Top Historic Sites in Europe, Part 4

Erin — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 11:56:46 +0000

Welcome to Part 4 of my Top Historic Sites in Europe series! I’m glad you came back to check out some more fantastic sites. So far we’ve done the top historic sites from 30 countries in Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 and today you’ll get to see 10 more in Part 4! I have really loved learning more about these countries along with the significance of some of their historic sites and I’m so excited to share this with you. With a recorded history going back over 37,000 years, there are just way too many fascinating places to see them all. That’s why I’ve partnered with other travel bloggers to find out which sites are of the most historic and significant importance for each of these countries. I hope you’ll enjoy what we’ve put together today. Norway – Akershus Fortress Akershus Fortress was once one of the most important castles in Norway. Built by King Haakon V during the 1290s after Earl Alv Erlingsson of Sarpsborg attacked Oslo in 1287, it was a stronghold that was able to withstand battles and sieges for hundreds of years. The fortress changed hands a few times during battles, but was strong enough and well-stocked enough to survive every siege laid at the door. The first battle Akershus saw, and won, was in 1308 when Duke Eric of Södermanland of Sweden laid siege and battled the Norwegian army. After this successful standoff, Akershus Fortress wasn’t besieged again until 1449 when King Karl Knutsson Bonde of Sweden decided to give it a go. He, too, was unsuccessful. Sometime between 1450 and 1502, the fortress was lost to the Norwegian nobleman Knut Alysson, who won a siege by combined forces of the Danish and Scottish. The next siege was in 1523 by Swedish soldiers. Residents of Oslo burned down their own homes in order to get the Swedes to leave, which was a successful maneuver. Another siege, this time by King Christian II of Denmark, took place from 1531 to 1532. It, too, was unsuccessful. Due to damage sustained during the recent sieges, the castle fortress underwent repairs, improvements, and additional fortification during this time. 1567 brought another siege be Swedish forces. At this time, Akershus had been given to Danish Lord and Statue Officer Christian Munk, who was serving in Norway. The next notable event involving Akershus Fortress took place in 1624 when the city of Oslo was uprooted and moved closer to the fortress after the city was decimated by a fire. At this time, the castle fortress was remodeled to look more like an Italian Renaissance castle instead of a medieval fortress castle. Over time, new towers, halls, chambers, and gateways were added. A section of the fortress was designed as a prison where many notable rebels, criminals, and political idealists were held and executed. There were various other skirmishes and battles that took place over the years, but the fortress remained in Norwegian hands until 1940 when the government decided to evacuate Oslo when Nazi Germany attacked Norway and Denmark. It wasn’t until May 11, 1945, that Oslo was liberated from the Germans. Currently, the fortress is used as a military training center, defense bastion, museum, defense headquarters, and Royal Mausoleum. Visitors can enter between the hours of 6:00am and 9:00pm daily. Erin Tracy is the owner and author of this blog, Traveling Thru History, which she uses to share her love of history, culture, and travel with her readers. You can also find stories and pictures of her travels on her Facebook page. Spain – Plaza Mayor If you’re looking for the epicenter of traditional Spanish history, look no further than Madrid’s Plaza Mayor, which celebrated its 400th anniversary in 2017. Nearly every Spanish town has a Plaza Mayor – the main plaza where the townspeople come together for all manner of events. In the past, these would have been bullfights, though now they’re more often filled with markets and outdoor cafes. Madrid’s Plaza Mayor has perhaps the most notorious history of them all, as it was here that people deemed heretics during the Spanish Inquisition were condemned and executed. Madrid’s Plaza Mayor witnessed hangings, burnings at the stake, and beheadings during this time, so it’s no surprise that the plaza is supposedly haunted. Still, it wasn’t all morbid goings-on, as coronations and marketplaces also took place in Plaza Mayor throughout history. The plaza that stands today has undergone many reconstructions due to no less than three fires that burned through the original wooden structures in the 17th and 18th centuries. Juan de Herrera designed the previous plaza, Plaza del Arrabal, in 1560 and was asked by King Philip II to design a remodel in 1577. Construction on what was to become Plaza Mayor started in 1617, and finished in 1619. In 1790, Juan de Villanueva designed the current plaza after the three fires destroyed the previous one. Interestingly, in honor of the Constitution of 1812, Spain put out a decree that all major plazas were to be renamed Plaza de la Constitución. The Borbóns regained the throne in 1814 and renamed the plaza Plaza Real. Between 1820 to 1873, the plaza bounced between Plaza de la Constitución and Plaza Real. In 1873, it became Plaza de la República and then Plaza de la Constitución from 1876 to 1922. The Second Spanish Republic once again named the plaza Plaza de la Constitución, which lasted until the end of the Spanish Civil War. At that time, the plaza was named Plaza Mayor. The reconstructed Plaza Mayor is one of the most touristy places in Madrid, but it’s without a doubt still worth a visit. Simply stroll through the stone arches and envision all of the history that took place right where you’re standing. There are many events still held in Plaza Mayor, but luckily of a more benign kind, such as jazz concerts and the annual Christmas market, which was first started back in 1860. When you visit, be sure not to miss the unique street performers, like Fat Spiderman and Tinsel Goat. If you’re looking for more tips about the rest of your stay in Madrid, the tourism office is also located right in Plaza Mayor. Free walking tours also leave from in front of it twice a day. Sam and Veren are New Yorkers now living in Madrid. Read more tips on free and cheap things to do in Madrid on their blog, Alternative Travelers, where they also write about sustainable vegan travel and expat life in Spain. Find them also on Instagram. Andorra – Church of Santa Coloma d’Andorra The Church of Santa Coloma d’Andorra is the oldest church in Andorra and is located in Santa Coloma, Andorra la Vella Parish. It is believed the church was originally built during the late 8th or early 9th centuries and underwent modifications during the 12th century. During these modifications, the four-floor Lombardian bell tower was added. This circular bell tower is one of the few that exists in the Pyrenees. In 1730, the windows on the bell tower were covered to reduce the amount of wind that came into the church, but they have since been uncovered. During the 1740s, the interior of the church was modified to add the current altarpiece. The interior was once covered in Romanesque murals. Most of these murals were taken by the Germans in 1930 and showcased in Berlin until 2007 when they were returned to Andorra. In 1933, new Romanesque mural paintings were discovered around the nave and restoration work was done. These fragments can still be seen today. In 1976, a large campaign was undertaken to restore the church to its original design. As it stands now, the Church of Santa Coloma d’Andorra looks as it did after the modifications of the 12th century and the addition of the 1740 baroque altarpiece. Another item of note is the 11th century Romanesque statue Mare de Déu de Santa Coloma found in the church. It is no longer housed there, but can be found with the murals at the Andorran Government Exhibition Hall. Erin Tracy is the owner and author of this blog, Traveling Thru History, which she uses to share her love of history, culture, and travel with her readers. You can also find stories and pictures of her travels on her Facebook page. Azerbaijan – Palace of the Shirvanshahs The Palace of the Shirvanshahs is a 15th century palace in Baku and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. The main part of the palace is two stories with three winding staircases. Construction started in 1411 by order of Shirvanshah Sheykh Ibrahim I after the capital was moved to Baku from Shemakha when an earthquake decimated the city. Built on the highest hill in the city, the limestone palace complex boasts nine buildings in three courtyards on different levels: the palace, the Courtroom, the Dervish´s Tomb, the Eastern Gate, the Shah Mosque, the Keygubad Mosque, the palace tomb, the bathhouse and the reservoir. To keep his palace safe, Ibrahim I paid a tribute to Timur of the Mongols. Even so, when war broke out between the Shirvanshahs and the Safavids in 1500, the palace was looted and damaged. Later, while the Iranians and Ottomans were fighting for control of the South Caucasus, the state of Shirvan was attacked multiple times due to their proximity to a heavily traveled trade route between the two regions. Shirvanshah Palace was damaged several times during these attacks. In 1828, the Russians stepped in and occupied Shirvan State and much of what is now Azerbaijan. They turned Shirvanshah Palace into a military headquarters and destroyed many of the palace buildings. The palace was renamed Complex of the Palace of the Shirvanshahs in 1954 amd made a State Historic-Architectural Reserve and Museum. In 1960, the palace was designated an architectural monument. Erin Tracy is the owner and author of this blog, Traveling Thru History, which she uses to share her love of history, culture, and travel with her readers. You can also find stories and pictures of her travels on her Facebook page. Liechtenstein – Gutenberg Castle The hill where Gutenberg Castle stands has been inhabited since the Neolithic Period. The castle that stands there now first started out as a medieval church. During the 12th century, the church was converted to a keep and the attached cemetery was removed. Walls were built around the keep and a tower was added to the keep. Records show the structure was called Gutenberg Castle in 1296, but it’s possible the name was given earlier. Ownership of the castle was held by the Lords of Frauenberg during the 12th and 13th centuries, but it transferred to the House of Habsburg in 1314. The Habsburgs used Gutenberg Castle as a fortification to guard the borders of their territories from the Swiss. Since 1314, Gutenberg Castle has gone through a myriad of changes. In 1499, the castle was damaged by a siege during the Swabian War. Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I began an initiative to repair the damage and improve fortifications. Later, in 1537, the drawbridge to the castle was destroyed during a storm and was dismantled. It was never replaced. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the castle was damaged by a series of fires. It was during the time the castle was also deemed no longer a military necessity, though residents still inhabited the castle until around 1750. In 1795, a fire damaged a great part of the nearby city of Balzers and the residents used materials from the now-abandoned castle to rebuild their city. The town purchased the castle in 1824 and attempted to do repairs, but not much was done and it was eventually sold to Princess Franziska von Liechtenstein, who then sold it to Egon Rheinberger, an architect from Vaduz. He undertook an extensive restoration project between 1905 and 1912 to add nes buildings to the lower part of the castle. After he died in 1936, the castle was rented out for events until it was sold again in 1951. It wasn’t until 1979 that the Principality of...

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Top Historic Sites in Europe, Part 4