[Beauxbatons] Beauxbâtons Cultural Guide

Created by Leïla Bernier, Dermod Larkin Morfessa, Charmaine Cloutier, Gwenyth Ferre, Eros Marinos, Mateusz Dąbrowski, and Veronika Petrova

Understanding the culture associated with the native region of your character is an essential part of the roleplaying experience. Knowing the types of foods that your character would probably eat at home, the languages that are predominantly spoken there, and some of the history of that country will help to add a little something extra to your posting. In addition, a wide array of new places for wizards and witches to live and visit are now available for roleplay. All of these details should be most helpful in creating your character sheets and in getting a firmer grasp on your character.

While we have compiled a great deal of information on each of the countries from which Beauxbatons students predominantly come, we do still advise you to do a bit of research on your own. What we have here is a basic overview to the wizarding world as your character would know it. However, there is more to life than what we have in the posts that follow. You may wish to search for more information on the landscape, languages, and other facts associated with your characters home country as well as the country where he or she will be educated. This will only be to your advantage during sorting as well as in your individual topics.

Beauxbatons students predominantly come from France, Belgium and Switzerland. Students from Spain, Italy, The Netherlands, Germany, Andorra, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, and Monaco are also typically accepted to the school. Less likely countries include Morocco, Portugal, Austria, Algeria, and Tunisia. Characters from these countries will only be accepted if exceptionally detailed histories are provided. We will not accept characters who are British, Irish, Russian, Bulgarian, Polish, Ukrainian, Macedonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Estonian, Mongolian, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Asian in General, Turkish, American, Australian, South American, Slovenian, Slovakian, Hungarian, or Serbian under any circumstances. Please take this into account when determining where your character was born.

Now, without any further delay, we present to you, the Beauxbatons Culture Guide.

Republic of France
Republique Française

Timeline

Basic Country Information

    General Location; France is the second largest country in Europe, with the fifth largest population in Europe. It has coastal water on the Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean and the English Channel.  France is bordered by Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Spain.

France is rich with mountains, plains, forests and rivers. Three climate types dominate in France: oceanic, continental, and Mediterranean.  The oceanic climate prevails in the western parts of the country.  It is characterized by mild temperatures, ample rainfall, cool summers, and cooler winters.  The continental climate may be found over much of eastern and central France.  It consists of warmer summers and colder winters than areas farther west; rainfall is ample, and winters tend to be snowy, especially in the higher areas. The Mediterranean climate, which is spread throughout the south of France, is one of limited rainfall, with cool winters and hot summers.

    Languages; The French language is descended from Latin, and influenced by the native Celtic language of the Gauls and Germanic language of the post-Roman Frankish invaders.  Surprisingly, French has only been the official language of France since 1992 according to the Constitution of France, though previous legal texts date back to 1539.

As with so many other things, language is an integral part of French culture. The French put great store by using it artfully and 'correctly', trying to make sure their language is influenced by outside sources as little as possible.  The French don't like to use loan-words, and there's a governing body in Paris (the Académie Française) that decides what does and doesn't qualify as a word in the French language.  Oftentimes, rather than borrowing a new word from another culture, they create a new, more French word.

In addition to the official language, there are several regional languages spoken in France. These are Alsatian, Basque, Breton, Catalan, Corsican, Flemish, Franco-Provençal, Lorraine Franconian, and Occitan. Please note that your student character is not likely to be fluent in these regional languages, especially not at a young age. If you are considering having one of these as a spoken language for your character, please consider how fluent they would be and whether or not it makes sense for them to speak it, as several of these are rather rare.

    Fun Foods; French cuisine has evolved extensively over the centuries to what it is today.  In French medieval cuisine, banquets were common among the aristocracy.  Multiple courses would be prepared, but served in a style called ''service en confusion'', or all at once.  Food was generally eaten by hand and the sauces of the time were highly seasoned and thick, and heavily flavored mustards were used.  Meals often ended with an ''issue de table'', which later evolved into the modern dessert.  The ingredients of the time varied greatly according to the seasons and the church calendar, and many items were preserved with salt, spices, honey, and other preservatives. Whale, dolphin and porpoise were considered to be fish, so during Lent the salted meats of these sea mammals were eaten. One of the grandest showpieces of the time was roast swan or peafowl sewn back into its skin with feathers intact; the feet and beak being gilded with gold.

In the second half of the twentieth century, Nouvelle cuisine was popularised, characterised by a rejection of excessive complication in cooking, reduced cooking times in order to preserve natural flavours, and the use of fresh, simple ingredients.  Light sauces were preferred for seasoning and regional dishes became more popular. It has been speculated that chefs popularised this style of cooking due to the shortage of meat and other ingredients during WWII.

Traditionally, each region of France has its own style of cooking as well, though in modern times a lot of these dishes have become more widespread. The Alsace region is heavily influenced by German cuisine, particularly in the style of wine and beer produced here. Lobster, crayfish and mussels are popular in the Brittany region, as is buckwheat, which is used in the region's crepes and galettes (French pancakes) Local cider is also produced. Bordeaux is well known for its wine, with certain areas offering specialty grapes for its wines Foods popular in the region include lamb, seafood, oysters and wild berries. The Côte d'Azur region produces citrus fruits, vegetables and herbs, as well as the largest amount of olives (for olive oil which is used in many dishes) in the country. Regional dishes include Bouillabaisse (as seen in Goblet of Fire!) and Pastis, an aniseed-flavoured liqueur.

Wizarding Establishments

Witches and Wizards live in almost every part of France, some choosing to blend in with the muggles and live in their communities and others choosing to live in segregated communities made up of only those gifted with magic. There are five well known villages and cities that are hidden from muggles by complex charms and wards. Two of these, Chatoeil and Wizarding Paris, are well known by most Beauxbatons students.

Wizarding Paris, much like Diagon Alley, is located within the muggle city itself. However, protected by wards and charms, the part of the city that is inhabited by wizards, cannot be accessed by muggles. In fact, there is no street entrance that can be accessed by wizards either. Access to wizarding Paris is made via apparating, winged horses and carriages, portkey, and the floor powder network. Given that this is where most students purchase their school supplies, muggleborn students and their parents are given access to the city via special portkey. In addition to school supplies, shoppers in the city of Paris will find a wide array of other goods available for purchase. Wizarding Paris, much like its muggle counterpart, is well known for its fashion and cuisine. In addition, it is also known to have some of the world's best apothecaries.

The village of Chatoeil is located on the Cote d'Azur near Marseilles. In addition to being a port for wizarding France, the village also serves a recreational hot spot for students of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. The village itself is divided into into five arrondissements: the housing district, the garden district, the dark district, the entertainment district, and the retail district. In addition to having shops and restaurants for a patronage of students and adults alike, the village also contains a vineyard, a beauty salon, a library, a museum, an opera house, and an inn. The city offers cultural experience that supplements the education that children receive at the nearby school. Further background information on the village of Chatoeil and its many sites and shops is available.

In addition to Chatoeil and Paris, wizards have made homes in other regions of France. Most well known of these are Dahliental, Sierignes, and Viennimont. Each of these villages are different in their selectivity toward new residents, as well as a variety of other factors, such as size and means of income for villagers.

The smallest and most selective of these villages is Dahliental (known by most French speakers as "fleur-de-bas"), which is translated from the German as "Valley of Dahlias." The village itself is located in the Alsace Region of France, just outside the city limits of Saverne. The community is made up of some of the wealthiest and most connected families in France, all of which claim to be pureblood. Several prominent members of the French Wizengamot as well as several other high ranking officials in the French Ministry of Magic reside in this village, which helps to provide an allowance from the ministry for their selection policies. The village is quite breathtaking in its attention to detail. It's a seemingly perfect little town with picket fences or neatly trimmed hedges bordering the properties and beautiful gardens, all of which contain some variety of dahlia, in the front yard. Near the outskirts of town, one will find some of the largest buildings. Though these house the textile factories, the gardens and trimmed hedges are still present. One would never guess that this village is one the largest suppliers of textiles for Wizarding Paris.

Less selective and somewhat larger that Dahliental, Sierignes is located in the Brittany Region of France, a few miles outside of Fougeres. Consisting of both pureblood and halfblood wizarding families, the village is quaint quaint. It is surrounded by trees on all sides, many of which flower during the springtime. The houses, usually small in size, are constructed from several kinds of stone, giving proof to the fact that this is one of the oldest wizarding villages in France. Though cut from stone, many of these homes do not show their age. Polished stain glass windows are commonplace in the homes in Sierignes. Glass products are the principal export of the village, though the majority of the witches and wizards living there do commute elsewhere for work.

The last of the five villages, Viennimont, is by far the largest and most inhabited, so much so that it is often referred to as a town. Located near Bordeaux, Viennimont is home to many of the middle class members of wizarding France. Most of the homes in this town are quite large, many housing two or more families on different floors. Small apartment buildings are also located in the city, though they are toward the far edge of town where one would also find a variety of different shops and restaraunts that cater to the people as well as to tourists. The village of Viennimont is also home to The Piegnarbeau Equine Studies Centre, which not only specialises in the veterinary care of both ordinary and magical breeds of horses, but also their breeding and training.

Extras

    Quidditch;
    French National Team
        Seeker - Cécile Pelletier
        Keeper - Jules Bastien
        Chaser - Mathilde Mallard
        Chaser - Josephine Marat
        Chaser - Hildegarde Lafarge
        Beater - Agathe Lacroix
        Beater - Henri Saucet
    Caladri du Camargue -- Main Team
        Seeker - Étienne Ansel Portier
        Keeper - Aldéric Pelagius Ciel
        Chaser - Pandoré Rousseau (Vice Captain)
        Chaser - Félix Hilaire Chastain
        Chaser - Séraphine Maevanna Prideaux
        Beater - Julian Alvarez
        Beater - René Augustin Duval (Captain)
    Caladri du Camargue -- Reserve Team
        Beater - Ghislain Dupuits (Team Manager)
    Quiberon Quafflepunchers

    Famous Faces;
    Agadrème Vieuxabre -- Current Editor-In-Chief of "La Gazette du Sorcier"
    Maurice Boucher -- Headmaster of The Piegnarbeau Equine Studies Centre
    Olympe Maxime -- Headmistress of Beauxbatons Academie of Magic

 Historical Figures;
    Adéliphat Embeyan -- Magical feudal lord known for protecting muggles
    Almazor Calazac -- Hypnotist who convinced an entire city that he was their mayor
    Arthélème Baratgen -- Created the first muggle-repelling charm
    Brie Papillonlisse -- Brilliantly talented seer who was one of the three founders of Beauxbatons and later the first headmistress
    Cémaïde Audeffroy -- Invented the Wizard's Camera in 1828
    Délexine Ruiz-Abdama -- One of the first students of Beauxbatons who would later teach Hypnosis at the school
    Dieudonné Malaudent -- One of the first hypnotists to study under Almazor Calazac
    Dorcina Procpoc -- Created the sport of Thwack-goblin as well as a sheet-drying charm that is still popular in France
    Elzéor Pardimaine -- Wizard fashion designed who helped institute disguises into the muggle studies syllabus
    Emmanuel Ombrelune -- Hypnotist son of Lothar Ombrelune and one of the three founders of Beauxbatons; designed the castle
    Félisa Kanallary -- Winged Horse dealer who began selling her horses on a large scale market
    Gonzalve and Ozielle Albonezi -- Started the first ever OWL mail service which would later be used by Beaxbatons
    Guillaume Bellefeuille -- Talented potion makers and animagus who was one of the three founders of Beauxbatons; created atrium
    Herménégilde Le Squerne -- Dark wizard who promoted the enslavement of muggles
    Hortivierge Larrouyot -- Witch who created a potion that would keep one awake for 72 hours without feeling tired
    Ismérina Hourgasse -- Professor of Le Déguisement et les Moldus (Muggle Studies) who worked with Pardimaine to redesign class
    Lothar Ombrelune -- One of the wealthiest potion makers of that time
    Mazenode Parlibat -- Invented an early cure for Dragon Pox
    Uldérique Malinat -- Created magical potion remedies, several of which are still in use today

    Ministry of Magic; The French Ministry of Magic is located in the heart of Wizarding Paris. The current Minister of Magic is Bazilien Brinqueret.

Kingdom of Belgium
Koninkrijk België - Royaume de Belgique - Königreich Belgien

Timeline

Basic Country Information

    General Location; Belgium is a country in northwest Europe.  It is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Lichtenstein to the southeast, and France to the south and southwest.

    Languages; In Belgium, three official languages are spoken:  Flemish (Belgian Dutch), French and German.  French is mainly spoken in the southern parts of the country (Wallonia), while Flemish is spoken in the north (Flanders).  German is the least prevalent language of the three, and spoken mainly in the far east of Wallonia.  Approximately 59% of the country speaks Flemish, 40% speak French, and less than 1% speak German.  It is likely that Belgian characters would know the first two quite well.

    Fun Foods; Belgium is known all over the world for its cuisine, and typically serve their meals in large portions.   Their chocolate is world-renowned, and their most famous chocolates are the chocolate frogs many wizarding children have grown to love.  Belgium's national dishes are steak and fries with salad, and mussels with fries.

Wizarding Establishments

Hoefijzer is a wizarding village named after the small, horseshoe shaped island on which it is located. The island itself is just off the coast of Oostende in the North Sea. The island is protected from muggle discovery by a rather elaborate ward which causes a ship’s navigational system and other technology to malfunction and reroute the vessel when it gets within several hundred yards of the island. Additional wards have been placed around the village to protect it from storms. Unicorn research is what the village is best recognized for; however, the village is also involved in scientific experimentation dealing with nautical magics. The Wauters Reservation is also found on the island.

Located just south of Liege, further down the Ourthe River, the village of Kinsbergen is a major tourist attraction for witches and wizards. One of the notable people from the village is Eric van Vogt, a nearly 200 year old baker who is still making his world-renowned cookies and pastries. Just down the street lives the 132 year old cheese maker by the name of Carl Stutzer who makes dairy taste delicious. Aside from cookies and cheese, the primary exports coming from this region are magical timepieces; most of the villagers are involved in this industry.

Extras

    Quidditch;
     Belgian National Team
        Seeker - Marco Vermeeren
        Keeper - Henrietta Stibbe
        Chaser - Wilhemina Smits
        Chaser - Edwin Bosfelt
        Chaser - Alain van Rijneveld
        Beater - Gilles Ligne
        Beater - Juliana van der Vleuten

    Ministry of Magic; Disguised as an office building in the heart of Brussels.

    Other Important Locations; The Wauters Reservation, founded by Edmée Wauters in 1304 , was the first solely unicorn reservation that served the purpose of preserving the species. With unicorns having nearly been hunted into extinction in the early 1300’s, Edmée took it upon herself to join with others who held her belief in saving these innocent creatures. Thus came to be the Wauters Reservation in Hoefijzer. Wauters Reservation is responsible for much of the early research dealing with unicorns. It is most notably recognized for the discovery of the ability of unicorns' hair to heal.

In 1307, the De Boers Reservation, founded by Marjolein De Boers, was established. Marjolein was a graduate of The Jehenne de Brigue Institute of Medicinal Studies, specializing in veterinary sciences. Her main focus had always been unicorns, seeing that they had already had such an impact on her country. Spending a few years at the Wauters Reservation, Marjolein was inspired enough to start up her own reservation a few miles outside of Eichelseifen. Since its discovery, the De Boers Reservation has served as the location for the discovery of the uses of unicorn blood, horns, and hair in terms of potions, wands, and healing solutions.

Swiss Confederation
Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft - Confédération suisse - Confederazione Svizzera - Confederaziun svizra

Timeline

Basic Country Information

  General Location; Switzerland is landlocked country in western Europe. It is bordered by Germany to the north, Italy to the south, France to the west, and Austria and Lichtenstein to the east. Switzerland hosts about 20% of the Alps, with approximately 100 peaks close to or over 4000 meters (13125 feet) above sea level. From the large Lake Geneva to hundreds of tiny little lakes in the mountains, Switzerland is renowned for its picturesque scenery. There are also more than 3000 km² of glaciers in Switzerland; though many of these are decreasing in size. 

Languages; The official languages of Switzerland are German, French, Italian, and Romansh, with German being the first language of about two thirds of the population and French for a further 20%. However, many other regional languages can be found as well and many people are bi- or tri-lingual.  Foods; The food of Switzerland is very diverse and has a different feel according to the climate and location of where you stop to eat. Dishes such as raclette or rösti can be found nearly anywhere within the country. Swiss cuisines use ingredients similar to those in other European countries such as dairy products and cheeses such as Gruyère or Emmental. Fondue is one of the most commonly known dishes. Fondue is made out of molten cheese, into which you dip small pieces of bread on sticks. Switzerland is also famous for its chocolate and cookies, and the wizarding city of Freiwald produces some of the most delicious flavors in the world.

Wizarding Establishments

Freiwald is the largest wizarding city in the Swiss Confederation. It is located just outside of Geneva. Though the Swiss Ministry of Magic does have branches in Bern, the central headquarters for the ministry is located here. Freiwald is also a major trade city for wizarding Switzerland, overseeing much of the trade between France and Switzerland. As such, it attracts a great deal of tourists. Hotels, as well as a large spa resort, are located in this city. Home to the famous De Smedt Chocolate Factory, where chocolate frogs were invented Freiwald attracts people from all over the world. The factory itself has been torn down and rebuilt twice since it was originally constructed in order to accommodate for the increase in demand on their chocolate products. Currently, it has an almost castle-like façade and is constructed completely out of chocolate and preserved by magic.
Schlossbrücke, located near the peak of Mount Pilatus is the smaller of the two well known wizarding villages in the Swiss Confederation. This community is made up of middle as well as lower class citizens, living in one or two family dwellings. The village itself is not densely populated, most likely to do the colder temperatures associated with higher altitudes in mountainous regions, most homes having spacious yards. The streets are paved with cobblestones throughout the village, though many of the homes are quite modern in construct and in the center of the town is a statue of a man, Kurt Greiner, riding a bucking Bicorn. The village is known throughout the region for being haunted while in reality the mountain is populated by a group of Bicorns. The nocturnal animals that look like dirty mountain goats with red eyes and are not feared by the wizards who use them for potions ingredients but the muggles keep far away.

Extras

 
Quidditch;   
Swiss National Team - Neuchatel Nogtails   
Seeker - Bernhard Wesche   
Keeper - Ewert Naedele   
Chaser - Annaliesa Siggel   
Chaser - Gitta Schoknecht   
Chaser - Oswin Duevert   
Beater - Hugo Jacobs   
Beater - Hellmuth Mylius 

Ministry of Magic; Located somewhere in the Swiss Alps and disguised as a run down ski lodge.

Republic of Italy
Repubblica Italiana

Timeline

Basic Country Information

    General Location; Italy is easily recognized as the boot shaped peninsula protruding from southern Europe. It borders France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia.

    Languages; Italian is the national language of Italy, and the general population speaks the language. Depending on the region to the north, French, German, and Slovene may also be spoken.

    Foods; Italy is known around the world for its food, especially its pasta dishes and its bread. Pizza of course is the first thing that comes to mind for many. Italy is also known for its fine wines and olive oils. With the discovery of the New World came the introduction of certain foods like potatoes, tomatoes, bell pepper, and maize. The dishes vary by region but all are delicious and filling.

Wizarding Establishments

Nestled in the heart of Lombardy, Italy, Neroli is the largest wizarding city in Europe. Disguised as a swampy looking marsh across the river from a muggle town, Neroli has thrived for centuries. The city is known for its neutrality on the war between light and dark wizards, and caters to any need a person may have. Divided into sectors, each part of the city provides something to everyone. The entertainment sector is definitely the hustle and bustle of the city and in the heart of this sector you can find the well known casino, Aphrodite’s Palace. Whatever you need, be it entertainment or otherwise, Neroli has it. You just need to know where to look.

Hiding in the mountains near the Amalfi coast of southern Italy, the ancient village of Valle D'uva is lost in the old fashioned ways. Due to the long time disagreements between the wizards of Italy, Valle D'Uva is populated strictly by southern Italian wizards save for the tourists that visit in the warm months. Agriculture is the prominent thing that keeps the village afloat and tiered groves of olive trees and grapes surround the crumbling buildings that house Valle D'Uva’s inhabitants. Wine and olive oil are major exports, and in the warm months tourism helps take care of the residents.

Off the coast of Italy in the Aegean Sea, a small speck of land called Isole Tremiti is the home to the wizarding village of Babordo D'Bellezza. Once the island was largely populated by Vily and wizards found themselves drawn to the island. Soon a village was established and the creatures began to commingle. Now much of the natives are women and the island is still much like a magnet for men despite the fact that its primary industry is fishing. Using the Shrake to their advantage the fishermen of Babordo d’Bellezza  prevent the muggles from catching fish so their businesses thrive. In the port nearby is the Piccolo Hippocampus Reserve where pods of the creatures come to breed and be researched.

Extras

    Quidditch;
    Italian National Team
        Seeker - Valeria Moretti
        Keeper - Paolo Bianco
        Chaser - Vito Rossetto
        Chaser - Gemma Cipriani
        Chaser - Umberto Rossi
        Beater - Gustavo Moreno
        Beater - Mario Basso

    Ministry of Magic; The Italian Ministry of Magic is located in the Business Sector of Neroli.

    Other Important Locations; Guido Piccolo founded the Piccolo Hippocampus Reserve in 1490 after the species moved to the threatened species list due to muggle farming. He and his vela wife founded the Reserve on Isole Tremiti in Babordo D'Bellezza. His  goal was to further expand the knowledge of the magical beasts and their uses as well as raise their population. The Reserve is also known for its active support in magical animals rights and is concerned in environmental issues as well; research on environmental magic is also conducted here. So far the Reserve has been a success seeing as the inlet that Babordo D'Bellezza uses as its port is thriving with the creatures.

Federal Republic of Germany
Bundesrepublik Deutschland

Timeline

Basic Country Information

    General Location;
Germany is located in western Europe, bordering the North Sea between France and Poland. Because of its central location, Germany shares borders with more European countries than any other country on the continent. Its neighbours are Denmark in the north, Poland and the Czech Republic in the east, Austria and Switzerland in the south, France in the southwest and Belgium, Luxemburg and the Netherlands in the west. The climate of Germany is temperate and marine.

    Languages;
The official language of Germany is Standard German, with over 95% of the country speaking Standard German or German dialects as their first language. This figure includes speakers of Northern Low Saxon, a recognized minority or regional language which is not considered separately from Standard German in statistics. Minority languages include Sorbian, Romani and North Frisian, though the first two of these are only spoken by certain ethnic groups.

    Foods;
In general, there are three main divisions of German cuisine: Central, Northern, and Southern, broadly based on the country's favorite staples of beer, pork, potatoes, and cabbage (the most famous cabbage dish being sauerkraut) The Central region includes hearty meals and foods, especially Westphalian ham and dark heavy pumpernickel bread. Pork is important here and many dishes favor a heavy touch with freshly ground black pepper. The foods in Saxony are similar but they take more pleasure in sweets: schnitten, stollen, and fruit kuchen (cakes) in delicious variety. Apple cider in different alcoholic potencies is a familiar drink throughout this region.

The Northern region is characterized by thick soups, pickled and smoked meats and fish, dried fruits, smoked bacon, sour cream, and many dishes with goose and eels. Southern German cuisine has a characteristically lighter touch. Wine is generally more prevalent than beer, due to the grape cuttings planted by the Romans almost 2,000 years ago, although the famous Munich Oktoberfest is so popular even Wizards have been known to disguise themselves and attend to sample the beers on offer there. Dumplings called knodel are eaten,and some very special potato dishes are prepared: particularly one called himmel und erde (heaven and earth) which consists of equal amounts of pan-fried sliced apples and potatoes with crisply fried slices of blood sausage.

Wizarding Establishments

The oldest surviving wizarding establishment in Germany is Viernsbruck, situated near Goslar in the Harz mountains. Founded in 327AD and built around a small, unplottable gold mine it retains an old-world charm, largely due to the decision of the inhabitants to shun modern ways. None of the charms or spells commonly used by the 400 or so inhabitants were invented in the last 500 years, and apart from food imports they prefer to minimise contact with the outside world. Most of the buildings are mediaeval in construction, though a few date back even earlier. Perhaps their most unusual decision was to retain the ancient Wizarding currency, the Gulden, and refuse to make payment in Galleons to any of their creditors, with the result that those few businesses who deal with the villagers tend to keep two separate acocunt books for this purpose. 

The coastal settlement of Grackenheim just outside Lübeck is the most modern of the Wizarding areas, having existed as a named town for less than 300 years, although wizards have lived in the area since the middle ages. Its position means that the inhabitants have strong trading links with the Scandinavian countries, and the inhabitants of Grackenheim and generally considered to be among the most liberal-minded German wizards. One unfortunate fact about the town is that the surrounding countryside is well-populated by the Weeping Starflower, a plant so deadly that its pollen will even seep through dragonhide gloves.

Runsenberg is the largest Wizarding establishment in Germany, situated about 50km Northwest of Munich. Home to the German Ministry of Magic headquarters; the National Magical Arts museum which celebrates great wizarding achievements and inventions is also situated here. After moving to Runsenberg in 1102 August Ismer created some of his greatest works, many of which have been left to the community and are now featured within the Ministry of Magic building as well as the museum. Thomasina Ellerby and Cuthbert Spudmore opened a shop here shortly after their business began to pick up, though their primary headquarters is still located in the Black forest.

Extras

   

    Quidditch;
    German National Team
Seeker -- Jakob Weiss
Keeper -- Eberhart Weil
Chaser -- Kurt Schmit
Chaser -- Kirstin Berger
Chaser -- Ingo Brandt
Beater -- Renate Glockenspieler
Beater -- Liesel Hesser

•  Heidelberg Harriers
Seeker -- Felicie Thalberg
Keeper -- Lukas Müller
Chaser -- Margarethe Adler
Chaser --  Helmut Eichmann
Chaser -- Welfhard Wagner
Beater -- Friedrich Lehmann
Beater -- Liesel Hesser

    Ministry of Magic; Situated in a large, imposing building in the market square of Runsenberg, the largest German wizarding town.

Kingdom of Spain
Reino de España

Timeline

Basic Country Information

  General Location; Spain is located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Spain's mainland is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the south and east, France, Andorra, and the Bay of Biscay to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the northwest, and Portugal to the west.

  Languages; The main language is Spanish, however the other official languages are Gallego (Galician), Catalan/Valencian and Vasco (Basque).

  Fun Foods; Spanish cuisine consists of many different dishes that stem from varying regions of the country. It is heavily influenced by seafood that are available through the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Mediterannean Spain primarily use seafood, and several cold soups such as gazpacho, and rice-based dishes like paella and arroz negro. Inner Spain generally has hot, thick soups as well as stews. The food is traditionally conserved by salting or immersed in olive oil.

Wizarding Establishments

In the Autonomous Community of Catalonia in northeast Spain is a small wizarding town known as Tierra de Medianoche, or 'Land of Midnight'. The town is small compared to other wizarding establishments throughout Europe, however it serves as a nice comfort to those students attending The Jehenne de Brigue Institute of Medicinal Studies in neighboring Andorra. The town of Tierra de Medianoche is not famous for its proximity to Andorra, rather its annual visits of Griffins. The settlement was originally nearby the group of Griffins breeding grounds but as time passed the town expanded. Now every year the natives are visited by the creatures and tourists are granted the sight of the mating ritual and giant nests that are built on the high roofs of the buildings.

Nestled up in the mountains near the sea and border of Spain and France sits the town of Ezadaldo. In the surrounding mountains live herds of wild Bicorns that are regularly captured to use in Bicorn Riding. While the sport originated in Switzerland, it was made illegal not long after, but by the time it became illegal, the idea of bicorn riding reached Spain and the wizards of Ezadaldo fell in love with the idea. The sport was taken and twisted however and turned to Bicorn fighting. Not long ago after much protest, fighting Bicorns were outlawed (though occasionally still occurs in rural regions of the country) and riding is the only sport that takes place regularly. The town is rich with culture and thrives on tourism and exports a good deal of supplies from Bicorns such as their horns and wool.

Extras

  Quidditch;
  Spanish National Team
    Seeker - Bonita Ortega Madero
    Keeper - Sancho Gutiérrez Felino
    Chaser - Vidal Herrera García
    Chaser - Eduardo Morales Lebrón
    Chaser - Alejandro Romero Cartaya
    Beater - Miguel Muñoz Santini
    Beater - Joaquín Ganza Montoya

  Ministry of Magic; The Spanish Ministry of Magic is located in Barcelona under the Mediterranean Sea.

Kingdom of the Netherlands
Koninkrijk der Nederlanden

Timeline

Basic Country Information

  General Location; The Netherlands are located in western Europe, bordering the North Sea, with Belgium to the south and Germany to the east.

  Languages; The official language of the Netherlands is Dutch. Other languages that may be spoken are English, German, and French.

  Foods; ‘Typical’ Dutch food tends to be wholesome and hearty, rather than elegant. Dutch cuisine is somewhat limited in its diversity of dishes and includes a high consumption of vegetables compared to the consumption of meat. National specialties include sandwiches, pancakes, salted herring, and of course they are famous for their cheeses and other dairy products. The Dutch are also famous for their salty licorice, licorice sweets, and gum drops. Heineken also originated in the Netherlands.

Wizarding Establishments

On the coast of the North Sea lies the small town of Welderen which is known throughout the wizarding world for the artists and scholars that hale from the region. While most of the notable wizards and witches are long gone, Welderen still revels in their famous ancestors. The cobblestone streets are lined with quaint little shops that cater to any artistic desire. The coastal town is the perfect getaway for any witch or wizard that wants to relax in a quiet yet quaint place. Tourism is what keeps most of the town afloat.

Hidden in the Amsterdam a magical alley known as Waning Tulip is home to some of the most infamous dark wizards of all time. Much like Knockturn Alley without the link to a lighter alley, Waning Tulip is an intense version of the alley in London. Catering to anything a dark wizard needs, Waning Tulip provides the darkest of dark whatever they need to carry out their dastardly deeds. Run by criminals, Waning Tulip is hidden from the Ministry with wards and passwords in an effort to keep the fun spoilers out.

Extras

   Quidditch;   Dutch National Team
    Seeker - Maarten van Tromp
    Keeper - Johan Dedel
    Chaser - Juliana de Bilde
    Chaser - Nellie Stutzer
    Chaser - Henrietta Nilis
    Beater - Nicholaus van Regteren
    Beater - Gilles Zoer

  Ministry of Magic; Hidden beneath the canals of Amsterdam.

  Other Important Locations; The Van Basten Museum of Magical Art was opened in 1842 to commemorate the 300th birthday of the famous Maarten van Basten. Located in the magical town of Welderen, the museum houses famous magical paintings and sculptures from various centuries. The most notable pieces of work are brilliant vases from Jan Mulder, the ancient moving paintings of Albert Jalink, Jennifer de Bilde lifelike portraits, and Maarten van Basten’s own masterpiece, Birds in Flight where stone birds flap their wings as if they were as light as feathers. The museum is certainly a must see if you ever visit the Netherlands. 

Principality of Andorra
Principat d'Andorra

Timeline

Basic Country Information

    General Location; Andorra is a tiny landlocked country in western Europe that borders Spain to the southwest, and France to the northeast.

    Languages; The official language of Andorra is Catalan, though much of the population knows Spanish, French, or both.

    Foods; Andorran cuisine is mostly Catalan with French influences due to the fact that it is just between these two countries. Since it is a mountainous country sheep’s are the most common animal raised in Andorra while the Lamb meat and sheep products are very popular in Andorran cuisine as well as Pork meat. Local dishes are heavy on pasta, meat and vegetables like potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, and celery. Due to the fact that the country has a large sea opening fish is also an important ingredient in Andorran cuisine.

Wizarding Establishments

Located in the Encamp Parrish of Andorra, the village of Vilaró exists. Boasting throughout the wizarding world of its famous healing school, The Jehenne de Brigue Institute of Medicinal Studies, Vilaró is a wizarding establishment much different from others. In 1400 the school was constructed within the side of a mountain and soon after, living quarters were being built in a downward spiraling design. The buildings in Vilaró are very close together and typically very simple. The healing school brings in most of the inhabitants, but also many vendors of various sorts are in existence. There is much wildlife surrounding the town, servicing to the healing school more or less.

Extras

    Quidditch;
    Andorran National Team
        Seeker - Agustí Noguerra
        Keeper - Caterina Ventura
        Chaser - Mercè Blanxart
        Chaser - Higini Mateu
        Chaser - Monserrat Quintana
        Beater - Narcís Tosell
        Beater - Donat Abelló

    Medical Schools; The Jehenne de Brigue Institute of Medicinal Studies

    Ministry of Magic; Located in the magical town of Vilaró.
 

Principality of Monaco
Principauté de Monaco

Timeline

Basic Country Information

  General Location; Monaco is a small state in southwestern Europe along the northern central coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Its only land border is with France.

  Languages; French is the only official language of Monaco, however Monegasque, Italian, and English are widely understood throughout the country.

  Fun Foods; Like much of its culture, cuisine in Monaco is highly influenced by France and Italy. Due to its close proximity to the sea, fish is widely seen in recipes and seafoods are common. National foods include barbagiuan, a pastry filled with rice and pumpkin; fougasse, fragrant orange flower water pastries decorated with nuts, almonds and aniseed; socca, chick-pea flour pancakes; and stocafi, dried cod cooked in a tomato sauce. Crispy, sugared biscuits are frequent in Monaco, and champange is the national beverage.

Wizarding Establishments

Tucked away in the high cliffs of Monaco, just off of the Mediterranean Sea, lies the wizarding community of Ville des Falaises. For centuries, the magical city has existed hidden from non-magical eyes. Early history shows that Ville des Falaises was originally used as a hiding place for treasure, when sea-bound dark wizards needed a place to stash their stolen possessions. Today, Ville des Falaises serves as the fairy capital of southern Europe. The town is mainly commercial, with many shops and businesses and very few residential spots. A small cave serves as a gateway to the city, which can be entered by boat. The cave is difficult to find, and will only appear when tapped with a wand. This is the only physical entrance to the city. Most wizards choose to travel via Apparation, Portkey or Floo.

Extras

  Quidditch;
  Monacan National Team
    Seeker - Léon Dubois
    Keeper - Aurélie De Lorme
    Chaser - Ines Moretti
    Chaser - Édith Chevalier
    Chaser - Nicolas Girard
    Beater - Gerardo Ricci
    Beater - Théophile Blanc

  Ministry of Magic; The Monacan Ministry of Magic lies in the center of Ville des Falaises.

Principality of Liechtenstein
Fuerstentum Liechtenstein

Timeline

Basic Country Information

  General Location; Liechtenstein is a small country sandwiched in between Switzerland to the west and Austria to the east and south.
  Languages; Liechtenstein is the smallest German speaking country in the world.
  Foods; Leichtenstein cuisine is greatly influenced by the countries that surround it. When you dine in Liechtenstein, you will be rewarded with an imaginative blend of international cuisine with local home-style cooking. Some of the national dishes include Saukerkas, a local cheese; Hafalaab, a one-dish meal made from wheat flour and cornmeal dumplings with smoked bacon or ham in a broth; Schnitzels, and Spatzli. Asparagus is also one of the most popular vegetables in Liechtenstein.

Wizarding Establishments

Hidden in the mountains of Leichtenstein is the small village of Schloss Ribbentrop. Hidden behind the walls of a mountain fort, the villages largest employer is the Ministry of Magic which can be found in the keep of the castle. In the surrounding cliffs of the village one can find herds of Graphorns, a large grayish-purple creature that are extremely dangerous. Most of the villagers keep their distance but the few brave apothecaries that live there go on expeditions to hunt the creatures. Their horns are quite useful for potions and the hide is even tougher than dragons’ and repels spells. Successful hunting trips result in a good deal of money for the village and much of the exports are Graphorn related. Because of the climate and dangerous surroundings, Ribbentrop is not a hot spot for tourism and the locals aren’t very welcoming to outsiders. The entire place has a rather dreary feel to it.

Extras

  Quidditch;
  Glorious Graphorns
    Seeker - Helmine Metzler
    Keeper - Margarethe Prager
    Chaser - Reinhardt Dipberger
    Chaser - Leonhard Erasmus
    Chaser - Klara Sievert
    Beater - Senta Rochow
    Beater - Aegidius Lienau

  Ministry of Magic; The small Ministry can be found in the keep of Schloss Ribbentrop.

...

Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
Grand Duche de Luxembourg

Timeline

Basic Country Information

  General Location; Luxembourg is located in western Europe and is a landlocked country with Germany to the east, France to the south, and Belgium to the west and north.

  Languages; While the national language is Luxembourgish, a great percentage of the population speaks German, and French is also a common language.

  Foods; Most traditional dishes are of peasant origin, but Luxembourg's affinities with both French and German culture have long ago been translated into the country's speciality foods. More recently, it has been inspired by the cuisine of its many Italian and Portuguese immigrants. Luxembourgers usually adopt the best from each culture. Typical Luxembourg specialties include: Thuringer, Luxembourg ham, gromper keeschelche, Kach Keis, pate, and quetsche tort.

Wizarding Establishments

In the city of Luxembourg, in Fort Thüngen the wizarding community of Dräi Eechelen (or Three Acorns) can be found hidden behind a stone wall. Descending the proper staircase in one of the three towers leads visitors to Three Acorns. The relatively modern community was built in the 1900’s after the previous city was destroyed in 1800’s because of various Muggle affairs. Dräi Eechelen is not the most interesting city, though it does house the Maier Library where numerous ancient magical texts are kept. The community is a place for scholars and research. What keeps the people afloat are various businesses, but there are no chief exports from Dräi Eechelen. Instead it is simply a place to learn and even perhaps find oneself.

Somewhere in the forest outside of the Muggle town of Bigonville is the wizarding village of, well, Bigonville. The village is certainly a site seeing as much of Bigonville is up in the trees. Due to the large population of Forrest Trolls roaming in the region, most of the wizards have chosen to live up high where the trolls can’t get them. Since so many natives live off the ground, many ride a broom before they can even walk and thus Quidditch is the number one past time of the odd village. Many young men and women are close to obsessed with the sport, and from these youths the Bigonville Bombers originated. In recent years the Bombers finally were able to make it to the World Cup. While the town is interesting, the natives are very odd and don’t mingle much with outsiders.

Extras

  Quidditch;
  Bigonville Bombers
    Seeker - Margrethe Lombard
    Keeper - Corinna Kirsche
    Chaser - Elfriede Kuebler
    Chaser - Eberhard Schaedlich
    Chaser - Paul Widmayer
    Beater - Matthias Ameiser
    Beater - Helmut Hilpert

  Ministry of Magic; Under the grounds of Fort Thüngen, accessed through the moat.

  Other Important Locations; The Maier Library was founded in 1958 in the wizarding community of Dräi Eechelen after the death of the beloved Domenikus Maier. Maier was the most popular Minister of Luxembourg as well as a scholar. Before his death he requested that his collection of books and scripts be taken and housed in a public place for all to enjoy. Thus the library was created and over the years more books were added until the Maier Library became one of the largest and best known library in the wizarding world. You’ll know you’ve found it because just inside the door is a statue of Domenikus Maier with his owl, books, and spectacles.