Goodbye to the Land of Fairytales

Bavaria & Luxembourg have played an important role in recent articles here at Suite101. They are reminders of Europe's rich history. The stuff of fairytales.

If you have perused my last few articles and blogs, you will have undoubtedly noticed that the former kingdom of Bavaria, in southern Germany, and the tiny duchy of Luxembourg have played an important role. You may be wondering why I would spend so much time writing about seemingly insignificant areas of European history. Well, our motto here at Suite101.com is Enter Curious, and I have always had an inordinate amount of curiosity about Bavaria and Luxembourg.

Perhaps it is because I loved fairy tales as a little girl. Stories such as Hansel & Gretel, Sleeping Beauty and Little Red Riding Hood were all set in the picturesque forests of Bavaria, with thatched cottages and soaring castles. Luxembourg, the world’s only grand duchy, is a lasting reminder of the royal families that ruled Europe for thousands of years. Don’t get me wrong-I am huge fan of democracy; however, you must admit there is something wonderfully romantic and inspiring about kings and queen holding court, and the passing of the throne onto the next generation.

Writing for Suite101.com allows me to indulge in my passion for the “unknown” history. There are hundreds of articles all over the net covering all aspects of more famous monarchs, like Queen Elizabeth I, Mary, Queen of Scots, and so forth. I wanted to contribute something a little lesser known, like a biography of Ludwig II and his eccentric habits of building castles, or Grand Duchess Charlotte, who helped bring Luxembourg through the travails of WWII, making it one of the wealthiest countries in the world.

I would love to hear from some you. I have one request for a lesser-known war between Spain and the Netherlands, so far. What other events and people in Western European History would you like to know more about? What makes you curious?