Three cities in China symbolize the eras in China’s history: Beijing represents the present, Xian the past, and Shanghai the future. Beijing, the capital of China, with 21 million inhabitants today (2004 – 7.5 million inhabitants), was also often the seat of the Chinese emperors in the past. In addition to modern administrative buildings and […]
The Old Town of Koblenz
Our tour through the old town of Koblenz starts at the edge of the old town at the Electoral Palace. Clemens Wenzeslaus of Saxony, the last archbishop, and elector of Trier, had it built at the end of the 18th century. Later, the Prussian Crown Prince and later Emperor Wilhelm I and his wife Augusta […]
Aachen Cathedral
The Aachen Cathedral, also known as St Mary’s Church, is the bishop’s church and, next to the town hall, the city’s most significant landmark. The cathedral was built by Charlemagne, who had the central building, the Carolingian octagon, and the western part built as the Palatinate Chapel of the Aachen Royal Palatinate. The foundation stone […]
Visiting the Belfry of Ghent
The Ghent Belfry, 95 m high and located in the center of the city, is the ideal viewing platform to see the city from a bird’s eye view. It lies between St. Bavo’s Cathedral and St. Nicholas’ Church. The construction of the tower started in 1314. The tower and the connected cloth hall served several […]
Begijnhof and Meulenaere Hospice in Bruges
Our walk to Begijnhof starts at Walplein Square. This square and the surrounding area in the southern Old Town of Bruges offers a variety of restaurants, as well as Bruges oldest brewery De Halve Maan. In good weather, you find plenty of outdoor seating areas. A sculpture in honor of the coachmen decorates the square. […]
Visiting the Hradcany
After our first tour in the old town, we visit the Hradčany the next morning. Correctly speaking, we visit the Prague Castle with the St. Vitus Cathedral. Hradčany is the name of the castle hill. But today it is a synonym for hill including the castle. We enter the Prague Castle through an entrance gate […]