You only see what you know (Goethe)
Master builder Peter Carlone built this tower in 1615. In the beginning, the name of this building referred to its function. It was called Mautturm (toll tower). After getting its unique roof in 1794, the name Schwammerlturm (mushroom tower) became common.
An old pharmacy decorated with an intriguing facade made me curious about Uherský Brod. This Moravian town is considered one of the possible birthplaces of philosopher John Amos Comenius (Jan Amos Komenský). [German]
The Saalburg is a reconstructed Roman fort in Hesse. Inside its walls, a museum tells about the life of the soldiers along the border. The castellum was a part of the Upper Germanic-Rhaetian Limes. Today the remains of the Limes are enlisted as UNESCO World Heritage Site. [German]
The Great Palm House Schönbrunn (Großes Palmenhaus Schönbrunn) stands on the grounds of Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna. Its construction bases of 720 tons of wrought iron and cast iron. About 45,000 glass tiles enable a fabulous light.
The ancient Roman city of Altinum was a settlement in the region of today’s Quarto d’Altino. During its flowering, it had over 20,000 inhabitants. After being destroyed by the Huns, the inhabitants fled to the small islands in the lagoon of later Venice. [German]
The Fürstenzug (Procession of Princes) is a 102-meter-long mural in Dresden. It is applied to 23,000 Meissen porcelain tiles and displays portraits of 35 members of the House of Wettin. These people formed the rulers of Saxony between 1127 and 1904. [German]
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.