
The maiden voyage of the paddle steamer “Gisela” was in 1872. Operated by the Traunsee Schifffahrt, it still runs for cruises, weddings and dinners on Traun Lake (Traunsee). In the photo above, you see the steamer in front of Gmunden. [German]
You only see what you know (Goethe)

The maiden voyage of the paddle steamer “Gisela” was in 1872. Operated by the Traunsee Schifffahrt, it still runs for cruises, weddings and dinners on Traun Lake (Traunsee). In the photo above, you see the steamer in front of Gmunden. [German]

When I visited Bratislava in 2004, I walked through a captivating quarter of deserted houses. A fine example was this building. The more you look at it, the more you see. After a few minutes, I discovered several animals, a windmill, and a fake staircase.

The Glockenspiel at the Kaiserringhaus in Goslar shows miners at work four times a day. In addition, the carillon bells play tunes like the Steigerlied. That way, the Glockenspiel call attention to the nearby Rammelsberg Mine.

The Kammerhof, dating back to 1450, originally housed an authority for administrating the salt monopoly. Today, the Kammerhof Museum of Gmunden uses the old walls. As a curiosity, you find a compilation of historical toilet bowls inside.

At first, I was surprised to see embrasures at this part of the former curacy. Later, I learned the Baroque building was erected on top of the walls of a former defence tower. The fresco above the richly ornamented portal depicts Saint Nicholas, to whom the nearby church is consecrated.

I came across this fireless steam locomotive at the Chemnitz Museum of Industry. It used to work in industrial facilities where no open fire was allowed. For example, you could find them in mines, and food or chemical factories.

The Museum of Military History (Heeresgeschichtliches Museum) in Vienna is an architectural gem. So you find architecture in the style of Byzantine as well as Neo-Gothic. Some details made me think of being in Venice

A protective building in the style of an ancient Roman sanctuary shelters the remains of the Mithras Shrine III in Ptuj. The shrine was erected in the sixties of the 3rd century by soldiers of the Legio XIII Gemina.

I can’t help myself, but this sundial made me smile! 🙂 I came across this piece while walking along the Sundial Path of Nuremberg. Besides artsy sundials, I also encountered fascinating medieval buildings and informative museums.

The Mariahilf Fire Station (Hauptfeuerwache Mariahilf) in Vienna saw its completion in 1914. Its architecture still resonates with the spirit of the age between the fin de siècle and the First World War.

Rotenturn Manor (Dvorec Rotenturn) stands in the Slovenian city of Slovenj Gradec. It is one of the town’s most important venues for cultural events. [German]

The Kaiserbrunnen (Emperor Fountain) in Konstanz (Constance) was created by sculptor Hans Baur in 1897. After a redecoration by Gernot Rumpf at the end of the 20th century, it refers to historical events related to Constance.