Travelwriticus

The Royal Palace of Visegrád dates back to the 14th century. His founder was King Charles I of Hungary. Today, a partial reconstruction is open to the public and allows people like me to majestically walk through the remains of this hallway. In addition, the nearby palace museum shows several medieval stoves and a historic kitchen.

Country: Visit Hungary
City: VisitVisegrád

Royal Palace of Visegrád Visitors to the Hungarian city of Visegrád find a reconstruction of a Royal Palace dating back to the 14th century.

From a terrace in front of the Museum der Moderne, I had this view of the Salzburg town centre and Hohensalzburg Fortress. Nearly all the steeples of the Baroque town rose before my eyes. You find this place on top of the Mönchsberg Hill after climbing up with the Mönchsberg Lift (Mönchsbergaufzug).

Museum: Museum der Moderne Salzburg
Mönchsberg Lift: 5schaetze

Over the rooftops of Salzburg From a terrace in front of the Museum der Moderne, visitors have a splendid view over the rooftops of Salzburg.

The Moravian City of Telč is known for being a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of its sights is the market square surrounded by Renaissance and Baroque burgher houses. But this is not the only attraction worth seeing. For example, I enjoyed these reflections of nearby steeples while walking along a pond outside the town centre.

Country: Visit Czechia
City: Město Telč

Ulický Pond in Telč The Ulický Pond is one of several ponds reflecting the attractions in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Telč.

It was already dark when I entered the colossal concourse of Leipzig Central Station. While waiting for my modern ICE to take me home, I came across this early high-speed train dating back to 1935. As an exhibition piece on track No. 24, the railcar SVT 137 225 still prompts nostalgic feelings among railway history buffs.

State: Saxony Tourism
City: Leipzig Travel

Railcar SVT 137 225 in Leipzig An early version of a high-speed train, the Railcar SVT 137 225, still find its admirers on the museum track No. 24 in Leipzig Central Station.

On 15th May 1872, architect Alois Ludwig was born in Brno. As one of his early works, he designed the floral design on the façade of the Majolikahaus in Vienna. The architect of this building was Otto Wagner. Visitors to the Austrian capital will find this Art Nouveau building next to the famous market called Naschmarkt.

Country: Vacation in Austria
City: vienna.info

Majolikahaus in Vienna The Majolikahaus next to the famous Naschmarkt in Vienna is a fine example of an Art Nouveau building in the style of the Vienna Secession.

It was a sunny spring day when we arrived at the walls of Dvor Veliki Tabor in Croatia. For many years, the 15th-century castle was the home of the Croatian painter Oton Iveković. Today, it houses a museum about the Zagorje region. It also serves as the venue for the yearly Tabor Film Festival.

Festival: Tabor Film Festival / International short film festival
Castle: Dvor Veliki Tabor

Veliki Tabor Castle in Croatia Nested in the Zagorje region, Veliki Tabor Castle houses a regional museum and performs the yearly Tabor Film Festival.

I love the setting of this playground in the German city of Bonn. The former residential palace of the Prince-Electors of Cologne houses the University of Bonn now. Where in former times the Archbishop of Cologne used to walk in his garden, young people play football these days.

University: Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
City: Bonn.de

Electoral Palace in Bonn The former Electoral Palace (Kurfürstliches Schloss) of the Prince-Electors of Cologne serves as the main building of the Bonn University now.

Sometimes, there are the little details that make me smile. So it was with this small dog that pretended to be part of the ancient pieces. I took this picture in the City Museum of Villach (Austria). During the Roman era, a street station named Santicum stood on the site of today's Villach.

Museum: Museum der Stadt Villach
City: Villach

City Museum of Villach Among others, visitors of the City Museum in Villach find ancient pieces dating back to the time of the Roman settlement Santicum.

As a former Roman settlement, Ptuj is considered the oldest Slovenian town. Several unearthed mithraea remind us of that period when Roman soldiers used to walk through the ancient streets. In a protective building, I had the chance to see the remains of such a Mithras shrine.

Country: Feel Slovenia
City: Visit Ptuj

Mithras Shrine III in Ptuj Remains of several Mithras shrines remind us of the presence of Roman soldiers in Poetovio, the ancient name of today Ptuj.

The paddle steamer Érsekcsanád anchors not far away from the majestic Regensburg Cathedral and the medieval stone bridge of Regensburg. In earlier times, it used to cruise the Danube. Now, it forms a part of the Danube Navigation Museum in the UNESCO Heritage Site of Regensburg.

City: Regensburg - Unesco Welterbe
Region: OstbayernUrlaub

Paddle steamer "Érsekcsanád" in Regensburg The former steam tug boat "Érsekcsanád", dating back to 1923, houses a part of the Danube Navigation Museum Regensburg.

Would you love to study in such a classroom? The Berndorf Schools in the Austrian city of Berndorf offer 12 rooms, each with a different decoration. That way, the pupils learn about architectural periods just by discussing the details of their classrooms. In the pic, we are in the Egyptian room.

Region: Wienerwald Tourismus
City: Stadtgemeinde Berndorf

Berndorfer Stilklassen | Stylish classrooms in Berndorf (Austria) The Berndorfer Stilklassen forms a remarkable attraction in the Austrian city of Berndorf. Each classroom is decorated in a different period.

While approaching the Hungarian city of Sümeg, I beheld Sümeg Castle on an elongated hill. After climbing up the rock via a quarry stone-paved road, this strong gate tower invited me to enter one of the most preserved fortresses in Hungary. Today, its walls form a venue for knight tournaments and cultural events.

Castle: Sümegi Vár és Várbirtok
Country: Visit Hungary

Sümeg Castle in Hungary The stronghold high over the city of Sümeg dates back to the 13th century. Today, it forms a venue for cultural events and tournaments.

While heading to an exhibition about the Council of Constance (1414-1418), a passing train stopped my walk. Its name was Seehas. I researched this remarkable train name and ended up with a creature half hare, half fish. By the way, the exhibition took place in the medieval building you see behind the train.

Railway: SBB GmbH: Change+
City: Konstanz Info

Seehas Railway | Take a ride with a fabulous creature The name of the Seehas Railway, connecting Konstanz with Engen, originates from a mythical creature living in Lake Constance (Bodensee).

After visiting the Ferrari garden in the Slovenian place of Stanjel, I looked for more works by architect Max Fabiani. In the Austrian capital, I found an intriguing office building. The facade of the Portois & Fix building impressed me with various shades of green. Its tiles were products from the Hungarian porcelain manufacturer Zsolnay.

Country: Vacation in Austria
City: vienna.info

Haus Portois & Fix (1901) in Vienna Slovenian architect Max Fabiani designed for the Portois & Fix building a remarkable facade made of green ceramic tiles.

The Croatian city of Zadar stands on the ruins of the Roman Colonia Iulia Iader. Near its Adriatic coast, you still see remnants of the Roman Forum. In addition, a Museum of Archeology and a spectacular Museum of Ancient Glass display worth-seeing pieces of that era.

Glass Museum: Muzej antičkog stakla u Zadru
City: Like Zadar

Colonia Iulia Iader | The Roman roots of Zadar Two museums and the ruins of an ancient Forum tell about the Roman city of Iader, the predecessor of today's Zadar in Croatia.

On 3rd May 1921, sculptor Max Kratz was born. Years ago, I came across one of his works next to Essen Main Railway Station. His sculpture "Steile Lagerung" reminded me that the German city of Essen in the centre of the Ruhr area was one of the largest mining towns in Europe in earlier times.

Region: Mein Ruhrgebiet
City: Visit Essen

"Steile Lagerung" (1989) by Max Kratz The public artwork "Steile Lagerung" near Essen Central Station reminds travellers in a powerful way of the city's history as a mining town.

Salve! The depicted monument looks pretty Roman, but it stands in Austria. You find this equestrian sculpture of Emperor Marcus Aurelius in Tulln. During the Roman period, this place was known as Comagena. At that time, it formed a castellum along the today UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Danube Limes.

Region: Die Donauregion in Niederösterreich
City: Tulln ist schöner

Monument to Marcus Aurelius in Tulln A replica of an ancient equestrian monument to Emperor Marcus Aurelius reminds us that Tulln originated from a Roman castellum.

The probably most fascinating owner of Bogenšperk Castle (Grad Bogenšperk) was Johann Weichard Valvasor (1641-1693). History buffs may know his descriptions of castles in the Duchy of Carniola. Today, Grad Bogenšperk in Slovenia houses a museum about his life and work.

Castle: Grad Bogenšperk
Country: Feel Slovenia

Bogenšperk Castle in Šmartno pri Litiji Grad Bogenšperk was the home of polymath Johann Weichard Valvasor for many years. The castle museum tells about his life and work today.

One of the most fascinating buildings in the UNESCO Heritage Site of Regensburg is the Goliathhaus. Its mural, dating back to the 16th century (but several times renewed since then), shows the fight between David and Goliath. My take on this depiction: Goliath seems unaware of the upcoming events.

City: Regensburg - Unesco Welterbe
Region: OstbayernUrlaub

Goliathhaus (Goliath House) in Regensburg The Goliathhaus in the Bavarian city of Regensburg became famous for a depiction of the biblical fight between David and Goliath.

Friends of peculiar architecture find this building, dating back to 1615, in the Styrian city of Leoben. Its local name is Schwammerlturm, which means mushroom tower. For many years, I loved to have a drink on top of this tower after visiting an event in the nearby exhibition hall (Museums Center / Kunsthalle Leoben).

State: Steiermark - Das Grüne Herz Österreichs
City: Erzberg Leoben

Schwammerlturm in Leoben Master builder Peter Carlone created this tower in 1615. Today, the peculiar building is widely known as Schwammerlturm.

Saalburg is the modern name of a reconstructed Roman fort in Hesse. The castellum was the home of a cohort along the Upper Germanic-Rhaetian Limes. Inside its walls, a museum tells about the life of the soldiers along the border to Germania Libera. Today, the remains of this Limes are considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Museum: Römerkastell Saalburg
State: Hessen Tourismus

Saalburg in Bad Homburg The Saalburg is a reconstructed Roman fort along the former Upper Germanic-Rhaetian Limes. It houses a museum about the ancient life at the border.

Is there any beauty in iron? I think so. More than 720 tons of iron plus 45,000 glass tiles form this fabulous palm house near Schönbrunn Palace. To my surprise, the Palmenhaus is not associated with the palace today. It is run by the Österreichischen Bundesgärten. This federal institution is in charge of several castle parks in Austria.

Palace: Schloss Schönbrunn
City: vienna.info

Great Palm House Schönbrunn in Vienna The Great Palm House Schönbrunn (Großes Palmenhaus Schönbrunn) on the grounds of Schönbrunn Palace (Schloss Schönbrunn) opened in 1882.

A remarkable place for an excursion from Venice forms the archaeological site of Altinum. From here, many ancient Romans moved to the islands in the lagoon. Later, these people were among those who founded Venice. Besides the depicted Roman road, you find a museum that tells you more about this ancient settlement.

Museum: Museo e Area Archeologica di Altino
Venice: Turismo Città di Venezia

Altinum in Quarto d’Altino Not far from Venice, the Museo Nazionale Archeologico di Altino and an open-air museum tell about the ancient site of Altinum.

The Fürstenzug (Procession of Princes) offers the chance to see nearly all rulers of Saxony along a public road in Dresden. The 102-meter-long mural applied to 23,000 Meissen porcelain tiles portrays 35 noblemen, margraves, electors, dukes and kings of the House of Wettin.

State: Saxony Tourism
City: Visit Dresden

Procession of Princes in Dresden An artwork named Fürstenzug (Procession of Princes) displays portraits of 35 rulers of Saxony along a public road in Dresden.

Do you know many monuments portraying actors in one of their roles? I saw an example in Vienna. This monument dedicated to Alexander Girardi (1850-1918) shows a hand plane below its left arm. This tool reminds us of a line in a song he became famous for. I love to whistle this tune while passing his birthplace (Girardihaus) in Graz.

Girardihaus: Alexander Girardi
City: vienna.info

Monument to Alexander Girardi The monument to Alexander Girardi on the Girardiplatz in Vienna shows the actor with a wood plane under his arm.

At first glance, it looks like a Baroque palace with staterooms only. In detail, Festetics-kastély (Festetics Palace) in Hungary offers more. So you will find a museum of coaches and a huge model railway layout (500m2) with no less than 600 buildings on the grounds of this castle near Lake Balaton.

Castle: Festetics-kastély, Keszthely
Country: Visit Hungary

Festetics Palace in Keszthely Festetics Palace offers not only staterooms and the Helikon Library. You also find a coach museum and a model railway on the castle grounds.

There are sublime ways to ride a tram. This thought came to me when I met an OEG Salonwagen with mahogany and teak furnishings in the streets of Mannheim. The local transport service (RNV) offers this vintage tramcar with the flair of the 1920s for charter roundtrips through the town and nearby rural areas.

Transport Service: rnv
City: Visit Mannheim

OEG Salonwagen in Mannheim The OEG Salonwagen, run by the RNV, offers the chance to enjoy Mannheim and nearby rural areas in a stylish tramcar dating back to the 1920s.

On 21st April 1736, Prince Eugene Francis of Savoy–Carignano died in Vienna. In modern Austria, the victorious commander is shortly named Prinz Eugen. An equestrian statue still honours him at the Heldenplatz. Lovers of castles or art mainly know him by his splendid Belvedere Palace, which forms a venue for reputable art exhibitions today.

Palace: Belvedere Museum
City: vienna.info

Monument to Prince Eugene in Vienna An equestrian monument in the city centre reminds us of Prince Eugene, the famous commissioner of the Viennese Belvedere Palace.

Have you ever seen a pig in a church? Some years ago, I noticed a lively depiction of a hog in the Baroque church of Olimje Castle. Next to the altarpiece stood a figurine of Saint Anthony the Great with one of his attributes, a pig. You'll find this castle, which serves as a monastery now, in the Slovenian municipality of Podčetrtek.

Country: Feel Slovenia
Place: Visit Podčetrtek

Anthony the Great | A saint in the church of Olimje Castle In the Baroque church of Olimje Castle surprises a figurine of Anthony the Great with a lively depiction of a pig.

Have you ever wondered who was the inspiration for the look of the Evil Queen in the animated film "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"? Perhaps you'll find the answer in the Naumburg Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt.

State: Reiseland Sachsen-Anhalt
Cathedral: Naumburger Dom

Uta of Naumburg in the Naumburg Cathedral Uta of Naumburg is recognized as the most beautiful piece of the twelve donator statues inside the Naumburg Cathedral World Heritage Site.