Karlštejn Castle is a large Gothic castle located about 30 km southwest of Prague above the village named Karlštejn.The castle was founded in 1348. It was built by Czech King and Roman Emperor Charles IV as a place for safekeeping of the royal treasures, especially Charles's collection of holy relics and the coronation jewels of the Roman Empire. The first stay of Charles IV in the castle is documented in 1355 when he came to supervise the building works as well as the decoration of interiors, especially the castle chapels. The construction of the castle was finished in 1365 when the Chapel of the Holy Cross situated in the Great tower was consecrated. At the outbreak of the Hussite wars the castle became the place for safekeeping of the Czech coronation jewels, which were kept here, with the exception of several short-time breaks, for nearly 200 years. The castle was reconstructed... → More 3 Views Add comment
Munich is the capital city of Bavaria, Germany. It is located on the River Isar north of the Bavarian Alps. Munich is the third largest city in Germany, after Berlin and Hamburg. There are approximately 1.35 million people living within city limits.Munich is the capital city of Bavaria, Germany. It is located on the River Isar north of the Bavarian Alps. Munich is the third largest city in Germany, after Berlin and Hamburg. There are approximately 1.35 million people living within city limits.The city's motto is "München mag Dich" ("Munich Loves You"). Its native name, München, is derived from the Old German word for Mönche, which means "Monks" in English. The reason for naming the city in such a manner is to honour the fact that monks of the Benedictine order founded the city. This is also the reason for the monk depicted on the city's coat of arms. Black and gold—the colours of... → More 3 Views Add comment
Nuremberg is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. It is situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal. Nuremberg is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. It is situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal. Nuremberg is a lively city of about half a million inhabitants, with a visible history of almost one thousand years. Nuremberg is a city "of wit", where inventiveness and the researchers' curiosity have found a home. Nuremberg is a high performance economic location. Nuremberg is an open, tolerant city with a very high quality of life. And Nuremberg is the centre of a European metropolitan region with 2.5 million citizens. Nuremberg is one of Europe's fastest growing trade fair locations. Every year, over 1,2 million people visit about 100 events and... → More 22 Views Add comment
The Mediterranean small town Budva is located on peninsula sharply sticking out to the sea. It was built up by Venetians before Ottoman occupations. In Middle Ages fortifications with the built in high towers protected the Citadel located inside. At present it is a historical museum. Cult constructions of the historical importance are also situated behind the fortifications. St. Ivan's catholic Church is of the greatest interest. It was erected in the 7th century and endured a lot of reconstructions throughout a millenium up to the 17th century. St. Mary's of Punta dating from 840 is the only church remained till our days from the former convent. The Byzantian architecture is accurately traced in contours of the Holy Trinity Church, which was built in 1804. It is the first large religious construction erected after the liberation from the Turkish yoke. The Old City is also the centre of... → More 6 Views Add comment
Montenegro is a small southen European State with the population only 650 thousand people. It has the informal name "Primeval forest of Europe". Here are met more than a quarter of all kinds of plants growing in Europe. The country is proud of the fact it is the unique State on the continent which does not have ecologically harmful manufactures. The sea coast stretches almost 3 000 kilometres. There are no big cities there. The capital Podgorica has the population about 100 000 persons. Administratively the country is devided into 21 municipalities.The climate is soft, Mediterranean. An average annual temperature is about 17 degrees. Four climatic zones are accurately designated: plains, plateaus, high mountains and a coastal zone representing the greatest interest for tourists. There are four National Parks in which bears and wild boars, deers and fallow-deers, roes and royal eagles... → More 3 Views Add comment
Fortunately, Brussels is yet not among heavily touristed destinations in Europe. Paris, Rome or Berlin are definitely gorgeous cities, but the number of tourists breaks local color easily, making it unable to feel the atmosphere.Brussels is a piece of that «Old Europe» you’ve always heard of. Not very fast and full of traditions this city offers amazing experience for all new comers. By the way, if you’d like to know more about Belgian history in general, visit the Place Royale and its new Magritte Collection. The museum is new (it has opened just several months ago) and definitely worth visiting.Gastronomy tourists may know Brussels as a perfect destination. If you look at Michelin, you'll see that 2 cheapest 2 star restaurants in the world are located here. Excellent food at excellent price sounds truly appealing.The first restaurant, the Sea Grill, is a great... → More 24 Views Add comment
Loket is a town of some 3,000 inhabitants in the Sokolov district in the Karlovy Vary region of the Czech Republic.Loket means "elbow" in English. The town is named this due to the town centre being surrounded on three sides by the Ohře River, and the shape the river takes is similar to that of an elbow. The stone Loket Castle is over 800 years old. It was probably founded as a border fortress. It dominates the town on a granite solid rock.Documents firts mention Loket in 1234. The building of the stone castle used to be dated to the reign of the Czech king Přemysl Otakar I (1197-1230) but with the finding of a Romanesque chapel which experts consider one of the oldest buildings of the Czech type, it is possible to date it to the 1170s or earlier. The Castle served kings, the Šlik family and the nobility from Plauen, the Loket aristocracy and in the 19th and 20th centuries also as a... → More 27 Views Add comment
