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Historic Sites on the East Coast

Erin — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 01:58:32 +0000

The East Coast is full of sites from early US history. These are some of the more important and unique historic sites on the East Coast that you really shouldn't miss.

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Top Historic Sites in Europe, Part 6

Erin — Mon, 29 Jan 2018 08:04:19 +0000

Welcome to Part 6 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 50 countries in Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5 and today you’ll get to see the last three countries along with seven bonus sites! 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. Monaco – Monaco Palace Monaco Palace is formally known as the Prince’s Palace in Monaco and was first built as a Genoese fortress in 1191. In 1297, the Grimaldi family captured the fortress through the deception of Francois Grimaldi and made it their stronghold as feudal lords. In the 17th century, the Grimaldi family became sovereign rulers. Before becoming sovereign rulers, the Grimaldi family had to go through a series of the usual hardships of the era. During the 1330s, Charles Grimaldi the First strengthened the fortress and made it strong enough to withstand over 100 years worth of attacks from Genoa, Pisa, Venice, Naples, France, Spain, Germany, England and Provence. Between the 1340s and 1370s, the fortress frequently changed hands between the Grimaldi family and the Genoese and in the end, the Grimaldi family was able to retain ownership of the property. In the 15th century, the fortress was expanded enough to accommodate roughly 400 soldiers as well as the addition of several buildings and a large new wing that signified the beginning of the fortress becoming a palace. While Monaco Palace has been the seat of the Grimaldi family, they have not always resided there. The Grimaldi family were absentee rulers from 1662 through the mid 1700s, choosing instead to live in France at Versailles. In 1793, the family lost the Palace for a short period during the French Revolution while they were placed in exile. In 1814, the Treaty of Paris saw Monaco returned to the Grimaldi family, where it has remained ever since, though not always as a primary residence. Various descendants of the Grimaldi family have chosen to live either at the family estate of Le Marchais outside Paris or in Germany. Prince Rainier III began extensive renovations on the palace starting in 1949 and the family once again returned to the palace that has been their seat of power for over 700 years. 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. Wales – Cardiff Castle Cardiff Castle was built in the late 11th century by Norman invaders on top of a 3rd-century Roman fort. The castle was originally built with wood and stone, but in the 12th century it was rebuilt completely in stone. These stones were strong enough to withstand multiple attacks by the Anglo-Normans and the Welsh. In 1423, Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick, conducted extensive renovations and added the main range on the west side of the castle along with the tall octagonal tower that is seen there today. Around the 1490s, Cardiff Castle began to have less significance as a military outpost, though it wasn’t until the 1550s that the castle began being transformed into a residential property. 1642 saw the castle change hands when Parliamentary forces overran the grounds during the English Civil War, though Royalists regained the property in 1645. The castle was again fought over during the Second English Civil War in 1648 and was almost destroyed by Parliament after the war, but it was eventually decided to garrison troops on the grounds as protection against the Scottish. In the 18th century, the Marquess of Bute. John Stuart, received the castle when he married Charlotte Jane Windsor, daughter of Thomas, Viscount Windsor. After receiving the newly created peerage title of Marquess in the mid-1770s, John Stuart began renovating Cardiff Castle. Several stone walls were removed, a hall and the knights’ houses were demolished, and the grounds were flattened to allow for turf. The main part of the castle had sections removed, two new wings added, and various features updated. The grounds had trees and greenery removed, the moat was filled, and a summer house was built. The castle remained the same until 1868 when the third Marquess of Bute decoded to remodel the castle. It had sat mostly empty since 1814 with only occasional occupants, leading to a low level of disrepair. The third Marquess of Bute added a 150-foot clock tower that contained a lavishly decorated bedroom, servant’s quarters, and smoking rooms. Various other rooms were added to the castle at this time, including the Guest Tower, Arab Room, Chaucer Room, nursery, library, roof garden, Banqueting Hall and bedrooms. All of these rooms were heavily gilded with elaborate carvings, paintings, accents, and stained glass. The grounds were also heavily altered to remove any trace of medieval or Roman times and reinstall the trees and shrubberies which were previously removed. In 1921, the fourth Marquess of Bute restored the masonry to what it was in medieval times and rebuilt various gates and towers that had been part of the original castle. He allowed archaeological investigations of the property to discover Roman walls, which led to the redesign of other buildings which were restored. He also tore out the grand staircase that had been added in the 19th century. Further restorations were carried out after 1947 when the castle was handed over to the city of Cardiff. 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. Ukraine – Kiev Pechersk Lavra Kiev Pechersk Lavra is also known as the Monastery of the Caves. It is a historic Orthodox Christian monastery which gave its name to one of the city districts where it is located in Kiev. This Monastery was founded in 1051 by an Orthodox monk named Anthony who hailed from an Esphigmenon monastery on Mount Athos. He chose a cave in the Besetov Mountains overlooking the Dnieper River and was eventually granted the entire mountain by Prince Iziaslav I, at which point the monastery was built by architects from Constantinople. This monastery became the preeminent center of Eastern Orthodox Christianity in Eastern Europe. In conjunction with the nearby Saint Sophia Cathedral, this monastery has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The main church of the monastery of Dormition Cathedral. The original monastery was built in the 11th century, but was unfortunately destroyed in 1941 when German Nazis occupied the city. There is debate about whether the Germans destroyed the monastery while taking over the city or if the Russians were responsible while enacting the Khreshchatyk explosions to blow up all the bridges in Kiev. While we many never know who was truly responsible for destroying an ancient masterpiece, the structure has been reconstructed to fit its original design. Along with the beautiful monastery, Pechersk Lavra boasts several other architectural marvels. The All Saints Church erected between 1696–1698 is a stunning example of Ukrainian Baroque architecture. Characteristic of the church facades are rich architectural embellishments. In 1905 students of the Lavra art school painted the interior walls of the church. The carved wooden iconostasis is multi-tiered and was made for the All Saints church in the early 18th century. The Gate Church of the Trinity is located atop the Holy Gates, which houses the entrance to the monastery. According to a legend, this church was founded by the Chernihiv Prince Sviatoslav II. It was built atop an ancient stone church which used to stand in its place. In 1718, a fire destroyed the church, but it was quickly rebuilt, its facades and interior walls decorated with ornate stucco work made by V. Stefaovych. In the 18th century, a new gilded pear-shaped dome was built, the facade and exterior walls were decorated with stucco-moulded plant ornaments, and a vestibule built of stone attached to the north end. In the early 20th, century the front and the walls flanking the entrance were painted by icon painters under the guidance of V. Sonin. The interior of the church also contains murals by the early 18th century painter Alimpy Galik. The Great Lavra Bell Tower was designed by Johann Gottfried Schädel. This structure is 96.5 meters in height and was the tallest free-standing bell tower at the time of its construction in 1731–1745. The refectory chambers with the Church of the Saints Anthony and Theodosius is the third in a series of temples. The original temple was built in the 12th century and no drawings or visual depictions of it remain. The second temple was built at the time of the Cossack Hetmanate and was disassembled by the Russian authorities in the 19th century. It was replaced with the current temple, often referred to as the Refectory Church of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. 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. BONUS SITES We’ve hit all the countries in Europe and given some history about the top site for each country, but it’s always hard to pick just one. Here are 7 more sites you won’t want to miss. Romania – Bran Castle Bran Castle is famously known as Dracula’s Castle. It is located on the border between Transylvania and Wallachia in Romania. The first structure to sit on this site was the castle of Dietrichstein, which Teutonic Knights built out of wood in 1212. This castle was destroyed by Mongols in 1242. In 1377, Louis I of Hungary gave Saxons permission to build a stone castle on the site, which was eventually used in defense against the Ottoman Turks in 1438-1442. When it wasn’t being used defensively, the castle was a customs post for those who traveled the mountain pass between Transylvania and Wallachia. In 1533, the City of Brasov took possession of the castle as payment for outstanding loans made to King Vladislas of Hungary. From that time forward, the castle played a militarily strategic role up to the mid-18th century. The next notable event in the castle’s history was in 1920 when the Treaty of Trianon granted Transylvania to Romania, along with Bran Castle, which became the royal residence in Romania. Queen Marie ordered extensive restoration work on the castle to bring it back to its medieval splendor. During WWII, the castle was used as a hospital before it was seized by the communist regime in 1948. At this time the royal family was exiled from Romania. It wasn’t until 2005 that the castle was returned to the Habsburg family who then carried out further restorations before opening the castle as the first private museum in Romania in 2009. 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. Greece – Erechtheion The Erechtheion (also called Erechtheumis) an ancient Greek temple on the north side of the Acropolis of Athens in Greece. The Persians had destroyed much of the city during an invasion, so Pericles, the general of Athens from 461-429 BC, commissioned two men to restore the damaged buildings atop the Acropolis. Along with restoring the sacred religious building the Persians had destroyed, Pericles also requested that they build another building, The Erechtheion. The purpose for the Erechtheion is...

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Top Historic Sites in Europe, Part 5

Erin — Tue, 23 Jan 2018 02:30:37 +0000

Welcome to Part 5 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 40 countries in Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 and today you’ll get to see 10 more in Part 5! 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. Austria – Melk Abbey Melk Abbey is a Benedictine abbey that was founded in 1089 when Leopold II gave one of his castles to a monk from Lambach Abbey. It was used as an abbey until the 12th century when it was converted to a monastic school. Over the centuries, Melk Abbey became renowned for the extensive manuscript collection housed there and for the monastery’s production of manuscripts. This abbey is also known for being the center of the Melk Reform movement in the 15th century. Unfortunately, the original Melk Abbey no longer stands. Sometime in the 16th century, the abbey was torn down and in 1702, the current Baroque structure was built. It took 34 years to finish the abbey and adorn it with medieval frescoes, after which it was filled with the current collection of medieval manuscripts. In the late 1780s, Austria underwent a period when the Emperor begane dissolving abbeys around the country. Because of its notoriety and academic standing, the abbey was spared. Melk Abbey was also threatened during the Napoleonic Wars, but it wasn’t until the Anschluss in 1938 that the abbey was ever taken over. The Austrian State closed the school at Melk Abbey and took over several buildings in the complex. It wasn’t until after WWII that the school returned to the abbey, where it still resides today. Erin Tracy is the owner and author of 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 , Instagram, and Twitter pages. Cyprus – Stavrovouni Monastery Stavrovouni Monastery was founded by Saint Helena, the mother of Byzantine Emperor Constantine I, around 327–329 AD and is one of the oldest monasteries in the world. During Saint Helena’s pilgrimage to find the cross Jesus Christ was crucified on, as told in the Stavelot Triptych, she is said to have found the three crosses Jesus Christ and the two thieves had been hung on. After excavating them and beginning her journey back to Constantinople, she was shipwrecked in Cyprus and the Holy Cross miraculously transported to the top of the mountain where a bright light was being emitted. Saint Helena attempted to remove the Holy Cross several times, but it would not come out. Once she decided to leave a piece of it there and build a chapel around it, the Holy Cross removed from the mountain. After the chapel was built, a group of Orthodox monks began living there. They were the caretakers of the Holy Cross until it disappeared during the 1500s. It is assumed the Ottoman Turks took it or destroyed it during their occupation of the island, with it being noted the cross was gone in 1598. The Turks took control of Cyprus and banned the monks from the monastery from the 16th to the 19th centuries. A fire almost destroyed the church, iconostasis, and monks’ cells during a fire in 1888 when it was reinhabited, but it took less than a year to repair the damage and get the monastery up and running again. Unfortunately, the only ancient relic that still exists is a silver cross that houses a small sliver of the Holy Cross that once stood there. Since the 1890s, Stavrovouni Monastery has become the spiritual center of Cyprus. Monks are trained at Stavrovouni Monastery and then sent to struggling monasteries in the region to help them grow. Because of its popularity and success, the monastery was restored in the 20th century and is now adorned with frescoes and icons that tell the legend of its founding. Erin Tracy is the owner and author of 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 , Instagram, and Twitter pages. Poland – Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau has to be one of the saddest places we have even been. What was once a Polish Army Barracks was turned into one of the most notorious Nazi Concentration Camps of WWII. Auschwitz I was originally constructed to house Polish political prisoners before becoming one of the biggest extermination camps with the building of Auschwitz II-Birkenau a few kilometres away. The first trains carrying Jewish men, women and children arrived at Birkenau in September 1941 where they were unloaded and selected for either work at the camp or where sent to the gas chambers that were onsite. The Auschwitz I barracks or ‘blocks’ were also used to do medical experiments on some of the prisoners that came through the camps. Dr Joseph Mengele was one doctor that did hideous experiments on people especially twins while he was at the camp. It is believed that over 1.3 million Jews were murdered at Auschwitz-Birkenau from its opening until late 1944 where the remaining prisoners were left to either starve at the camp or led on a death march as the liberating armies approached. Auschwitz II-Birkenau was finally liberated by the Red Army on the afternoon of the 27th of January, 1945 with Auschwitz one being reached a few hours later. I believe visiting here gives you a greater sense of the loss and the scale in which it was reached. The barracks are now places that tell the stories of the camp, the unspeakable things that happened there. It is a home to some peoples possessions that were left at the camp when it was liberated and a reminder that it should never, ever happen again. Bec Wyld of Wyld Family Travel and her family are from a small country town in Victoria, Australia. They juggle full-time jobs, school, a mortgage, and life with fitting as much travel and day trips in as possible, all of which they share on their Facebook page along with fun, affordable attractions and destinations. Czech Republic – Prague Astronomical Clock In Prague’s Old Town Square stands one of the most unique clocks in the world. It is made of three parts: an astronomical dial, a set of clockwork figures called “The Walk of the Apostles,” and a calendar dial with medallions representing the months of the year. A popular legend in the city says that if the clock is neglected and is unable to operate well, the city will suffer, but it is unknown if the city did suffer during the many times the clock stopped working. The first part of the clock created was the mechanical clock and astronomical dial in 1410. It is believed the calendar dial was added in 1490 and the gothic sculpture facade was added around the same time. Another legend surrounding the clock tells that the Prague Councillors ordered that the clockmaker, Hanus, be blinded so he couldn’t repeat his work. As revenge, he disabled the clock and it took over a hundred years for anyone to figure out how to fix what he’d done. The next change after the clock was repaired in 1552 came in 1629 when wooden statues were added to the clock. Major repair work was carried out from 1787 to 1791 and that was when the figures of the Apostles were added. Later, during repair work in 1865, the golden rooster was added. In May 1945, during WWII, the Germans fired on Czechs who were resisting the occupation and damaged the clock. Buildings in the square were burned as well as the wooden sculptures on the clock and the original calendar dial face from 1490. It took three years to repair the damage and restore wooden Apostle sculptures on the clock. Since 1948, the clock has only stopped working twice. The first time was in 2005 when the statues and lower calendar ring were restored and nets were added to keep the pigeons off the clock. The second time ws in July 2017 when additional renovations were carried out on the tower. Erin Tracy is the owner and author of 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 , Instagram, and Twitter pages. Iceland – Hólar í Hjaltadal Hólar Cathedral is a small and well-known church high up in the mountains of Iceland. While this is one of the oldest churches in Iceland, it isn’t the first church to sit on this site. Six previous churches stood in its place and none were fated to last very long. The first church on this site built in 1050. That one was destroyed a few decades after it was finished and another was built in the late 11th century. The second church fared no better and was rebuilt in the early 12th century. This church lasted until the end of the 13th century and the fourth was built in 1300. That church lasted around 90 years and was rebuilt around 1394. The sixth, and final church, was erected in 1757. Once the present church was completed in 1763, it was consecrated a cathedral. Hólar lost its standing in 1801 when the Diocese of Hólar was dissolved and combined with the Diocese of Iceland. This was short-lived and the church was once again consecrated a cathedral in 1909 when the Diocese of Hólar was reestablished. While the red stone church may seem small and unassuming, it is very interesting and important to the people of Iceland. Hólar is the oldest stone church in the country and one of the best known historic sites in Iceland. The red color of the stones used to build the church were mined from the mountains above the city. Another item of note is that a copy of the first Icelandic Bible from 1584 is on display inside the church. As for the tower beside the church, this free-standing tower was built in 1950 in honor of Bishop Jon Arason, the last Catholic bishop of Iceland. He and his sons were beheaded in 1550 when the nation changed the national religion from Catholicism to Lutheranism. Erin Tracy is the owner and author of 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 , Instagram, and Twitter pages. Luxembourg – Vianden Castle The site where Vianden Castle stands was first inhabited in the late 10th century. The castle was built in the early 11th century on the site of an ancient Roman watchtower and is one of the largest fortified castles west of the Rhine. The first structures built were a keep, a kitchen, a chapel, and residential rooms, which indicate an aristocratic family lived there. During the early 12 century, modifications were carried out. A new residential tower and a decagonal chapel were added while the palace keep was extended. In the 13th century, the palace keep was demolished and a new, two-story, structure was added along with a lavish gallery that attached it to the church. These renovations were made because the Count of Vianden wished to rival the House of Luxembourg in power and prestige. Having a grand palace and impressive castle fortress were one of the ways the Count of Vianden chose to do this. Over the years, Vianden Castle was renovated and modified,...

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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 3

Erin — Tue, 26 Dec 2017 14:00:32 +0000

Welcome to Part 3 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 20 countries in Parts 1 and 2 and today you’ll get to see 10 more in Part 3! 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. Belgium – Bruges Market Square and Belfry Bruges (or Brugge) is deservedly one of the most popular cities to visit in Belgium. The city experienced its golden age during the late medieval period, between the 12th and 15th centuries, during which time Bruges was one of the busiest ports in the world. However, when the river channel leading into Bruges began to fill with silt, the city gradually lost its importance, along with much of its population. Soon, all that was left of the city that was once Belgium’s crown jewel were its beautiful medieval buildings. It was these historic buildings that first attracted tourists in the late 19th century, and brought new life back to the city. At the heart of Bruges lie multiple squares, home to the most important buildings of the city, with the largest square being the Markt, or Market Square. Regular markets have been held in this square since the 10th century and are still held to this day. Surrounding the square are impressive guild houses, including the Provincial Palace, the Cloth Hall and towering above all, the Belfry. The Belfry of Bruges is one of the most famous sites in Belgium. Belfries were a type of medieval bell tower used throughout the region of Flanders and the neighboring Duchy of Burgundy in France. Along with tolling the hours and half hours, they also served as a source of civic pride to the cities and towns, separate from the landmarks built by the church and feudal lords. Along with being an important bell tower, the Belfry of Bruges housed the city’s treasury and archives and was used as a watch tower to keep an eye out for fires and other dangers. The Belfry in Bruges dates back to the mid 13th century. It was first built in 1240, but was heavily damaged by a fire in 1280, after which it was rebuilt. Unfortunately, the archives house inside the belfry were destroyed during that same fire. The belfry has stayed mostly the same since it was rebuilt in 1280. An octagonal top was added in the late 1400s along with a wooden spire holding an image of St. Michael holding a banner while standing atop a dragon, this addition was struck by lightning in 1493, which resulted in the destruction of the octagonal top and the belfry’s bells. Another wooden spire was added shortly thereafter, but it, too, was destroyed by fire in 1741. It wasn’t until 1822 that the Gothic stone parapet was added to the top, which has stood, undamaged, ever since. When you visit Market Square, it’s possible to climb to the top of the Belfry of Bruges and take in a magnificent panoramic view of the city. Halfway up you’ll reach the Treasury, which is where the city’s charters, seal and public funds were kept during the Medieval period. And, at the very top, is the chamber for the bells – all 47 of them! Even if you don’t climb the tower, the market square is one of the best places in Bruges to dine out any time of the day, or just settle for a drink, with the square these days lined with restaurants. Or just stop by one of the many gelato shops and relax by the fountain, taking in the beautiful surroundings. Shandos Cleaver is the founder and blogger-in-chief of Travelnuity, a travel blog focused on dog-friendly travel around the world. She’s currently travelling around Europe with her Miniature Dachshund, Schnitzel, and shares about their adventures on Facebook. Belarus – Mir Castle Mir Castle is one of the most renowned fortifications in Belarus. Construction on what would eventually become Mir Castle took place during the early 1400s in an area which was then called the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. This private estate remained in the Gedyegoldovish family for roughly 60 years before it fell into the hands of Duke Yury Ilinich. Due to political ambitions and regional hostilities, Duke Ilinich decided to build a fortress castle in what is now called the Belarusian Gothic style. The way Mir Castle was built is unique. The five 25-foot high towers of the castle were planned as independent centers of resistance that were capable of supporting adjacent towers. Each tower was designed so that the towers next to it could deliver flanking fire to increase defensive capabilities. One construction aspect of note is that the tower walls were designed with three layers: the two outside layers are made of brick and stone while the middle layer is made up of small stones and broken bricks. Unfortunately, neither Duke Ilinich nor any member of his family ever saw the completion of Mir Castle. Within 40 years, the entire Ilinich family was gone. Duke Ilinich’s grandson left the Mir Estate to his cousin, Prince Mikolaj Krzysztof Radziwill, in whose family the estate remained for the next three centuries. Prince Radziwill finished construction of Mir Castle by adding two three-story living quarters to the northern and eastern walls of the castle and rebuilt three of the towers. He also added a fortified gate to the entrance. Over the centuries, Mir Castle has gone through multiple periods of grandeur and decay, as well as surviving many conflicts. Several restorations have been done over the years, but it wasn’t until 1922 that a full-scale extensive restoration was undertaken, which took 16 years. Sadly, Mir Castle was taken by the Germans during WWII and used as a ghetto for roughly 800 Jews who lived nearby. After Belarus was liberated by the Allies in July 1944, Mir Castle was used as a refuge for the hundreds of Mir residents whose homes had been destroyed during the war. The last of the families staying in the castle left in 1962 and it once again fell into disrepair. In 1983, another extensive restoration was done on Mir Castle and it was opened to the public on December 16, 2010. Nowadays, Mir Castle is a living museum of history as well as a venue for cultural festivals and events. Mir Castle was one of the highlights of my visit to Belarus. It has a nice lake and park on its territory, which are the most enjoyable during warm months. The entrance to the territory, parks, lake is free. To visit museums inside the castle, you need to get a ticket. One day per month (last Wednesday of the month, as a rule) there is a free entry for everyone. Budget traveler, Eastern European, living with local people in India to explore the country from a different angle! Beyond traveling, Natalia is an events & marketing specialist by day and a blogger at My Trip Hack. Twitter: https://twitter.com/mytriphack Albania – Ruins of Apollonia and the Church of St. Mary Apollonia was founded in 588 BC by Greek colonists and named after the god Apollo (not very original as there were 23 other Apollonias along the Mediterranean coast). This Apollonia was the biggest and most important of them all, with a population of 60,000, a record in ancient times. Over the next 800 years, it became a major port for slaves, agriculture, pottery and asphalt. Due to the slave trade, Apollonia rose to become an important city-state: the city minting its own coins and, in 229 BC, became a Roman Protectorate. Apollonia supported Julius Caesar during the Roman Civil War of the 1st century and was rewarded with the title of “Free City,” meaning it didn’t pay tax to Rome. Under Roman rule, Apollonia also became a major centre of learning. Julius Caesar even sent his nephew Octavius, the future Emperor Augustus, to study here. Unfortunately, an earthquake in the third century changed everything for Apollina. Due to the changed landscape from the earthquake, the course of the Vjosa river changed, causing the harbour to silt up and prevent vessels from entering. This resulted in a major downturn in trade and started the slow decline Apollonia’s importance. Over time, the silted river became a mosquito-ridden swampland, increasing the frequency of malaria outbreaks. Added to this, the social structure of the city was failing and the Goths were invading the region. Apollonia was no longer a pleasant place to live and, by 800 AD, the city was largely abandoned. During the 9th century, after most residents had left the city, the monastery of St Mary was built by the small group of Christians who remained. in the ruins of the city and was rebuilt in the 14th century. During communist times, religion was banned, so the monastery was used to house livestock and supplies. Since the fall of communism, the Church of St. Mary was returned to its original use and the former monastery buildings were modified to house a small museum and cafe. With its ancient architecture and dim candle lit rooms, St. Mary’s is once again a place of peace. These days Apollonia attracts not only tourists but also newlyweds who want to get their photos taken amongst the ruins. Around the site are the remains of public buildings, temples, theatres, fountains, villas and the old city walls. If you’re looking for things to do in Albania and are interested in Ancient Greece then a day trip to Apollonia is a must. Ron and Michele are Australians who have decided to live life with less things and have more experiences. Their blog, Legging It Travel, covers their travel experiences across more than 30 countries, which they share on their Facebook page. Croatia – Diocletian’s Palace Diocletian’s Palace is one of the few UNESCO Heritage Sites with residents who live, work, and play inside the palace walls. If you’ve ever wanted to experience living in history, staying in this modern community allows you to soak up the site’s history and marvel at how relevant it is for every aspect of contemporary life. Long neglected, but now undergoing a renaissance, the Palace is popular with visitors who arrive by cruise ship from other countries, ferry from the Dalmatian islands, and Croatians on holiday. Roman Emperor Diocletian, who ruled from 284-305A.D., famously resigned his position due to declining health, wanting to spend the remainder of his days by the seaside close to where he was born. His plan was to grow tomatoes in the lovely Mediterranean setting in what is now the city of Split, Croatia, on the Dalmatian Coast. This just might be the world’s oldest surviving, upscale retirement home on the water. Constructed at the turn of the 4th century A.D., the palace complex’s residential areas, storehouses, public gathering spaces and temples were supported by a military garrison. Abandoned for several hundred years, and then neglected during Yugoslavia’s Communist regime, the buildings are now repurposed and individual property values within the Palace walls are rising. Foreign nationals looking for an inexpensive holiday home have invested in apartments here, many of which have required restoration within the confines of protected, heritage status. Visitors will experience a bustling, yet relaxed vibe which incorporates historical heritage and clever renovations. Innovative restaurants, upscale accommodations and specialty shops are interspersed among historical squares, a circular oculus open to the sky, colonnades and arches, and ornamental entry gates designated as Gold, Silver and Iron. A stay...

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