#historic park in baden baden

[postcard-from-the-past]

Park scene in Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

German vintage postcard

[preferablywithcastles]

The Enchanting Lichtenstein Castle

History Today we look at the picturesque Lichtenstein Castle, located on a cliff overlooking the Echaz Valley in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The castle’s location adds to its fairy-tale appearance and provides breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. It remains a stunning example of the blend between literature and architecture, inspired by Wilhelm Hauff’s novel "Lichtenstein," and brought to life by Count Wilhelm of Württemberg between 1840 and 1842.

Image attribution - Martha Sales

Hauff’s novel romanticized the ideals of medieval chivalry and heroism. The 19th century experienced a resurgence in interest in medieval history and architecture, a trend known as historicism. Count Wilhelm sought to create a physical embodiment of the novel's themes and settings. Neuschwanstein Castle itself was influenced by similar romantic and historicist ideals and a 2009 filming of "Dornröschen" - The Sleeping Beauty - further cemented Lichtenstenstein's place in popular culture. The family of the Dukes of urach which began when Wilhem was granted the title maintains ownership to this day. The castle serves both as a private residence for the family and a public attraction, allowing visitors to explore its historical and architectural significance.

What You Will See When you visit, you'll find the striking castle keep, complete with turrets and battlements that offer fantastic views of the surrounding Echaz Valley. The interior of Lichtenstein Castle is adorned with period furnishings, weapons, and armor, providing visitors with a glimpse into the romanticized vision of medieval life. Guided tours are available.

Image Attribution - Pedro Albuquerque

Where To Eat During your visit to the castle, there are several excellent dining options nearby. Restaurants such as Forellenhof Rössle and Albgasthof Lichtenstein offer delicious local cuisine and hospitality. For dessert, you can visit Bäckerei Konditorei Padeffke in Reutlingen, which is renowned for its delightful pastries and cakes. Though as you can imagine, there's more than one bakery. Accomodation For accommodation, one of the most liked places to stay in Honau is the Forellenhof Rössle, which offers cozy rooms and great dining. Its proximity to Lichtenstein Castle makes it a convenient and charming option for visitors. Places Nearby Hohenzollern Castle: Located about 40 kilometers away, Hohenzollern is one of Germany's most iconic castles. For accommodations in the Reutlinger area, Hotel Fürstenhof Reutlingen is a highly rated choice known for its comfortable rooms and friendly service. Swabian Jura: This picturesque mountain range is known for its scenic hiking trails, fascinating caves, and overall natural beauty. It’s perfect for outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy exploring nature and engaging in activities such as hiking and spelunking. Bear Cave (Bärenhöhle): Located in Sonnenbühl, about 15 kilometers from Lichtenstein, this cave features impressive stalactites and stalagmites. It’s a great family-friendly attraction that offers a unique underground adventure. Day Trips Stuttgart: The capital of Baden-Württemberg is approximately 60 kilometers from Lichtenstein. Stuttgart has a vibrant cultural scene and is famous for its automotive museums, including the Mercedes-Benz Museum and the Porsche Museum. The city also boasts beautiful parks, such as Schlossgarten and Rosenstein Park. For a most liked place to stay, consider the Motel One Stuttgart-Mitte, offering modern amenities, a central location, and reasonable rates. Ulm: About 85 kilometers away, in Ulm you can visit the towering Ulm Minster, the tallest church in the world, and enjoy a leisurely stroll along the beautiful Danube River. The old town of Ulm offers charming streets, historic buildings, and plenty of cafes and shops to explore. In Ulm, the Best Western Plus Atrium Hotel is a well-liked accommodation choice. Tübingen: Approximately 100 kilometers from Lichtenstein, Tübingen is known for its well-preserved medieval old town and the prestigious Eberhard Karls University. The city offers a mix of history, culture, and scenic beauty, including the opportunity to enjoy a boat ride on the Neckar River. For accommodations, consider Hotel Krone Tübingen, boasting with modern comfort and a central location. Of course, you could always do what we do and look up potential AirBnBs in the area. Currently, there are locations as low as $43 a night available. I'm not affiliated with AirBnB - but help me make it happen. Tell me what places you've been or where you'd like to go, so I can write about them.

Map data ©2024 Google Thank You For Reading And that's my look at Castle Lichtenstein. I am no bot or ai, I'm just someone who loves traveling with his family, especially to medieval sites. So until next time, may all your travels be happy, healthy, safe - and preferably with castles! Do not hesitate to send me messages with more current information. I can only research so much for passion projects. Please take the time to do additional reading about anywhere you visit to ensure you feel safe. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preferably_with_castles/ Pinterest: https://ie.pinterest.com/preferablywithcastles/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@preferablywithcastles X: https://x.com/castlespref Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-3-9S8_RUHhdezoyFQe_A

[brandrise]

The Must-Visit Destinations Germany

Germany, with its rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning landscapes, offers a diverse array of attractions that cater to every type of traveler. From the bustling streets of Berlin to the fairytale castles of Bavaria, Germany is a treasure trove waiting to be explored. Whether you're a history buff, a nature enthusiast, or an art lover, Germany has something special for you. Here are some of the best places to visit in this captivating country.

Berlin: The Heart of Germany

Berlin, the capital city, is a dynamic blend of the old and the new. Its historical significance is palpable as you explore iconic sites like the Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Wall, and Checkpoint Charlie. The city is also a hub of modern art, culture, and nightlife. The East Side Gallery, a preserved section of the Berlin Wall covered in murals, and the Museum Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site, are must-see attractions. Berlin's diverse neighborhoods, each with its unique vibe, offer endless opportunities for exploration.

Munich: Bavarian Charm and Oktoberfest

Munich, the capital of Bavaria, is renowned for its picturesque architecture, world-famous beer gardens, and vibrant cultural scene. Marienplatz, the central square, is the perfect starting point to explore the city's historic buildings, including the stunning New Town Hall. Munich is also home to the legendary Oktoberfest, the world's largest beer festival, which attracts millions of visitors each year. Don't miss a visit to the Nymphenburg Palace and the English Garden, one of the largest urban parks in the world.

Neuschwanstein Castle: A Fairytale Come to Life

Nestled in the Bavarian Alps, Neuschwanstein Castle is straight out of a storybook. Commissioned by King Ludwig II, this 19th-century Romanesque Revival palace served as the inspiration for Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle. The castle's picturesque setting, surrounded by lush forests and towering mountains, makes it one of the most photographed sites in Germany. Guided tours offer a glimpse into the opulent interiors and the fascinating history of Ludwig II's dreamlike creation.

The Romantic Road: A Scenic Journey

The Romantic Road is a picturesque route that winds through some of Germany's most charming towns and villages. Starting in Würzburg and ending in Füssen, this scenic drive takes you through medieval towns, vineyards, and castles. Highlights include the walled town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, known for its well-preserved medieval architecture, and the baroque city of Würzburg, with its impressive Residenz Palace. The journey culminates at Neuschwanstein Castle, providing a perfect end to this enchanting road trip.

The Black Forest: Nature's Wonderland

The Black Forest, or Schwarzwald, is a region of dense forests, rolling hills, and quaint villages. Famous for its cuckoo clocks, thermal spas, and scenic beauty, the Black Forest is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Hiking, cycling, and skiing are popular activities in this area. The town of Baden-Baden, with its luxurious spas and casino, offers a touch of elegance, while Triberg is home to Germany's highest waterfalls and the Black Forest Museum, which showcases the region's rich cultural heritage.

Hamburg: The Gateway to the World

Hamburg, Germany's second-largest city, is a bustling port city with a unique maritime charm. The historic Speicherstadt, the world's largest warehouse district, and the modern HafenCity, with its striking Elbphilharmonie concert hall, showcase Hamburg's blend of old and new. Take a stroll along the Reeperbahn, known for its nightlife and entertainment, or relax at the serene Alster Lakes. Hamburg's rich musical heritage is evident in its numerous theaters, live music venues, and the Beatles' early performance venues.

Conclusion

Germany's diverse landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture make it a destination that promises unforgettable experiences. Whether you're exploring the historic streets of Berlin, sipping beer in a Munich garden, or marveling at the fairytale beauty of Neuschwanstein Castle, each destination offers a unique glimpse into the heart and soul of Germany. Pack your bags and embark on an adventure that will leave you with memories to cherish for a lifetime.

[koreangermanium]

The 16 States of Germany: Exploring the Diversity and Unity

Germany, renowned for its rich history, cultural heritage, and economic prowess, is a country that consists of 16 distinct states, each with its own unique character and charm. From the bustling metropolitan areas to the serene countryside landscapes, Germany showcases a harmonious blend of modernity and tradition. Let's embark on a journey to discover the 16 states that contribute to the vibrant tapestry of this remarkable nation.

Table of Contents

- Introduction - Schleswig-Holstein: Where Land Meets Sea - Bavaria: A Tale of Traditions - Berlin: The Heart of Modernity - Baden-Württemberg: Innovation and Greenery - Saxony: Where History and Culture Converge - Hamburg: Gateway to the World - North Rhine-Westphalia: Industrious and Dynamic - Lower Saxony: Nature's Abode - Hesse: Where Urbanity Meets Heritage - Rhineland-Palatinate: Vineyards and Beyond - Brandenburg: Castles and Lakes - Thuringia: Enchanting Landscapes - Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: Coastal Beauty - Saxony-Anhalt: Of Art and Architecture - Saarland: Small yet Significant - Bremen: A Tale of Two Cities - Conclusion - FAQs - What is the significance of Germany's division into states? - Which state is known for its Oktoberfest celebrations? - What makes Berlin a unique capital city? - Which state is famous for its automotive industry? - Are the states of Germany culturally diverse?

Introduction

Germany's federal structure comprises 16 states, often referred to as Bundesländer. This decentralized system empowers each state to have its own constitution, government, and educational policies while collaborating on national matters.

Schleswig-Holstein: Where Land Meets Sea

Nestled between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, Schleswig-Holstein is renowned for its stunning coastline, charming villages, and maritime heritage. Visitors are drawn to its pristine beaches, and the iconic port city of Kiel hosts the renowned Kiel Week sailing event.

Bavaria: A Tale of Traditions

Bavaria, famous worldwide for its traditional culture, picturesque landscapes, and iconic Oktoberfest, embraces both its history and innovation. The state boasts fairytale castles like Neuschwanstein and a thriving technology sector.

Berlin: The Heart of Modernity

The capital city, Berlin, stands as a symbol of unity and progress. Rich in history, it houses iconic landmarks like the Brandenburg Gate, while also being a haven for artists, entrepreneurs, and diverse cultures.

Baden-Württemberg: Innovation and Greenery

Known for its high standard of living, Baden-Württemberg combines technological innovation with natural beauty. It's home to global automobile companies and the enchanting Black Forest region.

Saxony: Where History and Culture Converge

Saxony's historic cities like Dresden and Leipzig are cultural treasures. With a legacy of classical music, ornate architecture, and cutting-edge research, Saxony is a dynamic hub of art and innovation.

Hamburg: Gateway to the World

Hamburg, a bustling port city, has a maritime legacy that extends to its modernity. Its famous harbor, impressive architecture, and vibrant nightlife make it a global hub of trade and culture.

North Rhine-Westphalia: Industrious and Dynamic

This economic powerhouse, known as NRW, encompasses major cities like Cologne and Düsseldorf. With a rich industrial history, it's a melting pot of creativity, business, and diverse communities.

Lower Saxony: Nature's Abode

Lower Saxony is blessed with natural beauty, boasting the Wadden Sea National Park and serene landscapes. Hannover, its capital, seamlessly blends urban amenities with a tranquil environment.

Hesse: Where Urbanity Meets Heritage

In Hesse, the metropolis of Frankfurt contrasts with charming historic towns like Heidelberg. It's a financial center with a touch of tradition, offering a balanced urban and rural experience.

Rhineland-Palatinate: Vineyards and Beyond

This wine-producing region showcases medieval architecture, particularly in its capital, Mainz. Rhineland-Palatinate's rolling vineyards, combined with cultural heritage, make it a visual and culinary delight.

Brandenburg: Castles and Lakes

Surrounding Berlin, Brandenburg is a nature lover's paradise. Its serene lakes, picturesque countryside, and a plethora of castles create an idyllic escape from the urban bustle.

Thuringia: Enchanting Landscapes

Thuringia's dense forests and charming towns inspired poets like Goethe and Schiller. Erfurt and Weimar are cultural hotspots, offering insights into Germany's intellectual history.

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: Coastal Beauty

The Baltic Sea coastline defines this state, where seaside resorts and historic towns abound. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is a haven for water sports enthusiasts and those seeking tranquility.

Saxony-Anhalt: Of Art and Architecture

Home to the Bauhaus movement, this state celebrates modern art and design. Saxony-Anhalt's cultural offerings extend to historic Magdeburg and the scenic Harz mountains.

Saarland: Small yet Significant

Saarland's picturesque landscapes and unique blend of French and German influences make it an intriguing destination. Its industrial heritage and natural beauty create a distinctive identity.

Bremen: A Tale of Two Cities

Bremen and Bremerhaven, two cities within this smallest state, offer maritime history and modern innovation. Bremen's UNESCO-listed market square and the German Emigration Center in Bremerhaven provide diverse experiences.

Conclusion

Germany's 16 states showcase a harmonious blend of traditions, innovation, nature, and culture. Each state contributes to the nation's identity, reminding us of the diversity that unites this remarkable country.

FAQs

- What is the significance of Germany's division into states? Germany's federal structure empowers states with autonomy while fostering unity on a national level. - Which state is known for its Oktoberfest celebrations? Bavaria is renowned for hosting the world-famous Oktoberfest, a celebration of Bavarian culture. - What makes Berlin a unique capital city? Berlin is a melting pot of art, history, and modernity, reflecting Germany's complex history and contemporary vitality. - Which state is famous for its automotive industry? Baden-Württemberg, with cities like Stuttgart, is a hub of automobile manufacturing and technological innovation. - Are the states of Germany culturally diverse? Yes, each state has its own distinct culture, traditions, and characteristics, contributing to Germany's rich diversity. Read the full article

[bronxrentals]

Hidden Gems Near Vienna Best Explored By Car

Venture just beyond Vienna's city limits and uncover some of the region's most enchanting destinations waiting to be discovered. With a car rental service like Bronx Rentals, accessing these hidden treasures becomes effortless. Let's delve into this guide, presenting a selection of remarkable spots for exploration.

Exploring the Surroundings of Vienna Embark on a journey beyond Vienna's urban landscape and immerse yourself in the wonders nearby. Below, we introduce you to 11 exceptional destinations that promise to elevate your travel experience when renting a car in Austria.

Car Rental in Vienna

Laxenburg Castle and Park Why Choose Car Rental: While accessible by public transportation, having a car offers a more direct route and the freedom to explore other nearby attractions easily.

Just a short drive away, Laxenburg Castle and Park provide a fantastic escape from Vienna's hustle and bustle. Wander through sprawling gardens, relax by serene lakes, and admire majestic castles that once served as the Habsburg royal family's summer residence. With ample space, finding a quiet spot is effortless, perfect for unwinding amidst nature or enjoying a leisurely outdoor lunch.

Conveniently reach Laxenburg by car, granting you the flexibility to come and go as you please. Bronx Rentals and other car hire services in Vienna ensure you have the means to reach this tranquil oasis. Once there, indulge in various activities, from boating on the lake to exploring historic castles or simply taking a leisurely stroll.

Families can enjoy playgrounds, while history enthusiasts delve into the park's royal legacy. Whether seeking relaxation or a glimpse into Austria's imperial history amidst natural splendor, Laxenburg Castle and Park offer an accessible retreat.

Klosterneuburg Monastery Why Choose Car Rental: While accessible by train, driving provides quicker access and the flexibility to explore the town and its surroundings at your own pace.

A short drive from Vienna lies Klosterneuburg Monastery, a testament to history and architecture spanning over 900 years. This Augustinian abbey invites visitors to immerse themselves in ancient Austria's grandeur, with age-old chapels and historic art to explore. Drive there to also discover the nearby wine country, renowned for its vineyards and picturesque hills, offering a perfect blend of history and natural beauty.

Gumpoldskirchen Why Choose Car Rental: While public transport is available, having a car facilitates wine tasting and exploration of nearby attractions.

Just outside Vienna, Gumpoldskirchen awaits, a charming village renowned for its wine. Explore its streets and visit local Heuriger (wine taverns) offering homegrown wines amidst a rich historical backdrop. With your own vehicle, leisurely wander through vine-strewn hills, enjoying not only excellent wines but also breathtaking views, creating a perfect escape from the city.

Hinterbrühl's Seegrotte Why Choose Car Rental: While accessible by train and bus, driving offers a more direct route and the option to visit other nearby attractions.

A short drive away, Hinterbrühl reveals a hidden subterranean world with the Seegrotte, an underground lake formed by a mining accident. Experience a serene boat ride on its still waters, surrounded by striking cave formations. Exploring this unique attraction at your own pace is facilitated by driving, offering a peaceful retreat from the usual tourist spots.

Baden bei Wien Why Choose Car Rental: Easily accessible by train, but a car allows for convenient exploration of spas and surrounding wine country.

Just a short drive from Vienna lies Baden bei Wien, a haven of relaxation and history renowned for its thermal springs dating back to Roman times. Experience a step back in time with Biedermeier architecture and grand parks. A car grants you the freedom to explore surrounding countryside, dotted with vineyards and natural trails, enhancing your therapeutic experience.

Carnuntum Why Choose Car Rental: Although accessible by train, driving offers convenient access to this off-the-beaten-path destination.

Carnuntum, an ancient Roman city turned archaeological park, lies within easy reach by car. Immerse yourself in reconstructed Roman structures and imagine life thousands of years ago. With public transport options limited, driving ensures hassle-free access to this historical gem, allowing you to explore at your own pace.

Mayerling Why Choose Car Rental: Located off the main public transport routes, a car saves time and provides easy access.

Mayerling, near Vienna, holds historical significance as the site of Crown Prince Rudolf’s mysterious demise. Visit the former hunting lodge, now a convent, and unravel tales of love and tragedy amidst scenic countryside. With a car, explore this remote beauty at your leisure, enjoying moments of reflection amidst serene nature.

Burgruine Mödling Why Choose Car Rental: While accessible by train, a car facilitates exploration of castle ruins and surrounding hiking trails.

Heiligenkreuz Abbey, nestled in the Vienna Woods, offers a serene escape and a chance to connect with spirituality. Accessible by car, this tranquil spot invites visitors to immerse themselves in monastic life and explore surrounding forests for a rejuvenating experience.

Heiligenkreuz Abbey Why Choose Car Rental: While reachable by public transportation, a car provides direct access and the opportunity to explore Wienerwald's other parts.

Escape to Heiligenkreuz Abbey in the heart of Vienna Woods, where Gregorian chants fill the air, offering a tranquil retreat. Driving ensures seamless access to this spiritual haven and allows exploration of surrounding nature trails for moments of introspection.

Nationalpark Donau-Auen Why Choose Car Rental: Given the park's vastness, a car offers easier exploration of its various parts compared to limited public transport options.

Nationalpark Donau-Auen, along the Danube River, is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts. With a car, navigate the park freely, pausing for wildlife watching or serene picnics, ensuring every corner of this biodiverse landscape is within reach.

Eisenstadt and Schloss Esterházy Why Choose Car Rental: While direct trains are available, driving provides flexibility in exploring the region and neighboring attractions.

Compact yet culturally rich, Eisenstadt boasts Schloss Esterházy at its core, embodying baroque architecture and musical heritage. Drive there for a hassle-free journey, allowing exploration at your own pace and making the most of your visit to this cultural gem.

Exploring Vienna's hidden gems is made simple with Bronx Rentals, offering a diverse range of vehicles to suit every traveler's needs, including vans or other types of transport. Benefit from all-inclusive pricing, flexible pickup locations, and reliable customer support, ensuring a stress-free rental experience, and the freedom to visit any place in Austria, whether you want to see Salzburg or wine taverns.

As our exploration of Vienna's lesser-known destinations concludes, remember that adventure awaits just beyond the city's boundaries. With Bronx Rentals, hidden treasures—from subterranean lakes to majestic castles and pristine national parks—become easily accessible, promising enriching experiences that unveil Austria's diverse landscape and history.

These 11 best places to see near Vienna are merely the beginning; the open road beckons for further exploration, each mile offering a new story. So, rent a car, set your sights on the horizon, and let Vienna's hidden wonders reveal themselves at your leisure.

[germany-tourism]

Germany in January: Travel tips, Weather & More

Germany is one of the most preferred destinations for an amazing vacation. Apart from its world-class education, the country provides some magnificent travel experiences. If you want a calm, less chaotic, and budgeted holiday, then a visit to Germany in January when the Christmas celebrations are over is the perfect time for you! The snow and freezing winds transform Germany into a magical land. So, get your Germany tourist visa and embark on a journey full of dreams, festivities, fun, and cheer.

Germany Weather in January

Winter in Germany is from December to February. During the winter months, you can expect freezing temperatures and snowfall. The mountainous regions are much colder than the flatlands.

January is one of the coldest and darkest months of the year in Germany. The days are short, and the sun sets around 4 pm. The average temperature in Berlin, the capital city, is around 3 degrees Celsius during the day and -10 degrees Celsius during the night. The temperatures vary depending on the region you are visiting in Germany. Frankfurt is warm, while the northern coastlines and the southwestern areas experience moderate climates. On the other hand, the southern and eastern regions are colder. While there is significant snowfall in Munich in January, one can expect light showers in towns like Bremen and Hamburg.

Places to Visit and Things to do in January

Despite the chilly weather, Germany in January is the perfect time to experience the country's interesting art and culture scene and glorious history by visiting its museums and art galleries. Whether you want to explore the historical city of Berlin, visit the snow-capped Bavarian Alps, see the fairytale-Esque Black Forest mountains, or take a train through the snow-covered alpine villages and visit the Neuschwanstein Castle, you will surely be spoilt for choices.

1) The parks and botanical gardens that have greenhouses and butterfly houses in the cities are little slices of nature to spend a peaceful, relaxing day. Explore Frankfurt's Palmengarten, Wilhelma in Stuttgart, Biosphere Potsdam, or the Berlin Botanical Gardens.

2) Sleigh rides with huskies are offered in several parts of Germany like the Black Forest, Rohn, Harz mountains, and Lower Saxony.

3) Vineyards are impressive throughout the year. Walking through the vineyards with torches and viewing the illuminated valleys from higher altitudes are simply beautiful. These excursions are offered in Rheingau and Baden Wurttemberg.

4) Building an igloo and staying in one can be a different kind of experience.

5) Germany's weather in January offers excellent opportunities for skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing in Ramsau near Berchtesgaden, and ice skating in Nymphenburg Palace in Munich. Europe's major winter sporting events occur during this time.

7) The winter sky offers the brightest constellations. Visiting a planetarium in Berlin, Hamburg, Bochum, Mannheim, and Cottbus will be an enjoyable experience.

8) Castles have their own special charm in winter. With fewer visitors, you can feel like a king or queen and live like royalty in any one of the mesmerizing castles like the Moritzburg Castle near Dresden, Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, or the Hohenzollern Castle in Baden Wurttemberg.

9) Enjoy thermal baths in the spa town of Baden Baden or Cologne.

Travel Tips for Visiting Germany in January

There are certain prerequisites to consider while planning a trip to Germany in January to avoid any last-minute hassles.

1) Make sure to pack warm clothes to withstand the cold weather of January in Germany. Bring a woolen hat, thick winter coat, gloves, socks, and thermal innerwear.

2) Since rainfall may be expected, remember to pack an umbrella or a waterproof jacket.

3) Learning a few words of the local language might be helpful.

4) Ensure that you have kept aside a certain sum of money to spend on unforeseen expenses.

5) A good understanding of the social culture might be a bonus.

6) Explore the shopping zones on a weekday, as shops are closed on Sundays.

7) Stay aware of safety instructions at the various tourist spots.

8) Dry air in winter can leave your skin itchy, flaky, and irritated. Carry sunscreen and moisturizer to stay protected from the dynamic weather.

9) Even in the cold temperatures you need to stay hydrated. Drink a lot of water but avoid excessive caffeine intake as caffeine makes your body release more water.

10) Drink hot beverages such as hot chocolate, tea, and coffee, and have hot meals like soups and stews to keep you warm for a longer time.

11) Make sure to pack your medicines.

12) Plan the route of your travel well in advance.

13) Know the timings of every tourist attraction you plan to visit, as some tourist places may be closed in January.

14) The post covid scenario is different. Though Germany in January is less crowded, it is essential that you are aware of all the travel protocols.

With the holiday season over, the country is calm and peaceful around this month, with fewer tourists. You can avail yourself of great offers on flights, accommodations, and attractions to make your trip less expensive. As a holiday destination in January, Germany will provide you with a memorable holiday to cherish.

[rpenvs3000w23]

Life In Nature: A Sense Of Place

To start this off I just want to say I love nature. Now do I always appreciate it like I should, no, do I always do my best to protect it maybe not… Do I have some things I can work on to be a better environmentalist and put more meaning into how I live my daily life, definitely, but I’m here to explain my connection and relationship with the world around me.  

I grew up in a small town west of Kitchener called Baden. Now, many people never heard of it and many people have. When I was growing up it really was a small town my elementary school backed onto a farm (until it was sold and developed) there was no gas station, bank, Tim Hortons. Now we have a gas station, subway, Tims, pharmacy. Anyways point is it’s not that small anymore. My family liked the small town living and we are still there as it is growing. I think my family was fairly well off compared to some, but my parents worked hard and we didn’t have much in terms of extra money, so growing up camping was our cheap vacations (before this day and age where its expensive to live like a homeless person now). We spent most of our time around Ontario provincial parks mainly Killbear which we frequent every year still. We also spent time along the east coast of the states visiting some of the state parks.

These adventures always included seeing the sights and history with long hikes and drives in all kinds of landscapes. We also did a lot of visitor museums and kid’s programs. Until today reading the textbook I never knew all this was called nature interpretation. All my life I have been exposed to this concept and part of this group not knowing it was a thing.

Anyways all this to say I have grown up in nature. I can go into a forest or on a hike and sit there for hours by the water, on a cliff, no distraction no thoughts just peace. I enjoy long drives through country exploring new areas and seeing new places. My relationship with nature has been developing for the last 22 years every year as I go to new places and try and learn new things.

 Looking at this idea and thinking of a sense of place was intriguing to me as I have always felt at home in nature or on hikes or when reading brochures or plaques on the history of areas, I’m at (Yes, I’m that person who reads almost everything when at these places and my family gets annoyed by it). I feel like my sense of place hasn’t been defined by one person or place but by all the little things I’ve experienced growing up through my parents, park rangers/guides, historians who give more insight to the areas. All these people have allowed me to feel a sense of place in many settings weather its historical areas or buildings or natures vast expanse. These experiences allow me to see the bigger picture and think generally or critically of the situation and places I’m in allowing me to feel a sense of place in many aspects of the world.

[detroit-grand-prix]

Wildest Dreams Chapter 2 - It’s Nice To Have A Friend

Chapter summary:  Phoebe ages out of karting and gets ready to compete in Formula Renault after having joined the Red Bull Racing driver academy. She turned Mercedes down, but she still managed to gain a mentor in Susie Wolff, another female driver who is currently one of Williams' test and development drivers. Even so, now that she's moved up to actual single-seater racing, a lot changes. More pressure, more expectations, more time away from home and school. Somehow, though, it’s fun.

Chapter word count:  3,435

Author’s note: I’ll put notes/references about each chapter here, because a lot of these took some research.

Anyway, the Schlossplatz is a big historical public square in Stuttgart, with a big palace that was rebuilt. There’s a Christmas market there every year. 

Phoebe competed in both the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup and the Eurocup series in the 2013 and 2014 seasons. The results/schedules for the actual races can be found here: 1 2 3 4

Previous Chapter

Stuttgart Mitte, Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany March 14th, 2013

The next month passed quickly. Arrangements were made with Susie Wolff to meet her and her mother for lunch. Bee took the day off of school for it, and her mother took a few hours off of work. Susie suggested a restaurant in Stuttgart’s city center, near the Schlossplatz, that she said had good food.

Bee and her mother took the bus from their house in the Degerloch neighborhood to the Schlossplatz and walked to the restaurant from there - Josephine said it was easier than trying to find parking near the city center, even in the middle of the week, even though the bus ride would have taken twice as long as driving did. Either way, Bee was excited about going to the Schlossplatz - it was her favorite part of the city, with its wide open square and the gorgeous Neues Schloss. During the winter, she loved coming to the outdoor skating rink they set up here, and going to the Weihnachten during Christmas.

They found the restaurant, which was a German restaurant that served mostly tourists, which struck Bee as odd for some reason - it wasn’t as if Susie was a tourist, per se.

When Toto mentioned his wife being a professional racing driver, something clicked in Bee’s brain. She remembered going to DTM races when she was younger when there was a woman on the DTM grid named Susie Stoddart. The image of her was burned in Bee’s mind - a blonde woman that drove a car with a pink livery. It was hard not to notice one of the only female drivers driving a bright pink car, but she never stood out in Bee’s mind beyond that, as her results were never exceptional, at least when Bee still kept up with DTM. 

She and her mother stepped inside the restaurant (“Carl’s Brauhaus”) and Bee recognized Susie immediately. She still looked the same, more or less, as she did the last time Bee had seen her at the Hockenheim DTM race two years ago. Susie looked up from a menu and waved at them Bee and her mother stepped up to the host stand. She stood up and offered a handshake to Bee and her mother as they approached the table.

“Hello! I’m Susie Wolff, it’s nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you, too. I’m Josephine, and this is my daughter, Phoebe.” Josephine put her hands on Bee’s shoulders, encouraging her to step forward, like she was shy. Bee thought it unnecessary - she wasn’t afraid of this woman, or anything.

Bee offered her hand, “You can call me Bee, though. Most people do.”

“So, Bee - ” Susie said as the three of them sat down. “From what I hear, you’re a pretty good racing driver, at least in karting. Toto has told me a lot about you. He said he really enjoyed meeting you.”

Bee blushed a little. “Thank you… I liked meeting him, too. I feel bad I ended up going with Red Bull, I hope he wasn’t upset.”

“He wasn’t, he understood your reasoning, but I think Niki - Niki Lauda, he’s managing the team with Toto - was a little confused. I told him that it’s different to be a woman in this sport, and people would find any reason to scrutinize you being in it. If you didn’t want to join Mercedes because your father works for the company, because Red Bull is better-established, and you had another option, that’s perfectly reasonable to me. Anyway -”

Susie picked up her menu. “I hope you don’t mind that I picked this place. I wouldn’t normally get something like all of this heavy Swabian food, but I haven’t been to Germany in a while, and I quite like the food in Stuttgart. Order whatever you’d like, this is on me.”

“Oh, that’s very kind of you, thank you.” Josephine said. She and Bee both perused the menu and a waiter came over to take their order.

Susie put in her order while Josephine told Bee what she wanted, to relay to the waiter in German. Susie looked at Bee with a puzzled expression.

“Sorry,” Josephine explained, noticing the way Susie was looking at her. “My German isn’t that great. I can get by, and I can read it better than I can speak it. Even after living here for ten years, I can’t seem to get a hang of it. Bee learned it in school when she was a kid, my husband - John - uses it at work every day, but I work for an American company that has an office here in Stuttgart, so everyone just speaks English. Sometimes Bee has to translate.”

Susie nodded. “It’s hard. When I started racing in DTM, I didn’t know any of it, but they told me I pretty much had to learn it if I wanted to stick around. Luckily, I was living in Switzerland then, so I picked it up quickly, but it’s all I was using every day.”

All three of the women chatted a bit about everything - how the Stallards came to live in Germany, Bee’s karting career, and school.

“So, let me get this straight - you live here in Germany, but you go to an American high school?” Susie said.

“Yes,” Bee said. “I went to a German primary school and then on to a Gymnasium, but I never really fit in that well, so I changed to the school on the army base last year.”

“Plus,” Josephine said, “For some reason, schools here in Baden-Württemberg have classes on some Saturdays, and that just didn’t work with Bee’s racing schedule. There’s so many weekends where we’re out of town for karting races that it just wouldn’t have worked if she’d gone to a German school.”

“And if I end up going to college, I’d like to go back to the US for it. So I don’t really need the Abitur, the diploma you get from going to a Gymnasium, but I’m still not sure if that’s what I want to do. If I can’t make it in racing, I will. But I’d like to be in racing for as long as I possibly can.” Bee said.

Susie looked at her thoughtfully.

“That brings up a good point - do you have any specific goal you’d like to achieve? How far do you want to go?”

“Well… I’d like to make it to F1 someday. I know it’s going to be hard. But… that’s my goal. If I can’t make it that far, I’ll figure things out. But… I just know that I want to race. It’s all I’ve wanted to do since I met Sebastian Vettel.”

“She went to the German Grand Prix in 2011,” Josephine interjected. “Her dad managed to get pit lane passes through work, so she met her favorite driver. Since then, all she’s wanted to do is become a racing driver.”

Susie smiled at her. “I felt the same way when I watched Jensen Button during a Formula 3 race my parents took me too. Racing was all I wanted to do after that. I think you can do it. It’s going to be difficult. It has been for me, but I think things are maybe starting to change."

Bee absolutely loved meeting Susie. They had a lot in common. Susie gave Bee her contact information and told her to call her any time she needed advice. They talked about her upcoming step up to Formula Renault. Bee had been fortunate enough to have landed a seat on a team and the sponsorship from Red Bull to compete in two series - Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup series and the 2.0 Eurocup series.

She was surprised that it didn’t seem difficult to find a team willing to take her, but this was no doubt due to the influence of her coming with the sponsorship of the Red Bull academy. She’d also been lucky enough to end up with a German team, so she wouldn’t have to move away from home, like she’d known a lot of other drivers ended up having to, especially if they weren’t from Europe.

The next few months before the new racing season started in the spring were agonizing. Bee had effectively aged out of karting and hadn’t raced in months. She started working with a fitness trainer from Red Bull to try to put on some muscle, especially in her neck. There was also the PR and media training, and occasional trips to Milton Keynes in the UK to visit Red Bull Racing headquarters for meetings and events that she had to participate in. On top of that, with the arrangements she’d had to make with her school around her race schedule, she’d have to go to summer school to get ahead for the upcoming school year, as she’d be gone almost each weekend the following fall.

It wasn’t all dire. One of her trips to Milton Keynes for PR purposes was to finally get the race suit and helmet she’d been fitted for, and to have publicity photos taken for the Red Bull website. She could hardly believe it when she’d put the suit on and looked down at herself wearing it. It was magnificent. It fit her far better than any of her karting suits had, because she’d always had to buy ones made for boys - there just weren’t any options for girls, and it had been mostly fine until she’d hit puberty and began to develop. Her karting suits would always be too baggy in some places and too tight in others. This one had been made to measure, specifically for her.

She loved everything about it - the spectacular navy blue, the red and white stripes going up the side, the American flag embroidered at the belt with STALLARD next to it in white letters. She’d also been fitted for a helmet and a HANS device, which she found strangely comfortable. She had heard some drivers found the HANS restrictive, but she sort of liked the feel of it.

She almost didn’t want to take her racing gear off after the photoshoot and filming her introduction video was done. She admired herself in the mirror when she first tried it on, imagining herself on a Formula 1 podium, Sebastian Vettel standing on the second step, as they showered each other with champagne.

Bee made sure to keep in touch with Susie and Toto, and they were kind enough to invite her to visit when she had to be in the UK if they were home, because their home in the UK wasn’t very far away from Milton Keynes. It seemed that almost all of the motorsport people and teams she knew of all were around the same area of England, which made sense when she realized where the infamous Silverstone Circuit was. Bee had started feeling a bit of the pressure of the realities of being an up-and-coming racing driver, but being able to talk to Susie, who had been in her shoes before, helped quite a bit.

By the time testing time for her team came around, she was nervous about driving a proper single seater car instead of a kart for the first time. There wasn’t much to worry about, though, as she took to it like a duck to water. It was more enclosed than the kart, like climbing into a small bathtub, but she didn’t mind it so much. She had a naturally slight frame, so that helped. It almost felt kind of comfortable, despite having absolutely no room for her elbows, and the fact that she was sitting in a reclined position. It was a good thing she wasn't claustrophobic.

She also loved how it handled - also different to a kart, but in a good way. It took a few laps to get used to the feel, and the way she had to orient herself in the car, but she began to put in some very impressive lap times. By the time she was done, she had heard people whispering up and down the paddock about the “American girl” and her times. It felt like validation.

Finally, the actual racing season started. Her school year ended a little early due to the relatively brutal travel schedule she had coming up with competing concurrently in two series. It wasn’t uncommon - most of her gridmates would be competing in both. In her first month she’d be going to Italy and Spain, with trips to the UK for team business in between.

On one of these trips, she got to meet Sebastian Vettel at a team event. She had met him before, once, at the 2011 German Grand Prix. Her father took her for her birthday and through some stroke of good fortune, had obtained pit lane passes. He pulled some strings at work, apparently. But then, she was just a fan who happened to be in karting. He was incredibly kind to her then, but now she was his teammate, in a sense. She felt so nervous about it - where most girls her age had posters of One Direction on their walls, she had posters of Sebastian Vettel in his Red Bull gear. Her nerves were not helped because he’d since developed a bit of a reputation of being a bit cocky, but he was nothing but kind to her when they talked. They switched between English and German, which Bee thought was fun. Sebastian said that he remembered meeting her a few years back, and was happy to see she’d stuck with racing. He told her that he was excited that she was getting started in single-seaters, and said that he hoped she would be able to do well. They talked occasionally when they were both in Milton Keynes together, and in a few months, Seb ended up becoming a sort of friend. He always made sure to say hello to her whenever he saw her.

Her first race was at Monza. It was her first time in Italy. The idea of racing on such an old and venerated track made her a little nervous. It was the first race that she’d ever seen Sebastian win. Watching him win in Monza was the moment that Sebastian became Bee’s favorite driver. She’d seen it so many times on TV, she’d never imagined she’d actually race on it one day.

Practices weren’t so bad, but by the time she’d lined up on the grid for her first qualifying round, she could feel her heart pounding so hard that it felt like it was trying to escape her chest. Susie had given her some advice to close her eyes, take deep breaths, and try to visualize the racing line around the entire track, turn-by-turn, to distract herself from the nerves, and to make good use of the formation lap to try to settle into the pattern of the turns.

When it was time for the race to start, she felt better. After she started, her body almost felt like it was going through the motions automatically. It was delightful, and the result was delightful - she qualified in P7, which was entirely respectable for a rookie driver. She was the highest qualified rookie to boot. Both of her races that weekend made for equally respectable results - P8 in the first race, P4 in the second race - just shy of a podium. Even so, it felt incredible.

By the time she got home from Italy, she could barely keep up with all of the nice messages she got. Susie had called her the day after the race to congratulate her and tell her that her performance was impressive. The Detroit Free Press had run a small article about her, so she had calls from lots of family and family friends from Michigan.

As the season went on, she improved, and was pleased with her results. She learned to go on the attack and started developing a driving style that was characterized in a motorsport blog as “surprisingly aggressive”. It was fun to see those words in plain black-and-white. It felt like a challenge of sorts - like nobody had expected her to drive like a real driver because she was a girl. At first, hearing people doubted her was a little bothersome, but eventually, she just let them fuel her - she loved proving people wrong, after all.

She also, pleasantly, found it a lot easier to make friends with the other drivers than it had been in karting, at least, she thought. There was another American on her team for both series, a boy from New York named Ryan. She also liked talking to the British kids because they spoke the same language as her and she had now spent a considerable amount of time in the UK.

Her first season was more successful than she’d expected it to be. She had a handful of podiums, even starting on pole position once (which was, quite frankly, terrifying - it was her first experience being the hunted instead of the hunter). She hadn’t managed to get a win, but her team managed to win the Teams’ Championship by the end of the season in both series, which her respectable results contributed to. She loved racing more than she ever thought she could. She had the time of her life during every race weekend, even on the race where she'd had a retirement due to a suspension failure.

The next season was more of the same - the same thrill, the same impressive results. She did well - a handful of podiums, and three races where she’d started on pole.

Circuitio de Jerez, Jerez de la Frontera, Spain October 18th, 2015

By the time the second season ended, Bee was almost sad to be moving up into Formula 3. She really enjoyed the atmosphere of Formula Renault, and had a good relationship with everyone on her team. Before qualifying for her final race, her team principal almost made her cry by telling her how proud he was of her, and how he couldn’t wait to see where her career went. “I know you’ll go far.”, he told her as he pulled her into a tight hug before wishing her luck.

She had already signed to another team for Formula 3, because her team, Kaufmann racing, didn’t compete in F3.

Susie and Toto had also made it to her final race weekend, which was in Jerez, Spain. They sat in the grandstands with Bee's parents, despite the fact that they would easily be able to access the paddock - who wouldn't have known who they were? (As it was, Josephine had told Bee after-the-fact, the two of them being in the grandstands had caused quite a stir amongst people sitting near them.) Bee was surprised they’d come, but it was an off-weekend in the Formula 1 calendar and Susie said that she really wanted to see Bee’s last race in Formula Renault. They had established a tradition of doing an unofficial debrief on the phone after each race weekend - Bee felt that Susie’s input was invaluable, even though she wasn’t actually watching the races, but she’d watch videos of them. Bee was certain she wouldn’t have been as successful without Susie’s guidance.

Bee managed to close her Formula Renault career with a bang, with a second-place finish in her final race. An actual win had eluded her throughout her Formula Renault tenure, but at that moment, standing on the second step, spraying her gridmates with celebratory champagne, still sticky with sweat - it didn’t matter. She felt like she was on top of the world.

Toto and Susie took Bee and her parents out for a celebratory dinner after the race. Bee had a gift for Susie to thank her for all of her help in both seasons, but it was a bit large to bring to the restaurant in a subtle way. She stuffed it in her backpack anyway.

After they’d finished dinner, Bee spoke up.“Susie, I have something for you, just to thank you for all of your help these past two years. I don’t think it would have gone as well as it did without your help.”

She reached under the table where she’d stowed her backpack and unzipped it, producing her race helmet.

“I know it’s a Red Bull helmet, but I wanted you to have it. I remember Sebastian telling me once that he liked to exchange helmets with other drivers he liked and respected, so… I thought I’d give you mine from this year. I hope that someday I’ll be able to give you one of my Formula 1 helmets.”

“Oh, my goodness, Bee.” Susie said, accepting the helmet from her, setting it on the table, and pulling Bee into a hug. “I’m so proud of you. I’m sure you will someday, and I can’t wait.”

Josephine insisted on getting a picture of the two of them together, which Bee was a little embarrassed about, but she obliged anyway.

The next morning, while Bee was packing up her hotel room for the trip home, Bee’s grandmother called her and told her to check the website for the Detroit Free Press if she could.

“Why?”

“Just take a look! I think you’ll like it!”

Bee navigated to the paper’s site on her phone’s browser, and it took a second to realize what she was seeing. Where the front-page article is usually placed, there was a giant picture of herself on the podium, spraying her competitors during the victory celebration. She had an enormous smile, her dark hair was still tied into the French braided pigtails she’d always worn under her helmet, but the braids were a frizzy mess. She had her 2nd place podium hat on, and the picture featured blurry drops of champagne in the foreground, and the American flag illuminating an LED screen behind her. It was the kind of image you would see on a poster.

The caption read:

“Phoebe Stallard, 16, Sterling Heights native, celebrates on the podium for the 2014 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 series. Stallard placed second in the final race of the series at the Circuit of Jerez, Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. She will be competing in the European Formula 3 race series in the upcoming season.”

Next Chapter

[screechingcreature]

The Black Forest House

Located in Hagnau, Baden-Württemberg in Germany’s Black Forest, it is a magnificent property near Lake Constance on a plot of approx. 7,718 m² once belonged to the Salmannsweil monastery.

Hagnau is a very popular fishing and winemaking village located directly on the shores of Lake Constance that presents itself to travelers and residents alike. Orchards, greenery and vineyards surround and run through the picturesque place. More than forty wine-growing families and five Lake Constance fisheries show that tradition and enjoyment are well loved and thriving in Hagnau. Whether for flowering in spring, for glorious summer or for colorful autumn - nature, the cultural landscape and the lake always make Hagnau a special experience making it easy to see why a harried immortal would choose this place in particular to settle in. Cozy and lovingly cared for residential buildings and their gardens, as well as rustic inns and restaurants give Hagnau that special something and a place of rest and enjoyment. From Hagnau you can drive within 30 minutes either on the A81 in the direction of Stuttgart or on the A96 in the direction of Munich.

Surrounded by a park and grapevines, it is idyllic and at the same time exclusive. A vineyard of approx. 2,400 m² is included in the total area of approx. 7,950 m².

The entrance on the ground floor is characterized by a breathtaking and spacious reception hall where one could receive guests or hold concerts, accompanied by fine dining. The original terracotta tiles are real handcraft and have been masterfully laid in various ways throughout the house. Both these tiles and the hand-made original wooden doors originally come from France and Spain. Through the impressive lattice window the gaze falls into the picturesque inner courtyard, equipped with a stone grill, predestined for visiting friends or other occasions for which this enchanting property offers a unique ambience.

The master bedroom leads directly to the bathroom with whirlpool, which is furnished with onyx. In addition to the above, the house consists of a 3 room granny flat and an apartment. Further extras the property has to offer are an annex and the detached historic distillery.

[germanyvisa]

The best travel guide for Freiburg Germany

Introduction of Freiburg im Breisgau

Freiburg im Breisgau is an independent city in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. With a huge population of about 230,000, Freiburg is the fourth largest city in Bade-Wurttemberg after Stuttgart, Karlsruhe and Mannheim. Freiburg was founded by Konrad and Duke Berthold of Zahringen in 1120 as a free market town, hence its name, which translates to “free town”. Frei means “free” and burg means “borough” was used in those days for an incorporated city or town. The German word Burg also means “a fortified town”, as in Hamburg. Thus it is well known that the name of this place means a “fortified town of free citizens”.

Freiburg is located on the Southern edge of Germany’s Black Forest, is a city of university that is known for its medieval town center. After World War 2 there are many cobblestone squares lined up with late Baroque, Renaissance and Gothic buildings. Due to many lush parks and surrounding highlands it’s one of Europe’s most sustainable cities.

Best things to do in Freiburg Germany

Germany is itself a beautiful place; however Freiburg is one of the best cities in terms of day and night life and even outing. You can easily find many places to visit in Freiburg. Also the Freiburg tourism is very famous due to the beautiful and mesmerizing things that we can see in Freiburg. If we talk about characterizing the best places to visit then it will become a tough call however still we have mentioned below to top best places to visit in Freiburg Germany during your travel.

1.      Inaugurate your day at Munsterplatz

Basically Munsterplatz is a cobblestone square in front of the Cathedral of Freiburg. See the displays of medieval and Baroque relics at the well-known Wentzinger House. The Freiburg Munster or the Cathedral of Freiburg is a quaint churchyard which has plenty of colorful buildings, most of these buildings were reconstructed after the end of World War 2. If you are fond of ancient history of Freiburg then this would be an awesome place for you as it has a lot many historic structures.

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[postcard-from-the-past]

Park scene in Sankt Blasien, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

German vintage postcard, mailed in 1913 to Berlin

[juniorformulamotorsport]

Wednesday, 17th September 2019 – Illkirchen, Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg, Colmar

Wednesday morning, with even more insect bites decorating both of us, we got ready to check out and move on. I’d been for a run before breakfast and stopped off at the rather odd park near one of the tram stops. For reasons I couldn’t begin to fathom, the park contained a number of “Easter Island” heads. No. I have no idea. Apparently Place Malraux contains an Armenian Oak, which counts as a remarkable tree, but there’s no connection there that I can find. And the really weird thing was that they wouldn’t be the only Easter Island head style sculptures we would encounter, we would find more on the penultimate day of our holiday.

Anyway, they amused me. By 10:30 we’d got the car packed and were ready to go. Our landlady turned up on time, despite us not having done so on check-in and we were soon on our way to  Robert Blanck to buy the wines we’d decided on. That was easily achieved, and the lovely lady serving us insisted on slipping a few extra goodies in (a couple of “top hat” Champagne bottle stoppers), especially after we bought a creme de peche as well (made from vineyard peaches) and we wended our way onwards to Famille Hauller, but could find no one around, despite Ludovic having suggested he would be there between 11 and 12. We decided to save Domain Sylvie Spielmann for later in the afternoon and thus headed for Chateau Haut-Koenigsbourg. We’d heard more about it on our wine tour, when Olivier asked if anyone on the tour was a “Lord of the Rings” fan, because if so we needed to visit the castle. Apparently “some guy” had used it as inspiration for some of the set design. Given our proximity to Switzerland, Lynne and I put two and two together and figured he was probably talking about John Howe, the Canadian artist who lives in Switzerland and who was one of the two artists deeply involved in the look of Peter Jackson’s films. A minimal amount of research later and I’d confirmed this was indeed the case, and that there’d even been an exhibition there last year. We had to go. There was no choice, not when the information I’d found said: “Several decades later, John Howe, the famous illustrator of Heroic Fantasy publications, fell in love with the château’s mysterious atmosphere on his first visit here during the 1980s. He used it as the inspiration for the design of the Citadel of Minas Tirith after he was appointed to the post of Conceptual Designer for Peter Jackson’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy”. Just for good measure it also appears in its real form in Jean Renoir’s 1930s masterpiece, “La Grande Illusion”, and the considerably less famous “Les aventures d’Arsène Lupin” in 1956, but to keep the masterpiece theme going, it can also been seen in the animated classic “Howl’s Moving Castle”. 3 out of 4 then!

We drove up a winding and slightly white-knuckled road and eventually found ourselves on the loop in the road that leads up to the castle and then back down again. It was very, very busy and we decided that we’d try and get a good parking space rather than having to flog up the hill on what was another hot day. As we passed the apex and started to drop back down again we found a space that was actually big enough for my car (and it’s not a big car). And then we looked up! The castle is a monster of a structure, and looks just like you think a medieval castle should, looming massively against the skyline.

Its history, however, is slightly different to what you might expect, as with so many things in this part of the world. There’s mention of the Buntsandstein rock as Stophanberch (Staufenberg) in a 774 deed issued by Charlemagne, and it crops up again in 854, by which time it belonged to the Basilica of St Denis and may have been the site of a monastery. It all goes quiet again until 1147, when there is a record of a castle built by the Duke Frederick II of Swabia, one of the Hohenstaufens and called Castrum Estuphin, something the monks were not happy about as the record is a complaint to King Louis VII of France about it. The offending builder’s younger brother Conrad was elected King of the Romans in 1138, and was succeeded by his nephew, Frederick’s son, Frederick Barbarossa in 1152 and it wasn’t long before the name of this commanding fortress changed to Koenigsburg (king’s castle) or Kinzburg.

Eventually it passed to the Dukes of Lorraine, who entrusted it to the local Rathsamhausen knightly family and the Lords of Hohenstein, but the behaviour of a gang of robber barons who used the castle as a hideout so enraged the neighbours that it was occupied by the Elector Palatine in 1454, and less than a decade later it was set ablaze by the unified forces of the cities of Colmar, Strasbourg, and Basel. The Habsburgs handed the ruins over to the Tiersteins who rebuilt and enlarged the castle, supposedly in a way that meant it would be able to withstand modern artillery fire. No one told the Swedish artillery forces who broke through and overran the castle during the Thirty Years War and it was finally burnt to the ground in 1633 and left to fall into ruin for a couple of centuries. You wouldn’t know it though.

It was classified as an historical monument in 1862, and in 1865 it was bought by the town of Sélestat. There were plans to restore the place, but there were no funds to complete the work. Alsace was in one of its phases of being part of Germany, so the ruins of the castle were offered to Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1899. Having abandoned his plan to restore Schloss Rheinfels, he must have pretty much snapped their hands off. What followed was a remarkable 8-year long building project, where money was no object, and the most modern techniques were used. The castle would be completely restored, with the emphasis on as much historical accuracy as possible. To that end, a young architect, Bodo Ebhardt was put in charge. It helped that he was also an architectural historian, a castle explorer, and the founder and longtime president of the German Castles Association (Deutsche Burgenvereinigung). He was very thorough and after he had analysed the remaining ruins and façades, he read up as much as he could in old documents and records, and looked at other castles to draw comparisons.

He even made sure that those who came after would be able to easily identify the new parts of the walls, creating a new set of ‘mason’s marks’ to be used on any replacement stones, and gave different marks to different years. You can still see the marks if you know what to look for. It’s a fabulous place with some startling detail and although much of it is not authentic, you can completely forget that as you go round.

After an 8-year build, on May 13th 1908 the château was unveiled to the public with a parade and pageant involving five hundred performers in period dress. Of course after World War I it reverted back to being French, and became a tourist attraction, though apparently the French visitors would regularly criticise the restoration work because it had been carried out by the enemy. Surviving both World Wars undamaged the building was classified as a Monument historique (listed building) in 1993 and is now owned by the Conseil Départemental du Bas-Rhin.

As we wandered around, the views were staggering. You could see just why anyone with an ounce of strategic sense would want to build a fortress on just this spot. No one is going to be able to sneak up on you, that’s for sure.

After a couple of hours poking into all the nooks and crannies, we reckoned we needed a refreshment stop. The Library restaurant offered all sorts of options including some and cake. We were booked for dinner at our hotel that night and really didn’t need any more than a light snack. As there weren’t any of those on offer (Alsacian cuisine really does lean towards German sized portions, or at least ravenous vineyard worker sized portions alongside French refinement) I had a slice of mirabelle cake, and a bottle of cold water.

We had a look around the medieval garden that had been set up outside, but it had somewhat gone over due to the extremely hot weather and a general lack of care. Afterwards, we sauntered back to the car and headed over to Sylvie Spielmann, where we made a massive dent in our wine buying budget. We also made a massive dent in the bottom of my car when we collected a piece of ironwork that was sticking up out of the sandy base level that a road under reconstruction had been reduced to. It got stuck, dragged along for several feet, and I was only able to get off it by reversing and then rocking forward a couple of time. I’ve yet to figure out what damage has been done precisely, but it is going to need looking at.

From there we reloaded the car again, shuffling everything round as best we could to keep the next night’s bags at the top of the luggage pile, and headed to Colmar and the our hotel for the next three nights, the Hostellerie Le Maréchal. We arrived in good time, and unloaded. I then had to drive the car to the nearby underground car park, because a hotel built in 1595 isn’t going to have built in car parking! It was a hot walk back and I annoyed myself by leaving my handbag in the car and having to walk back again almost immediately. Once in though, we were able to get ourselves organised and cleaned up and then investigate the possibility of an aperitif in the hotel bar prior to dinner in their restaurant a l’Echevin.

We had a lovely view from our window of the canal and some of the typical local barques which were the only vessels shallow enough to navigate from the market garden areas to the market hall back in the day, and which now carry tourists up and down.

Colmar looked lovely, the hotel was glorious, we had one of the suites with a “Little Venice” view, and we looked to be in for a lovely stay. As we had dinner at the hotel twice, I shall write about that elsewhere.

Travel 2019 – Alsace and Baden, Day 6, Illkirchen, Orschwiller, Colmar Wednesday, 17th September 2019 - Illkirchen, Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg, Colmar Wednesday morning, with even more insect bites decorating both of us, we got ready to check out and move on.

[thatswhywelovegermany]

100 years ago — November 9, 1918, shortly after 2 pm: Philipp Scheidemann proclaims the Republic in Germany

A few days after the Kiel mutinity, rebellion against the monarchy and de-facto military regime had spread throughout Germany and had already caused a number of local monarchs to abdicate. On the morning of November 9, Reich Chancellor Max von Baden had finally announced the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II., before the latter had actually decided about that himself. When Wilhelm learned about that in his headquarters in Spa (Belgium), he fled to the Netherlands, signing the abdication document not before November 28.

When word had spread about the abdication, masses of protesters poured into the center of Berlin, demonstrating between the city castle and the Reichstag, the parliament building, expecting politicians to speak to them.

Philipp Scheidemann, politician of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), had already held a speech to calm down the people from a window of the Reich Chancellory and recalled later that he was having a watery soup for lunch when a bunch of people burst into the room telling him that communist Karl Liebknecht was about to proclaim a soviet republic in Germany. Having seen the atrocities that had happened in Russia, he wanted to avoid such a scenario in Germany under all circumstances. He immediately got up, climbed onto the next windowsill and held the following speech, which was stenographed down by an Austrian journalist, proclaiming the republic:

“Das deutsche Volk hat auf der ganzen Linie gesiegt. Das alte Morsche ist zusammengebrochen; der Militarismus ist erledigt! Die Hohenzollern haben abgedankt! Es lebe die deutsche Republik! Der Abgeordnete Ebert ist zum Reichskanzler ausgerufen worden. Ebert ist damit beauftragt worden, eine neue Regierung zusammenzustellen. Dieser Regierung werden alle sozialistischen Parteien angehören. Jetzt besteht unsere Aufgabe darin, diesen glänzenden Sieg, diesen vollen Sieg des deutschen Volkes nicht beschmutzen zu lassen und deshalb bitte ich Sie, sorgen Sie dafür, daß keine Störung der Sicherheit eintrete! Wir müssen stolz sein können in alle Zukunft auf diesen Tag! Nichts darf existieren, was man uns später wird vorwerfen können! Ruhe, Ordnung und Sicherheit ist das, was wir jetzt brauchen! Dem Oberkommandierenden in den Marken Alexander von Linsingen und dem Kriegsminister Schëuch werden je ein Beauftragter beigegeben. Der Abgeordnete Genosse Göhre wird alle Verordnungen des Kriegsministers Schëuch gegenzeichnen. Also gilt von jetzt ab, die Verfügungen, die unterzeichnet sind von Ebert, und die Kundmachungen, die gezeichnet sind mit den Namen Göhre und Schëuch, zu respektieren. Sorgen Sie dafür, daß die neue deutsche Republik, die wir errichten werden, nicht durch irgendetwas gefährdet werde. Es lebe die deutsche Republik.”

“The German people has won across the board. The old and rotten has collapsed; Militarism is done! The Hohenzollerns have abdicated! Long live the German Republic! Representative Ebert has been proclaimed Chancellor. Ebert has been charged with putting together a new government. This government will be consist of all socialist parties. Now our task is not to spoil this brilliant victory, this full victory of the German people and therefore I ask you to take care that no disturbance of safety occurs! We have to be proud of this this day forever! Nothing must exist that we will later be accused of! Peace, order and security is what we need now! The commander-in-chief in the brands Alexander von Linsingen and War Minister Schëuch are each joined by a representative. The deputy Comrade Göhre will countersign all ordinances of the Minister of War Schëuch. So from now on, the decrees signed by Ebert and the proclamations drawn by the names of Göhre and Schëuch are to be respected. Make sure that the new German republic we are building is not jeopardized by anything. Long live the German Republic.”

Two years later, Scheidemann has recorded the speech using a slightly different wording:

“ Arbeiter und Soldaten! Furchtbar waren die vier Kriegsjahre. Grauenhaft waren die Opfer, die das Volk an Gut und Blut hat bringen müssen. Der unglückselige Krieg ist zu Ende; das Morden ist vorbei. Die Folgen des Kriegs, Not und Elend, werden noch viele Jahre lang auf uns lasten. Die Niederlage, die wir unter allen Umständen verhüten wollten, ist uns nicht erspart geblieben. Unsere Verständigungsvorschläge wurden sabotiert, wir selbst wurden verhöhnt und verleumdet. Die Feinde des werktätigen Volkes, die wirklichen inneren Feinde, die Deutschlands Zusammenbruch verschuldet haben, sind still und unsichtbar geworden. Das waren die Daheimkrieger, die ihre Eroberungsforderungen bis zum gestrigen Tage ebenso aufrechterhielten, wie sie den verbissensten Kampf gegen jede Reform der Verfassung und besonders des schändlichen preußischen Wahlsystems geführt haben. Diese Volksfeinde sind hoffentlich für immer erledigt. Der Kaiser hat abgedankt. Er und seine Freunde sind verschwunden. Über sie alle har das Volk auf der ganzen Linie gesiegt. Prinz Max von Baden hat sein Reichskanzleramt dem Abgeordneten Ebert übergeben. Unser Freund wird eine Arbeiterregierung bilden, der alle sozialistischen Parteien angehören werden. Die neue Regierung darf nicht gestört werden in ihrer Arbeit für den Frieden, in der Sorge um Arbeit und Brot. Arbeiter und Soldaten! Seid Euch der geschichtlichen Bedeutung dieses Tages bewusst. Unerhörtes ist geschehen. Große und unübersehbare Arbeit steht uns bevor. Alles für das Volk, alles durch das Volk. Nichts darf geschehen, was der Arbeiterbewegung zur Unehre gereicht. Seid einig, treu und pflichtbewusst. Das Alte und Morsche, die Monarchie ist zusammengebrochen. Es lebe das Neue, es lebe die deutsche Republik.”

Workers and soldiers! Terrible were the four years of war. Horrifying were the sacrifices that the people had to make in wealth and blood. The unfortunate war is over; the killing is over. The consequences of the war, hardship and misery will continue to burden us for many years to come. We have not been spared of the defeat that we wanted to prevent under all circumstances. Our rapprochement proposals were sabotaged, we ourselves were ridiculed and slandered. The enemies of the working people, the real internal enemies who have caused Germany's collapse, have become silent and invisible. These were the warriors-at-home who upheld their conquest requests until yesterday as well as their most dogged fight against any reform of the constitution and especially of the shameful Prussian electoral system. These enemies of the people are hopefully done forever. The Kaiser has abdicated. He and his friends have disappeared. Over all of them, the people have triumphed all along the line. Prince Max of Baden handed over his Reich Chancellery to the deputy Ebert. Our friend will form a workers government to which all socialist parties will belong. The new government must not be disturbed in its work for peace, in the concern for work and bread. Workers and soldiers! Be aware of the historical significance of this day. Something unprecedented has happened. Large and unmistakable work is ahead of us. Everything for the people, all through the people. Nothing must happen that would dishonor the workers' movement. Be united, faithful and dutiful. The old and the rotten, the monarchy has collapsed. Long live the new, long live the German Republic.

Some film footage has also survived, shown here with an abbreviated version of Scheidemann’s speech that is now better known:

About two hours later, Karl Liebknecht, leader of the Spartakus League, proclaimed the soviet republic, first from the roof of a truck, then from a balcony of the Berlin castle after it had been stormed by protesters.

Although the newspapers had covered Liebknecht’s speech much more broadly, the Spartacus League did not succeed: they did not have a sufficiently large basis for power in politics and administration. They continued to fight until they were defeated in the Spartacus Rebellion in January 1919, when Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg were murdered by right-wing Freikorps soldiers hired by the SPD-led government.

Philipp Scheidemann became a hated figure among monarchists, the far right, and finally the Nazis. Attempts to kill him happened, for instance when attackers sprinkled his face with hydrogen cyanide while he was giong for a walk in Park Wilhelmshöhe in his home town of Kassel, but his beard prevented the poison from dripping into his mouth. He went into exile to Denmark after Hitler came to power, where he died in 1939.

[lsundarinfo]

THE BEST ROAD TRIPS IN CANADA

At 9.8 million square kilometres, Canada is the world’s second largest country. Which means the best way to see it is to hop in a car and drive . . . and drive. Along the way you’ll gape at glacier-carved peaks, bird-filled marshlands, and everything in between. There’ll be plenty of stops to take in the views, sample local hot spots, and rest your road-trip weary head too.

But knowing where to go in such a vast and diverse land might seem daunting. No worries — we’ve made it easy with this list of best road trips in Canada’s 10 provinces and two of its three territories. (To date, there are no roads into Nunavut or between its communities). Take your pick, start your engine — the open road awaits!

Sea to Sky Highway, B.C.

Buckle up for this curvy 162-kilometre jaunt past ocean, forest, mountains, and farmland. Starting in the casually hip coastal city of Vancouver, the Sea to Sky Highway (Highway 99) heads north through adventure meccas Squamish and Whistler before winding down in bountiful Pemberton. Stop to stretch the legs at Shannon Falls Provincial Park, refuel at Backcountry Brewing and tuck into Sweetwater Lane Farm B&B for the night. Take your time over a few days, and go mid-week to avoid busy times.

Icefields Parkway, Alberta

Thinking about the Canadian Rockies for your Canada road trip? Then the 235-kilometre Icefields Parkway is your front-row seat to some of the range’s most fetching glaciers and turquoise lakes. Leaving the hamlet of Lake Louise in Banff National Park, head north along Highway 93 to savor such sights as mirror-like Herbert Lake, the sweeping Athabasca Glacier, and double-barreled Sunwapta Falls. Hang your toque at the newly renovated Glacier View Lodge on the way up or at Jasper’s cozy Chateau Jasper in Jasper National Park at route’s end. Count on a full day but take a few to explore the icefields and both parks during less-busy spring and colourful fall.

Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan

Exploring Saskatchewan’s eclectic roadside attractions just got better. Thanks to the 2019 opening of the Badlands Parkway, you can now see Grasslands National Park on not one but two revealing Canada road trips. From the village of Wood Mountain, drive south to the paved, seven-mile parkway in the park’s East Block to glimpse a wild but fragile prairie landscape. Then make tracks to the West Block just south of Val Marie to spot plains bison, black-footed ferrets, and settler homesteads on the 80-kilometre-loop Ecotour Scenic Drive. Take one to a few days; 286 kilometres total.

Interlake Region, Manitoba

Immerse yourself in history and nature on this 186-mile, one-to-three-day journey through Manitoba’s Interlake region, straddled by the province’s two inland seas of Lake Winnipeg and Lake Manitoba. From the bustling capital of Winnipeg, make tracks north to Lower Fort Garry Historic Site, Oak Hammock Marsh, Lake Winnipeg’s iconic wooden piers, and swim-friendly Winnipeg Beach. Detour west for the Narcisse Snake Dens — visit in spring or fall for best viewing — before returning to the lakeshore for Viking-rich Gimli and Hecla Village. End with a round of golf and overnight at the Lakeview Hecla Resort.

Toronto to Stratford, Ontario

Take in big-city sights and theater-town delights on this two-day sojourn in southeastern Ontario. Spend a day strolling Toronto’s museums and galleries, and a night at the artsy Gladstone Hotel or chic Kimpton Saint George. Then motor west 150 kilometres for a dose of Victorian architecture and live theatre in Stratford, home to the province’s annual Stratford Festival. Along the way, take a peek at Baden’s ornate Castle Kilbride Museum.

Montreal to Gaspésie, Quebec

Take a week or more to hit several Quebec sweet spots on this charming 975-kilometre drive, which should be on everyone’s best road trips in Canada bucket list. Visit Montreal and Quebec City — voted third and first top Canadian cities, respectively, in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards 2019 — before heading northeast along the St. Lawrence River to the Gaspé Peninsula and its striking Percé Rock. Watch for whales, caribou, and northern gannets — you can’t miss their distinctive black-tipped wings. Alternatively, skip the cities for the full-on Gaspésie Tour or check out these other scenic drives.

Irish Loop, Newfoundland and Labrador

Start with a stroll past colourful row houses in Newfoundland and Labrador’s capital of St. John’s, also North America’s most easterly and oldest city. Then head south on a 309-kilometre coastal loop packed with outdoor adventure and natural wonders. Spot whales and seabirds on a Witless Bay boat tour or hike by sea stacks and cliffs on the East Coast Trail. Pick up fresh sandwiches and lemonade in Lighthouse Picnics’ historic 1870 lighthouse, then enjoy them outside while watching icebergs float by.

Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick

Explore the wild ways of water on New Brunswick’s Bay of Fundy — a hot spot on a top Canada road trip. Here, some 150 billion tons of water flow in and out every six hours, making for the world’s highest tides at up to 50 feet. Ease into this four-day 225-kilometre trip by taking tea at Moncton’s quaint 1883 Thomas Williams House, then pad about the ocean floor during low tide at the Hopewell Rocks — eroded tree-topped sandstone formations a.k.a. Flowerpot Rocks. Catch August’s Rising Tide Festival in Fundy National Park, and be sure to kayak St. Martins’ red-rock sea caves on the route’s last leg. See more on these road trips.

North Cape Coastal Drive, Prince Edward Island

It might be Canada’s smallest province, but Prince Edward Island boasts its fair share of road trips too. Foodies in particular will want to wind their way around the western peninsula, sampling the island’s fresh bounty on a four-day 350-kilometre drive. Find out why Prince Edward Island’s potatoes are so famous at the Canadian Potato Museum, then fill up on a fully loaded baked spud — choose from lobster, pulled pork and more — at the onsite PEI Potato Country Kitchen. Slurp back world-renowned Malpeque oysters at the rustic Malpeque Oyster Barn, and savor mussels and lobster rolls at the Catch Kitchen + Bar. Rinse it all down with a Drag’n Anchor blonde ale at Moth Lane Brewing.

Halifax to the Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia

Get your urban fix in the lively capital of Halifax before striking out for rural Cape Breton Island and the world-famous Cabot Trail — considered to be not only one of the best road trips in Canada but in the world. Named after Italian explorer John Cabot, who landed on these shores in 1497, the 300-kilometre coastal loop climbs from sea-swept beaches and sleepy fishing villages to forested slopes and cliff-tops. Plan for a full four days to take in Baddeck on the shore of Bras d’Or Lake; Cape Breton Highlands National Park and its 26 hiking trails; and the traditional Acadian town of Chéticamp.

Dempster Highway, Yukon

Tucked into the northwest corner of Canada, the Yukon is home to few people (population 38,500), many mountains and 4,989 kilometres of maintained roads. Of the territory’s go-to road trips, the 737-kilometre, five-to-seven-day Dempster Highway delivers the most off-the-beaten-track experience. Load up on supplies and gold-rush history in Dawson City (think historic walking tours, can-can girls and the infamous Sourtoe Cocktail). Then drive north through wildlife-rich tundra, crossing the Arctic Circle and hopping two ferries on the way to Inuvik in the Northwest Territories. Catch early fall’s red, yellow and orange tundra, winter’s ice roads, spring’s foraging wildlife and summer’s midnight sun.

Inuvik-Aklavik Ice Road, Northwest Territories

Come winter, some 2,000 kilometres of ice roads are plowed across Canada’s vast Northwest Territories. Impassable the rest of the year, these frozen waterways connect 12 towns and their residents to the outside world. If you’re up for a more off-beat Canada road trip, make like a local and give ice-road travel a go on the 117-kilometre stretch — called “pretty and pretty legendary” by the NWT tourism authority — between Inuvik and the hamlet of Aklavik. Revel in Richardson Mountain views as you cross the Mackenzie Delta. Winter travel in Canada can be unpredictable: drive with caution and be prepared.

Trans-Canada Highway

Got the grit for a grand-slam road trip through Canada? Travel the country from coast to coast on the 7,820-kilometre Trans-Canada Hwy. Opened in 1962, the route passes through all 10 provinces and most major cities. Start your journey in the west in Victoria, British Columbia, or the east in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. Either way, take your time (at least two weeks) on the world’s longest national road — it’s sure to be a trip of a lifetime.

Canada Road Trip Tips

No matter where you road trip through Canada, keep these points in mind for ease of travel and a trip to remember:

Dont forgot to carry you car documents and if you are foreign traveler dont forgot to carry your native driving license and international driving license Canada / international driving permit Canada

Distance is measured in kilometers, not miles. All road signs are in kilometers (km for short), with one kilometer equaling 0.62 miles.

Talking on a hand-held device while driving is against the law and subject to distracted driving legislation.

When passing emergency vehicles at work, Slow Down, Move Over laws apply.

If you plan to stop or stay in a national park, you need to purchase a park pass.

Drive with extra caution in busy summer traffic, construction zones, wildlife corridors and winter conditions.

Some establishments and attractions, especially in rural areas, are only open in summer. Best to call ahead in the off-season.

A self-guided driving trip is one of the best ways to see the sprawling country that is Canada.

[fictionfromafar]

The Basel Killing by Hansjörg Schneider

The Basel Killing

Hansjörg Schneider

Translated by Mike Mitchell

Bitter Lemon Press

Publication Date 15 July 2021

The Basel Killings in the first in series of books by Friedrich Glauser Prize winning Swiss author Hansjörg Schneider featuring main protagonist Inspector Peter Hunkeler. It is translated in style by Mike Mitchell who has translated over 80 books from German and French including those by Petra Hammesfathr released by the same publisher. Originally published in 2004 in his native Switzerland, it has taken until now for Inspector Hunkeler to be brought to the attention of English language readers.

Immediately we encounter the inspector leaving one of the seediest licensed establishments in Basel but his visit has been social rather than on police business. Shortly after stopping in a public area to relieve his bladder, slightly worse for wear he then sits beside a local character Berhard Schirmer on a park bench, lights a cigarette and having contaminated the scene, then realises he is sat beside a murder victim.

As Hunkeler looks to reestablish his credibility among his superiors and try to investigate the killing of a friend whose death bares similarity to a death the previous month, the reader is likely to find there a lot that is familiar about the detective. On the surface, we appear to have another Rebus, Wallander or Erlendur who is beyond middle age, divorced, distant from his daughter and who is balancing unhealthy vices with his real or imagined health concerns. Yet what really distinguishes this book it is strong sense of setting in Basil and the surrounding area. This is no ordinary Swiss city; Basel is very close to the border of France and Germany while it is an ethnically mixed city.

A city originally known for its poets is populated by large numbers of people Balkan and Turkish descent not to mention some locals making their living through dubious methods. The victim, known as Hardy was understood to be a lorry driver who was suspected of bringing additional goods back from Albania and Serbia, while the earlier victim had been a prostitute. While his colleagues suspect an Albanian blood feud has prompted these deaths; and with local suspicions towards the Romany community Hunkeler is determined to unearth all possibilities. His investigations take him into the historical region of Alsace, part of France yet where they speak Alsatian German, as well as Baden-Württemberg where the Black Forrest is located.

The story's colourful characters include shady Albanian gangsters, seedy bar owners, manipulative prostitutes and mysterious business owners.

With competing priorities, contemptuous rivalries and cross border loyalties The Basel Killings is an intriguing multi-faceted and mid paced story which owes some similarities to Henning Mankell’s narrative style of featuring the dogged detective in each scene. Beneath an attractive façade, this story does dig deeper into the hidden events that occurred in relatively recent Swiss history under the guise of aid agencies.

It makes for a compelling introductory novel by Schneider and I look forward to further additions to the series in years to come.

Many thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours and Bitter Lemon Press for review copy of The Basel Killings and inclusion on their blog tour.

Please check out the other reviews of this book as shown below:

[architectnews]

Kita Parkstraße Daycare Centre, Stuttgart

Kita Parkstraße Daycare Centre, Stuttgart Development, German Kindergarten Building, Architecture, Images

Kita Parkstraße Daycare Centre in Stuttgart

18 May 2021

Kita Parkstraße Daycare Centre

Design: Birk Heilmeyer und Frenzel Architekten

Location: Stuttgart, Germany

In the east of Stuttgart, the four-group daycare center Kita Parkstraße was completed according to plans by Birk Heilmeyer and Frenzel Architects and handed over to the users. The wooden structure was erected on an underground bunker. Shortly before the building was handed over, the day care center received a Hugo Häring award from the BDA.

The property of the KiTa Parkstrasse is located in the vicinity of the Berg Cultural Park in the east of Stuttgart. The new two-storey building of the fourgroup nursery school is part of the green corridor with historic trees on the site of the previous building. The positioning, building dimensions, construction and materials of the building are based on the special characteristics of the premises: The local building code specifies a building depth of twelve metres.

Its position and orientation result from the construction line and the terrain sloping from west to east. The foundation on an existing underground bunker makes a lightweight timber construction the only alternative.

The main entrance is located on the north side and is easy to distinguish within the façade. The foyer, which also serves as a parents’ meeting place, runs from north to south and opens towards the garden. From here the multipurpose room is accessed, and a corridor leads to the group areas in the south and the adjoining rooms in the north. All common rooms on the upper floor feature a loggia in front of them. Two external staircases, which stand out vividly against the building structure, lead directly from the upper floor down to the garden with open-air play areas.

The clear segmentation of the building into a group space and an ancillary room area is reflected in the design of the façades and the shape of the roof. Skylights in the roof above the corridor enhance this impression and allow for good lighting and ventilation of the building. Due to the internal organisation of the building, the sanitary and ventilation installations can be restricted to the ancillary room partition. This means that the room heights in the common rooms can be increased, whilst the amount of ceiling suspensions is reduced.

The nursery is designed as a structural timber construction with a high degree of prefabrication. The lower weight of the timber construction allows the building to be erected on the air-raid shelter below. The rising construction of the nursery consists of flat timber elements. The exterior walls benefit from all the advantages of a timber frame construction with ventilated facade cladding.

Through the red colour of the vertical timber cladding the building stands out against the green of the surrounding park.

Shortly after the construction was completed, the day-care center received a Hugo Häring Award 2020 from the Association of German Architects (BDA). The jury judges:“It is the simplicity that makes this building so powerful. Its position in the urban fabric. Its clear form, organisation, and structure. The reduction to few materials. The use of two striking colours. And it is precisely the red of the shell that creates the effect of the building as if it were an apparition in the park, raising it from pure functionality to a poetic level. Strangely aloof and at the same time very present. The contrasting green on the inside, which conjures up the colour of the leaves on the floor like a reflection on water, creates a strong connection between inside and outside. This is a decidedly successful building, planned down to the last detail – consistently simple, but never simplistic“.Birk Heilmeyer und Frenzel Architekte

Client: Landeshauptstadt Stuttgart, Hochbauamt, Eva Farkas, Johannes Meinke Architects: Birk Heilmeyer und Frenzel Architekten, Stuttgart Stephan Birk, Liza Heilmeyer, Martin Frenzel, Felix Fritz, Jochen Günzler (Projektleitung), Mykola Holoviznin, Hanna Münzenmaier, Sophia Riehl, Marc Holtschmidt, Daniel Eichele

Structural planning: Tragwerkeplus Ingenieurgesellschaft, Reutlingen M&E: Paul+Gampe+Partner Beratende Ingenieure, Esslingen Building physics: Brüssau Bauphysik, Fellbach Landscape architecture: Prof. Jörg Stötzer, Stuttgart Completion: Winter 2020 GFA and GV: 965 m² / 4.020 m³

Pruducts Metal roof Prefa, Prefalz P.10 OXYDROT Sun screen Roma Serge 600 / Leinen Bordeaux Wooden facade Holz-Brettschalung norwegische Fichte, sägerau Lasur Rote Grütze, Adler Pullex Floor covering Forbo Marmoleum Walton Rosemary Green Interior wooden ceiling LIGNO Akustik, Lignotrend

Photography: Zooey Braun

Kita Parkstraße Daycare Centre, Stuttgart information / images received 180521

Location: Stuttgart, Germany, western Europe

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