December. International media is closely tracking the case against the accused, a former executioner at the Sobibor concentration camp. Trial hearings have resumed after being halted due to the poor health conditions of the 89-year-old defendant and US extradite; we hear opinions from young people in Germany
history, germany, neo-nazis, second world war , national socialism, holocaust memorial day, society
Credit crunch: a fistful of pounds and zlotys
‘It’s the financial crisis!’ We’re surrounded by numbers on all sides: it’s becoming a real obsession! Almost makes you wish you were a numismatist. Weekly plunge into - the world of currencies
L.U.C: 'Poland is not just vodka and pretty girl exports'
Rather than rapping on his new album, producer Lukasz Rostkowski, 29, mixes in historical soundtracks, including the voice of ex-Polish president Lech Walesa. The jazz, trip hop and electro musician explains how a sometimes pessimist view of his country's past has inspired him in his musical projects, for which he has just picked up a 2009 'Passport award' from the journalists at Polityka
history, warsaw, album, identity, reunification, brunch, poland
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