Dr. Stefan Christmann

May 29, 2025June 2, 2025

Tunis-Goulette-Marsa

The Tunis-Goulette-Marsa (TGM) train is a historic commuter rail line in Tunisia, inaugurated in 1872, making it the first railway in the country. It predates the French protectorate by about a decade and has been known as the TGM since 1905. The line stretches approximately 19 kilometers, connecting the capital city Tunis with the coastal town of La Marsa, passing through La Goulette and other notable suburbs, including Carthage (yes, the famous Carthage!) and Sidi Bou Saïd. This route has played a significant role in shaping the urban expansion and development of the northern suburbs of Tunis, especially along the scenic seafront.

May 29, 2025June 1, 2025

MACAM

The Musée National d’Art Moderne et Contemporain in تونس is a vibrant cultural institution located within the Cité de la Culture complex, dedicated to showcasing Tunisia’s dynamic modern art scene. It serves as a key platform for both local and international artists, reflecting the rich interplay between Tunisia’s historical heritage and contemporary artistic expression. The museum offers visitors a diverse collection of artworks that explore various themes and narratives relevant to modern society, providing a comprehensive insight into the evolution of Tunisian art beyond traditional forms.

May 29, 2025June 1, 2025

Mosaics

The Musée National du Bardo in تونس is housed in a magnificent 19th-century beylical palace, originally built as a royal residence, which combines Andalusian-Moorish, Ottoman, and Italian architectural influences. Established as a museum in 1888, it is one of the most important and oldest museums in the Mediterranean region and the second largest on the African continent after the Egyptian Museum of Cairo. The museum’s setting itself is a historical monument, offering visitors a glimpse into Tunisia’s royal past alongside its rich collections.

May 29, 2025June 2, 2025

Medina

The Medina of تونس is a remarkable historic quarter that dates back to the 7th century and flourished notably between the 12th and 16th centuries under the Almohad and Hafsid dynasties. This period marked Tunis as one of the wealthiest and most important cities in the Islamic world, reflected in the dense concentration of around 700 monuments including palaces, mosques, mausoleums, madrasas, and fountains. The Medina’s urban fabric beautifully showcases the interaction of architecture, culture, and socio-economic changes over centuries, making it a living museum of Arab-Muslim heritage.

May 29, 2025June 1, 2025

Jasmine revolution

The Jasmine revolution in Tunisia was a pivotal event that ignited the broader Arab spring movement across the Middle East and North Africa. It began in December 2010 when Mohamed Bouazizi, a young street vendor in the town of Sidi Bouzid, set himself on fire in protest against police corruption and economic hardship. This desperate act resonated deeply with Tunisians, sparking widespread demonstrations against unemployment, poverty, political repression, and corruption under the authoritarian regime of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who had ruled for over two decades.

May 28, 2025June 1, 2025

Tunis-Carthage

The Aéroport International de Tunis-Carthage (TUN), serving the capital of Tunisia, is steeped in history that dates back to 1920 when the first seaplane base was established on the lake of تونس. The airport officially opened as an airfield in 1938, initially handling a modest number of passengers on the Paris–Tunis route. During World War II, it played a strategic role as a base for the United States Air Force during the Italian Campaign, serving as a hub for reconnaissance and transport missions. Post-war, the airport was developed further with French funding and became the main hub for Tunisair in 1948, connecting تونس with various Mediterranean and European destinations.

May 18, 2025May 18, 2025

Alltagskultur

Visiting the Freilichtmuseum at Detmold is like stepping back in time to experience 500 years of Westphalian rural life. Spread across more than 90 hectares of picturesque landscape, the museum features over 100 original historical buildings that have been carefully relocated and reconstructed from various regions of Westphalia. As you wander through the grounds, you can explore authentic farmhouses, workshops, and village structures, all furnished true to their eras, giving a vivid impression of how people once lived and worked in this part of Germany.

May 18, 2025May 18, 2025

Arminius

Hermann was a chieftain of the Cherusci tribe who famously led a coalition of Germanic tribes to victory against the Romans in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in 9 AD. The name ‘Hermann‘ was popularized in the 16th century as a translation of ‘Arminius‘, possibly first by Martin Luther, and means ‘man of war‘ in Old High German. Arminius had been trained by the Romans but turned against them, orchestrating one of Roma’s most devastating defeats.

May 15, 2025May 16, 2025

Baker Street station

Baker Street tube station is a landmark in the history of urban transportation, as it was part of the world’s first underground passenger railway. Construction of the station began in March 1860 using the ‘cut-and-cover’ method, which involved digging a trench along the street, laying the tracks, and then covering it over. Despite several accidents during construction, the work was completed by the end of 1862 at a cost of £1.3 million. The station officially opened to the public on 10th January 1863 as part of the Metropolitan Railway, which connected Paddington to Farringdon Street and aimed to alleviate the severe street congestion in Victorian London. The name also explains why in other cities subway systems are called ‘Metro’.

May 5, 2025May 5, 2025

Moldova

Moldova, a landlocked country in Eastern Europe bordering Ukraine and Romania, has a rich and complex history spanning from prehistoric times to modern independence. The territory was part of the Principality of Moldavia from the 14th century until 1812, when it was ceded to the Russian Empire by the Ottoman Empire. After briefly uniting with Romania in 1918, it became part of the Soviet Union in 1940 as the Moldavian SSR. Moldova finally emerged as an independent republic following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Since 2020, under the presidency of Maia Sandu, the country has pursued a pro-Western and anti-corruption agenda.