The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the UK) is a made up of four countries of immense diversity, tradition and culture. Beautiful countryside, islands, moors, craggy mountains and cliffs, rolling hills, shorelines and beaches, it has scenery as varied as its people. The UK investment property may include any one of the four individual countries that make up the United Kingdom: England; Scotland; Wales and Northern Ireland. There are also a number of islands, in particular the Scottish island groups of the Shetlands and the Orkneys, the English Scilly Isles and Isle of Wight and the Welsh island of Anglesey. The British Isles are to be found off the western extremity of continental Europe, separated from it by the English Channel and the North Sea. The climate is temperate in nature, and in the words of William Blake, you see “England’s green and pleasant land”. All of these complicated factors make UK investment property very lucrative. |
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Situated in northern Europe, much of Estonia is actually surrounded by the Baltic Sea and land locked between Latvia and Russia. Since the demise of communism and the lifting of the so called “Iron Curtain” many countries such as Estonia have taken a greater interest in the European Union and the potential for economic stability at last. After a period of waiting, Estonia was finally admitted to the Union in May 2004 and the economy has mostly definitely benefited from increased trade and investment. |
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Situated in the south eastern corner of Europe, Romania was for many years very heavily dependent on the Soviet Union. Since the demise of the Soviet Union slowly but surely the country is starting to show signs of genuine growth although there is still much to do. In line with the move to become more involved in Europe, Romania joined the European Union on 1st January 2007. The country is the 7th largest in the EU with a population in the region of 22 million, but by land mass it is ranked 9th. The history of Romania is heavily influenced by the surrounding countries of Hungary, Serbia, Ukraine, Moldova and Bulgaria although the country does have vital access to the Black sea trade routes. |
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Located in the southern area of Europe, Croatia is bordered by the likes of Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Italy (by sea). Even though the country is well positioned for both international trade as well as tourism, the economy has been very subdued over the last decade. It is only in the run-up to full membership of the European Union (talks are expected to resume in 2007) that there have been real signs of improvement.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Situated in central Europe, the Czech Republic (formerly known as Czechoslovakia prior to the break up) is land locked by Poland, Germany, Austria and Slovakia. While the country covers some 78,000 km2, it only has a population of just over 10 million. Over the last 20 years the country has been at the centre of much infighting and politician upheaval, but the situation seems to be more under control these days, and the economy is has been fairly up beat since the last recession which ended in 1999. |
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Latvia is situated in northern Europe, sharing borders with the likes of Estonia, Lithuania, Russia and Belarus and just over the Baltic Sea from Sweden. Like so many of the smaller nations in that region, Latvia has recently joined the European Union (May 2004) ensuring an opening up of new trading partners, trading markets as well additional funding from the EU. This has all had a major impact on the country over the last few years, and seems set to have a further impact for the foreseeable future. |
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Until recently part of Serbia (and even earlier Yugoslavia), Montenegro is located in the south eastern region of Europe with neighbours including Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania and Serbia. Despite the struggle for independence the state has been formerly recognised by an array of countries throughout the world and was welcomed into the United Nations in 2007 and also became the 47th member state of the Council of Europe. |
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Cyprus is a fiercely divided island, with the Turkish contingent in the North and the Greek contingent in the South. A island of immense natural beauty and history, separated by an official United Nations border patrol, ensuring that there is no repeat of the disastrous battles of years gone by. The island is the third largest in the Mediterranean and has changed hands on numerous occasions over the centuries, with religious tensions at what many believe to be the natural border between Islam and Christianity. |
|
Read more...
|
|
Bulgaria is a small, yet stunning Balkan country located in the South East of Europe and bordered by Greece, Turkey, Romania, Serbia, Macedonia and the Black Sea. It has a rich and varied history, influenced by the Romans, Greeks, Bulgars and the Ottoman and Byzantine Empires. It is a former communist country with 28 provinces, and entered the United Nations in 2004 and will shortly be a member of the European Union. There is a commitment to economic reform by the Bulgarian Government (a democratic republic). |
|
Read more...
|
|
|
At first glance it is easy to see why France is one of Europe’s top tourist attractions, from the elegance and culture of Paris to the glitz and glamour of St Tropez and Nice, and the rural beauty of Province; France really does have something for everyone. The landscape is ever changing with the flat lands and rolling hills of the North and West to the snow-capped mountains of the Pyrenees in the South and the ever popular Alps in the East. |
|
Read more...
|
|
Cyprus was a former British colony which gained independence from the UK in 1960 after an uprising against British rule. The history of this island is blighted by fierce tensions and conflict between the Greek Cypriot majority in the south, and Turkish Cypriot minority in the north, which came to a head in 1963 when fighting broke out between the two parties. UN peacekeepers were deployed in 1964 and there is still a highly visible presence there to this day, in the form of a buffer zone policed by the UN. There is still also a British military presence on the island which has assisted the UN in calming tensions over recent times. In 1983 the North area of the island declared independence as the “Turkish Republic of North Cyprus” although this is not recognised by any country other than Turkey. This history and conflict makes North Cyprus property a very complex area of investment to fully understand. We urge you to read more if you are thinking about making such an investment into North Cyprus property . |
|
Read more...
|
|
Positioned on the Atlantic side of the Iberian Peninsula, Portugal is a great historic country of immense diversity. From the culture and prosperity of Lisbon, through the beautiful wine regions and the Sun, sea and sand of the Algarve, Portugal offers something for everyone. Modern marinas and spectacular golf courses mean that here are plenty of activities. |
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Steeped in history, culture and tradition, Spain conjures up images of beautiful beaches, classical art and architecture and a passion for life - whether that be for football, dance or bull fighting. Whether you like to explore gothic cathedrals, enjoy the local food and wine, or relax by the Mediterranean Sea, it is easy to realise why more than 50 million people visit Spain (the second most visited country in the World, after France) each year. |
|
Read more...
|
|
Turkey straddles South East Europe and South West Asia and is bordered by the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia and countries in the Middle East (Iraq, Iran, Syria, Azerbaijan). Turkey and Turkey property is steeped in a wealth of history and culture which should be understood when making investments into Turkey property. |
|
Read more...
|
|
The Pyrenees region has a variety of mountain ranges in the Southwest portion of Europe that forms a natural border between Spain and France. They divide the Iberian Peninsula from the rest of the Europe continental and extend for around 430 kilometers from the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean Sea.
According to Greek mythology, the land of Pyrenees is named after Pyrene. Pyrene happens to be the offspring of Bebryx who is raped by Herakles. Frightened at giving birth to a serpent, she run away into the mountain and is either eaten by wild animals or buried. |
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Quercy is a former province of France but is now considered as one of its departments. It is situated in the southwest portion of France. Perigord and Agenis surround this place on the west, on the north by Limousin, on the south by Languedoc and Gascony as well as on the east by Auvergne and Rouergue. Quercy is a former country and region and SW France is now separated from Lot as well as the Tran-et-Garone deparments. Charos is its the main city. A large portion of this land contains arid limestone plateaus cut by fertile valleys of the Averryon, Lot and Dorgone River. Sheep racing is the main activity in Causses. The popular Rocamadour cheese, which is popular in thid department, is made from sheep milk. From the Gallo-Roman origin, Quercy becomes a fief of the counts of Toulouse. It was savagely challenged throughout the Hundred Years War. After the war, it was united with the French crown and the Guienne province. |
|
Read more...
|
|
|