======Continental Europe======
=====Location Information=====
  * **Type:** Geographic and political region
  * **Location:** The mainland of the continent of [[Europe]], excluding the [[British Isles]]
  * **Owner/Residents:** Various independent [[wizarding]] communities and governments, notable individuals include [[Gellert Grindelwald]], [[Nicolas Flamel]], [[Fleur Delacour]], [[Viktor Krum]], and [[Igor Karkaroff]]
  * **Key Features:** Home to major [[wizarding schools]] such as [[Beauxbatons Academy of Magic]] and the [[Durmstrang Institute]]; various [[magical creature]] habitats including a [[Romanian Dragon Sanctuary]]; site of significant historical events like [[Grindelwald]]'s reign of terror.
=====Description and History=====
In the [[wizarding world]], Continental Europe comprises a diverse collection of magical communities, each with its own [[Ministry of Magic]] or equivalent governing body, culture, and history, often existing in parallel to their [[Muggle]] counterparts. While much of the //Harry Potter// series focuses on events within [[Great Britain]], the continent plays a crucial background and historical role, representing a broader and sometimes differing magical society.
The most significant historical event associated with Continental Europe in the 20th century was the rise of the Dark Wizard [[Gellert Grindelwald]]. Educated at [[Durmstrang]], [[Grindelwald]]'s campaign of terror and vision for [[wizarding]] supremacy affected the entire continent long before [[Lord Voldemort]]'s first rise to power in [[Britain]]. His influence culminated in a legendary duel in 1945, where he was defeated by his former friend, [[Albus Dumbledore]].
The continent is also home to at least two of the three largest [[wizarding schools]] in [[Europe]]: [[Beauxbatons Academy of Magic]], located in [[France]], and the [[Durmstrang Institute]], located in the far north. These schools cater to students from numerous countries and exhibit different educational philosophies compared to [[Hogwarts]], with [[Durmstrang]] being notorious for its tolerance and teaching of the [[Dark Arts]].
=====Role in the Story=====
Continental Europe is the setting for several key plot points and character backstories throughout the series.
  * In //Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone//, the immortal alchemist [[Nicolas Flamel]] is identified as a resident of [[France]]. After his harrowing year, [[Professor Quirrell]] mentions a trip to the [[Black Forest]] in [[Germany]] and a formative, terrifying encounter in an [[Albanian]] forest. Later, [[Rubeus Hagrid]] arranges for the [[dragon]] [[Norbert]] to be transported to a [[dragon]] sanctuary in [[Romania]], where [[Charlie Weasley]] works.
  * //Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire// features the continent most prominently. The revival of the [[Triwizard Tournament]] brings students and staff from [[Beauxbatons]] and [[Durmstrang]] to [[Hogwarts]]. This introduces key continental characters such as [[Fleur Delacour]] from [[France]] and the world-famous [[Quidditch]] Seeker [[Viktor Krum]] from [[Bulgaria]]. The [[Quidditch World Cup]] also features the [[Bulgarian National Quidditch Team]] and their [[Veela]] mascots.
  * In //Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince//, [[Dumbledore]] reveals that his search for [[Voldemort]]'s past led him to an [[Albanian]] pub. More importantly, it is established that after his first defeat, a weakened and bodiless [[Lord Voldemort]] fled to the forests of [[Albania]], a remote location where he possessed small animals to survive.
  * In //Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows//, the history of [[Gellert Grindelwald]] is fully explored. His theft of the [[Elder Wand]] from [[Gregorovitch]], his reign across [[Europe]], the creation of his prison [[Nurmengard]], and his final defeat are all central to the history of the [[Deathly Hallows]]. It is also confirmed that [[Helena Ravenclaw]] stole her mother's [[diadem]] and hid it in a hollow tree in an [[Albanian]] forest, the same region where [[Voldemort]] would later take refuge and turn the object into a [[Horcrux]].
=====Known Areas Within=====
  * **[[Albania]]**: A remote country with desolate forests. It served as a hiding place for a bodiless [[Lord Voldemort]] for over a decade and was the location where [[Helena Ravenclaw]] originally hid her mother's [[diadem]]. [[Bertha Jorkins]] was lured and murdered here by [[Peter Pettigrew]] on [[Voldemort]]'s orders.
  * **[[Bulgaria]]**: The home country of [[Durmstrang]] student and international [[Quidditch]] star [[Viktor Krum]]. Its national team competed in the 1994 [[Quidditch World Cup]] final against [[Ireland]].
  * **[[France]]**: Home to the [[Beauxbatons Academy of Magic]], the [[Delacour]] family, and the famed alchemist [[Nicolas Flamel]].
  * **[[Germany]]**: The [[Black Forest]] within [[Germany]] is mentioned by [[Professor Quirrell]] as a place he visited during his travels.
  * **[[Nurmengard]]**: A wizarding prison built by [[Gellert Grindelwald]] to house his opponents. After his defeat in 1945, [[Grindelwald]] himself became its sole prisoner until he was killed by [[Lord Voldemort]]. Its exact location is secret, but it is located somewhere in Continental Europe.
  * **[[Romania]]**: The location of a large [[Romanian Dragon Sanctuary]] where [[Charlie Weasley]] works and studies [[dragons]].
  * **The [[Pyrenees]]**: The mountain range on the border of [[France]] and [[Spain]] where [[Beauxbatons Academy of Magic]] is said to be located (Pottermore).
=====Behind the Scenes=====
  * J.K. Rowling has confirmed that the timeline of [[Gellert Grindelwald]]'s rise and his 1945 defeat by [[Dumbledore]] was a deliberate magical parallel to the events of World War II in [[Muggle]] [[Europe]].
  * The Pottermore/Wizarding World website expands on the catchment areas for the continental schools. [[Beauxbatons]] accepts students from [[France]], [[Spain]], [[Portugal]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Belgium]], and the [[Netherlands]]. [[Durmstrang]]'s student body is more international and its location is one of the most secretive of all [[wizarding schools]] (Pottermore).
  * The //Fantastic Beasts// film series delves deeply into [[Grindelwald]]'s activities across Continental Europe, with major events taking place in [[Paris]], [[France]], and [[Berlin]], [[Germany]] (film).