Memories and hints of a travelling IT professional.
Most people in the world probably know Karl Marx: the author of the Communist Manifesto and Das Kapital (Capital: A Critique of Political Economy), the father of Marxism and famous thinker of the Socialist and Communist world. But did you know that he was born at Trier, Germany?
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Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban was a French general and an expert in fortification building. He was responsible for many fortresses and fortifications in the French-speaking world and also created a fortress in Luxembourg. As a result of the London Conference of 1867 the fortification of Lëtzebuerg was removed and on the grounds of the former fortress built by Vauban a villa was created in 1873. As the rest of the fortifications has been converted into a large park, this villa is now standing in a nice green area close to the city center.
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It’s one of the perfect places when you have a rainy day at Lëtzebuerg: the Musée national d’histoire naturelle. The museum is modern, fun and educating; it gives you insight into natural history on three floors, from the big bang to life in the seas, from biodiversity in the city to minerals and volcanoes. Or you just use your time to watch leafcutter ants to their work.
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Ready to learn more about the city of Lëtzebuerg? The Lëtzebuerg City Museum is a modern museum located close to the Chemin de la Corniche and it is just around the corner of the Palais Grand-Ducal. It was opened in 1996 on eight levels containing a standard exhibition on the history of the city and changing exhibitions. The architecture itself is wonderful: modern elements connect the historic buildings dating back to the 17th century CE.
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When visiting Luxembourg you shouldn’t leave out the Musée national d’histoire et d’art. It is located at the fish market in the old town very close to the Casemates. Even if it would be completely empty this modern building would be worth a visit. It is like an iceberg – you just see some floors of a museum building in a contemporary style, but most of the museum is underground. The lower of the nine floors are carved into the rock and the archeological items exhibited blend with the rock surrounding it.
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Next to the ancient Fort Thüngen you can find the MUDAM, the Musée d’Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean. It is a wonderful modern building, with lavish rooms and many areas to explore. The museum was inaugurated in 2006 and has been designed by a Chinese architect.
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When you climb up to the Kirchberg mountain or pass the bridge from the city center you’ll find the Fort Thüngen (or Draï Eechelen, Trois Glands). It is part of the extensive fortification system of the city of Luxembourg. The ancient fortress with its special structure would already be worth a visit, but within the old walls you can also find the Musée Dräi Eechelen.
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When you walk through the city quarter Boyana of София you will probably come across a vast park protected by a strong metal fence. It is easy to guess whom this place was created for: Todor Zhivkov, the last Communist dictator of the People’s Republic of Bulgaria. Within you’ll find his residence, a giant palace with fantastic views on the capital city on one side of the building and a terrace facing the beautiful Vitosha mountains on the other side.
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When the Soviet Union broke apart and the Iron Curtain fell, when Bulgaria became a fully independent country and capitalism made its way east – then the wind of change blew away many remains of the past. Symbols where removed, old heroes like Lenin and Che Guevara had to take their hats and classic Socialist art was unwanted on the streets and places. That’s quite understandable, but it is also a loss. Socialist artists had a unique style and a special way to depict people.
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I really hate war, I’ve never joined an army and I’m not attracted by any kind of military stuff. But the National Museum of Military History in София is so special (and awkward to me) that I had to visit it. The museum belongs to the Ministry of Defence of Bulgaria and dates back already to the year 1916. It tells the military history of the country in multiple buildings, but most people will go there for the vast exhibition of military equipment.
Continue reading “Tornado”