You only see what you know (Goethe)
The monument to Alexander Girardi (1850-1918) stands in the Girardipark of Vienna. Extensive traffic surrounds the white statue, so the actor and operetta singer does not have to complain about a small audience. Most people overlook the message of the sculpture, though. [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.
Shortly after discovering a museum-related manhole cover, the next surprise overtook me. An OEG Salonwagen (saloon car) in the design of the 1920s rattled past me. Inside, passengers chilled and enjoyed the view. [German]
You find this monument of Prince Eugene Francis of Savoy–Carignano in the centre of Vienna on the Heldenplatz. Anton Dominik Fernkorn finished the equestrian statue in 1865. The pose reminds us of Prince Eugene’s role as a victorious commander.
The Baroque church of Olimje castle offers not only a fine altarpiece. In a side chapel of the church, I discovered a statue dedicated to Saint Anthony the Great. One attribute of this saint is a pig, which appears at the feet of the saint.
This sculpture is one of twelve donor portraits located in the west choir of Naumburg Cathedral. Due to the look of the depicted lady, this work is considered the most beautiful of the twelve. The name of the statue is Uta of Naumburg.
In this summer house formerly owned by Josef von Eggenwald (Eggenwaldsches Gartenhaus), the Peace Treaty of Leoben was signed between the Holy Roman Empire and the First French Republic on April 18th, 1797. This signing was an important event at the end of the “War of the First Coalition”. [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]
The Dessau-Wörlitz Garden Realm is a landscape park in and around Dessau-Roßlau. Another common name is the Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Roßlau. The park dates back to the Age of Enlightenment. [German]
A chance to see the famous Lipizzaner horses of the Spanish Riding School for free is at the Stallburg building. This former residence is placed next to the Winter Riding School. Between the training and the performances, the Stallburg is the home of the white stallions.
The fortress of Kamerlengo (Tvrđava Kamerlengo) was built by the Venetians in the 15th century as an extension of existing structures. The old town of Trogir has been a UNESCO world heritage site since 1997. [German]
The building was erected as a theatre by architect Wilhelm Vernukken in 1603/1606. The commissioner was Landgraf Moritz, who named the Ottoneum after his son Otto. Today, a natural history museum is housed here. [German]