
Velenje Castle (Velenjski grad) is a well-preserved castle high over the Slovenian city of Velenje. It offers an intriguing museum inside. For example, you see the reconstruction of an old grocery shop and the remains of two mastodons.
You only see what you know (Goethe)

Velenje Castle (Velenjski grad) is a well-preserved castle high over the Slovenian city of Velenje. It offers an intriguing museum inside. For example, you see the reconstruction of an old grocery shop and the remains of two mastodons.

While travelling through Slovenia, I love to look for agricultural structures called Kozolec. These are traditional hayracks which are typical for this part of Europe. They are not only utilitarian but also known for artsy adornments.

The Austrian place of Hallstatt is known for its picture book-like view. But it is also full of history. Archaeologists found a Bronze Age staircase in the nearby salt mines. A public replica of this piece tells us about the finding.

I took this view of Friedenstein Castle (Schloss Friedenstein) from the staircase of the Ducal Museum of Gotha. The early Baroque palace was built in the mid-17th century by Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha. [German]

At the Schell Collection, also known as the Museum of Keys (Schlüsselmuseum), you learn a lot about keys, locks, chests and jewellery boxes. Another focus is on decorative ironwork. So you see a compilation of house signs, grave crosses, windows and doors. [German]

The Museum of Slovenian Railways offers mighty steam locomotives as well as light auxiliary rail vehicles. Visitors find all these locos and carriages not only in an old shed but also on the attached free ground. It is s place with fascinating objects at every turn.

Füssen has been a centre of the lute- and violinmaking industry for many years. In 1562, the city saw the foundation of the first lute makers’ guild in Europe. Today, the Museum of Füssen displays an extensive collection of historical lutes and violins.

Bogenšperk Castle (Grad Bogenšperk) was the home of the natural historian and polymath Johann Weichard Valvasor (1641-1693). He became famous for publishing several books about topics like the Karst or the history of Carniola. [German]

Guests of Salzburg know this view well: A castle-like tower high over the city, adjacent to a white building with a set of sunshades in front of it. We speak about a former water tower and the Museum der Moderne Salzburg.

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.

You find the Erlangen City Museum in the former town hall of the Old Town (Altstadt) on Martin- Luther-Platz. It shows the city’s history from its beginnings to the 20th century. Especially worth seeing is the depiction of the history of the Huguenots. [German]

The Gorsium Archaeological Park near Tác tells about life in this region during the ancient age. The Roman influence started here with a fort protecting a road junction and a ford of the Sarviz River in the middle of the 1st century. [German]