Beautiful Places

Prince's Palace of Monaco

2010-08-31T08:12:00.006+02:00

The official residence of the Prince of Monaco, the Prince's Palace, has been the home of the Grimaldi family since the end of the 13th century. It was founded in 1191 as a Genoese fortress but was captured by Francois Grimaldi and his men on January 8, 1297. Francois Grimaldi disguised as a monk and asking for shelter, managed to get inside by an unwitting guard and led the attack from there. The Grimaldi's, an aristocratic family of Genoa, were ousted some time before of their home during a conflict about the authority of Pope Innocent IV. The statue of Francois Grimaldi dressed as a monk is standing in front of the palace.
The Prince's Palace is open for visits from April 2 to October 31. During your visit you can see the State Apartments, the royal courtyard, 16th-century Genovese frescoes, a spectacular double-revolution staircase and much more. The changing of the guards takes place daily at 11:55 in the Palace Square.

View location in Monaco-Ville, Principality of Monaco.

Monte Carlo Casino

2010-08-29T10:09:00.011+02:00

The Monte Carlo Casino in Monaco is one of the most luxurious casinos in the world. Charles Garnier, who also designed the Paris Opera House, was hired to created this famous Belle Époque building. The construction of the casino took place between 1858-1863 and was ordered by Prince Charles III. Since 1898 the Monte Carlo Casino is owned by the Société des Bains de Mer, in which the government holds a majority interest.
The building also includes the Grand Théâtre de Monte Carlo, an opera and ballet house and is the headquarter of the Ballets de Monte Carlo

View location in Monte Carlo, Principality of Monaco.

De Haar Castle

2010-08-27T13:43:00.003+02:00

The medieval Castle De Haar in Utrecht is one of the largest castles of the Netherlands. Since 1391 a castle was standing at the current location. During the centuries it changed owners several times and was damaged severely. In 1892, Baron Etienne van Zuylen van Nijevelt, who had inherited the castle, started to rebuilt it. Under guidance of Holland's most famous architect Dr PHJ Cuypers, Castle de Haar was brought back to its former glory.
The park surrounding the castle was created by Henri Copijn after 1895. It has a rose garden, a Roman garden, a labyrinth, large ponds and is an excellent place for a picnic.
Castle De Haar is now a museum and is open to the public. It can be visited on guided tours, these can take up to one hour.
During the month of September the castle is closed when the Van Zuylen van Nijevelt family comes back for their month long stay.

View location in Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Parc des Topiaires

2010-08-25T18:42:00.005+02:00

The Parc des Topiaires in Durbuy has a collection of mainly box trees trimmed in all possible forms. More than 250 sculptures are located in an area of 10.000 m². Some of these beautiful shaped plants are almost 120 years old. They received their current form after 20 years of patient trimming. The park is located on the banks of the Ourthe River, from here you have also a great view of the castle and the centre of Durbuy.

View location in Durbuy, Belgium.

Durbuy, the smallest city in the world

2010-08-22T11:19:00.009+02:00

Durbuy is a Belgian city in the province of Luxembourg. It is located on the banks of the Ourthe River in the Ardennes region. Durbuy describes itself as being the smallest city in the world. They lost claims to this title when it joined with a number of surrounding communities into a single commune in 1977. According to the Guinness Book of World Records the smallest city in the world today is Hum in Croatia.
Nevertheless, Durbuy is a popular destination in Belgium for its adventure activities like kayaking, rock-climbing, cave exploration and many more. Main attraction in the centre is the Parc des Topiaires, a garden with beautiful shaped box trees. The city has also a castle(last photo) which is not open for visitors.

View location of Durbuy, Belgium.

Architecture in Prague

2010-08-17T22:57:00.008+02:00

Walking through the streets of Prague is a real pleasure. The mix of architecture makes Prague a great city to discover. Here is a small collection of some beautiful buildings in the centre. More great architecture can be found on my other posts.

View location of Prague, Czech Republic.

Old Town Square

2010-08-15T08:30:00.000+02:00

Located between Vltava River and Wenceslas Square, the Old Town Square is the heart of old Prague. The square is surround by many beautiful buildings like the Old Town Hall with the Astronomical Clock, the Church of Our Lady before Týn and St. Nicholas Church. In the centre of the square you can see the statue of Jan Hus, a religious reformer who was burned at the stake for his beliefs. The statue was erected on the 500th anniversary of his death at July 6 1915, it was made by Ladislav Saloud.
In the summer the Old Town Square is packed with tourists enjoying refreshment at the many terraces the square has to offer. During the year it is the place where many events, protests or celebrations are held.

View location in Prague, Czech Republic.

Church of Our Lady before Týn

2010-08-12T13:20:00.000+02:00

The Church of our Lady before Týn dominates the Old Town Square in the centre of Prague. Construction of the church started in the 14th century and was not finished until the end of the 16th century. It was the main church during the time of the Hussites and the home of the Hussite archbishop, Jan Rokycana.
The towers of the Church of Our Lady before Týn are 80m high and are not identical. One of them is more thicker than the other, it is said that they represent the masculine and feminine sides of the world.
The interior was rebuilt in Baroque style after a fire in 1679. It contains the tomb of the famous astronomer and mathematician Tycho Brahe who worked at the court of Rudolf II
A Part of the church is hidden behind the Týn School, the entrance to the church is via the arcade of this building on the Old Town Square.

View location in Prague, Czech Republic.

Astronomical Clock

2010-08-11T14:04:00.001+02:00

Prague's Astronomical Clock is the most popular attraction on the Old Town Square. The clock was constructed by Mikuláš z Kadaně and Jan Šindel in the 15th century. It has three main components, the astronomical dial which represents the position of the Sun and Moon, a calendar dial which stands for the months and "The Walk of the Apostles" which shows a procession of the Apostles on an hourly basis.
The 8 figures around the clock where added later. On the main dial are 4 animated figures: Vanity admiring himself in the mirror, Avarice waving a bag of money, Death ringing the bell and a Turk shaking his head.
Around the calender dial are 4 figures which are not animated. They are a chronicler, an angel, an astronomer and a philosopher.

View location in Prague, Czech Republic.

Jewish Quarter

2010-08-10T08:07:00.001+02:00

The Jewish Quarter or Josefov is located between the Old Town Square and the Vlava River. It was named after emperor Josef II who helped to make the living conditions for the Jewish better. This quarter dates back to the 13th century when the Jewish population was banned from living in any other area of Prague. Here you can also find the birthplace of Franz Kafka, one of the most influential writers of the 20th century.

The Jewish Quarter includes the Town Hall, Old Jewish Cemetery and 6 synagogues: the Pinkas Synagogue, the Klausen Synagogue, the Maisel Synagogue, the Spanish Synagogue, the Old-New Synagogue and the High Synagogue. The Old-New Synagogue, built in the 13th century, is the oldest working synagogue in Europe.

View location in Prague, Czech Republic.

New Town Hall

2010-08-10T08:00:00.001+02:00

The New Town Hall in Prague served as the seat of the New Town's administration until 1784. At that time Emperor Josef II joined the New Town, Old Town, Lesser Town and Hradcany together and the Town Hall lost its function.
After that the building was used as a courthouse and prison with torture room. Many political prisoners and revolutionaries were kept here.
The New Town Hall is now used for cultural and social events, including wedding ceremonies.

View location in Prague, Czech Republic.

Lesser Town

2010-08-10T07:51:00.002+02:00

Lesser Town is situated on the west bank of the river Vltava in Prague. It begins at the Charles Bridge and is around the foothills of Prague Castle. From here you can have great views over the town and the rest of Prague.
It is called lesser because traditionally it was the smaller half of the city. Lesser Town started as a market settlement and was granted town status by king Přemysl Otakar II. It was almost destroyed twice, in 1419 during the Hussite war and in the Great Fire in 1541.

The main attractions here are the St. Nicolas Church, Wallenstein Palace and Petrin Hill with a miniature Eiffel Tower on the top.

View location in Prague, Czech Republic.

St. Vitus Cathedral

2010-08-07T09:39:00.002+02:00

Located within Prague Castle, the St. Vitus Cathedral dominates the skyline of Prague. It is the largest and most important church in the Czech Republic and the seat of the Archbishop of Prague. St. Vitus took several centuries to complete, work began in 1344 and was not completed until the 20th century.
The cathedral contains the tombs of saints and Bohemian kings, including the graves of St. John of Nepomuk and St. Wenceslas. During the centuries the coronations of Czech kings and queens took place here, the Czech crown jewels are still kept in the coronation chamber of the cathedral.

View location in Prague, Czech Republic.

Prague Castle

2010-08-05T08:30:00.002+02:00

With a seize of almost 70 000 m², Prague Castle is the largest castle complex in the world. Construction of the castle started in the 9th century by Prince Bořivoj of the Premyslid Dynasty. For more than 700 years the complex served as the seat of the Bohemian princes and kings. Since 1918 it is the seat of the President of the Czech Republic.
Prague Castle consists of St. Vitus Cathedral, Golden Lane, palaces, gardens, St. George's Basilica and convent, art galleries and museums. It's the most visited tourist attraction in Prague, a visit can take up to half a day.

View location in Prague, Czech Republic.

Wenceslas Square

2010-08-03T11:11:00.000+02:00

Wenceslas Square in Prague is one of the main squares in the city centre. It was named after Saint Wenceslas, the patron saint of Bohemia and was originally used as a horse market. The square has the shape of a long rectangle measuring 750 m and is more a boulevard than a square. The end of this long boulevard is dominated by the National Museum, the oldest and largest museum of the Czech Republic. Along Wenceslas Square are many banks, hotels and businesses, making it a great location for shopping.
It is also the place where important events took place in the Czech history. The independent republic Czechoslovakia was declared here on 28th October 1918. During the Velvet Revolution in 1989, large demonstrations were held here.

View location in Prague, Czech Republic.

Powder Tower

2010-07-27T08:59:00.001+02:00

The Powder Tower used to be one of the 13 entrances to the Old Town of Prague. It is located next to the Municipal House, on the beginning of the Royal Way which leads to Prague Castle. The tower was built by Matěj Rejsek during the reign of King Vladislav II in 1475. It stands 65 m tall and is the only existing part of the former fortification.
In the 17th century when it was used to store gunpowder, the Powder Tower received its present name. Today you can visit a permanent exhibition of Prague Towers inside or have a look at a collection of photographs by Ladislav Sitensky. It's also possible to have a view over the Old Town from the 44 m high gallery.

View location in Prague, Czech Republic.

Jindrisska Tower

2010-07-25T09:00:00.000+02:00

With a height of 67,7 meters, the Jindrisska Tower is the highest separate belfry in Prague. The tower was constructed between 1472 and 1476 in Gothic style. During the centuries it was reconstructed several times because of damages caused by wars and a heavy storm.
Inside the Jindrisska Tower is a three storey restaurant, the Museum of Prague Towers and a small shop. On the top of the tower visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the city centre.

View location in Prague, Czech Republic.

Rudolfinum

2010-07-23T09:30:00.001+02:00

The Rudolfinum is one of Prague's most beautiful Neo-Renaissance buildings. It was named in honour of Rudolf v. Habsburg, Crown Prince of Austria. Originally designed as an art gallery and a House of Artists by Josef Zitek and Josef Schultz, it is now used for concerts and exhibitions. Between 1918 - 1938, the Rudolfinum was also the seat of the Parliament of the Czech Republic.
Construction started in 1876 and was finished in 1884 on a location along the Vltava river. The facade is an analogy of the Semper Opera in Dresden which was destroyed by fire.
Next to Smetana Hall in the Municipal House, the Rudolfinum has the most beautiful concert hall in Prague, the Dvorák Hall with excellent acoustics. Since 1946 it is home to the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra.

View location in Prague, Czech Republic.

Municipal House

2010-07-21T13:27:00.000+02:00

Designed by Antonín Balšánek and Osvald Polívka, the Municipal House is the most remarkable Art Nouveau building in Prague. With the input of 30 Czech leading artists, the building was constructed between 1905 and 1911. The Municipal house has a multifunctional purpose, it is used for concerts, conventions, conferences and balls. It also houses the most important concert hall of Prague, the Smetana Hall and is home to the Prague Symphony Orchestra.

View location in Prague, Czech Republic.

The Charles Bridge

2010-07-17T19:07:00.001+02:00

The Charles Bridge in Prague is one of the most visited sights of the city. It crosses the Vltava river and connects the Old Town with the Lesser Town. The bridge was named after King Charles IV, who laid the first stone in 1357. It measures about 515 metres long and 9.5 metres wide.

From the 17th century, the Charles Bridge was decorated with 30 Baroque statues. They represent saints and patron saints, the oldest one is the statue of St. John of Nepomuk. He was executed by being thrown off the bridge during the reign of Wenceslas IV. All statues have been replaced by replicas, the originals can be found in The National Museum.

At both ends of the Charles Bridge are towers standing. The Old Town Bridge Tower in Gothic style and two bridge towers at the Lesser Town side. The lower tower is a remainder of the Judith Bridge which collapsed in 1342, the taller one was inspired by the Old Town Bridge Tower.

View location in Prague, Czech Republic.

The Dancing House

2010-07-15T09:46:00.001+02:00

Prague's Dancing House is one of the most famous buildings in Europe. It was designed by Czech architect Vlado Milunic in co-operation with Canadian architect Frank O. Gehry. The building Commissioned by the Dutch Bank ING, was constructed between 1992-1996 in deconstructivist style. It resembles two dancers, with the glass construction in the shape of a women wearing a skirt. This is why the building is also being called "Fred and Ginger".

On the 7th floor of the Dancing House is the French restaurant "Celeste". Here you can enjoy delightful cuisine and magnificent views over the Vltava River and Prague Castle.

View location in Prague, the Czech Republic.

The Cathedral of Pisa

2010-07-12T10:57:00.000+02:00

The Santa Maria Assunta Cathedral was the first building that was constructed on the Piazza dei Miracoli. Pisan architect Buscheto started construction of this masterpiece in 1063. Its architecture became a mix of Romanesque and Pisan style. The façade with grey marble and white stone was built later by Buscheto's successor, Rainaldo.
The cathedral contains the Tomb of Emperor Henry VII and the bones of St. Ranieri, Pisa's patron saint. Noteworthy are also the carved pulpit(1302-1311) by Giovanni Pisano and the beautiful mosaic in the apse, representing Christ with the Blessed Virgin and John the Evangelist.

View location in Pisa, Italy.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa

2010-07-10T13:57:00.000+02:00

Although the Campanile(bell tower) was designed to be perfectly vertical, the result turned out to be somewhat different. Five years after construction started in 1174 by Bonanno Pisano, the tower started sinking into the ground due to poor laid foundation. The construction was stopped for almost a century and resumed by Giovanni di Simone who completed four more floors. Finally in 1370 construction was finished after the bell chamber was added.
In 1998, work started to stabilize to tower and prevent it from collapsing. Soil was removed from the North side of the Campanile which reduced the lean by 45 centimetres. In 2001 the bell tower was opened again for visitors, allowing 30 people to go to the top at once.
The height of the tower is 55.86 meters with a total of 294 steps to reach the top.

View location in Pisa, Italy.

The Baptistery

2010-07-07T12:51:00.002+02:00

The Baptistery in Pisa was the second building to rise at the Piazza del Duomo. With a circumference of 104 metres, it is the largest of its kind in Italy. The Baptistery is famous for being the place where the scientist Galileo Galilei was baptised in 1564.
Construction began in 1152 by the architect Deotisalvi and was finished at the end of the 14th century. The lower part is made in Romanesque style, the upper part and the dome in Gothic style. The interior is fairly plain but has two beautiful masterpieces, Guido Bigarelli's baptismal font (1246) and Nicola Pisano’s pulpit (1260).

View location in Pisa, Italy.

Piazza del Duomo in Pisa

2010-06-30T12:05:00.002+02:00

The Piazza del Duomo or Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa is a popular destination for tourists visiting Italy. With good reason, it has one of the most famous buildings in the world, the Leaning Tower of Pisa(the Campanila). Other landmarks on this square are the Baptistery, the Cathedral of Pisa and the Composanto. In 1987 the Piazza del Duomo was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

View location in Pisa, Italy.