Peles Castle

One of the most beautiful castles in the world – Peles Castle – located in Romania, near the city of Sinaia. It was built by the king Carl First at the last quarter of the 19 century when Romania became independent state.

Pales castle has been designed in Neo-Renaissance style with some elements of Baroque and even a Gothic. One of the sticking features of the castle – its terraces with a lot of fountains, gardeners, sculptures and balconies.

Just before the entrance to the castle there is the statue of Carl First, who greets the visitors.

The interior of the Peles castle can be described as the mix of the culture and the history. All 170 rooms of the

Peles castle are decorated in refined style. It lavishly adorned by the furniture, paintings, vases and other decorative elements.

As for me most impressive rooms in the castle are: Big Armory Room where you can one of the biggest and finest collections of weapon in world, Florence room which is adorned in style of Michelangelo style, Moorish saloon where you can even see marble fountain.

Also many rooms of the castle exhibit a lot of arts which are reckoned as of the finest in the Europe.

For its time Peles castle has been at the edge of technology. It had central heating system and the electricity.

As others museums of Europe castle is close on Mondays. Also in November Peles is closed for maintenance and refurbishment.

Rasnov fortress

Undeservedly neglected Rasnov fortress lies not far from the famous Bran castle. It was built in 1355.

Rasnov fortress endured a lot of sieges and capitulated only once – in 1612 when the source of water was out of the walls. After that a deep well (which exists today) has been delved inside. According to the legend it was dug by the Turkish prisoners in exchange of their liberty.

Tropaeum Traiani

The Tropaeum Traiani fortress lies near the Adamclisi village at approximately 70 km south-west to Constantza. The Tropaeum Traiani consists from the three main parts: the altar, the mausoleum and the fortress.

Main feature of the complex (most interesting for the tourists) is a triumphal monument which is located on the north side of Adamclisi village on the top of the hill.

The triumphal monument has been erected between 106-109 to glorify and commemorate the Roman victories over the Dacian in the first Dacian War.

The monument is a huge stone socle with roof holding the trophy’s statue which has been designed in the style of the Apollodorus of Damascus. It represents the armor of the Roman officer.

Some decorative pieces and inscription fragments with the names of 3800 soldieries have been preserved. Today they are exhibited in the small museum in Adamclisi village. On the site of triumphal monument you can see their copies. The Tropaeum Traiani has been very well restored in the Roman-Byzantine period during the time of the Justinian. In the following centuries it was declined. The place has been excavated and restored between 1971-1977

Also, today, many historians name the Tropaeum Traiani as the birth certificate of the Romanian people.

Sucevita

The abbey of Sucevita located at the north-east part of Romainia near the border with Ukraine. It was conceived in 1586 upon the initiative of Metropolitan Gheorghe Movila. Movila was the member of the powerful family and, in fact, Sucevita abbey is their joint work.

Sucevita abbey retains the trilobite plan and the style established at the time of Stephen the Greate. It’s not only an abbey. Sucevita is also a fortress. It has defensive walls with four corner towers and one tower with chapter above the passage way.

But Sucevita is famous not only for its architecture. The main reason why it attracts a lot of tourists is its paintings which are distributed all over the free surface.

The nave of the Sucevita is adorned with a miniature mosaic of episodes from Jesus’ Life, three images of the Genesis where the nature the landscape are in the forefront and the votive picture with a multitude of characters.

Sucevita is a monument with a biggest number of religious images in the country. Actually is a last church in Bucovina with painted facades. Images were done by Sofronie and Ion who blended in their works tradition and innovations.

Also visitors can attend the small museum in Sucevita where they can see the richest and the valuable medieval art collections in Moldovia.

Lindos beach

Lindos has two beaches. The main beach of the Lindos is a sandy beach with a shallow water entrance. At the beach you can rent the sunbeds and umbrellas. Near the beach there are a few restaurants where you can leave your car. Also beach is equipped with shower.

Another beach of Lindos - is a St Paul’s beach. I have not visited this beach but I saw it from the top of the Lindos Acropolis.

According to the legends it was the place where St Paul made a stop on his way to Rome when his ship has been caught by strong storm. So, according to the legend Christianity started to spread from St Paul’s beach.

As the main beach, St Paul’s beach is also very well equipped.

Photo St Paul’s beach

Photo Lindos main beach

Landshut

Like a Munich Landshut (originates from the 13 century) lies on the banks of the Isar River. City stretches between two main historical sights: Abbey of Seligenthal and the Trausnits castle.

Altstadt and Neustadt are central squares of the Landshut. Here you can find many shops, cafes and restaurants. Jesuitenkirche (or Church of St Ignaz) which lies in the way out of Neudstadt originates from the beginning of the 17 century. In its interior you can see magnificent Baroque altar which was set here in 1663.

Photos It's a not a festival. It's a ordinary wedding :) in the Landshut „Landshuter Hochzeit 08“. Lizenziert unter CC BY-SA 3.0 über Wikimedia Commons

Martinskirche church is interested thanks to the fact that three architects works on it in the one moment. Another interesting fact about this church is that its bell tower considered to be the longest in the world. You can lift to the top of the tower and enjoy the beautiful view of the Landshut below.

Photo No, I understood that it's a festival dedicated to the wedding „Landshuter hochzeit 5“ von Ludwig Gruber ( Lou.gruber ) - Eigenes Werk. Lizenziert unter Gemeinfrei über Wikimedia Commons

One of the most beautiful buildings of the Landshut is a Stadtresidenz (Residence) which located at Altstadt 79 Stadtresidenz consist from the two adjacent buildings. One of them is Deutscher Bau which originates from the middle of the 16 century and the Italienischer Bau which is also dating from the 16 century. Btw, Stadtresidenz is a first palace which was built in the Renaissance style in Germany.

Stadtresidenz has a lavishly decorated façade with the coat of arms of the King Ludwig the Ten of Bavaria. In its interior visitor can see reception hall designed in the Renaissance style and other rooms with frescos of the 16 century.

Last one photo from the Landshut wedding „LandshuterHochzeit2005-08“ von Pietro Foglietti (Wiki User Id: Leoperutz) - Eigenes Werk. Lizenziert unter CC BY-SA 3.0 über Wikimedia Commons

Lindos

The village of Lindos (or a small town) is a one of the most beautiful places in Greece. It’s mostly known for its Acropolis but Lindos is a wonderful mix of the historical houses and the nice beaches.

Lindos is a one of the most eldest settlements on the world. Dorians, who occupied the Rhodes, founded it around the 1000BC. Some archeologists believe that the Lindos more elder settlement which origin leads us into the pre-historical times.

You can get to the Lindos by bus that is departing from the Rhodes town or by boat from the Rhodes port. Of cause, most convenient way to get to the Lindos – by using the car.

Photo Lindos street

Anyway, the streets of the Lindos are entirely pedestrianized so you will need to park your car somewhere near the village (when I was in Lindos I parked the car near the restaurant on the beach) and explore the city on your foot. Or to use the donkey – only one allowed transport in the village.

Main attraction of the Lindos it’s its Acropolis which dominants the village. But don’t miss so-called Captain’s Houses which is scattered around the Lindos. They are originate from 15 century when Lindos prospered from the sea trade and many of them are open for public. And many of them today are transformed into the souvenir shops.

In the center of the village there is the Church of Assumption which originates from the 15 century. It’s hard to miss because church located on the main way to Acropolis.

My recommendation first explore the Acropolis and after stroll the streets of the Lindos. The streets are narrow and strong sun will not harm you. You can buy some souvenir, explore Lindos streets and houses and have a rest at the one of the Lindos cafes.

And don’t forget spend a few hours on the one of the Lindos beaches.

Schleißheim Palace

This palace was contrived by King Maximilian Emanuel as the Versailles rival. The construction of Schleißheim Palace started in 1701 under the supervising of the Italian architect Enrico Zucalli.

Soon after the beginning construction has been interrupted (after the war between Austria and Bavaria) and resumed in 1717 under the supervising of Joseph Effner.

Photo "Schlosspark Oberschleißheim, Jagdschloss Lustheim (8674625953)" by Heribert Pohl --- Thanks for half a million clicks! from Germering bei München, Bayern - Schlosspark Oberschleißheim, Jagtschloss Lustheim. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Common

"Germany-Oberschleissheim Castle 03" by I, Rado Bahna. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Fürstenfeldbruck

The oldest building in the Fürstenfeldbruck is a former abbey which is located on the road to the Augsburg. This abbey was founded in the 13 century and rebuilt by designs of Italian architect Giovanni Antonio Viscardi who transformed it into the largest Baroque church in Bavaria.

Another notable building in the Fürstenfeldbruck is church of Mariae-Himmelfahrtskirche which lavishly decorated interior. Today this church houses a small museum.

Photo "Hauptstr. 4 Altes Rathaus Fuerstenfeldbruck-1" by Rufus46 - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

As usual, you can find many old houses in the center of the Fürstenfeldbruck. Among them there is an Old Town Hold which has been refurbished at the end of the 19 century.

Photo "Schoengeisinger Str. 18 Fuerstenfeldbruck-1" by Rufus46 - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Acropolis Lindos

Most of us associate the world of “Acropolis” with Acropolis in Athens. But Acropolis in Greek means the “fortress” and in ancient Greece were a lot of Acropolises.

One of the survived Acropolises of ancient Greece is a Lindos Acropolis, which is located at the top of rock near the Lindos village on the Rhodos island.

When you visit the Lindos you will notice how the felicitous the location of Lindos Acropolis. It’s unapproachable. You can lift to the Acropolis only by one road which is running along the well defended Acropolis walls.

Photo Lindos Acropolis

Lindos Acropolis it’s not only a fortress. It was also a sacral place and today at the top of the Acropolis you can see the vestiges of ancient temple dedicated to the Athens. This temple, according to the legends, has been built in the pre-historic times by Danaus who came to the island trying to escape from outrage of Hera. Of course current ruins are belong to the later times. They are dated by the 3 century BC.

First ancient monument which you will see when climb to the Lindos Acropolis will be the image of ancient trireme carved on the rock. This is unique monument, which has been completed in 280 BC to commemorate naval victory of Lindos fleet.

As the fortress Lindos Acropolis was not only used by the ancient Greeks. Further owners of the island used it as the fortress as well. And today Lindos Acropolis is a combination of fortifications of different epochs. Most of the fortifications, which you can see today at Acropolis, belong to the Knight’s period of the history of Rhodes.

They were built in the middle of the 14 century. And as you can see knights actively used the ancient building as the source for their fortifications.

Big tanks for the water storage (the lack of the water could cause a big problems for the fortress defenders) were built in the Byzantium times.

I don’t know the history of the Lindos Acropolis when island was under the Turkish control. Probably castle stood abandoned.

When Rhodos has been a part of the Italy in the first part of the 20 century, Italian architects partly restored ancient monuments of the Lindos Acropolis. For example the Propylea, a big open-air staircase, which leads to the ruins of the Temple of the Athens.

And I want to mention the magnificent views of the Rhodos island below of Lindos Acropolis. I’m sure that you will enjoy it .