Santa Maria Novella has some of the finest medieval and Renaissance art in Florence, including Masaccio’s Holy Trinity and a Crucifix by Giotto. The Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, originally a Dominican monastery church, has always been full of art. Top works include Masaccio’s Holy Trinity — an early application of the rules of perspective … Read more
Aachen Cathedral’s core was built by Charlemagne but later additions enlarged the palatine chapel that became the coronation church of German kings. Aachen Cathedral (Aachener Dom) in western Germany is one of the oldest continuously in use buildings in Germany. The octagonal core of the church was built by Charlemagne as a Mary chapel attached … Read more
The brick Gothic Uenglinger Tor and Romanesque Tangermünder Tor are two beautiful medieval town gate towers in Stendal in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Only two of Hansestadt Stendal’s medieval town gate towers survived but both are exceptionally beautiful: the brick Gothic Uenglinger Tor is the better looking but the Tangermünder Tor with early 13th-century Romanesque base is … Read more
The torture instruments and shame masks in the Medieval Crime Museum are among the top sights to see in Rothenburg ob der Tauber on the Romantic Road in Germany. The Medieval Crime Museum (Mittelalterliches Kriminalmuseum) in Rothenburg ob der Tauber is most famous for its large collection of historic torture devices and public humiliation masks. … Read more
Burg Eltz, near Koblenz at the confluence of the Mosel and Rhine Rivers, is one of the most romantic medieval castles in Germany and all of Europe. The impossibly romantic Burg Eltz is an authentic medieval castle beautifully located in an isolated valley in the Rhineland off the Mosel River near Koblenz and Cochem in … Read more
Visit romantic, medieval Burg Eltz near Koblenz and Cochem in the Moselle Valley in Germany in summer when the castle is open daily — buy tickets for the treasury and guided tours directly at the fortress. Burg Eltz is considered by many to be the most romantic of Germany’s around 20,000 castles and castle ruins. … Read more
Getting to romantic, medieval Burg Eltz Castle in the Moselle valley in Germany is possible by public transportation (train, bus, and boat) from Koblenz and Cochem, or by car as a day trip from Frankfurt, Mainz, or Cologne. Some pleasant hiking is usually required too, as the castle is located inside a privately-owned forest. Burg … Read more
Le Poët-Laval is a very small fortified village beautifully located in the Drôme region of northern Provence in France. The top sights to see in this wall-enclosed town include a castle, church ruins, medieval buildings, a small museum, marvelous views, and town fortifications. The very small wall-enclosed town Le Poët-Laval (population almost 900) is mostly … Read more
The marble throne and shrine of Charlemagne in the Aachener Dom can only be seen when on a guided tour of the historic Aachen Cathedral. The marble throne of Charlemagne (Karl der Grosse / Charles the Great), where 30 German kings were crowned, can be seen only on a guided tour of the Aachener Dom … Read more
The magnificent Gothic Rouen Cathedral has the tallest church spire in France and a wealth of art, history, and architectural details. Rouen Cathedral (La cathédrale primatiale Notre-Dame de l’Assomption de Rouen) is one of the most impressive Gothic churches ever built. Construction dragged on for three centuries allowing all forms of the Gothic spectrum from … Read more