Sights Archives ⋆ Page 31 of 152 ⋆ The Passenger

February 4, 2023May 18, 2025

Walhalla

When the Holy Roman Empire broke apart in 1806 the people in todays Germany were trying to define their identity. Who is German? What does it mean to be a German? The idea of these times was that everyone who is speaking the German language shall be defined as a German. Ludwig I, the later king of Bavaria, started to create a collection of busts showing persons whom he defined as important Germans. He planned to exhibit them in an impressive building which he named the Walhalla, after the place where fallen heroes find their eternal rest in Norse mythology.

February 3, 2023April 9, 2023

St. Peter

The two towers of the Gothic-style cathedral St. Peter dominate the skyline of the city of Regensburg. Entering the building feels like being teleported into a different world, with the high ceiling and the rich decorations it has a special atmosphere. The church was built from the year 1275 on and became usable in 1450. The creation of the towers lasted until 1869, all in all a very long construction period.

February 3, 2023April 10, 2023

Porta Praetoria

The city of Regensburg was founded by the Romans in 179 CE. They created their military fortification called Castra Regina facing the river Donau. The main gate of every of these fortifications was called Porta praetoria and the Porta praetoria of Castra Regina has been preserved throughout the centuries. In fact, in addition to the Porta Nigra of Trier the gate at Regensburg is the only preserved Roman gate in Germany.

February 3, 2023April 10, 2023

Steinerne Brücke

Close to the city center of Regensburg a long bridge spans the river Donau, the Steinerne Brücke. It was built between 1135 and 1146 and was by that time the only bridge crossing the Donau between Ulm and Wien. The bridge is 336 meters long and eight meters wide. With its 16 arches it was the antetype for the famous Karlův most at Praha (516 meters long, built in 1357).

January 29, 2023April 2, 2023

Kloster Frauenberg

High above the city of Fulda you can find the Franciscan cloister Kloster Frauenberg. If you want to enjoy great views on the city or do some sports (the ascent is quite steep) you should choose to get up. On top of the mountain you can relax in the cloister gardens or a enjoy a coffee at the terrace of the coffee bar of the cloister.

January 29, 2023April 2, 2023

Pomp & fancy tapestry

The Fuldaer Stadtschloß is a special castle: it is used by the city administration as the town hall building, but it is also a museum. When you’re visiting it you’ll have to search for the pompous representative rooms of the past between the many simple offices of the different departments of the administration. But it is a quest absolutely worth doing, the rooms are well-preserved with ancient tapestry, endless mirrors and very rich decorations.

January 15, 2023April 18, 2025

Fagus-Werk

We’re all used to modern buildings made of steel and glass. But where was the first of these buildings standing? At New York? At Frankfurt? At Singapore? No, it was built in 1911 in rural Lower Saxony, in a small town named Alfeld an der Leine. Why is that? It has to do with the story of Carl Benscheidt (1858-1947). He was an expert in making shoe lasts, an element still necessary today to produce shoes. A replica of a foot is created from beech wood (today mostly from high-density plastics) and the shoe material is formed around.

January 8, 2023January 22, 2023

Treasure box

The cathedral of Hildesheim is a Roman-Catholic church officially named the Dom Mariä Himmelfahrt. Together with the church St. Michaelis it is since 1985 a UNESCO world heritage site and a good example of religious art during the Holy Roman Empire. The composition of buildings itself is already worth a visit, but the site also includes a museum exhibiting the enormous treasures collected over time. Additionally the icon of the city, the so-called 1,000 years old rosebush is also growing in the courtyard of the cathedral – therefore nearly every visitor of the city takes a look inside this treasure box.

January 8, 2023January 22, 2023

Oldest rose on the planet

The icon of Hildesheim is the rose, a special one with an old myth creating its fame. It is said that in 815 CE emperor Louis the Pious was hunting in the region which later became Hildesheim. His horse broke down and he was lost, therefore he attached the relics of Mary which he was always carrying with him to a rose bush and started to pray. He fell asleep and when he woke up the bush was in full bloom. When he stated to built a chapel in this location he was found and rescued.

January 8, 2023January 22, 2023

St. Michaelis

The Michaeliskirche of Hildesheim is rather looking like a castle from afar, especially because of its towers. Since the Reformation it is a protestant church, but the crypt of Saint Bernward inside belongs to the Catholic church and is actively used by them. Yes, that’s a quite unusual but good solution. Since 1985 the church is (together with the cathedral) an official UNESCO world heritage site, they give insight into religious art during the Holy Roman Empire.