3422 BULGARIA - Old winemaking

Grape growing and wine production have a long history in Bulgaria, dating back to the times of the Thracians, who used wine not only as a drink on the table but channel between people and gods. It was a divine drink. Zagreus, somehow the Thracian analog of the Greek god Dionysus, was worshiped by the Thracians as the god of wine and merriment. Unfortunately, the tradition was interrupted for 500 years, how long this region was part of the Ottoman Empire, a state dedicated to expanding the world of Islam.

3392 NETHERLANDS (Netherlands / North Holland) - The Bulldog Coffeeshop in Amsterdam

The story of The Bulldog starts in 1975, when Henk de Vries, who had started selling marijuana in 1970 at the Kralingen Music Festival, converted his father's sex shop in Amsterdam's red-light district into a coffeeshop, the first in the way we know nowadays. Henk asked ex-pat Australian artist Harold Thornton to paint some signage on the front of the 1st Bulldog Coffeeshop Nr. 90 but Harold turned this exercise into a mural that goes across the front of the whole shop. The mural helped the coffeeshop become a magnet for backpackers and tourists and its reputation grew. The company logo was inspired by Henk's dog at that time, a bulldog named Joris.

3382 CZECH REPUBLIC (Ústí nad Labem) - Drinking beer in Žatec

Žatec is famous for an over-700-year-long tradition of growing Saaz noble hops used by several breweries, produces its own beer and hosts Dočesná, its (hops related) harvest festival every year on the town square. As a result, what can be more natural than drinking beer in this town.

3360 CZECH REPUBLIC (Ústí nad Labem) - Žatec, the Hops Town (UNESCO WHS - Tentative List)

3360 The Hop Museum in Žatec

Located in the northwest part of the Czech Republic, the historic town of Žatec is famous for an over-700-year-long tradition of growing Saaz noble hops used by several breweries. The natural conditions of the site are significantly influenced by the nearby mountains. Their slopes form a natural barrier against the western winds, and create what is called rain shadow, which markedly influences the climate in and around the town. The dry and relatively warm climate, combined with plenty of ground water, was found to be very favourable to the growing of hops. Žatec produces its own beer and hosts Dočesná, its (hops related) harvest festival every year.

3348 IRELAND (Leinster) - Images of Dublin - The Historic City of Dublin (UNESCO WHS - Tentative List)

3348 Dublin City - Palace Bar, Molly Malone statue
and georgian doors

Untainted, unspoiled and unperturbed by the passage of time - that's what makes The Palace Bar one of Dublin's best-loved original Victorian pubs. This priceless jewel provides a very important bridge between the 19th century Victorian pub and Dublin's great traditions of literary hostelries. During the 1940's and 50's this pub became the home of international fame and intellectual refreshment under the patronage of R.M. (Bertie) Smyllie, then Editor of The Irish Times. It was the social home of the Fourth Estate playing host to to newsmen, correspondents and compositors of Dublin's three daily papers.

3246 FRANCE - Two elders, one glass, one bottle and one donkey

 

1764, 3240 IRELAND (Leinster) - Temple Bar Pub in Dublin - part of the The Historic City of Dublin (UNESCO WHS - Tentative List)

1764 The Temple Bar (1)

Posted on 23.07.2015, 10.01.2018
Temple Bar is an area on the south bank of the River Liffey in central Dublin, promoted as Dublin's cultural quarter. The historic name of the district was St. Andrews Parish, and in Middle Age it was a suburb located outside the city walls. Many sources agree that Temple Bar Street got its name from the Temple family, and specifically Sir William Temple, whose house was located there in the early 17th century. However, given the existence of a district of the same name in London, it seems that the new Temple Bar street of Dublin must have been a nod to its more famous cousin.

3240 The Temple Bar (2)

In 1599, Sir William Temple, a renowned teacher and philosopher, entered the service of the Lord Deputy Of Ireland. In 1609 he was made Provost of Trinity College, Dublin and Master Chancery in Ireland and moved to this country. He built his house and gardens on the corner of Temple Lane and the street called Temple Bar. In 1656, his son, Sir John Temple, acquired additional land and made possible the development of the area today known as Temple Bar. In the 17th century "Barr" (later shortened to Bar) usually meant a raised estuary sandbank often used for walking on. Since 1840 (according to some sources, but according to other even earlier) in this building operates a pub, got famous.

3054 SINGAPORE (Central Region) - Singapore Sling

Raffles Hotel is a colonial-style luxury hotel in Singapore, established by Armenian hoteliers, the Sarkies Brothers, in 1887, and named after British statesman Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the founder of Singapore. Initial only a ten-room hotel, in proximity to the beach, it has expanded over time, and in 1899 a new main building was constructed, designed by architect Regent Alfred John Bidwell of Swan and Maclaren, which also expanded over the years.

3021 ROMANIA (Sibiu) - The last Transylvanian saxon in Richiş

3021 Johann Schaas, the last Transylvanian saxon in Richiş

In Târnavelor Plateau, at five km from Biertan, one of the emblem-communes of the Sibiu county, with a fortified church inscribed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, is located Richiş (Reichesdorf in Transylvanian Saxon dialect), a small village with a few hundred inhabitants,  documented for the first time in 1283. In 1939 in Richiş lived 1,300 Saxons, but after the WWII many of them either went to Germany or were expropriated and / or deported by the communist authorities, so that in 1989 only 800 remained.

3012 RUSSIA (Karachay-Cherkess Republic) - Festival of the peoples of the North Caucasus in Dombay

The Karachay-Cherkess Republic is a landlocked republic of Russia located at the slopes of northwestern Caucasus. Mountains cover 80% of its territory. The Caucasus is one of the most linguistically and culturally diverse regions on Earth, and Karachay-Cherkessia isn't an exception. Even if it has only 14,100 km2 and less than 500,000 inhabitants, the government recognizes five official languages, spoken by the five main ethnic groups: Karachays (41%), Russians (32%), Cherkes (12%), Abazins (8%) and Nogais (3%).

2989 NETHERLANDS (Aruba) - Charlie's Bar in San Nicolaas

2989 Charlie's Bar in San Nicolaas

Located at 19km southeast of Oranjestad and known as the island's Sunrise Side, San Nicolaas is Aruba's second largest city, with a population of 18,126. It was named after Nicolas van der Biest (1808-1873), who owned a big piece of the land there. Landowners were then addressed by their subordinates by their first names preceded by 'Shon' meaning 'master'. So he was called 'Shon Nicolas', as was the area. It is thought that the change from Shon Nicolas to San Nicolaas was due to the influence of Spanish.

2898 GERMANY - German wine grapes varieties

German wine is primarily produced in the west of the country, along the river Rhine and its tributaries, with the oldest plantations going back to the Roman era. Approximately 60% of the wine production is situated in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, where 6 of the 13 regions for quality wine are situated. Germany is the eighth largest wine-producing country in the world, and white wine accounts for almost two thirds of the total production. Perhaps the most distinctive characteristic of German wines is the high level of acidity in them, caused both by the lesser ripeness in a northerly climate and by the selection of grapes which retain acidity.

2843 MOLDOVA (Chişinău) - Wine Festival in Chişinău

In the entire Moldavia, from the Carpathians to the Dniester, and from Ceremuş to the Black Sea, the growing of vines is a very old tradition, its viticulture dating back more than 6,000 years. In Middle Ages, it has grown significantly, becoming an important occupation for moldavians, and this was preserved until today. In 2009, Republic of Moldova (which is only a part of historic Moldavia) was the 22nd largest wine producing country in the world. Therefore, a wine festival to celebrate the winemaking traditions is even an obligation.

2794 HUNGARY - Vineyards

The Romans brought vines to Pannonia, and by the 5th century AD, there are records of extensive vineyards in what is now Hungary. Following the Magyar invasion of 896, Árpád rewarded his followers with vineyards in Tokaj. Over the following centuries, new grape varieties were brought in from Italy and France. Most of the production was of white wine. During the Ottoman invasion in the early 16th century, displaced Serbs brought the red Kadarka grape to Eger.

2762 FRANCE - Wines of France - Health, Cheerfulness, Hope

As is known, France is one of the largest wine producers in the world. French wine traces its history to the 6th century BC, with many of France's regions dating their wine-making history to Roman times. The wines produced range from expensive high-end wines sold internationally to more modest wines usually only seen within France. France is the source of many grape varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot noir, Sauvignon blanc, Syrah) that are now planted throughout the world, as well as wine-making practices and styles of wine that have been adopted in other producing countries.

2394 SOUTH AFRICA - Paarl - part of Early Farmsteads of the Cape Winelands (UNESCO WHS - Tentative List)

Located just outside Cape Town, in the Western Cape province, Paarl is the third oldest European settlement in South Africa and the largest town in the Cape Winelands, which have gained acclaim the world over for the fabulous wines that it produces as well as the natural beauty of the area. The name Paarl means "pearl" and reflects the iconic rounded shape of three granite outcrops forming the top of Pearl Mountain, visible for miles.

2264 BELGIUM - Moules-frites and beer

2264 Moules-frites and beer

Belgian cuisine is widely varied with significant regional variations while also reflecting the cuisines of neighbouring France, Germany and the Netherlands. It is sometimes said that Belgian food is served in the quantity of German cuisine but with the quality of French food. Moules-frites is a popular main dish of mussels and fries originating in Belgium but also popular in France and in Northern Europe. It is sometimes considered the national dish of Belgium.

2183 BELGIUM - Beer culture in Belgium (UNESCO ICH)

2183 Beer culture in Belgium

Brewing in Belgium dates back at least to the age of the first crusades in the 12th century. Making and appreciating beer is part of the living heritage of a range of communities throughout this country. It plays a role in daily life, as well as festive occasions. Under the Catholic church's permission, local French and Flemish abbeys brewed and distributed beer as a fund raising method. The relatively low-alcohol beer of that time was preferred as a sanitary option to available drinking water. In nowadays, the Belgians drink on average 84 litres of beer each year, which is not much, considering that Czechs, for example, drink about 150 litres.

2013 GREECE - Yίasou!

Cafes in Greece and the Greek Islands are an important part of daily local culture. There are cafeterias in every corner of Greece, from the busiest spot of the town till the most secluded village in the mountains. In small towns and villages, in the central square, is the Greek traditional cafe that is called kafenion. In summer, kafenion are the best places to enjoy a cold afternoon refreshment with friends, extended for hours, discussing daily problems, exchanging news or gossips.

0976 GERMANY (Hesse) - A Bembel of Apfelwein, please, and Handkäse mit Musik!

Cider or cyder (named also "apple wine" in some regions) is a fermented alcoholic beverage made from fruit juice, traditionally apple juice, which varies in alcohol content from 1.2% ABV to 8.5% or more. Can be classified from dry to sweet, its appearance ranges from cloudy with sediment to completely clear, and its colour from light yellow through orange to brown,  the variations in clarity and colour being mostly due to filtering between pressing and fermentation. Is popular in the United Kingdom, that has the highest per capita consumption, as well as the largest producing companies in the world, but is also traditional in other European countries, such as Ireland, France (Brittany and Normandy), Spain (Asturias, Basque Country and Galicia), Poland or Germany (Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse).