You only see what you know (Goethe)
The Sebastian’s Cemetery (Sebastiansfriedhof) dates back to the end of the 16th century. It was built in the style of an Italian campo santo. You find here the graves of Mozart’s widow and Paracelsus, founder of the discipline of toxicology. [German]
On a sunny day in the fall, I visited Festetics Palace (Festetics-kastély) near Lake Balaton in Hungary. On my walk through the Baroque Palace, I had the chance to see the famous Helikon Library.
The Fürstenhaus in Weimar is a building with much history. Planned as a site for an authority, it turned into the residence of a Duke. After hosting a series of parliaments, it houses the “University of Music FRANZ LISZT Weimar” today.
This monument commemorates Franz Wirer von Rettenbach. He is considered the founder of the first Austrian saline water health spa in Bad Ischl. I found this bust in the local spa park (Kurpark). I was pretty impressed by the extraordinary size of the sculpture. [German]
The fortress of Kamerlengo (Tvrđava Kamerlengo) saw its construction by the Venetians in the 15th century. At that time, it extended existing structures in the old town of Trogir. This town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. [German]
The Zollern colliery (Zeche Zollern) in the Bovinghausen district of Dortmund is also known by the nickname “Castle of Labour”. The brick-stone architecture of this administration building may answer the question of where this title comes from.
The lindworm fountain (Lindwurmbrunnen) is the landmark of Klagenfurt am Wörthersee. In addition, the lindworm is also part of the local city arms. The sculpture dates back to the 16th century and refers to the foundation legend of the city. [German]
This tower is part of a former stronghold owned by the legendary Hungarian military leader Pál Kinizsi. By climbing up Kinizsi Castle (Kinizsi-vár), I learned something new about the interior of tower houses in the medieval ages. [German]
Many years ago, I came across an old ruin in Weimar. Its name – Tempelherrenhaus – made me think of the mysterious templars. But I was wrong. The building was a former ducal venue that transformed into a ruin after an air raid in 1945. [German]
During one of my urban walks, I saw this artwork near the Neue Galerie in Graz. The creator of this piece was Hans Hollein (1934-2014). The striking name of this work with several profound allusions: The Golden Calf (Das goldene Kalb). [German]
The Art Nouveau hall in Prague’s Central Station (Praha hlavní nádraží) gives a glimpse of the former splendour and glory of the Habsburg Empire. It was designed by Josef Fanta (1856-1954) and opened in 1909. [German]
The Tucher Mansion (Tucherschloss) dates back to 1544. It served as a summer residence for the Tucher, a patrician family in Nuremberg. The museum inside shows how such a family lived in those times.