Valečov castle ruins
I’ve often seen forts and castles built according to the geography of the land. I’d never seen one designed according to the material used to build it. Until I visited the Czech Valečov castle ruins, that is.
The Lost Walls of Prague’s New Town
I've written about the walls of Prague's Old Town, which the city destroyed. It's unfortunate they removed such a historical feature. Once Prague had a New Town and external fortifications there was no need for the walls around the Old Town.
The surprising secret behind Bohemian Renaissance
I yawned as I weaved my way through the road works on the motorway out of Prague. I was on my way to see the finest example of Bohemian Renaissance - Litomyšl Chateau in the Pardubice region, east of Prague.
The Unexpectedly Polish National Library of Malta
Valletta is an ornate and Baroque city built by the Knights of Malta. One of it’s most famous historical buildings is neo-classical which contrasts with the rest of the city. Welcome to Malta's (Polish) National Library.
The strange case of Amsterdam’s House of the Blood Stains
In the eastern part of Amsterdam's city centre, there is a building which has unsightly scrawls on its facade. It's as if there was graffiti that faded over time. Not everyone knows these scrawls are in blood. This is the House of Blood Stains.
Puck’s castle
It was late morning when Francois, Helene and I, after visiting two other historical places around Dublin, stopped to take a look at the rundown Puck’s Castle.
The Possessed Fairy Tale Farmhouse
If a building is abandoned for a long enough time, it doesn’t take long before stories about hauntings begin to emerge. In Czechia, the Fairy Tale Farmhouse has attracted a few
Loučeň Castle
Most stately homes and castles in Czechia close for the winter months. I suppose not many people enjoy traipsing around an unheated building when it’s -20 C outside. Loučeň castle is
Immortalising the Devil
People decorate their houses with different things - statues, sculptures, art; that sort of thing. It isn't often that I see decorations related to devils, but one building in Prague is the exception.
The lost Royal Palace of Prague
Tourists mistake any old-looking structure as something which is ancient and "worthy of attention." Whether this is true or not, it's always worth looking into the detail of anything you see on your travels.
This article focuses on Prague's magnificent Municipal House.