The Old Library of Trinity College
One of my main destinations in Dublin was this old library and its Long Room. I took care of a ticket first thing in the morning and just made it before the massive stream of tourists entered the room. The library began with the founding of Trinity College in 1592.
Half-timbered on Wartburg Castle
The half-timbered house is a skeleton construction made of wood, in which the horizontal bracing is done by means of diagonally installed struts and the spaces in between are filled with a wooden mesh plastered with clay. The timber used was mostly round logs hewn into beams with a square
Carcassonne, the fortress city
The Cité de Carcassonne on the right bank of the Aude is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The medieval fortification is unique in Europe in terms of its size and state of preservation. The Cité is enclosed by a double ring of walls. Inside, the count’s castle (château comtal) was
Narrow lanes in Montpellier
In Montpellier’s historic city centre, called Écusson because of its shape, it is easy to get lost in the maze of old passages and narrow streets. The old town is traffic-calmed, so you can stroll past the elegant town houses, trendy shops and restaurants at your leisure. Unlike many other
Kuckuckstein Castle
Kuckuckstein Castle in Saxony is situated on a rocky outcrop above the Seidewitz river valley at a very favourable location for controlling a medieval trade route. To this day, the metre-thick walls of the more than 1000-year-old masonry are full of secrets. The current form of Kuckuckstein Castle is considered
Old Town Bridge Tower
View from the Old Town Bridge Tower, built in 1370, across Charles Bridge to the castle town of Hradčany and Prague Castle. Founded in the 9th century, the castle is considered the largest enclosed castle complex in the world. Generations of master builders from different eras were involved in its
Dresden, return to former glory
There is much to say about Dresden. Residence city of the Saxon electors and kings and today capital of the Free State of Saxony. A city of culture and art. But also a location of modern industries. The city lies picturesquely and climatically in the valley of the Elbe. Nearby,
Kronborg, the Hamlet Palace
Kronborg Castle is a fortress in Helsingør on the Danish Island of Zealand. It is located at the far north-eastern end of the island of Zealand just four kilometres from the Swedish coast. The fortress guards the entrance to the Øresund. The castle is also famous because William Shakespeare set
Changing of the Danish Royal Guard
At Amalienborg Palace in the heart of Copenhagen, I visited the seat of one of the world’s oldest monarchies. On the palace square I watched the changing of the guards. Amalienborg made up of four identical buildings is famous for its royal guard, known as The Royal Life Guard. Every day
Roque Nublo, the Cloud Rock
The rock rises about 65 metres above a flat plateau. Before the arrival of the Spanish conquerors at the end of the 15th century, Roque Nublo was revered as a sacred mountain by the island’s indigenous people, the Canarios. They had a place of worship here where sacrifices were made