Hank’s Europe Geography Quiz
By Hank Schrader, USMA ’71, Europe Destination Specialist and Europe River Cruise Expert
I am a former high school world geography and AP human geography teacher. For most of us growing up, Europe was about famous sights, palaces and castles, and unique cultures. However, I have always loved learning more about the history and significance of Europe’s sights. Here is a short five question quiz—I challenge you to see how much you know about Europe. Feel free to reach out to me with your score. OK, class is in session–Good Luck!
Quiz Questions
1) One famous English King, Henry VIII, did not live in London after 1529. What is the name of the palace that Henry VIII lived in after 1529 (by the way, it’s a great day trip from London)? Maybe this photo will help.
2) What two European Cities, located on the Danube River, were united and became the capital of Hungary? (10 points) What is the name of the bridge that united these two cities (the English nickname is okay)? Perhaps this photo might help you.
3) What city in Italy is most associated with the Renaissance? (10 points) Why should you never visit this city on Monday if you want to visit its impressive art museums? (10 points) Here is a photo of one of the squares of this city–hope it helps you get it right!
4) Over 9 million people a year visit this popular museum in Paris (it is number 1 visited museum in Europe!). What is the name of this museum? Here is what part of the outside of this museum looks like:
5) What is the name of the capital of Spain before it became Madrid in 1561? (Hint-it is located on a bend of the Tagus River and is a famous walled city that was often painted by El Greco; it’s also famous for sword making.)
Scoring
Each question is worth 20 points. For Questions 2 & 3 each answer is worth 10 points. Scoring:
90-100 You are a smart Europe Geo genius!
70-85 You know a lot!
60 or less You spent too much time in the Pub with Hank, but this quiz will boost your Geo IQ!
Answers:
- Hampton Court Palace. Hampton Court Palace was Henry VIII’s favorite royal residence. Among the highlights of the palace are Henry’s State Rooms, the vast Tudor kitchens, and over 60 acres of enchanting gardens.
Hampton Court 
The King’s Dining Room 
Gardens of Hampton Court 
Kitchen Area Hampton Court - Buda and Pest were united to become Budapest. They are united by the Széchenyi Chain Bridge. It more commonly is known as just the Chain Bridge. This was the first permanent bridge built across the Danube in Budapest. It was built during the years of 1840 to 1849. It is 375m long and 16m wide. This bridge connected the towns of Buda and Pest and was a major reason the two towns became Budapest. In 1989, it was a site of protest for freedom and independence from communist rule. Today, the bridge is a symbol of Hungarian liberty. Buda castle is in the background of this picture.
Chain Bridge, Budapest, Hungary
3. Florence, Italy is known as the home of the Renaissance. Many art galleries are closed on Monday, to include the Accademia (David statue) and Uffizi, which contains the greatest collection of Italian Renaissance paintings in the world. We have a great guide about Florence that we would be happy to share with you.
4. The Louvre (by the way it is closed on Tuesdays). The Louvre, originally a royal palace but now the world’s most famous museum, is a must visit for anyone with a slight interest in art. Some of the museum’s most celebrated works of art include the Mona Lisa, the Venus of Milo, and our personal favorite, the Winged Victory Statue.
Here is a picture of the entrance, and the controversial glass pyramid entrance to the world-renowned Louvre Museum.
5. Toledo was the capital of Spain from about 1085 to 1561, but much of Spain was being reclaimed from the Moors during the Reconquista and it really was more the capital city of the combined provinces of Castile and Leon. It has a fascinating walled fortress in the old town. Much seems unchanged in the narrow streets since the 1500s. Top site include the Alcazar Castle, the Cathedral of Toledo, the El Greco Museum and the entrance to the old city, the Puerta Bisayra. You can get to Toledo by high speed AVANT train (30 min) from Atocha Train Station from Madrid.
My Final Thoughts
We hope this little lesson and quiz about 5 key sights in Europe will inspire you to visit one or more of these great destinations in Europe. We would be honored to help in any way possible—consider calling Hank at 713-397-0188 or email him at hschrader@dreamdestinations.com so we can help you: Savor life . . . make memories . . .Visit Dream Destinations! Your journey begins here!
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