Dr. Stefan Christmann

July 28, 2024July 28, 2024

Corvey

When scrolling through the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Germany you’ll discover the Cloister Corvey near the smalltown Höxter in Germanys North Rhine-Westphalia. In fact it is not the entire monastery that is inscribed on the list, it is only one part of its church (the Westwerk) and something invisible today: the city once surrounding it (the Civitas). What’s that all about? Corvey was a Carolingian monastery founded in 822 CE. Charlemagne wanted to drive Christianisation in Saxony after he conquered it.

July 20, 2024July 24, 2024

Rhumequelle

A lake with clear blue water within a forest – that is the main spring of river Rhume close to the village Rhumspringe. In many other cases people have framed the source of a river, but here it is untouched: there is just a swimming pontoon for better views and some tables for a picnic. It is said to be the third-largest spring in Germany and one of the most productive Karst springs (with up to 5,000 liter per second).

July 20, 2024July 24, 2024

Scharzfels

A massive staircase in the forest close to Scharzfeld easily shows that something big was once standing here. It is leading onto a 20 meters high dolomite rock which was the location of the Burg Scharzfeld from the 10th century CE. There is not much left of the once massive fortification – just some remains of walls, arches and gates; but you can have an amazing view from up there. The staircase is in such good shape is king George V (the last king of Hannover) had it restored in 1856 and today it looks a bit alien in this landscape.

July 20, 2024July 24, 2024

Einhornhöhle

Are you in the mood to search for unicorns? Then the Einhornhöhle near Scharzfeld might be the perfect destination for you. Researchers have come here for a very long time as the 700 meters long cave is filled to large extent with sediment that contains the bones of extinct animals like mammoths, cave bears and cave lions. In 1672 the physicist Otto von Guericke reported that he had found a unicorn there which motivated the famous mathematician Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz to get there and to construct a unicorn from bones. It were in facht mammoth bones, but his reconstruction is now the logo of the cave and the name ‘unicorn cave‘ attracts a lot of visitors.

July 14, 2024July 27, 2024

YYC

The international airport of Calgary (YYC) is a middle-size airport located in the north of the city. It is a convenient airport with many seating options, good coffee bars and restaurants and the fastest security check I’ve ever experienced. YYC has four runways and transports 18 million passengers per year. Initially used for military purposes the first civilians were starting their flights here in 1946. Today not only Air Canada and North-American airlines use the airport; also KLM, Condor and Edelweiss Air are landing here.

July 14, 2024January 30, 2025

Canadian history

Heritage Park Historical Village in Calgary is Canada’s largest living history museum, offering visitors an immersive journey through Western Canada’s past. Spanning 127 acres, the park features over 180 exhibits, including a working steam train, historical buildings, and costumed interpreters who bring history to life. Divided into distinct eras, the park showcases everything from 1860s fur trading posts to a 1930s town, allowing guests to experience what life was like for early settlers, Indigenous peoples, and railway pioneers.

July 14, 2024January 30, 2025

The Hangar

The Hangar Flight Museum in Calgary is a fascinating destination dedicated to preserving and showcasing Canada’s rich aviation history. Housed in a historic Second World War-era drill hall, the museum features an impressive collection of civilian and military aircrafts, including vintage planes, helicopters, and artifacts that highlight the evolution of aviation in Canada.

July 13, 2024January 30, 2025

Lake Louise

For many people they are key reasons to travel to the Canadian Rocky Mountains: Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are two of the most iconic and breathtaking destinations in Banff National Park, drawing visitors from around the world with their turquoise waters, dramatic mountain backdrops, and pristine alpine settings. Lake Louise, known as the ‘Jewel of the Rockies‘, is famous for its stunning color, which comes from glacial silt, as well as for the luxurious Fairmont Château Lake Louise that sits along its shoreline.

July 13, 2024January 30, 2025

Johnson lake

Johnson Lake is part of the Banff National Park and a serene and scenic spot known for its calm waters, sandy shoreline, and breathtaking mountain views. Just a short drive from Banff townsite, this picturesque lake offers a more tranquil alternative to the busier nearby lakes, making it a perfect destination for swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking, and picnicking in the summer. Probably that is also the reason why you can spot many locals here on weekends doing BBQs and sports.

July 12, 2024July 27, 2024

Solara

When the hotels at Banff are fully booked, travel agency typically find alternatives at Canmore which is just a 30 minutes drive on the Trans Canada Highway. The city has a nice city center squeezed into the space between Bow river and the highway and offers all you need for an overnight stay. At the southern end of the city you’ll find the Solara Resort which is a combination of three different hotels (Aurora, Bow, Chinook). Once you arrive get you hotel name, room number and door code (they don’t use keys) from the reception and park in the vast underground carpark.