Europe is a continent of rich cultural heritage and diverse landscapes, making it an incredibly interesting place to explore. From the icy fjords of Norway to the sunny beaches of the Mediterranean, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. We’ll be covering some of the most interesting and exciting facts about Europe. From its thriving cities to the best attractions, you’ll get to learn all about Europe’s fascinating history and culture. So without further ado, let’s get started!
1. Europe is the second smallest continent.
There are 7 continents in the world with the smallest being Antarctica. Europe is the second smallest.
Find out more about continents with our Top 10 Facts about Continents.
2. Europe has the world’s smallest country, the Vatican City.
Even though its name makes it sound like a city, The Vatican City is its own country. The Vatican City is in Italy surrounded by the city of Rome. It is where the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church is and is where the Pope lives.
3. Three Quarters of world’s potatoes comes from Europe.
In Europe we love potatoes – be it as chips, with a roast dinner or as mash!
If you love potatoes check out our spiced potato recipe.
4. The continent of Europe has 50 countries.
Countries include France, the United Kingdom, Finland and Portugal.
5. The country with the biggest population in Europe is Russia.
Russia has more people living in it than any other country. 145 million people live in Russia.
The next country with the most people living in it is Germany followed by the United Kingdom.
6. The Louvre is the most visited attraction in Europe.
The Louvre is an art gallery in Paris, France. You can see lots of famous paintings at the Louvre including the Mona Lisa.
7. Europe is home to the world’s largest Church, St. Peter’s Basilica.
St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City is 222 metres long, 152 metres wide, 137 metres tall, and has room for 60,000 people.
8. Germany has the most castles in Europe.
The country has over 25,000 castles.
Even if you visited one castle a day, it would take you over 68 years to see them all!
9. There are more than 200 languages spoken in Europe.
200 different languages are spoken across Europe. Of all of these only 24 are recognised as the official languages of the European Union. These include English, French and German.
The most common language spoken in Europe is English, and 38% of the European population can speak it.
10. Christianity is the biggest religion in Europe.
The biggest religions in Europe are Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.
Mountains, rivers and seas
Europe is a continent of mountains and water. The Alps stretch across France, Switzerland, Italy and Austria, and the Pyrenees make a wall between France and Spain. Its great rivers include the Danube, which flows through ten different countries, and the Rhine.
And it is almost surrounded by sea: the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the warm Mediterranean Sea to the south.
📖 Words to know
- Climate
- The usual weather a place has over many years. Weather is what it is like today; climate is what it is usually like.
- Capital city
- The city where a country’s government is based. It isn’t always the biggest city.
- Mountain range
- A group of mountains joined together, like the Alps.
- Physical feature
- Something natural in the landscape, like a river, a mountain or a coastline.
⚠️ Watch out!
How much do you know about Europe?
Which continent is the UK in?
- Europe
- North America
- Asia
- It isn’t in a continent
Which ocean is on Europe’s west coast?
- The Atlantic
- The Pacific
- The Indian
- The Southern
Which mountains make a wall between France and Spain?
- The Pyrenees
- The Alps
- The Andes
- The Himalayas
Where in the world?
Europe is one of the seven continents, and the one Britain belongs to.
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