is which one in your opinion ?

I believe Tirana & Reykjavik , places where you never hear or read something about in the press

Chisinau, Vaduz, Valetta.

Chisinau?

Vaduz yes... Yeveran too... chisinau can be in top 5 either... Minsk is more known but it's not brilliant (maybe with a belarus revolution it can change ehehe)... People know andorra but not immediatly its capitol... andorra-la-vella...

Chisinau by far! Vaduz is infamous as letter box company money laundry and Malta is just too famous for hollidays :)

I think Tirana as well - maybe people know that it's a capital and where it is situated - but how does it look??? ;)

Sofia, Bulgaria's capital...its like nothing ever happens over there:(
Bulgarians must love the status quo.

Good news about the Winter Olympics bid though...something is definately changing:yes:

is which one in your opinion ?

I believe Tirana & Reykjavik , places where you never hear or read something about in the press


IN UK many ppl know of Reykjavik, about 250 000 Brits go there every year for weekend break...
I think Skopje (Macedonia), Chisinau (Moldova) Vaduz (Lichtenstein) and definitely Podgorica, not many ppl know where it is and what it is, suffice to say few do and we all now who they are, so don't brake the seal,.,,, it is lose federation.....

Chisinau would be the winner. Many people don't know what is Moldova's capital.

Maybe Knin, capital of Republic Serb (u)Krajina;)

Underratted: Athena
Least Know: Skopje (lets hope it stays that way)

Yea Skopje is also a candidate! But I think nothing beats Chisinau ;)

Or what about the capital of Faroe? Torshavn?

Maybe Knin, capital of Republic Serb (u)Krajina;)

Actually, Croatian Knin became quite famous in 1995, you should've known that :D

:cheers:

Chisinau... having such a cool name its always in my memory as capital of Moldova. Funny, I always think of Dilbert and those mud eaters when i hear "Moldova"

Chisinau?

LOL. That proves my point.
Chisinau is the capital of Moldova. Highly underrated!

I'm a bit surprised that no one has mentioned Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital. I guess the city is too little known even for a thread about little-known European capitals. ;)

It's also one of Europe's most frequently misspelled cities. Even people who've been there sometimes get it wrong. And let's not even go into the pronounciation...

BTW, if anyone would like to see pics of Ljubljana, check out the link in my signature below.

warsaw and vilnius

^ yeah right..

Btw, many people don't get what Chisinau is, because in USSR, in Russian it was Kishinev

Podgorica

^ Pollux75, Montenegro isn't officially an independent country (yet).

^ yeah right..

Btw, many people don't get what Chisinau is, because in USSR, in Russian it was Kishinev

Yea, on SSC, most people know where Warsaw is and at least know something about it, but in real life I've come to people who have no clue where it is. They think that Germany is the last country in Europe before getting into Russia and I've even talked to someone who thought Poland is located somewhere in South America. :nuts:

Don't underrate Ljubljana, @AZ2SI ;)

Ljubljana, Warsaw, Reykjavik - I think that they are known more or less. I'd also go with Chisinau.

Tirana, Chisinau, Reykjavik and Vilnius

I'm a bit surprised that no one has mentioned Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital. I guess the city is too little known even for a thread about little-known European capitals. ;)

It's also one of Europe's most frequently misspelled cities. Even people who've been there sometimes get it wrong. And let's not even go into the pronounciation...

BTW, if anyone would like to see pics of Ljubljana, check out the link in my signature below.

ok Ljubljana is confusing to some ppl Like W'ya, he often doesn't know here he is most of the time, anyways not to go all political, Ljubljana is better known city than most we mentioned here, and loads of Brits got there, what 300 000 went to Slovenia in 2004.....

As to Podgorica, don't be sour grape, it is almost independent do we need to wait for 9 moths to put it here, lol.... :jk:

Valletta, Chisinau, Tirana, Erevan

Yea, on SSC, most people know where Warsaw is and at least know something about it, but in real life I've come to people who have no clue where it is. They think that Germany is the last country in Europe before getting into Russia and I've even talked to someone who thought Poland is located somewhere in South America. :nuts:

:rofl:

I would also include Tallinn and Tbilisi. I think Tallinn is the least known Baltic capital, everybody knows Riga and Vilnius ( though I heard some think that Vilnius is in Belarus ) but Tallinn is not as known, imo. And Tbilisi, I'm sure some even in this thread don't know Tbilisi :)

How about Belgrade? Everyone know where Belgrade is, what it is capital of?
(I'm really suprised nobody mentioned it)

Hint: Serbia & Montenegro:D

Originally Posted by Czas na Żywiec
Yea, on SSC, most people know where Warsaw is and at least know something about it, but in real life I've come to people who have no clue where it is. They think that Germany is the last country in Europe before getting into Russia and I've even talked to someone who thought Poland is located somewhere in South America.


i don't think you have something to worry about or be surprised. I haven't a slicest idea where seattle is ( canada or usa), the same with vancouver. I do not know if boston is under philadelphia or lower and if washington is north of new york or south.Who cares about it :dunno:

I think Bern is also not very well known.

I've never known Torshavn (Far Oer)..

I think Bern is also not very well known.
I doubt... I made once a thread about the Swiss cities to know and they also made an official one in the US - apart from Zurich and Geneva it's the third most famous of the country - and it's an UNESCO World Heritage city ;)

Chisinau for sure. Tbilsi, or whatever the capital of Georgia is - if that even counts as Europe.

I'd say the Yugoslav capitals are next. Belgrade, Sarajevo, Zagreb, Ljubljana, and Skopje - doesn't really matter the order. Sarajevo, Belgrade, and Ljubljana might be more known for the Olympics, NATO bombing, and tourism respectively.

I'd say the most known surprise "not capitals" woiuld be Istanbul, Dubrovnik, etc.

I doubt... I made once a thread about the Swiss cities to know and they also made an official one in the US - apart from Zurich and Geneva it's the third most famous of the country - and it's an UNESCO World Heritage city ;)
Yeah but do people know that it is the capital?
Many think the capital is Geneva, and some think its Zürich

Maybe you are right... as a lot of people also here think that Sao Paulo or Rio is the capital of Brazil. And who knows the capital of Canada, the second country in size!? Also Canberra is not well known. Okay, I agree :cheers:

But about Chisinau or Torshavn 95% of the people don't even know that they exist... :)

To be honest, before coming to this forum, I wasn't sure how many ex-yugoslavian countries are there, what are they, what their capitals are and pretty much anything else about them. I knew that Sarajevo was where Ferdinand got shot and it triggered WW1 and Belgrade was bombed by NATO. Period :) now of course, I know it all ;)

Tbilisi, Yerevan, Baku - those are Asian cities.If not,i would vote for Astana.

How about Andorra La Vella?

I think Minsk is a pretty obscure city. Sure, people have heard about it but I haven't got the slightest clue as to what it looks like. All of the capitals that have been mentioned thus far are the capitals of small countries that most people haven't heard of either. Maybe we ought to look at capital cities that are quite unknown to the general public (I'm not talking about name recognition).

Skopje, Tirana, Lubljana,Vilnius, Talinn, Minsk and Chisnau, and generally former Soviet countries capitals are still not known (maybe except Kiev thanks to an Orange revolution )

Guys, what's with the "my city is less known than yours" attitude? Lets be honest here.
Capitals like Belgrade, Vilnius, Tallinn, Ljubljana, Reykjavik are well known on the SCC forums and around the world when compared to say, Chisinau and Tors Havn.

Quit your whining.

What is Tors Havn?

^
LOL. Same here...sorry:(
Im ashamed.

I think Orange Revolution was just a tiny chapter in the history of Kiev...who didn't know the city before, will not know it after. Same like October Revolution in Belgrade. Its pretty much forgotten about now.

Tors Havn is the capital of Faroe Islands. ;)

I thought it was Greenland-related city :D sounds nordic

How about Belfast or Cardiff?

Belfast is the Capital of Northern Ireland, Cardiff of Cymru (Wales)

Underratted: Athena
Least Know: Skopje (lets hope it stays that way)

Macedonia and Skopje are well known worldwide and in Europe now since kosovo war and refugees that went there... Poor greek.

How about Belfast or Cardiff?

These are not country capitals. Don't confuse us. Or you want me to name capitals of Moldova's counties? :D

You tell Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland they are not countries.

How come UEFA thinks they are?

Because UEFA are a bunch of soccer-fanatics... not really the smartest people on earth.

Levkosía/Nicosia

Because UEFA are a bunch of soccer-fanatics... not really the smartest people on earth.

So you and Panislav know better than a native Brit on whether Wales, Scotland and NI are classified as countries or not?

There are four countries which make up the United Kingdom England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Each has its own capital, national anthem, emblems, flags, national flowers, Saint's Day and so on.

Each has its own capital, national anthem, emblems, flags, national flowers, Saint's Day and so on.

But all share a singular European Union and United Nations membership

There is a difference between a nation/country and a state.

But again you seem to think you are in a position to no more about this than a native Brit.

I dare you to go to Glasgow pub and tell them they are not a country

There is a difference between a nation/country and a state.


Yes there is...the United States has fifty states.

no you have got it the wrong way round. you can have a multi-nation state like Yugoslavia or the UK, nations can also be spread between states like North and South Korea one nation, 2 states.

Didn't you just finish criticizing someone for daring to know more about your country than you. How soon you forget ;)

The US is a union of independent states (it's right in the title: United States :) ), each with its own legislature and each electing the President separately, and then pooling the results. Your country is a United Kingdom of different counties, but acting as one singular, NUTS 0 entity.

United Kingdom <-> United States <-> Germany (same level)

Scotland <-> Texas <-> Bavaria (same level)

Now, Yugoslavia split up and now Croatia et al are equal in tier to France and Italy, etc. If you want similar equity, you can dissolve the UK, but that's what it will take :)

I would say Vaduz is the least known Capital of europe.
It's from a real country and it's in the center of europe.

Didn't you just finish criticizing someone for daring to know more about your country than you. How soon you forget ;)

The US is a union of independent states (it's right in the title: United States :) ), each with its own legislature and each electing the President separately, and then pooling the results. Your country is a United Kingdom of different counties, but acting as one singular, NUTS 0 entity.

United Kingdom <-> United States <-> Germany (same level)

Scotland <-> Texas <-> Bavaria (same level)

Now, Yugoslavia split up and now Croatia et al are equal in tier to France and Italy, etc. If you want similar equity, you can dissolve the UK, but that's what it will take :)

Errrrr when did I mention the US? Go back and read and you will find I was not the person to bring the US into the conversation.

No Scotland is not like Texas it has its own legal system, bank notes, parliament, education and health system and has control over its own budget, it has a flag,. an anthem, a flower a patron saint and its people consider themselves a seperate country.

Again go to glasgow and tell them they are not.

I think these are the least known capitals:
Valletta-everyone knows Malta and it's so small they don't know it has a capital;)
Vaduz-maybe THE least known capital,because small capitals have usually the same name as the country
Chisinau-If the country is not so famous,the capital can't be either:)
Skopje-dunno,just that I haven't heared about it so much
Tirana-it's known,but noone knows that it's the capital of Albania

PS:
One reason Tallinn is not so famous,is that almost noone knows how to write it properly

Well, Bern isn't always that well known either :)

I thought sofia would be a name commonly found on the thread... after all, even cnn or euronews confuse sofia and bucharest. we had no war, no revolution, no terrorist bombings. so boring :) as for former YU, the capitals' names were reiterated so many times on the news during the 90s, I think most people in the western world know about sarajevo or belgrade.
I think I'll go for Vaduz. where the hell is it? Lichtenstein? certainly an unknown place, and I thought I knew all european capitals. there are many other places, but it all depends on the viewpoint. EE is terra incognita for most americans, as is SAmerica for us.
chisinau, tbilisi, baku, yerevan, nikosia, san marino, ljubljana are also not around very often.

Errrrr when did I mention the US? Go back and read and you will find I was not the person to bring the US into the conversation.

No Scotland is not like Texas it has its own legal system, bank notes, parliament, education and health system and has control over its own budget, it has a flag,. an anthem, a flower a patron saint and its people consider themselves a seperate country.

Again go to glasgow and tell them they are not.

HAHA, it's not because they consider it that it is! Scotland is part of UK. That's it! I think there are more juridical differences between different American states than between Scotland and England.
You can say it's a country, but officially it isn't.

Seriously Officially it is. Its the United Kingdom, two countries, One Monarchy.

I agree that they are officially called countries, but from an international perspective they can't be regarded as separate entities, and that's what we're after here..

Seriously Officially it is. Its the United Kingdom, two countries, One Monarchy.
You have a problem. UK is not the center of the universe. UK is one country with one prime minister, one army, one monarchy, one currency, one BBC,...
And that UK is divided in 4 autonomous regions (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) don't makes it a world exception. There are many more country's with some form of federal constitution.

Scotland is called a "country" in the UK, but that does not make it one in the conventional sense of that word. Plenty of internal entities -- states, republics, provinces, territories, etc. -- have what Scotland has, but that does not make them independent countries. The UK and the Republic of Ireland are the only countries (using the conventional definition of the word) on the British Isles. No international organization claims -- and could ever claim -- otherwise. No nation on Earth recognizes Scotland as a country. The term "country" has a slightly different meaning in UK politics than it does elsewhere, but that doesn't change Scotland's international status at all. BTW, I'm all in favor of Scotland becoming an independent country one day, but it isn't there yet.

And here's a newsflash, Pricemazda: Yugoslavia no longer exists. ;)

I would say Amsterdam, simply because everybody seems to believe Den Haag is the capital of The Netherlands :)

O-o-o-okay!

So the winners are ... Vaduz and Chisinau :)

I agree with that! - Them by name and these ones most of the people don't know how they look like thought they know the names: Tirana, Minsk, Vilnius.

Minsk, Sarajevo, Tirana, Zagreb, Chisinau, Oslo, Vaduz, Andorra, Tiflis.

By the way, if anyone is interested to see what Tbilisi ( capital of Georgia :D ) looks like, I made a thread with pics of it that I found:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=4855986#post4855986

I would say Amsterdam, simply because everybody seems to believe Den Haag is the capital of The Netherlands :)
Really? I'd say it's vice-versa.. Everyone knows Amsterdam is the capital, but doesn't know that most administrative stuff is in Den Haag..

many ppl don't know that Swiss capitol is Bern, many think it is Zurich or Geneva, lol

I cant belive people are actually argueing with a brit telling him Scotland isnt a country.

Just check the first sentance on winkipedia for Scotland...


Scotland (Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is a country and constituent nation of the United Kingdom.


But I guess they're wrong aswell, and you are right.

Tallinn has a serious problem i forgot to say : it's not only hard to know where it is, but also how to write it. :rofl:

Scotland is as much a country as Crimea is ( being part of Ukraine, it also has it's own parliament, flag and government ).

But it's not a country as France or Poland are. Britain is.

Scotland is as much a country as Crimea is ( being part of Ukraine, it also has it's own parliament, flag and government ).



Exactly. And each American state has all of those things...

I think Croatia is not very well known capital, for those who dont know - Croatia is the capital of the Republic of Zagreb :)

:D

:cheers:

how about san marino?

The UK and the Republic of Ireland are the only countries (using the conventional definition of the word) on the British Isles. No international organization claims -- and could ever claim -- otherwise.

How about FIFA? ;)

I love the way a bunch of foreigners seem to thinkthey know more about the constitutional set-up of the UK than native Brits whether they be English, Scottish or Welsh. The UK is not a federal system in any way shape or form. There are not 4 autonomous units but each country has a different settlement with the UK government with England having the least power over its own affairs.

The United Kingdom was formed by the accession of James VI of Scotland becoming James I of England thereby unifying the crown of England and Scotland. Both countries retain seperate Parliaments and nobility. In 1707 the Scottish Parliament voted on the Act of Union thereby dissolving the Scottish Parliament however it is a merger of the Kingdoms under one monarchy that is retained constitutionally.

The Queen is Elizabeth II of England and just Queen Elizabeth in Scotland as they have never had an Elizabeth I. Two countries united under one crown.

I cannot believe that foriegners think they have a better understanding on this than brits.

Scotland is considered a country

Oh come on, stop with the bullcrap. Open up an atlas and find me a country that is named Scotland. The country is called United Kingdom. Scotland, Welsh, Northern Ireland and England are not independent countries! They don't have their embassies set up, they're not even members of the U.N. on each own, even Ukraine was member of U.N. since 1945 ( being part of the Soviet Union ) so they're even less of a country

http://images.art.com/images/PRODUCTS/large/10102000/10102033.jpg

Pan go to scotland and tell them they aren't a country.

You aren't even British you cannot possibly know what the constitutional arrangements here are. Technically, Scotland and England are 2 countries under one crown, hence the name the UNITED KINGDOM.

:| United States, Bundesrepublik,...
Okay, Scotland is a EU member and didn't invade Irak. But it has a very special relationschip with the rest of the UK, but even London, of course center of the universe is not her Capital. Edinburgh is on the same level. Britain unification is a lie, British kolonies are a legend ( in reality Pakistan was from Scotland, India was from England), every atlas in the world is wrong and German states for example(independent much longer than scotland) are foreign states so no match with Scotland. BLA BLA
Oh, and Italian states only unificated in 1870 were also no real country's like Scotland. :rofl:

Maybe in Britain, the term "country" doesn't carry the same meaning we're discussing here.

In my opinion, "country" is independent, has diplomatic relations with foreign countries, has it's own military and head of state. Perhaps I missed out on some points, but generally speaking that's what a country is. And I don't need to go to Scotland to learn that it's not a country. I'm very well aware of every European country that exists today, Scotland is not one of them.

It could be that "country" in Britain is what "republic" is in Ukraine. Republic has all these things, parliament, flag, laws, constitution.. but it's part of a unified country.

You aren't even British you cannot possibly know what the constitutional arrangements here are.
That's the point, it doesn't matter what Scotland is from a domestic point-of-view, but from an international one. Scotland may be a country, but it is not a sovereign state. Meaning that it is not recognized as independent by any country in the world (except maybe Sealand) but is an entity within the United Kingdom.

If you look here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nomenclature_of_Territorial_Units_for_Statistics), you can see that under United Kingdom, Scotland is classified as a NUTS-1 unit, meaning that by international standards, it is not a country (read: independent state).

Righty.

Scotland is a country folks, so cut the crap.

To say that Scotland, Wales or NI are not countries is a classic combination of total ignorance and general stupidity.

Just because Scotland is part of a greater union, that doesnt make it any less of a country than Germany or France! Just think about it!

So we share the same government (to a point) and currency with the rest of the UK. So what? Scotland always has been and always will be a separate entity.

You can challange this claim with as much politics and world geography as you like guys, but you will never desuade any citizens of the UK that Scotland, Wales and NI are not "real countries".


Indeed - us Scots especially will insist on Scotlands position not only as a proper country, but also as an important part of the world today.

The United Kingdom is one Nation made up of three countries: Scotland, England and Northern Ireland. Wales was raped of its monarchy and autonomy by England centuries before the unification of Scotland and England and is reagarded a principality... hence the title "Prince of Wales". All you have to do is look at the Union Jack, it is composed of the flags of the three countries which make up the UK.

Also, the UK is not a federation so any comparison to between Scotland and Texas is a complete misnomer. This was aaaaaaaall covered in a topic in Skybar a while back.

Check you facts before you open your trap!

Scotland... is an entity within the United Kingdom.

Scotland is a Country within the United Kingdom, as is England, and as is Northern Ireland. Email the UK Home Office if you need any more clarification on this point, I'm sure they'll be more than happy to oblige.

:)

Right, I forgot to add institute of citizenship to the list of factors that make up a country.

Unless Scotland establishes embassies in foreign COUNTRIES, has it's own citizenship, military and head of state - it is NOT a country.

I'm sure you want to believe that it's sovereign to an extend and I'm just as sure that it is an autonomous entity that does a couple of things on it's own.

But UNITED KINGDOM is a country made up of several nations. A country cannot be made up of countries. United Kingdom is not a "union", it's a COUNTRY.

I can't believe that people are discussing this on serious note. I thought that anybody starting with age 7 in Europe knows difference between a country ( United Kingdom ) and a state/republic ( Scotland )
note: you probably have a different word for state/republic.

Let's have a little geography lesson. Names of countries are written in green:

http://www.hotels-travel-map.com/Europe.gif

The United Kingdom is one Nation

No, it's not.

Scotland and England are different nations, but one country.

You've got it all wrong Pan! The United Kingdom is one Nation made up of three Countries. Scotland does have embassies in foreign countries, under the banner of the United Kingdom. I can't believe you have the gall to argue this point, anyone from the age of 5 in the UK knows that England, Scotland and Northenr Ireland are countries in thier own right: countries which are united as one nation. We don't regard ourselves as autonimous states, we ditched that way of thinking when we ditched feudalism.

The United Kingdom is three countries (and one Principality) under the banner of, and working together as one Nation. I don't see whats so difficult to comprehend here, its very simple!

I can't believe in the face of a number of Brits you still think you seem to know more about the constitutional set-up of the UK than us Brits.

Listen to what we are telling you.

Scotland is a country.

Flash all the maps you want mate... look, heres another:

http://www.kmike.com/country/map/uk-map.gif

Lets make your little geography lessons official. because if kids were taught lessons from tourist maps, then possibly everyone would be wrong.
Maybe thats the case for you, when you were taught.
Your a self-righteous man with nothing to fight for.
Scotland is a country, hence its castle and flag, and people referred to as Scottish, and that if you are to wish a long life (Long Live Scotland) for our country scotland you should not be fighting air, you should be fighting those who threaten us, and will inevitably be, if not already, on our doorsteps threatening our freedom, which our forefathers have so heroicaly thought for for centuries..
BooYAH!

Is it just me guys? but can this guy not get a clue?

No, it's not.

Scotland and England are different nations, but one country.
*points and laughs hysterically at Pan_Stanislav*

One nation made of a few different (national) names, that's weird :D

:cheers:

Ah! Now it's one nation :) so you deny that Scots have their own language, that's not english, their own culture, that's not english, and thus are a nation, seperate from the English ( and same thing about English, that they're a different nation from Scots, thus have their own culture, traditions etc. )?

Alright, then these 4 "countries" make up a nation :)

Now, now, let's not fight over nothing. But I think you folks misunderstand the meaning of a nation. I think somebody already mentioned this.

An example:

Koreans are a nation.
Thus North Korea and South Korea, are a single nation. But two independent countries.

hahaha oh man, you really aren't grasping this concept at all are you? The UK is three countries and one principality combined in one nation. All the peoples of Britain speak English, different regions have thier own dialects and theres three of four other languages spoken throughout Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Citing the example of Korea being one Nation but two countries only validates futher the arguments we have put forward. Each country in the UK has its own "national identity" as they evolved as seperate countries which then united to form one Nation. You're just re-iterating your previous misconceptions about the UK.

So lets not fight over it. You're wrong, and thats it ;)

Crusty :)

different "national identities" cannot make up one nation! that's oxymoron 8[

You're either all share one "national identity" ( thus it means english and scots are same people ) or you're not a single nation.

So, the truth is:

You're different nations that make up one country - the United Kingdom.

;) :okay:

Dictionary definitions of country and nation:

country n. pl. countries

1.
1. A nation or state.
2. The territory of a nation or state; land.
3. The people of a nation or state; populace: The whole country will profit from the new economic reforms.
2. The land of a person's birth or citizenship: Foreign travel is restricted in his country.
3. A region, territory, or large tract of land distinguishable by features of topography, biology, or culture: hill country; Bible country.

nation n.

1.
1. A relatively large group of people organized under a single, usually independent government; a country.
2. The territory occupied by such a group of people: All across the nation, people are voting their representatives out.
2. The government of a sovereign state.
3. A people who share common customs, origins, history, and frequently language; a nationality

;)

different "national identities" cannot make up one nation! that's oxymoron 8[

So what, you're Nazi now are you? Of course different national identities can make up one nation, I've never heard anything so ridiculous in my life! Thats like saying the San Franciscos China town is a seperate nation from the the US. You also misunderstand the meaning of the word oxymoron.

The history of the the UK is not as simple or clear-cut as you've been led to believe. The old Scots toungue (in particular the dialects of West and Central Scotland) developed from the language of the Brythonic peoples of pre-historic Wales, indeed the former Kings of Strathclyde were descended from a Welsh lineage: does that make me Welsh? Rather than Scottish, or even British?

No, different nationalities makes up United States. But there is no such thing as Nation of United States.

Nation or nationality, is your culture/language/ethnicity. For example Chinese - that's a nationality. Same thing with you, Scottish is a nationality, English is a nationality, but together they're just representatives of two nations, not one.

There's no such thing as nations making up a nation, or countries making up a country. You have different nations that together are a country ;)

Look, I'm not saying Scotland is an independant Country, but it is a Country none-the-less. Different countries can, and have, come together to form one nation though, thats my point, and the point of the United Kingdom ;) You can't re-write history! Shall we start referring to the UN as the UC then? Who would have thought this issue would be so contentious?

See: http://www.scottish-enterprise.com/aboutscotland
and: http://www.actofunion.ac.uk

You will notice Scotland referred to as a Country throughout the documents and info held on both sites

G'nite :)

the fact that it's referred to as a country in U.K. just supports my theory on that in Britain, the term "country" holds a different meaning than it does elsewhere in the world.

And yes, technically, United Nations means United Countries, but in 1945 usually there was a nation per country, now there's a whole bunch of nationals within every country.

"Look, I'm not saying Scotland is an independant Country, but it is a Country none-the-less. "

In my opinion, country is a country only once it's independent. If it's part of something, then it's a "state of", or a "republic of", "province of" etc.

Scotland is a state/republic/province of United Kingdom.

United Kingdom is a country.

Scotland is as much a nation as Slovenia and Croatia...in 1980.

Sorry but I have to interject here Scotland is a country that has chosen to unite with two other countries and a principality to become a sovereign nation of the United Kingdom, just because the country has chosen to be in a union with other countries and combine diplomatic and economic systems and processes does not ultimately lead to these countries not being countries.

I am pretty appalled at the complete ignorance of some foreigners trying to lay their standards upon the British constitution, whilst in your definition you may not call these constituents of the United Kingdom countries, I would refute your definition on the basis that the constitution of these countries was in place before many of the institutions you are trying to use to define a situation you obviously don’t understand.

To liken Texas to Scotland is disgusting in my opinion, Scotland has a line of royalty that pre-dates Roman times, and has kept its identity in economic, legal, education, language and sporting disciplines (the only sport that Scotland enters in as the UK is the Olympics). Texas was a colony that ascended to federation and has or never will have a status as a country!

Please don’t turn this into an argument based upon definitions that you are trying to impose upon our nation, we don’t interfere with your bastardisation of our language!

Alright, Scotland is a country that is not recognised by any other country and secretly exists inside another country.

Pan, I agree with you, but I also think you should give up now.......It's got something to do with them driving on the left side :D

:cheers:

I think the whole misunderstanding is the difference of a meaning of word "country" in U.K. as opposed to its meaning elsewhere in Europe.

:)

I think the whole misunderstanding is the difference of a meaning of word "country" in U.K. as opposed to its meaning elsewhere in Europe.

:)

Exactly! It took me a little longer to figure that out, too ;) :)

:cheers:

Scottish or English, they are all British > :weird:

Okay then, us Brits have got it all wrong, and obviously have done for centuries now. Thanks for correcting us. I'm going to email the Oxford English Dictionary and get them to change the dictionary definitions of Country and Nation to suit your arguments :l We'd better re-write our history too I suppose ...what will the Queen think?!

You have all been provided with English definitions of what a state, nation and country is. Surely thats enough for you people.

A state is also not just a sub-division it also refers to a country as in the nation-state, or the French State.

The United Kingdom is a State not a nation Scotland and England are nations but not states, they are countries.

Regardless of whether you think Scotland is a country or not, it has a higher 'brand' recognition than many other other so called nation states.

A Scot abroad is very likely to be recognised as a Scot than many other nations could hope for, let alone 'regions' of the world. That's because we have a strong sense of identity and culture. Most Scots are also proud to be British, though in Glasgow, you'll find many Scots who consider themselves Irish, having descended from immigrants who came here first during the famine. At the borders, Scots is spoken - it is a language that grew out of germanic languages brought by the Angles and Saxons. Gaelic, too, is spoken here, as is Welsh and Manx (on the Isle of Man). We are a complex mix of peoples and cultures and know how to represent ourselves depending on what stage we take to.

If its football, I'll cheers for Scotland. If it's athletics, I'll cheer for Britain. I have a favourite Scottish football team and a favourite English one. Such is the luxury of being British as well as Scottish.

Obviously certain countries who have recently gained independence - having been spotlit since the fall of communism - would argue that to be a 'true' country requires a seat at the United Nations - i can understand this argument.

however, to insist that this is the only way to register a country’s existence, is immature.

Scotland has, on several occasions, been given the opportunity to vote on its legal status (there was a referendum in the '70s and we have a general election every 4/5 years) but has rejected 'independence' on each occasion.

This is because the majority realise that their is no compromise to be part of a Union, and no loss of identity, or of 'national character' either.

Perhaps other wannabe nations round the world, and those that have recently sprung into existence, could learn something from us.

Look,

there are many ethnic differences on our island. Our royalty has been Viking, English, Pictish, Norman, Welsh, German and Scottish (but not Irish) at different times in our history.

We know how we want to be represented and we know we are a country.

We express our nationality in the ways we have chosen to.

That said, you can call scotland whatever you like

“but you’ll never take our freedom!”

cheers! :cheers:

Amen, well said that is a great description of the way our set-up works in these islands.

So what, you're Nazi now are you? Of course different national identities can make up one nation, I've never heard anything so ridiculous in my life! Thats like saying the San Franciscos China town is a seperate nation from the the US. You also misunderstand the meaning of the word oxymoron.

The history of the the UK is not as simple or clear-cut as you've been led to believe. The old Scots toungue (in particular the dialects of West and Central Scotland) developed from the language of the Brythonic peoples of pre-historic Wales, indeed the former Kings of Strathclyde were descended from a Welsh lineage: does that make me Welsh? Rather than Scottish, or even British?

Well said ma man!

dude, if ye get yersel intae the euro-forums mair often this is the kind of narrow minded bullshit that you'll come across all the fuckin time!

however, there are a hell of a lot of interesting discussions going down and the boy 'pan stan' is actually alright. Also there are a few really smart bastards about as well - beats talking about glasgow al day long!

just be prepared for ethno-centric guff of this nature from time to time!

Didn't you just finish criticizing someone for daring to know more about your country than you. How soon you forget ;)

The US is a union of independent states (it's right in the title: United States :) ), each with its own legislature and each electing the President separately, and then pooling the results. Your country is a United Kingdom of different counties, but acting as one singular, NUTS 0 entity.

United Kingdom <-> United States <-> Germany (same level)

Scotland <-> Texas <-> Bavaria (same level)

Now, Yugoslavia split up and now Croatia et al are equal in tier to France and Italy, etc. If you want similar equity, you can dissolve the UK, but that's what it will take :)

I can assure you that Scotland, England Northern Ireland and Wales are different countries.

Scotland has different laws from England for instance, although we are united under one crown as someone else pointed out.

The UK title is actually The United Kingdom Of Great Britain And Northern Ireland. Great Britain is made up of 3 separate COUNTRIES - England Scotland and Wales.

Having lived my entire life as a Scotsman, coming from Scotland, I can assure you that we are a country, we are simply in a union of countries with others.

Think of it like saying Texas (used in an earlier example) if someone was arguing Texas wasnt a state for whatever reason, it obviously is - it is simply in a union with 49 other states.

OK Let's settle this...

Many here seem to be arguing over the definition of country. As the United Kingdom is not a federal system, what else do we call Scotland but a country?

Is Scotland a state? No
Is Scotland a province? No
Is Scotland a Kingdom? Yes, but part of a single realm.
Is Scotland a Country? Yes, for what else do we call it in this context, and with its historical status?

However, is Scotland a Nation State? No. It is not for the reasons already cited regarding citizenship, foreign policy, international treaties, and membership of international organisations.

Perhaps the term "constituent country" would be more appropriate and accurate.

Using our head of state as evidence however, only adds further complexity, and makes attempts at definition more intractable. Scotland shares a head of state with two other constituent countries, one principality, thirteen overseas territories, and twelve other nation states.

In short, the vagaries of the British constitution doubtlessly perpetuates this argument, and will continue to do so until such times as we all subjugated by the United States of Europe, when such arguments will become irrelevant.

I hope that clears this up. :)

Bugger no one took me up on me 'bastardisation of our language' jibe ;)

I suppose the British constitution is like German grammar that you have have been born there to really understand how it all works.

I suppose the British constitution is like German grammar that you have have been born there to really understand how it all works.
I don't know why you guy's keep thinking British constitution is that complicated or special.
Yes, Scotland has a certain autonomy and own legislasure, but many parts of certain country's (or souvreign states or wathever what) in the world has this. For example american states can decide speed limits or dead penalty. Flanders and Wallonia have own foreign trading agency's and promotion, own parlements, own education,etc,...
Yes, Scotland has his own language and own history and culture. But English rules after all. For example in Belgium, Flanders and Wallonia have totally different languages. In Spain Basques have their own language, unique in Europe, Catalonia has his own language and was a real powerfull nation in the past.
Yes, UK has a complicated constitution with 'country's', overseas territory's and a principality. But Russia for example has provinces, territory's, republics and autonomous regions.All with different grades of autonomy. And many, many more languages and religions than in ,overal English speaking and anglican ,UK. (exept the multiculturality due of recent migration)
Yes, Scotland has his own history but since 1707(!) Scotland and England have a united parlement. It's only Blair who gave Scotland his parlement back. Country's like Germany and Italy were much longer a bunch of different states. The first one still gave a lot of autonomy to his different 'Bundeslander'.
...
Stupid to discus about terms as 'country', 'state' ,'nation', 'region', 'province', 'autonomous region' or wathever. In every country those entity's or parts have different meanings. Fact is that Scotland is just a part of the UK with a certain autonomy and identity but isn't sovereign and is on the same level of other parts of other country's :| or is it sovereign state of nation :nuts: .

Cheers SI, most appreciated :) Cheers for post number 119 in this thread too, I couldn't explain this coherently due to the fact I was spitting feathers over some of the crap I had read previously on this thread! In saying that though, Pan does seem a good guy (more power to ya man: you argue a good [although flawed] argument! Hope I've not offended you :) ), although his reasoning on this particular argument was just a smidge off-track, and somewhat jaded by international pre/&mis-conceptions of our internal arrangements.

Perhaps the flaw in the argument for Scotland (or England even) not being a country is a lack of understanding of how the intrinsically linked historical, monarchial, cultural, political, fiscal, racial and social fabric of the countries which make up the United Kingdom actually are.

The definition of a Country is far more complex and profound than a set of eight simple rules or guidelines. Reading the last couple of pages I don't feel any of us Brits need to validate the existence of our respective Countries any further, but I do feel the need to point out how infantly blatant Marathon's comparison is:

United Kingdom <-> United States <-> Germany (same level) Correct! Gold star and a :)
Scotland <-> Texas <-> Bavaria (same level) ...and our survey says: Beauty School drop-out: go back to High School!
Scotland is a Country; part of an Island Nation, a 5000 year-old "melting pot" of culture ...and also has the auspicion of having the old Crown Jewels in existence :bowtie: . Texas is a State: absolutely no comparison there whatsoever! Bavaria is a region in Germany, like Lanarkshire in Scotland or Yorkshire in England.

The United Kingdom doesn't have a written Constitution; that's how our Nation works: that's what makes it special ;) We are an unifiation of Crowns: the Crown of Scotland, England and Ireland (although the Republic has long since "opted" [shall we say] for independance ...and poor Wales; they were a country long before England was but now relegated to a Principality). We don't covet autonomy from each other like other countries, or nations (or wotever!) do. Being a part of the UK is beneficial to us all, it's the old addage "together we stand... blha, blah,bah". Sure we have our differencies sometimes, but together we are one Nation, one united Nation: a Nation of three Countries and one Principality :|

Tony Blair has nothing to do with anything: if any of us wanted autonomy and independance that much we would have it, and have had it long before now! You simply cannot quantify Countryship in such feeble terms. It's bigotted and insulting! I suppose you do need to be here to understand it though. Spend a day in Glasgow and you'll know which Country you stand on, I'll even buy you a pint ;)

SI: Yeah, Glasgow kinda bores me now, I'm sickened by the feeble-mindedness of its Civic Bodies. Frikkin same old, same old: train going through hole is just dull dull dull!

Good discussion though peeps. Ta'n'at

Exactly Crusty as a country we have decided to stay within the united kingdom, that is what some people keep forgetting there have been referenda in Scotland, but WE decided to stay in, not some dottering prime minister, anyway is was John Smith that brought the Scottish parliament to fruition not Tony Blair.

Aye - I think we've sent them home . . . to think again!

na-na nah naaah nah ni nah ni nah . . . . fought and died for . . . . . nah nah nananana nah

:)

Incridible arrogance to think that Scotland is not comparable with Flanders, Bavaria, Catalonia or California!
It's just on the same level I would even say less! Flanders is far more powerfull and richer than that poor scotland for century's in British schadow. Catalonia's capital allready kick's Scotland ass. Scotland compared with Bavaria is just a funny region somewhere lost in Northern Europe.
Open your eyes!

do you want smacked tin tin?

I think both parties have a point...but if you look at it from an international point of view, Scotland, Wales and NI are not regarded as "Countries/Nations". It is the sporting teams that make people familiar with these "states" of the UK.

Anyway, on a lighter note, has a football (soccer) team ever been formed out of Eng, Scot, NI, and Wales??? You know like the Britsih Lions in rugby?

Alright, Scotland is a country that is not recognised by any other country and secretly exists inside another country.

Ignorance by other people, doesn't deny the fact that Scotland and England are separate Countries, which make up a the United Kingdoms of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

This article describes a type of political entity. Country is also a short form for the countryside or the country music genre.
A country, a land, is a geographical area that connotes an independent political entity, with its own government, administration, laws, often a constitution, police, military, tax rules, and population, who are one another's countrymen. "Country" is the English equivalent of French pays, Compare the concept of nation, below.

A country may be an independent, self-governing state. All internationally recognized states follow to some degree international standards in terms of the creation of official national symbols such as flags, and political rights such as citizenship. There are currently 192 countries or states recognized by the United Nations.

"State" as a synonym for "country" tends to cause confusions for citizens of the United States, where a "state" is a sub-national entity comparable to a "province" elsewhere.

Some countries are nation-states – for example, France or Israel. In these nation states one particular nation is dominant. Within France, however the Breton nation represent a proud and cohesive unity, a folk with their own specific heritage. Other states, such as Canada, the People's Republic of China, Spain or the United Kingdom contain several such nations.

Sometimes, parts of states with a distinct history or culture are called "lands" or "countries": England, Scotland and Wales – the three nations on the island of Great Britain – are known as countries, even though they are effectively governed as "components" of the British state. Tibet, an autonomous region of China, is similarly called a country in everyday speech. Ireland is also sometimes called a country, even though it consists of one nation-state (the Republic of Ireland) and one component of a different state (Northern Ireland).

The terms country, nation, state and land are casually used as synonyms, but in a more strict usage they are distinguished:

country is the geographical area
nation designates a people, however national and international both confusingly refer as well to matters pertaining to what are strictly states, as in national capital, international law
state is about government, and an entity in international law
land may be used for "a country and its people" but also thought of as country belonging to a nation or a monarch

Historicial and cultural differences have always existed between the Scotland and England, both had their own Royality and in fact it was the after the heirless Queen Elizabeth I of England died that the son of her cousin Mary Queen o'Scots, King James VI Of Scotland, was crowned King James I of England.

The Act of Union, to create the United Kingdom created one national state, of 4 countries.

If you notice any postbox in Scotland the intials of Queen Elizabeth II, are removed, and merely state ER, whereas in England, they state ERII, as Scotland never had a Queen Elizabeth before the present Queen.

England, Scotland, Wales are Ireland, despite being part of the UK, still keep their national identity of English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish. Scotland, Wales and Ireland have their own national languages apart from English, Scotland and England have their own legal systems, banking and education systems.

Besides, the former USSR, which as one point contained most of Eastern Europe, was made up of separate countries annexed by Russia. Despite not being automonous and independent, Latvia, Estonia etc were still countries part of the USSR

I don't think so, in the olympics there has never been a UK team for the football, but there are talks under way to see if there could be a UK team for the 2012 Olympics. Apparently, England, Wales and Northern Ireland Football associations are in agreement but it is Scotland that is dragging its feet.

I think both parties have a point...but if you look at it from an international point of view, Scotland, Wales and NI are not regarded as "Countries/Nations". It is the sporting teams that make people familiar with these "states" of the UK.

Anyway, on a lighter note, has a football (soccer) team ever been formed out of Eng, Scot, NI, and Wales??? You know like the Britsih Lions in rugby?

To my knowledge, no but it is rummoured that they will form a UK team for the London 2012 Olympic Games

OK Let's settle this...

Many here seem to be arguing over the definition of country. As the United Kingdom is not a federal system, what else do we call Scotland but a country?

Is Scotland a state? No
Is Scotland a province? No
Is Scotland a Kingdom? Yes, but part of a single realm.
Is Scotland a Country? Yes, for what else do we call it in this context, and with its historical status?

However, is Scotland a Nation State? No. It is not for the reasons already cited regarding citizenship, foreign policy, international treaties, and membership of international organisations.

Perhaps the term "constituent country" would be more appropriate and accurate.

Using our head of state as evidence however, only adds further complexity, and makes attempts at definition more intractable. Scotland shares a head of state with two other constituent countries, one principality, thirteen overseas territories, and twelve other nation states.

In short, the vagaries of the British constitution doubtlessly perpetuates this argument, and will continue to do so until such times as we all subjugated by the United States of Europe, when such arguments will become irrelevant.

I hope that clears this up. :)

Well said, but what will happen if and when the Monarchy is overthrown, and the UK elects a President as the Head-of-State?

BTW what about my British Lions Soccer Team? Huh, think about it Giggs and Beckham...they would win any comp. :D

Least Know: London

To my knowledge, no but it is rummoured that they will form a UK team for the London 2012 Olympic Games


Now that would be one formidable team!!! :cheers: Can't wait!

No it wouldn't Scotland and Wales are crap

and England?

oh yeah, 1966......

-yawn-

now watch the ensuing conflict between the aforementioned countries.....


When it comes to football and rugby there is nothing more in this world that can divide us more.

So tell me, when was the last time Scotland was even in a World Cup?

You do realise all world cups are fixed, yeah?

Fixed to stop scotland even playing? lol

*sigh. Why do we even bother.

Well said, but what will happen if and when the Monarchy is overthrown, and the UK elects a President as the Head-of-State?

BTW what about my British Lions Soccer Team? Huh, think about it Giggs and Beckham...they would win any comp. :D

As any potential president would presumably inherit all possessions and responsibilities of the Crown, it would presumably make no difference to Scotland's constitutional position. However, it could conceivably provoke constitutional crises in places like the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey, as they are not part of the UK. They are in fact self-governing states and dependencies of the Crown. They have no relationship to the British Government, only the Crown, so any usurping of political authority by British politicians could be difficult.

With regard to a British football team for the Olympics, I think this will happen. However, it will not be made up of players from all over the UK. This was beyond the SFA’s capacity for pragmatism. Instead, what is likely is that all of the home teams will take part in a mini-competition to determine who will represent Britain at the Olympics, i.e. England in red shirts.

Yea Skopje is also a candidate! But I think nothing beats Chisinau ;)

Or what about the capital of Faroe? Torshavn?

Sorry, Faroe is not a country. Denmark rules Faroe.

I know, but the thread says "capital cities" and this is kind of a capital anyway... as Belfast or Edinburgh

The thing with Scotland is, it was and always will be a nation that is within a nation.

Its ancient capital will still be its capital.

Christ that the first time i hear about chisinau. Tirana and Reykjavik are pretty much known world wide by the educated people.

Will those English nerds stop hijacking the thread.

London is the least known :crazy:

Will those English nerds stop hijacking the thread.

Would those French nerds stop being so French:D

Will those English nerds stop hijacking the thread.

Haha, well said. :lol:

Haha, well said. :lol:

*Knob head alert siren turns on* What’s going on here?

Will those English nerds stop hijacking the thread.

Who are you calling English??? Ya froggy fud!

Ankara because many people think that capital of Turkey is Istanbul :D

I am staying out of this, this is turning in to nasty squabble, lol

Maybe Knin, capital of Republic Serb (u)Krajina;)

Odjebi

I would say Skopje is least known.

What is Republik Serb Krajina???

^ hehe, maybe i should ask you ? ;)

:cheers:

Chisinau :happy:

Chisinau :happy:

My thought exactly :D

how about US Capitols, lol, US States that is, lol...
I wonder how many would you know that Montpelier is capitol of Vermont, or That Albany is Capitol of New York State, lol...

Or what about Idaho, lol, do you know which city is capitol of Idaho (it starts with B) lol...

Europe is easy, lol..

Boise

lol, after looking,. lol, ^

no i knew it. I don't know them all but I did know all 3 you mentioned.

Bismarck, North Dakota has to be the coolest capital city in the US.

because its called Bismark? Because it has a lot of germans? because it's in North Dakota or just because it's really really cold there?

no i knew it. I don't know them all but I did know all 3 you mentioned.

No it aint. Only met nutters from there. :ohno:

how about US Capitols, lol, US States that is, lol...

How about Indian State Capitals if you want a real challenge, who can tell me the capitals of Kerala, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim?

Thiruvananthapuram, Itanagar, Gangtok,

Thiruvananthapuram, Itanagar, Gangtok,

Well done, now try a few without Google :D

Gujarat
Uttar Pradesh
Tamil Nadu.

Bismarck, North Dakota has to be the coolest capital city in the US.

Bismarck is actually... Very beautiful IMO, nice climate with friendly people, low crime rate, good houses... Anyway I was grown up in Manitoba so my opinion may be biased.

Pescenica

Pescenica


:dunno:

Well done, now try a few without Google :D

Gujarat
Uttar Pradesh
Tamil Nadu.

without google!!

Gujarat = Ahmadabad ?

Uttar Pradesh = Patna Kanpur or Varanasi ?

Tamil Nadu = Bangalore or Chennai?

After the google search:

Gujarat = Gandhinagar (near Ahamdabad) :bash:

Uttar Pradesh = Lucknow (near Kanpur) :wallbash:

Tamil Nadu = Chennai :pepper:

Vaduz, Chisinau and Podgorica.

^^Montenegro isn't independent yet. If you include it, you can as well include Torshavn, Mariehamn or Tiraspol.

Tiraspol? So I'm not the only one on this forum who has heard of Tirapsol :D

^^where is that city

Moldova....Tiraspol is self-proclaimed capital of breakaway region of Trans-Dniester, populated mostly by Russians, Ukrainians, etc.

How about ... Vitoria, capital of Basque Country?

Tiraspol? So I'm not the only one on this forum who has heard of Tirapsol :D

Actually, I jst knew the existence of trans-Dniester region, but I had to look in wikipedia for its capital:)

Chisinau is better known as Kishinev as it used to be called when Moldova was part of the Soviet Union. The airport code is still KIV.

Vaduz, Chişinău, San Marino, Vatican City (not Rome), La Valletta, Nicosia and the 3 baltic capitals Vilnius, Tallinn, Riga (everybody heard about them, nobody knows which one is the capital of which nation).

How about ... Vitoria, capital of Basque Country?

Vitoria-Gasteiz is unknown for many Spaniards so... imagin for the Europeans :lol:

Vitoria-Gasteiz is unknown for many Spaniards so... imagin for the Europeans :lol:

I didn't even know that The Basque Country were indipendent...

I didn't even know that The Basque Country were indipendent...

Who said it? :crazy:

Vito you've made Vitoria-Gasteiz popular here :yes:

Perhaps it is so unknown that even we have not yet heard of it?

Vito you've made Vitoria-Gasteiz popular here :yes:
:yes:

@ Vitovito: :kiss:

:D

As a side note, capital city is a term that is used MUCH more loosely. So for example, to distinguish between Burgos province and Burgos city, people will usually say "Burgos capital." This same reasoning goes for regions like the Basque Country.

:yes:

Vienna. Some stupid people think that Austria belongs to Germany, and did not know that Vienna is a capital city.

Lots of people also think Geneva or Zurich ist the captial of Sweden, no sorry: Swaziland... no, where the hell I am living in? - I think the capital is Denmark, isn't it? :lol:
http://www.chakuriki.net/images/vakaworld_050617.gif

Who knows Bern??? An old Swiss city with many commieblocks.

Thorshavn

it's sure that this is THE less one knew capital of Europe.

Thorshavn

it's sure that this is THE less one knew capital of Europe.

No. Thorshavn is on Faeroe Islands, Denmark.

They are an autonomous region of the Kingdom of Denmark since 1948 and have, over the years, taken control of most matters, except defence (they have no organized native military, which remains the responsibility of Denmark, except for a small Police Force and Coast Guard) and foreign affairs.
The Faroe Islands status as an Danish amt was brought to an end with the home-rule law, instead the Faroe Islands were given a high degree of self-government, supported by a substantial annual subsidy from Denmark.


but they have an official capital city that is Thorshavn.

York - True Capital of England.

York - True Capital of England.
I thought it was something like Winchester.

All I know is that London was a French-imposed capital of England.

:runaway:

Who knows Bern??? An old Swiss city with many commieblocks.
True, but its old town is an UNESCO site as Siena or Carcassonne... Anyway it is only the capital because of some compromise in the mid 19th century. In the pre-Napoleonic time there was no capital - the heads of the old cantons met periodically in different cities (Tagsatzung). Napoleon was making Aarau (my birthplace) to the Helvetic Capital. For a short time Luzern also was honoured with it. With the new constitution afterwards Zurich was in discussion, a freshly grown economic center. But the french part didn't want this germanized domination. Bern, an old patriarchic rich but traditional place was chosen because it is in the center of the country and close to the language border. Lausanne in the French part got the suppreme court and Zurich the ETH (Engeneering university owned by the swiss government, nowadays one of the top 10 universities in Europe).

That's typical Swiss compromising and centralized concentration - and it goes further on: National Museum: Zurich, Transport Museum: Luzern, Penal Tribunal: Bellinzona etc... it also has its positive sides: the country's regions are not predominated by a primate city as Paris, Bangkok or London and the country's rank-size-distribution is nearly perfect, one of the reasons for it's general wealth (although Jura or Ticino are poor against Zug or Zürich, but only in a relative way).

The least well know capital city in europe

is St Helier in Jersey. Douglas on the Isle of Man.

You don't know this for sure... Quebec City! If they are separated from Canada.

And what will be the capitals if Belgium finally splits apart? Antwerp and Charleroi? With Bruxelles joining Luxemburg ;)

Maybe Nicosia?

And what will be the capitals if Belgium finally splits apart? Antwerp and Charleroi? With Bruxelles joining Luxemburg ;)
Brussels, DC.

:D

How about....Cetinje, Montenegro?

http://www.kahunna.net/europe2/montenegro/cetinje01.jpg

http://www.kahunna.net/europe2/montenegro/cetinje02.jpg

catinje is not capital

nonono you haven't the Montenegrin fora - Cetinje is the prestonica, and Podgorica is the glavni grad :crazy2:

Anyway, I think the least know capital in Jurop is Banja Luka :jk:

And what will be the capitals if Belgium finally splits apart? Antwerp and Charleroi? With Bruxelles joining Luxemburg ;)

The capital of Walloon Region is currently Namur. The Flemish Region has Brussels as its capital. This is quite strange since Brussels isn't part of the Flemish region but an own region in itself. Historically it is a Flemish town though. I can't imagine that Flemish nationalists are willing to give it up if Belgium falls apart despite the fact that 80% of Brussels is nowadays officially French speaking.

Chisinau and Andorre-la-Vella

I'd say Vaduz is the least known

Valetta, Chisinau, Baku, Yerevan, Vaduz and Torshavn

I live in Boston and here everyone thinks that the capital of Turkey is Istanbul. They've never even heard of Ankara

is which one in your opinion ?

I believe Tirana & Reykjavik , places where you never hear or read something about in the press

London IMHO :D

Podgorica and Tiraspol.

Povoa de Varzim

Prishtina

Berlin.

Chisnau!

nonono you haven't the Montenegrin fora - Cetinje is the prestonica, and Podgorica is the glavni grad :crazy2:

Anyway, I think the least know capital in Jurop is Banja Luka :jk:No, I think least known capitals in Europe are Prishtina, Novi Sad and Novi Pazar. :lol:

No, I think least known capitals in Europe are Prishtina, Novi Sad and Novi Pazar. :lol:

:ohno: Bashing of Serbia won't help you improve the shitty situation in BiH. It's a reality, wherther u like it or not, Banja Luka has almost nothing to do with Sarajevo and RS is a reality.

Povoa de Varzim

:lol: Lisbon is quite unknown, apart from Euro 2004...
By the way, Montenegro is now independent and so is Serbia.

And there's San Marino, inside Italy but independent, like the Vatican.

everyone know bratislava? for sure some people still think, that czechoslovakia still exist.

Anyone got pics of Sofia?

Anyone got pics of Sofia?

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=337118

Saint Petersburg, i think.

Which is the capital of what country? Finland?

http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/1197/stpetersburgcv5.jpg

Saankt Peeterburki?

Nein. Pietari (http://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pietari_%28kaupunki%29)!

Lol! Hermitage is a museum!

It was.

Nowadays it's used by the Empress Tarja I.

Which is the capital of what country? Finland?

Saint Petersburg is a second capital of Russia (cultural and rock) and most beautiful city in the world!:cool::banana:

What about Pristina the capital of Kosovo (I know kosovo isnt a country yet but it will be soon (in February 2008) )

So have you ever heard about pristina
you must have heard abot it on the news at the time of the war and now that kosovo is trying to declare independence

Maybe Nicosia (Λευκωσία)?

What about Pristina the capital of Kosovo (I know kosovo isnt a country yet but it will be soon (in February 2008) )

So have you ever heard about pristina
you must have heard abot it on the news at the time of the war and now that kosovo is trying to declare independence

Yep, it goes to the category of cities like Chisinau or Magadan.. ;) It has its own thread on SSC, no? I remember I've seen that few weeks ago.. there is room for further improvement of the city.. However, I don't know much about Podgorica, and I have no idea how it should look..

Yep, it goes to the category of cities like Chisinau or Magadan.. ;) It has its own thread on SSC, no? I remember I've seen that few weeks ago.. there is room for further improvement of the city.. However, I don't know much about Podgorica, and I have no idea how it should look..

This is how Prishtina looks like :
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii247/Bi_C/b.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/61/Kosovo_government.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5c/BoroRamizi.jpg

http://www.leksikon-yu-mitologije.net/files/Pristina%2001.jpg

and this is how Podgorica looks like:

http://www.visit-montenegro.org/gradovi/podgorica1v.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5b/TrgRepublike.jpg

Chisinau and Skopje

Vaduz
Andorra la Vella
Chişinău
Reykjavik
Valletta
Nicosia
Bern

Vaduz
Andorra la Vella
Chişinău
Reykjavik
Valletta
Nicosia
Bern

i agree bc
1)andorra and liechtenstein(sorry for the spelling) are very small and many people dont know they have a capital
2)many people dont know the existance of moldova
3)many people believe that iceland belongs to norway or denmark
4)isnt malta a city state?:bash:
5)isnt the capital larnaca where the major airport is?
6)what happened to zurich or geneva?were they destroyed in a nuclear war?

I'm a bit surprised that no one has mentioned Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital. I guess the city is too little known even for a thread about little-known European capitals.

You're insane!

Capitals are just the result of historical hazard. Those who compulsively try to learn them all just neglect many minor towns with much more to offer to the art lover.

It's gotta be Ponta Delgada.

It's gotta be Ponta Delgada.

and Ponta Degada is the capital of what country ?

^^Ponta Delgada (pronounced [ˈpõtɐ dɛɫˈgadɐ]) is a city and municipality on São Miguel Island in the Azores (an autonomous region of Portugal). The city proper has a population of 46,102[1] and the municipality has a population of 64,516 for a total area of 233.0 km². It serves as the seat of the executive government of the Azores Autonomous Region[2].
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponta_Delgada

Região Autónoma dos Açores is not a country, thus Ponta Delgada doesn't really belong in this thread.:) Otherwise you might wanna consider Nuuk (Greenland) and a bunch of other cities as well.

^ Nuuk (Greenland) is in North America. :p

The Azores are in Europe only politically, just as Greenland. That was my point.

^ :nono: Only a small (westernmost) part is North American, the rest is European, including Ponta Delgada. :) But yeah, it doesn't really fit here.