Many years ago, I came across an old ruin in Weimar. Its name – Tempelherrenhaus – made me think of the mysterious templars. But I was wrong. The building was a former ducal venue that transformed into a ruin after an air raid in 1945. [German]
The Golden Calf by Hollein
During one of my urban walks, I saw this artwork near the Neue Galerie in Graz. The creator of this piece was Hans Hollein (1934-2014). The striking name of this work with several profound allusions: The Golden Calf (Das goldene Kalb). [German]
Art Nouveau station hall in Prague
The Art Nouveau hall in Prague’s Central Station (Praha hlavní nádraží) gives a glimpse of the former splendour and glory of the Habsburg Empire. It was designed by Josef Fanta (1856-1954) and opened in 1909. [German]
Tucher Mansion in Nuremberg
The Tucher Mansion (Tucherschloss) dates back to 1544. It served as a summer residence for the Tucher, a patrician family in Nuremberg. The museum inside shows how such a family lived in those times.
Praying mantis vs. Styrian praying lacewing
I am a sucker for wrought ironwork. On a walk through Graz, I discovered this image of a praying mantis (Mantis religiosa) as a decoration on a house entrance. What might have been the motivation for this work of art? [German]
Klopotec in Slovenia
An iconic rural element in Slovenia is the Klopotec. It is a sort of bird-scaring rattle. You find it in many traditional Slovenian wine-growing areas. They are also common in some parts of Austria (esp. Styria) and Croatia (esp. Zagorje).
TAKRAF cranes in Rostock
Do cranes own personality? I asked myself this question while strolling around the city harbour of Rostock. There, I found two port cranes nicely coloured blue and yellow. They saw their completion in a GDR combine named TAKRAF in 1960.
Saint John of Nepomuk
This statue of Saint John of Nepomuk stands at a building named Eheschmiedhaus. The building dates back to the 13th century. The sculpture saw its completion in the first half of the 18th century. I love the levitating angel above his head. [German]
Sundial in Merano
While I walked through Merano in Italy, I came across this sundial. I was impressed by how many elements and codes are compiled in this depiction. For example, you see the motto of Frederick III (A.E.I.O.U.) as well as a skull with an hourglass on top of it. [German]
Satzvey Castle in Mechernich
The former moated castle is considered one of the best-preserved castles in the Rhineland. Its origins date back to the 12th century. Today, the walls of Satzey Castle (Burg Satzvey) serve as a venue for knight games and medieval festivals. [German]
Niederfalkenstein Castle
Niederfalkenstein Castle (Burg Niederfalkenstein) stands high over the municipality Obervellach in the Austrian state of Carinthia. This photo was taken from a train while passing the railway bridge Falkensteinbrücke.
Trenčín Castle in Slovakia
Trenčín Castle (Trenčiansky hrad) is a castle high above Trenčín, a city in the west of Slovakia. For many years, it was the residence of Máté Csák of Trencsén. Today, a castle museum tells about the history of the building and the region.