The above is the title for a two part BBC production hosted by Europe correspondent Katya Adler.

The two part series visits Croatia, Romania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Albania, Kosovo & Serbia and focuses on the divisions that still remain there, the extraordinary beauty of the region and the battle for influence there between the EU, US, China, Russia & the Gulf States.

Tensions still bubble hotly, especially between Serbia, Kosovo & Albania. The fact that Albania seems awash with foreign precious minerals just ups the ante in the influence stakes, whilst the Russian invasion of Ukraine gives the region even more strategic importance.

The lands of Hoxha, Tito & Ceausescu is relatively peaceful still though dispute is never far below the surface.

I travelled extensively in the region for about a decade from 2006 and found the place beguiling & fascinating.

You can read my book ‘Travelling By Train Across The Balkans’ from Amazon.

Grab a copy by clicking BALKANS.

You can find Katta’s excellent series on iPlayer.