The Passenger ⋆ Page 3 of 305 ⋆ Memories and hints of a travelling IT professional.

May 1, 2025May 6, 2025

Arcul de Triumf din Chișinău

The Arcul de Triumf din Chișinău, also known as the Triumphal Arch, was built in 1840 by architect Luka Zauschevici to commemorate the Russian Empire’s victory over the Ottoman Empire in the Russo-Turkish War of 1828-29. Located in the heart of the city, next to the Nativity Cathedral and aligned with the city’s main square, the arch has become an integral part of Chișinău’s central architectural ensemble. Originally, it also served as a bell tower, housing a massive 6.4-ton bell cast from captured Turkish cannons, symbolizing both military triumph and local craftsmanship.

May 1, 2025May 6, 2025

Catedrala Nașterea Domnului

Catedrala Mitropolitană Nașterea Domnului, Chișinău

The Catedrala Nașterea Domnului (Cathedral of Christ’s Nativity) is the main Orthodox cathedral in Chișinău, Moldova, and a landmark of national significance. Its construction began in 1830 and was completed in 1836, following the initiative of Metropolitan Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni and under the guidance of architect Abram Melnikov, a master of the Russian Empire style. The cathedral was strategically placed at the city center, as indicated in Chișinău’s first urban plan from 1817, and features three altars: the central altar dedicated to the Nativity of Christ, and two lateral altars originally dedicated to St. Alexander Nevsky and St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

May 1, 2025May 5, 2025

Aeroportul Internațional Chișinău

Chișinău International Airport, known in Romanian as Aeroportul Internațional Chișinău, is the main gateway for air travel in Moldova. Located approximately 14 kilometers southeast of the capital city, Chișinău, the airport serves as the country’s largest and only airport with regular passenger flights. Opened in 1960, it has played a central role in connecting Moldova to various international destinations and was the headquarters for the national airline, Air Moldova.

April 21, 2025April 22, 2025

Kartoffelstein

The Kartoffelstein near Herberhausen is a commemorative stone that was erected in 1852 by the Herberhausen parish. The occasion was the end of a severe famine caused by several successive potato crop failures, especially in 1846. After a finally successful potato harvest, the community set up this stone as a sign of gratitude. The original stone, an old gravestone from the Roringen cemetery, was damaged several times by lightning and was reworked in 1937 and replaced in 1966 by a weatherproof version made of shell limestone.

April 18, 2025April 18, 2025

Fürstengruft

The Fürstengruft in Weimar is a neoclassical mausoleum located on the historic cemetery of the city, built between 1823 and 1828 as the burial place for the ducal family of Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach. The structure features a doric columned entrance, a chapel with a star-adorned dome, and an underground crypt. Its sober architecture was intended to reflect dignity and simplicity, with an oval opening in the floor through which coffins could be lowered into the vault below.

April 18, 2025April 18, 2025

Rokokosaal

The Herzogin-Anna-Amalia-Bibliothek in Weimar is one of Germany’s most renowned libraries, celebrated for its rich collections and its role as a center for European literary and cultural history. Established in 1691, the library houses over a million works, with holdings ranging from medieval manuscripts to modern texts. Its historic building, part of the UNESCO World Heritage ensemble ‘Classical Weimar‘, stands as a testament to centuries of cultural preservation and intellectual life.

April 18, 2025April 18, 2025

Goethe-Nationalmuseum

The Goethe-Nationalmuseum in Weimar is the most significant museum dedicated to the life and achievements of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Located at Frauenplan, the museum centers around Goethe’s original baroque residence, where he lived for nearly fifty years. The house, carefully restored to reflect its state during Goethe’s final years, is complemented by a garden and two early 20th-century museum extensions that provide additional exhibition space.

April 18, 2025April 18, 2025

Bauhaus

The Bauhaus-Museum is a striking, minimalist building located in the heart of Weimar, Germany. Its clear geometric form and spacious forecourt invite visitors to explore the roots of one of the most influential art and design movements of the 20th century. Inside, the museum houses the world’s oldest Bauhaus collection, with over 13,000 objects and documents, including iconic pieces like the Wagenfeld lamp, Marcel Breuer’s slatted chair, and Marianne Brandt’s teapot. The exhibitions are thoughtfully arranged across several floors, guiding visitors through the early years of the Bauhaus and its radical experiments in art, design, and daily life.

April 18, 2025April 20, 2025

Multifaceted

Weimar is a city in the German state of Thüringen, situated along the river Ilm. With a population of around 65,000, Weimar is renowned for its rich cultural heritage and its pivotal role in German and European history. The city’s origins trace back to at least the 10th century, and it developed around a medieval castle and early churches. Over the centuries, Weimar grew from a small settlement into a significant urban center, especially after it became associated with the ruling houses of the region.

April 18, 2025April 18, 2025

Weimarer Republik

The Haus der Weimarer Republik in Weimar is a museum dedicated to the history and legacy of Germany’s first democracy, the Weimar Republic. Located directly on Theaterplatz, it stands opposite the Deutsches Nationaltheater, the very place where the national assembly met in 1919 to draft and adopt the new democratic constitution. Visitors to the museum can explore interactive exhibits, original documents, photographs, and multimedia installations that vividly illustrate the turbulent years of the Weimar Republic, from its hopeful beginnings to its tragic end.