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 — and a huge crucifix by … [Read more...]
See Stendal’s Brick Gothic and Romanesque Town Gate Towers
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...]
Visit Aachen Cathedral to See Charlemagne’s Throne and Shrine
The imperial throne and tomb of Charlemagne in a gilded shrine are top attractions to see in the Carolingian Aachener Dom in Germany. Aachen Cathedral (Aachener Dom) is one of the most famous and most interesting historic buildings in Germany. It was originally the palatine chapel of Charlemagne and for almost six centuries the church where German kings were crowned. Much … [Read more...]
The Building and Exterior of Aachen Cathedral
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 to his palace in Aix-la-Chapelle … [Read more...]
Interior of Aachen Cathedral
Aachen Cathedral blends original Carolingian elements with later mostly Gothic decorations and additions as well as modern Byzantine-style mosaics. Aachen Cathedral is one of the shiniest cathedrals in Germany. The interior shows an unusual amount of gold while the Byzantine-style mosaics add color and bling to what is in part a fairly dark building. The core of the cathedral … [Read more...]
See the Gothic Choir of Aachen Cathedral
The choir of the Aachener Dom contains the shrine of Charlemagne, further relics, and magnificent Ottonian and Romanesque art. The magnificent choir area of the Aachen Cathedral in western Germany has the remains of Charlemagne (Karl der Grosse / Charles the Great) in a large gilded early 13th-century shrine (Karlsschrein). The Mary shrine (Marienschrein) from the same era is … [Read more...]
See the Aachen Cathedral Treasury in Germany
The Aachener Domschatz is one of the most important treasuries in Europe with art related to Charlemagne, German royal coronations, liturgy, and relics. The Aachen Cathedral Treasury (Aachener Domschattz) is one of the largest and most important treasuries of medieval Christian artworks in Europe. The treasury has over a hundred works that are exhibited in a large museum … [Read more...]
See Art in the Free Kunsthalle Würth and Johanniterkirche in Schwäbisch Hall
Visitors may see modern art for free in the Kunsthalle Würth Schwäbisch Hall and top medieval masterpieces in the nearby Johanniterkirche. Schwäbisch Hall, a beautiful southern German town with many half-timbered houses, a picturesque market square with a large Gothic church, and a fine town museum, surprises many visitors with the large free modern art Kunsthalle Würth. … [Read more...]
Visit the Medieval Crime or Torture Museum in Rothenburg ob der Tauber
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. It is therefore also often … [Read more...]
Transportation to Limburg in Germany
By Train or Car to Great Hotels and Restaurants in the Lahn Cathedral Town Fast trains and autobahns make Limburg an der Lahn with its Romanesque cathedral, magnificent medieval old town, and cheap hotels an interesting day trip or overnight stop from Cologne or Frankfurt Airport. Fast transportation links (autobahns and ICE trains) make Limburg an der Lahn an easy day … [Read more...]
Top Castles to Visit in Europe: Burg Eltz near the Rhine in Germany
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. Burg Eltz is an authentic medieval castle romantically located in an isolated valley in the Rhinelands off the Mosel River near Koblenz in Germany. In contrast to other castles in the Rhine area, Burg Eltz has never been taken in … [Read more...]
Visit Romantic Burg Eltz Castle near the Mosel and Rhine Rivers
Romantic, medieval Burg Eltz Castle near Koblenz in Germany is open daily during the summer season. Tickets for the treasury and guided tours are sold at the fortress. Burg Eltz is considered by many to be the most romantic of Germany’s around 20,000 castles and castle ruins. Despite its somewhat isolated location, it is absolutely worth the effort needed to get there. In … [Read more...]