History and modernity: the island of Sark is the last stronghold of feudalism in Europe. Sark Island, UK Center for Justice Leoben in Austria
The population of the island is about 600 people (). Sark has its own flag and coat of arms.
Now the only fief in Europe. Until 2008, the local monarch had significant powers.
Geography
Story
Until 2008, the feudal system of government, the last one in Europe, was preserved in reality, but now only decoratively.
The head of state is a hereditary constitutional monarch (with the title of "Senior" / "Lady"), who until 2008 was almost an absolute monarch.
Until 2008, the island's parliament was a council of elders, consisting of 40 tenants, to whom the seigneur leased land for life, and 12 "representatives of the people", who were elected by the entire adult population of the island for a period of three years.
Many believed that this was contrary to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, which requires free democratic elections from civilized states, and therefore the Sark authorities were regularly criticized by the European Union.
On March 8, 2008, the council of elders voted to radically change the form of government that existed here for centuries and, having done away with the feudal past, be transformed into a parliament formed on the basis of general elections. By a vote of 25 to 15, council members voted against the complete abolition of the role of landowners in the government of the island.
In April 2008, the senior government lost most of its powers. Since 2008, the form of government in Sark has been like this: tenants have retained only 14 seats, and voters decide which of them to give seats in parliament. Another 14 seats in the new legislature were taken by deputies from the people.
Language
Most of the island's population speaks English. Previously, the Sark dialect of the Norman language (which in turn is sometimes considered not independent language, but a dialect of French). As of 1998, less than twenty inhabitants of the island spoke the Sark dialect.
Political structure
Sark was the last stronghold of feudalism in Europe. Until April 2008, there were 40 households on the island, but the land belonged to one person - the seigneur, who disposed of the land at his own discretion and leased the land. In the same year, the title of ruler passed to John Michael Beaumont, who became the 22nd and last Lord of Sark.
Investments
Gallery
Carriage - Sark.jpg
Coast of Sark.JPG
Sarkstrasse.jpg
La Coupée, Channel Islands.jpg
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An excerpt characterizing Sark
- Parole d "honneur, sans parler de ce que je vous dois, j" ai de l "amitie pour vous. Puis je faire quelque chose pour vous? Disposez de moi. C" est a la vie et a la mort. C "est la main sur le c?ur que je vous le dis, [Honestly, not to mention what I owe you, I feel friendship for you. Is there anything I can do for you? Have me. It's for life and death, I tell you this with my hand over my heart,] he said, hitting his chest.“Merci,” said Pierre. The captain looked intently at Pierre, just as he looked when he learned how the shelter was called in German, and his face suddenly lit up.
- Ah! dans ce cas je bois a notre amitie! [Ah, in that case, I drink to your friendship!] – he shouted cheerfully, pouring two glasses of wine. Pierre took the poured glass and drank it. Rambal drank his, shook hands with Pierre again, and leaned his elbows on the table in a thoughtfully melancholic pose.
“Oui, mon cher ami, voila les caprices de la fortune,” he began. - Qui m "aurait dit que je serai soldat et capitaine de dragons au service de Bonaparte, comme nous l" appellions jadis. Et cependant me voila a Moscou avec lui. Il faut vous dire, mon cher, ”he continued in the sad measured voice of a man who is going to tell a long story,“ que notre nom est l "un des plus anciens de la France. [Yes, my friend, here is the wheel of fortune. Who said I wish I would be a soldier and captain of dragoons in the service of Bonaparte, as we used to call him. However, here I am in Moscow with him. I must tell you, my dear ... that our name is one of the most ancient in France.]
And with the easy and naive frankness of a Frenchman, the captain told Pierre the story of his ancestors, his childhood, adolescence and manhood, all his related property, family relations. “Ma pauvre mere [“My poor mother.”] played, of course, an important role in this story.
- Mais tout ca ce n "est que la mise en scene de la vie, le fond c" est l "amour? L" amour! N "est ce pas, monsieur; Pierre?" he said, perking up. "Encore un verre. [But all this is only an introduction to life, its essence is love. Love! Isn't that right, Monsieur Pierre? Another glass. ]
Pierre drank again and poured himself a third.
- Oh! Les femmes, les femmes! [O! women, women!] - and the captain, looking at Pierre with greasy eyes, began to talk about love and his love affairs. There were a lot of them, which was easy to believe, looking at the self-satisfied, beautiful face of the officer and at the enthusiastic animation with which he spoke about women. Despite the fact that all the love stories of Rambal had that nasty character in which the French see the exceptional charm and poetry of love, the captain told his stories with such sincere conviction that he alone experienced and knew all the charms of love, and so temptingly described women that Pierre listened with curiosity.
It was obvious that l "amour, which the Frenchman loved so much, was neither the lower and simple kind of love that Pierre once felt for his wife, nor the romantic love he himself inflated that he felt for Natasha (both kinds of this love Rambal equally despised - one was l "amour des charretiers, the other l" amour des nigauds) [the love of cabbies, the other is the love of fools.]; l "amour, which the French worshiped, consisted mainly in the unnaturalness of relations with a woman and in a combination of ugliness that gave the main charm to the feeling.
So the captain told the touching story of his love for a charming thirty-five-year-old marquise and at the same time for a lovely innocent seventeen-year-old child, the daughter of a charming marquise. The struggle of generosity between mother and daughter, which ended in the mother, sacrificing herself, offering her daughter in marriage to her lover, even now, although a long-gone memory, worried the captain. Then he told one episode in which the husband played the role of a lover, and he (the lover) the role of a husband, and several comic episodes from souvenirs d "Allemagne, where asile means Unterkunft, where les maris mangent de la choux croute and where les jeunes filles sont trop blondes [memories of Germany, where husbands eat cabbage soup and where young girls are too blonde.]
Finally, the last episode in Poland, still fresh in the captain’s memory, which he told with quick gestures and a flushed face, consisted in the fact that he saved the life of one Pole (in general, in the stories of the captain, the episode of saving life occurred incessantly) and this Pole entrusted him with his charming wife (Parisienne de c?ur [a Parisian at heart]), while he himself entered the French service. The captain was happy, the charming polka wanted to run away with him; but, moved by generosity, the captain returned his wife to her husband, while saying to him: “Je vous ai sauve la vie et je sauve votre honneur!” [I saved your life and I save your honor!] Having repeated these words, the captain rubbed his eyes and shook himself, as if driving away the weakness that seized him at this touching memory.
Listening to the captain's stories, as often happens in the late evening and under the influence of wine, Pierre followed everything that the captain said, understood everything, and at the same time followed a number of personal memories that suddenly for some reason appeared to his imagination. When he listened to these stories of love, his own love for Natasha unexpectedly suddenly came to his mind, and, turning over in his imagination the pictures of this love, he mentally compared them with the stories of Rambal. Following the story of the struggle of duty with love, Pierre saw in front of him all the smallest details of his last meeting with the object of his love at the Sukharev Tower. Then this meeting had no effect on him; he never even mentioned her. But now it seemed to him that this meeting had something very significant and poetic.
Most prisons around the world are basically organized around a common concept: convict cells where they spend most of their time, separate recreational areas where they can walk, play sports, and a range of amenities, such as bathrooms, kitchens and dining rooms. Since prisons differ in their specifications, they are built according to certain requirements. We offer an overview of the strangest and most unusual prisons in the world. They are far from ideas about the institutions of the penitentiary service, they are located in unusual places, are characterized by non-traditional living and working conditions for prisons or have a strange layout.
10. Louisiana Correctional Institution - USA
In many ways, the Louisiana Correctional Institution is no different from a number of US prisons. Both the territory and the conditions of stay here are quite normal. There is a reception center, death cells and many other rooms and departments. But, unlike other prisons, there is a 9-hole golf course on the territory, which is available to everyone. It is only necessary to inform in advance about your intention to play, so that the prison authorities conduct various checks. At the time when prisoners are playing on the field, it is not open to the public.
9 San Pedro Prison - Bolivia
San Pedro Prison is unique place for several reasons. Firstly, living conditions here are different from traditional prisons. Since there are more than a thousand prisoners here, the place is more like an ordinary area in a city where a prison is located. In addition to guards, high cement fences and checkpoints, there are shops, restaurants, etc. here. What is even more surprising is the fact that the prisoner has to buy himself a place in the cell where he will serve his sentence. This means that rich prisoners can live in luxurious conditions with cable TV, a pool table, a private bathroom, while poorer prisoners are forced to huddle in overcrowded cells.
8 Bastoy Island Prison - Norway
Experts believe that the prison system in Norway is the best and most liberal in the world. This is because prisoners in prisons are rehabilitated, not serving their sentences. They are taught to live differently, without crime. The prison is completely self-supporting. Solar panels supply electricity to all premises, pigs, cows and chickens are bred on the prison farm, etc. Nothing is thrown away in prison, everything is recycled. Cozy cells are fully furnished, and prisoners can ride horses or play tennis. It's all very strange, but the system works because Norway has the lowest reoffending rate in Europe.
7. Prison "Crosses" - Russia
Many prisons in Russia are overcrowded, one of the reasons is that new prisons are not being built and prisoners are forced to huddle in the crowded cells of existing institutions. The most overcrowded prison in the world is considered to be "Crosses". The prison is designed for 1,500 prisoners, but their number in reality sometimes reached 12,000. In addition to overcrowding, the prison is famous for its terrible conditions, lack of beds and lack of working showers. This gives the prosecution authorities the opportunity to promise to transfer the prisoner to another place in exchange for a confession or valuable information.
6. Prison in the city of Aranjuez - Spain
The Aranjuez Prison in Spain is the world's first penitentiary institution in which families are housed and they live in special complexes. Separate rooms have all the amenities, separate bathrooms, toys, and in the children's rooms there are wallpapers with children's motives on the walls. It's cozy and homey here. Such conditions provide prisoners with meetings with children in comfortable conditions that do not injure the child's psyche. In addition, such communication contributes to the socialization and rehabilitation of the prisoner. When a child reaches the age of three, he is sent to continue living with relatives, since he does not belong in prison. But the authorities are now considering the possibility of further residence of children with convicted parents.
5. Justice Center Leoben – Austria
The Justice Center was built in 2004. Within its walls there is both a court and a prison for 250 prisoners. It was built in order to guarantee human conditions for prisoners to serve their sentences and to show that the state respects their honor, despite the sentence. Many call this establishment a "five-star hotel" due to the luxurious conditions of detention. The prisoners here have many freedoms. The spacious and comfortable cells are equipped with modern kitchens, bathrooms and other amenities.
4 Pirate Prison - Seychelles
Seychelles are small islands that are associated with paradise due to luxurious beaches and tropical landscapes. Villas and guest houses on the islands are very expensive. Seychelles is a place for the rich and famous. Here on the island there is also a prison, founded in 2010 under the auspices of the UN, the Department of Drugs and Crime, to contain Somali pirates until they are deported to their homeland. Judges and lawyers from the UK and the Netherlands work here on issues related to punishment or acquittal, and the pirates themselves live freely, play sports and relax in the fresh air, enjoying sunny procedures.
3 Ceby Prison - Philippines
This institution is known for massive dance performances by convicts. On the Internet, you can watch a series of stories about how prisoners dance to famous songs. Particularly popular on the Internet was a story about a dance flash mob of 1,500 prisoners to the composition of Michael Jackson “Thriller”. The prison authorities practice such activities in order to maintain the discipline and physical fitness of prisoners. Prisoners dedicate their choreographic performances to special events and receive money for participation.
2. Sark Prison - Channel Islands
Sark is small island in the English Channel, owned by the British Crown, but functioning independently of British policy. The island is located between Jersey and Guernsey, it has no police force, but only a volunteer constable who represents the law for the 600 inhabitants of the island. On the island there is a small prison for two cells without windows and amenities, only beds. Basically, it temporarily contains persons in a state of intoxication or tourists who are suspected of committing crimes. Tourists can spend the night here if the prison is free.
1. Medici Fortress Prison - Italy
The Medici Fortress prison is amazing place, as it is located in an ancient fortress built in 1474 during the Renaissance. But that is not the reason why it is considered unusual. Since 2006, prisoners have been undergoing rehabilitation in the prison, acquiring skills and abilities to live outside the prison. There is a restaurant on the territory of the complex, where non-dangerous prisoners prepare and serve gourmet Italian cuisine to customers.
Despite the plastic utensils and several levels of security control, the place is very popular, and on weekends there are whole houses here.
An ideal option for travelers who are tired of the bustle of the city, the noise of cars and the smog traditional for megacities is Sark Island. This small island, where only 600 people live, is one of the rare corners of the planet completely free of cars.
There are only seven such places on Earth, so do not miss the opportunity to see the island, whose inhabitants move exclusively on horse-drawn carts and bicycles!
To get to Sark Island, you will first have to go to the island of Guernsey, which is part of the Channel Islands and is located in the English Channel. From here you can take a ferry across to Sark. There is no airport on this island, moreover, even flights over the island are strictly prohibited!
If you still doubt that Sark is worthy of your attention, consider that it is the smallest member of the European Union, because, although it is under the jurisdiction of the UK, it remains part of the Guernsey crown dependency. Highly interesting fact- Until 2008, a feudal system of government operated on the island. This is the last stronghold of feudalism on the planet, and the inhabitants abandoned it only under pressure from the European Union.
What is there to do on Sark Island? Of course, ride a horse-drawn carriage, walk along the picturesque coast, which has a length of 60 kilometers, walk along the bridge, only two meters wide, connecting the Small and Big Sark. In addition, the island is famous for its fishing, products of the local chocolate factory, caves, excellent diving and unique rural flavor.
Sark Island - PHOTO
In the lower right corner
49°25′47″ s. sh. 2°21′41″ W d. HGIOLThe population of the island is about 600 people (). Sark has its own flag and coat of arms.
Now the only fief in Europe. Until 2008, the local monarch had significant powers.
Geography
Story
Until 2008, the feudal system of government, the last one in Europe, was preserved in reality, but now only decoratively.
The head of state is a hereditary constitutional monarch (with the title of "senior" / "lady"), until 2008 was almost an absolute monarch.
Until 2008, the island's parliament was a council of elders, consisting of 40 tenants, to whom the seigneur leased land for life, and 12 "representatives of the people", who were elected by the entire adult population of the island for a period of three years.
Many believed that this was contrary to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, which requires free democratic elections from civilized states, and therefore the Sark authorities were regularly criticized by the European Union.
On March 8, 2008, the council of elders voted to radically change the form of government that existed here for centuries and, having done away with the feudal past, be transformed into a parliament formed on the basis of general elections. By a vote of 25 to 15, council members voted against the complete abolition of the role of landowners in the government of the island.
In April 2008, the senior government lost most of its powers. Since 2008, the form of government in Sark has been like this: tenants have retained only 14 seats, and voters decide which of them to give seats in parliament. Another 14 seats in the new legislature were taken by deputies from the people.
Sport
Sark has its own independent national football team, founded in 2001 in one of the country's pubs. Already in 2003, Sark took part in the Island Games - a kind of European championship for unrecognized island teams. Then the Games were held in Guernsey. Sark managed to lose all four matches in his group, conceding as many as 19 goals from Gibraltar (then playing outside UEFA.) The guys conceded 20 goals from the national team of the Isle of Wight, which is part of England. Greenland mocked yesterday's fans 16 times per match, and representatives of the Norwegian island of Freya shipped them 15 unanswered balls. This is the worst result in the history of the Games held since 1985. Now the national team gathers from time to time to hold any friendly match at home. Once Sark managed a crushing victory with a score of 9:1, and the other time - 15:0, with two opponents designated as the "Unknown team" (eng. Unknown team). The permanent sponsor of the Sark national team is a local hotel. The staff of the hotel Sark won with a score of 10:0 and got the first trophy in its history.
Language
Most of the island's population speaks English. The island used to speak