EUROPE

French artist Bernar Venet, creator of Arc Majeur.

Belgium to Unveil a 250-Ton Steel Sculpture—Europe’s Largest Public Artwork—35 Years After France Rejected It

Bernar Venet’s work, which was originally blocked by a local French politician in 1984, is taller than Christ the Redeemer and the Statue of Liberty.

World War II’s First Telegram Will Be Auctioned Off Later This Month

A week before Germany invaded Poland, Hitler organized and then called off a series of border skirmishes. This telegram shows that one Nazi didn’t get the memo.

England Is Being Invaded By a Swarm of Flying Ants That Can Be Seen From Space

The radar picked up some rain showers on England’s southern coast. But it was actually billions of flying ants.

The World’s Steepest Street Is in Harlech, Wales

Will New Zealand decide to repave Baldwin Street to steal back the honor from Wales? One resident hopes so.

Two Eco-Minded Kids in England Are Petitioning McDonald’s and Burger King to Nix Plastic Toys

After learning about the effects of plastic pollution on marine life, two pint-sized environmental activists decided to take a stand.

A ‘Book Ripper’ in Herne Bay, England Is Ripping Book Pages, Then Putting Them Back on Shelves

The very English vandal has a distinctive way of ripping the books’ pages and also has a favorite genre: true crime.

A Pile of Manure and a Heat Wave Combined to Cause Spain’s Worst Wildfire in 20 Years

A mismanaged pile of manure spontaneously ignited earlier this week, starting a wildfire that has burned more than 10,000 acres of land in Spain.

Where Exactly Is Anne Boleyn's Body?

On May 19, 1536, Anne Boleyn was relieved of her head. So where is her body today? Much like Boleyn's life, it's complicated.

Think You Know How Game of Thrones Ends? The Right Answer Could Win You a Trip to Croatia

If you can correctly guess how 'Game of Thrones' will end, Unforgettable Croatia could send you and a friend on a tour of some of the most picturesque filming locations from the HBO series.

By Vigilius Eriksen, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

12 Amazing Facts About Catherine the Great

Catherine the Great was one of the most important leaders in its history—and no, she didn't die after trying to have sex with a horse.

Diliff, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 3.0

10 Amazing Facts About Buckingham Palace

For almost two centuries, the reigning monarchs of the United Kingdom have used Buckingham Palace as their administrative headquarters. The building has survived everything from World War II bomb strikes to a crafty undergarment thief.

The European Union Wants to End Mandatory Daylight Saving Time by 2021

Citizens of the European Union may not have to worry about when to change their clocks for much longer—Daylight Saving Time could be abolished in Europe in a few years.

Decorations in the Sedlec Ossuary, a small chapel beneath the Cemetery Church of All Saints in Sedlec, a suburb of Kutna Hora in the Czech Republic

7 Amazing Facts About the Sedlec Ossuary

At the "Bone Church" (a.k.a. the Sedlec Ossuary), you can see a chandelier made from almost every bone in the human body.

Pipe layer Jannick Vestergaard and engineer Henning Nøhr hold up the sword they found.

A (Still-Sharp) Medieval Sword Was Pulled from a Sewer in Denmark

Archaeologists think the sword's owner may have been defeated in battle during the power struggles and strife that marked the medieval era.

How Gretna Green Became the Quickie Wedding Capital of 18th-Century Englanders

Nearly 5000 couples per year still tie the knot in Gretna Green, the verdant Scottish village that Jane Austen loved to write about.

F Ceragioli, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 3.0

Locana, Italy Is Paying Families $10,000 to Move There

New residents can work remotely, or take over one of the closed businesses in town.

A stone circle like this one was recently shown to be a replica.

Historians Studying an ‘Ancient’ Scottish Stone Circle Learn It Was Built in the 1990s

Scientists' suspicions were outweighed by the excitement of finding another recumbent stone circle.

Karolina Kristensson, the Swedish National Maritime Museums

The Quest to Find—and Save—the World's Most Famous Shipwreck

In 1628, the 'Vasa' sank on its maiden voyage. For the next 300 years, it sat in a watery grave—until one man sparked a monumental effort to salvage it.

Take a Peek Inside London's Museum of Childhood

The collections contain vintage toys, many of which are no longer sold in stores.

How Queen Victoria Turned Switzerland Into a Vacation Hotspot

Victoria was the original travel #influencer.

6 Little-Known Maps by the 19th Century's Most Famous Infographic Designer

Charles-Joseph Minard's map of Napoleon's invasion of Russia has been called the best statistical graphic ever created.

Hajotthu, Wikimedia Commons // Public domain

A 17th-Century Noblewoman's Rare Poems About War-Torn England Can Be Read Online

Hester Pulter broke convention—and the expectations of her gender and class—by writing about science and politics.

13 Facts About Benito Mussolini

The Italian dictator was very fond of 'Les Misérables.'

A New App Will Plan Your Next Vacation Based on an Instagram Photo

Put your #influencer envy to work.

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