Garrison Church in Potsdam

27 August 2024 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  5 minutes

© Raimond Spekking & Elke Wetzig/cc-by-sa-4.0

© Raimond Spekking & Elke Wetzig/cc-by-sa-4.0

The Garrison Church (German: Garnisonkirche) was a Protestant church in the historic centre of Potsdam. Built by order of King Frederick William I of Prussia according to plans by Philipp Gerlach from 1730 to 1735, it was considered as a major work of Prussian Baroque architecture. With a height of almost 90 metres (295 feet), it was Potsdam’s tallest building and shaped its cityscape. In addition, the Garrison Church was part of the city’s famous “Three Churches View” together with the St. Nicholas Church and the Holy Spirit Church.   read more…

Theme Week Funen

26 August 2024 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, Bon voyage, Theme Weeks Reading Time:  5 minutes

Odense - City Hall © Kåre Thor Olsen

Odense – City Hall © Kåre Thor Olsen

Funen with a size of 2,984 km² (1152 sq. miles), is the third-largest island of Denmark following Zealand and Vendsyssel-Thy, and the 163rd largest island of the world. Funen is located in the central part of the country and has a population of 454,358 inhabitants. The main city is Odense, connected to the sea by canal, though this canal is now seldom used. The city’s shipyard Odense Steel Shipyard has been relocated outside of Odense proper. Funen belongs administratively to Region of Southern Denmark. From 1970–2006, the island formed the biggest part of Funen County, which also included the islands of Langeland, Ærø and Tåsinge, as well as a number of smaller islands.   read more…

Ebstorf Abbey

26 August 2024 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  5 minutes

© Hajotthu/cc-by-sa-3.0

© Hajotthu/cc-by-sa-3.0

Ebstorf Abbey (German: Abtei Ebstorf or Kloster Ebstorf) is a Lutheran convent of nuns that is located near the Lower Saxon town of Uelzen, in Germany.   read more…

Flammekueche

25 August 2024 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, Bon appétit Reading Time:  5 minutes

© Rama/CeCill licence

© Rama/CeCill licence

Flammekueche (Alsatian), Flammkuchen (Standard German), or tarte flambée (French), is a speciality of the region of Alsace, German-speaking Moselle, Baden and the Palatinate. It is composed of bread dough rolled out very thinly in the shape of a rectangle or oval, which is covered with fromage blanc or crème fraîche, thinly sliced onions and lardons.   read more…

Maiden’s Tower in Istanbul

24 August 2024 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, Union for the Mediterranean Reading Time:  6 minutes

© Noumenon/cc-by-sa-3.0

© Noumenon/cc-by-sa-3.0

The Maiden’s Tower (Turkish: Kız Kulesi), also known as Leander’s Tower (Tower of Leandros) since the Byzantine period, is a tower on a small islet at the southern entrance of the Bosphorus strait, 200 m (220 yd) from the coast of Üsküdar in Istanbul, Turkey. The tower appeared on the reverse of the Turkish 10 lira banknote from 1966 to 1981.   read more…

Parque Natural da Ria Formosa in Portugal

23 August 2024 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, Palaces, Castles, Manors, Parks, Environment Reading Time:  8 minutes

Santa Luzia © David Boocock/cc-by-sa-2.5

Santa Luzia © David Boocock/cc-by-sa-2.5

The Ria Formosa lagoon, located in the Algarve, in southern Portugal, is a system of barrier islands that connects to the sea through six inlets. Five of these inlets are natural and have mobility characteristics. The sixth is an artificial inlet that was opened with the purpose of allowing easier access to the port of Faro. In 2010, the lagoon was recognised as one of the country’s seven natural wonders. Following a public vote in which 656,356 voted, the Ria Formosa was announced the winner of the Marine Area category of the ‘7 Maravilhas Naturais de Portugal’.   read more…

Piazza della Signoria in Florence

22 August 2024 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  6 minutes

© Zolli/cc-by-sa-3.0

© Zolli/cc-by-sa-3.0

Piazza della Signoria is a w-shaped square in front of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy. It was named after the Palazzo della Signoria, also called Palazzo Vecchio. It is the main point of the origin and history of the Florentine Republic and still maintains its reputation as the political focus of the city. It is the meeting place of Florentines as well as the numerous tourists, located near Palazzo Vecchio and Piazza del Duomo and gateway to Uffizi Gallery.   read more…

Prague Castle

21 August 2024 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, UNESCO World Heritage Reading Time:  7 minutes

© Pierre-Selim Huard/cc-by-4.0

© Pierre-Selim Huard/cc-by-4.0

Prague Castle is a castle complex in Prague, Czech Republic serving as the official residence and workplace of the president of the Czech Republic. Built in the 9th century, the castle has long served as the seat of power for kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman emperors, and presidents of Czechoslovakia. As such, the term “Prague Castle” or simply the “Castle” or “the Hrad” are often used as metonymy for the president and his staff and advisors. The Bohemian Crown Jewels are kept within a hidden room inside it.   read more…

Nahal Me’arot Nature Reserve in Israel

20 August 2024 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, UNESCO World Heritage, Union for the Mediterranean Reading Time:  3 minutes

© Yitzhak Marmelstein/cc-by-sa-4.0

© Yitzhak Marmelstein/cc-by-sa-4.0

The Caves of Nahal Me’arot / Wadi el-Mughara (“Caves Creek”), named here by the Hebrew and Arabic name of the valley where they are located, are a UNESCO Site of Human Evolution in the Carmel mountain range near Haifa in northern Israel. The four UNESCO-listed caves are:   read more…

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