Heirlooms. European Stories

Cube sugar, cooperatives, postcards: these inventions and achievements not only originated in Europe but also through European exchange.

On the occasion of the European Cultural Heritage Year 2018, we are collecting such European “heirlooms” – an tell their stories.

Heirlooms

Punk
Youth Culture from Great Britain

Punk is more than just a guitar riff or a haircut. It’s a movement and an ideology. In 1976 Punk came to the popular consciousness, both in Britain, Europe and across the world. By 1977 it was everywhere.

Heirlooms. European Stories - The 'Miniskirt'

Miniskirt
The iconic invention of the 60s

Born out of a youth culture movement in the UK during the swinging sixties, the miniskirt turned the fashion world upside down and influenced not only London but the whole world. The British fashion world was in turn influenced by France and Italy.

The Széchenyi Thermal Bath in Hungary’s capital, Budapest, is the largest bath complex in Europe in terms of sheer square metres.

Spa towns
Some liked it hot

Even the ancient Romans placed their trust in the healing powers of water, and spas would latest establish a firm foothold throughout Europe. The well-heeled travelled to England, Germany, and the Czech Republic to “take the waters”. Spa in Belgium was also a popular resort town – and British tourists imported its name into English.

In the basement of the brewery in Pilsen

Pilsner beer
No risk, no gain

Pilsner beer comes, of course, from the Czech Republic. Yet it’s not so matter-of-course as that. The citizens of the city of Pilsen were once so dissatisfied with their beer that they even spilled it out in protest in front of the town hall. Then they had a brilliant idea.

Postcard
Greetings from on the road

Did you know that the first postcard in the world came from Vienna? It was not yet illustrated. That someday people would be able to send postcards with pictures of their vacation spots we owe to inventions from France and Germany.

The most important questions regarding cultural heritage

The historical city of Venice and its lagoon are listed UNESCO World Cultural Heritage.

Cultural Heritage
How it develops and what it means

What is cultural heritage exactly? How does it impact our culture, and why are we invested in preserving it? We answer the most important questions in brief.