The lost anti-Viking defence system
In the late 10th century, France faced with an economic crisis and an uneasy peace with the Vikings. Would the Vikings attack again? Or was their recent attempt at peace going to last?
The Abbey in Vendome
Legends underpin so many historical stories it's hard to tell what is fact and what is fiction. I've found a factual explanation for the legend behind the foundation of the Holy Trinity Abbey in Vendôme, France.
St Stephen’s missing rotunda
The Rotunda of St Stephen in Prague, was part of the Christianization effort in Bohemia. Constructed in the Benedictine-owned village of Na Rybničku, the rotunda was later owned by Teutonic Knights who reconsecrated it to St Longinus in the 15th century.
The lost cathedral of St Nicholas
In Famagusta, Cyprus, there is a building that used to be a cathedral dedicated to St Nicholas. It saw major events of the country's history and is now a mosque.
The Czech-German tri-point
Accidents of geography have determined as much of world history and culture as anything else. Rivers and mountains became natural, then political, borders. The Czech town of Hranice used to be a meeting point between 3 countries.
The Rotunda of the finding of the Holy Cross
Prague's early chapels and churches seem to all have been rotundas. At least, that's all we seem to have left. Close to the Vltava river, almost overshadowed by newer buildings, you can find the Rotunda of the finding of the Holy Cross. This article explains its provenance and history of this oddly named church.
The improvements to Bouzov castle
Many people marvel at European historical sites. Few realise that what we see today may be quite different from what was in use. People restored, rebuilt or enhanced many sites over the years. Sometimes the restoration and re-imagining of some historical sites is a crucial part of the story. This article explains the changes in Bouzov castle, in Czechia.
Spanish steps
Rome’s Spanish steps are an iconic image of the city. People have loitered on the stairs since the 16th century. Not everyone knows the reason behind the name. Why would it be the Spanish steps when it’s in Italy?
Frydberk castle
The criminals who built Frydberk ? castle terrorised the Bohemian countryside in mediaeval times. Conquered, plundered, turned into a ? brewery and then the Church built a place of worship out of its tower. This is the castle's amazing story ?
The surprising connection between Prague and Rome
Architectural connections between cities are interesting because they show how influences affect architects visions. The connection alone tells a story about how something came to be. In this article I look into the connection between the Church of St Francis of Assisi in Prague and Rome’s twin churches in the Piazza del Popolo.