The 20th Century

A photo of the towers flanking the town hall's entrance - San Sebastián, Spain

Has there been a century so full of changes as the 20th century? (Maybe the 21st will beat it!)

It spanned those distant memories of life before the First World War, to the end of the Cold War. Read all about this century as it gave life to stories of horrific brutality and delightful whimsy that populate these pages.

All my 20th Century articles

1900 – 1909

  • Prague’s Daring Dame: The Hotel Central May 6, 2026 - Prague, 1901. A city of soaring Gothic spires and grand Baroque palaces. Then, something new appeared. Something... different. On Hybernska street, a building bloomed into existence, its facade a swirl… Continue Reading
  • Creating the Emirates June 5, 2025 - The United Arab Emirates exist because of a reaction to Britain's loss of power, post-Word War II. That power, in turn, came about because of geography, rather than outright politics.… Continue Reading
  • The Abbey in Vendome July 16, 2024 - 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… Continue Reading
  • Einstein in Prague April 22, 2024 - Albert Einstein developed key aspects of relativity during his 1911-1912 stay in Prague, lecturing at the local university. Continue Reading
  • HMS Orwell March 27, 2024 - In 1903, a British navy drill off Corfu ended disastrously when HMS Orwell collided with HMS Pioneer during a night exercise. Continue Reading
  • The Hilsner Affair December 5, 2023 - Anti-Jewish sentiment has long been a problem - even before the Nazis. This article describes the infamous Hilsner affair from Bohemia. Continue Reading
  • Double agent Colonel Alfred Redl February 22, 2023 - Colonel Alfred Redl was chief of intelligence for Austro-Hungary at the beginning of the 20th century. He also was a double-agent for Russia, France and Italy. There is a direct… Continue Reading
  • Russian exiles in Malta October 15, 2022 - Mentioning exiled Russians these days suggests pro-Ukrainian protesters or anti-Putin demonstrators. Malta's reputation as a haven for Russians goes back more than 100 years before Putin's antics. Continue Reading
  • The occult plot to kill Hitler March 22, 2021 - Before World War II, Czechoslovak occultists tried to use black magic to kill Hitler. It sounds like the plot to a Hollywood B-movie, and in some ways it is. But… Continue Reading
  • Learn all about Drimnagh castle May 25, 2020 - You’d think a city of Dublin wouldn’t be the place to hide a castle. Yet many Dublin natives had no idea what I was talking about when I mentioned Drimnagh… Continue Reading
  • The improvements to Bouzov castle May 11, 2020 - 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… Continue Reading
  • In exile in Malta November 11, 2019 - The town of Sliema, Malta, is marked with high-rise apartment blocks and frustrating traffic. It was not always so and people have fond memories of days gone by. Few talk… Continue Reading
  • The death of Tycho Brahe September 30, 2019 - One of the many illustrious people who lived in Prague was the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe. He came for the mysteries of alchemy, and he died in Prague because he… Continue Reading
  • Milada Horáková: Czech resistance fighter September 2, 2019 - People who speak out against a regime ? are targeted. We think this happens in dictatorships but a democratic society can face the wrath of an angry administration. Under communist… Continue Reading
  • The Chapel of Our Lady of Divine Grace August 19, 2019 - The old adage claims there are 356 chapels and churches in Malta, 1 for every day of the year! One tiny often neglected chapel is dedicated to Our Lady of… Continue Reading
  • For people interested in World War II stories October 22, 2018 - There's a plaque on the wall in the castle in Ghent, Belgium, thanking the city for the symbolic establishment of the SAS. In Belgium. The SAS? Symbolic establishment? I started… Continue Reading
  • The shock of the 1908 tsunami in Malta August 20, 2018 - One side effect of an earthquake in a coastal region is a tsunami that rips through the sea around it. Malta is close to a major earthquake fault line. In… Continue Reading
  • I didn’t know about these connections between Malta and Prague February 19, 2018 - I no longer am surprised at unusual connections between places. I've travelled enough over the years to know many things are connected in the strangest of ways. Imagine my surprise… Continue Reading
  • Konopiště Castle and World War I September 25, 2017 - No more than a 30-minute train ride south of Prague you can visit Konopiště castle. This is where the Archduke Franz Ferdinand travelled from when he went to Sarajevo and… Continue Reading
  • The lost Royal Palace of Prague September 4, 2017 - 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… Continue Reading
  • The Prague Merman January 2, 2017 - Mermaids are a feature of most culture's mythology (Have you read my article about Warsaw yet?) but Prague is slightly unique in that it has a story of a merman,… Continue Reading
  • The Bridges of Prague October 10, 2016 - Prague's lengthy promenades along the river Vltava are one of the most underrated features of the city. Walking along them using the bridges as stepping stones provides you with a great… Continue Reading
  • The Crying Madonna of Malta July 25, 2016 - In the centre of island of Malta lies a small neighbourhood known as 'Tal-Mirakli'. ('The Miraculous [Neighbourhood]'). It nestles between the three residential villages of Attard, Balzan and Lija. There you… Continue Reading
  • Hypogeum – The Land that Time Forgot November 18, 2013 - If you're planning a trip to Malta and fancy visiting the oldest prehistoric temple that is completely underground, I would highly recommend a visit to the Hypogeum of Hal-Saflieni in… Continue Reading
A photo of Einstein's bust - Prague, Czechia
Einstein’s bust on his former residence – Prague, Czechia

1910 – 1919

  • Macedonia and the Bulgarian Horrors September 3, 2025 - During my travels in North Macedonia, I was puzzled to see lots of references and mentioned to ex-UK Prime Minister William Gladstone. What would a 19th-century British statesman have in… Continue Reading
  • Einstein in Prague April 22, 2024 - Albert Einstein developed key aspects of relativity during his 1911-1912 stay in Prague, lecturing at the local university. Continue Reading
  • The Hilsner Affair December 5, 2023 - Anti-Jewish sentiment has long been a problem - even before the Nazis. This article describes the infamous Hilsner affair from Bohemia. Continue Reading
  • Harry Potter and Porto’s Hidden House October 18, 2023 - In Porto, in between the Igreja do Carmo and Igreja dos Carmelitas, there exists a hidden, narrow three-storey house called Casa Escondida. Some claim this house inspired J.K. Rowling, but… Continue Reading
  • Double agent Colonel Alfred Redl February 22, 2023 - Colonel Alfred Redl was chief of intelligence for Austro-Hungary at the beginning of the 20th century. He also was a double-agent for Russia, France and Italy. There is a direct… Continue Reading
  • Russian exiles in Malta October 15, 2022 - Mentioning exiled Russians these days suggests pro-Ukrainian protesters or anti-Putin demonstrators. Malta's reputation as a haven for Russians goes back more than 100 years before Putin's antics. Continue Reading
  • The Czech-German tri-point July 13, 2022 - 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… Continue Reading
  • The improvements to Bouzov castle May 11, 2020 - 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… Continue Reading
  • The powerful Anglo-Egyptian Bank in Malta May 4, 2020 - In the 19th century an offshore British bank in Malta issued its own banknotes. It's unusual to think of a private company issuing banknotes, more so in a small country… Continue Reading
  • In exile in Malta November 11, 2019 - The town of Sliema, Malta, is marked with high-rise apartment blocks and frustrating traffic. It was not always so and people have fond memories of days gone by. Few talk… Continue Reading
  • The truth behind the Sudetenland November 4, 2019 - Before living in Prague I thought I knew about the Sudetenland and how Hitler annexed it before World War II. There’s a lot I’ve learnt about the nuances of history… Continue Reading
  • Prague’s pentecostal uprising September 9, 2019 - In 1848, Prague citizens rebelled against their Austro-Hungarian rulers. Was this similar to the French revolution, also in 1848? Or was it a sign of something deeper than that? ?My… Continue Reading
  • Milada Horáková: Czech resistance fighter September 2, 2019 - People who speak out against a regime ? are targeted. We think this happens in dictatorships but a democratic society can face the wrath of an angry administration. Under communist… Continue Reading
  • The Chapel of Our Lady of Divine Grace August 19, 2019 - The old adage claims there are 356 chapels and churches in Malta, 1 for every day of the year! One tiny often neglected chapel is dedicated to Our Lady of… Continue Reading
  • I didn’t know about these connections between Malta and Prague February 19, 2018 - I no longer am surprised at unusual connections between places. I've travelled enough over the years to know many things are connected in the strangest of ways. Imagine my surprise… Continue Reading
  • Konopiště Castle and World War I September 25, 2017 - No more than a 30-minute train ride south of Prague you can visit Konopiště castle. This is where the Archduke Franz Ferdinand travelled from when he went to Sarajevo and… Continue Reading
  • The lost Royal Palace of Prague September 4, 2017 - 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… Continue Reading
  • The Knights of St Lazarus August 14, 2017 - The Knights of Malta (to give them their full name, the Knights of St John of Jerusalem, Rhodes and Malta) are certainly familiar to followers of this site. I was… Continue Reading
  • Prague’s Marian Column August 7, 2017 - Prague’s Old Town Square used to contain one of the largest sundials I’ve ever heard of. Judging by reports in the local news, it just might be rebuilt too. And… Continue Reading
  • The Bridges of Prague October 10, 2016 - Prague's lengthy promenades along the river Vltava are one of the most underrated features of the city. Walking along them using the bridges as stepping stones provides you with a great… Continue Reading
  • The Admiralty Arch and Queen Victoria March 7, 2016 - Stand in Trafalgar Square in the middle of London and gaze south-west at the landmark Admiralty Arch that leads to the Mall. Its association with Britain's Queen Victoria is not… Continue Reading
  • Lost Prague – Tesnov Train Station April 20, 2015 - Like any city, Prague has lost certain elements of its past to the mists of time. Now, these items live on only as a name whose significance few understand. The lost train station… Continue Reading
  • Apero O’Clock December 23, 2013 - There is a slight, imperceptible shift in the air. It is barely noticeable, and many of the Milanese in the Piazza Del Duomo around me continue with their lives. And… Continue Reading
A photo of Leopold Hilsner (1918)
Leopold Hilsner (1918)

1920 -1929

A photo of Place Charles De Gaulle - Bayeux, France
The location of General De Gaulle’s rousing speech, now called Place Charles De Gaulle – Bayeux, France

1930 – 1939

A photo of an RAF Spitfire
RAF Spitfire (Airwolfhound https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=106434178)

1940 – 1949

  • Livonia – Russia’s Baltic doorway July 15, 2026 - In 1558, Ivan the Terrible tried to punch a doorway to the sea — and Europe panicked. The question is: was this a 16th-century war, or the first chapter of… Continue Reading
  • The Lion in the Harbour: When Garibaldi Came to Malta April 15, 2026 - In 1864, the most famous man in the world spent 36 hours in Malta. In 1864, Giuseppe Garibaldi stopped off in Malta on his way to England. He was limping… Continue Reading
  • ORP Kujawiak: From Britain to Malta August 15, 2025 - During World War II, the Polish Navy operated under the auspices of the British Navy. One destroyer escort, the ORP Kujawiak, helped supply the island of Malta where it hit… Continue Reading
  • The Icelandic anomaly April 21, 2025 - In geopolitical terms, Iceland is a bit of an anomaly. It gained independence from Denmark, but found itself unable to defend itself. It joined NATO even though it doesn't have… Continue Reading
  • Allied Military Government of Occupied Territories February 5, 2025 - During World War II, the USA and UK plotted to place France under Allied administration after the war, instead of restoring the French government. Why would they consider this, and… Continue Reading
  • The bombing of RAF Kalafrana December 18, 2024 - On 9 May 1942, at the tail end of the Siege of Malta, an unexpected switch in Axis tactics led to loss of life at one of Malta's airfields. This… Continue Reading
  • The Abbey in Vendome July 16, 2024 - 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… Continue Reading
  • RAF hijacking in Prague May 22, 2024 - In 1950, three ex-RAF pilots, persecuted by the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia, coordinated the hijacking of three flights, leading to a daring escape to the West. Continue Reading
  • The 1923 Spanish gambling ban January 4, 2024 - The town hall building in San Sebastian, built in the 1880s, has a rich history including the gambling ban in 1923. The ban led to the building's closure for almost… Continue Reading
  • The fake and fatal border crossing July 20, 2023 - The way a communist state handles border control is key to handling internal dissidents. It's always about tracking who goes out, as well as who goes in. Operation Border Stone… Continue Reading
  • Air Battle over the Ore Mountains March 24, 2023 - On 11 September 1944, a massive, intense air battle took place over the mountains between Germany and what was then Czechoslovakia. The memory of this battle is still alive today. Continue Reading
  • The German expulsion December 28, 2022 - I've written lots about how Germany and German influences affected Bohemia and Czechia. This is what led to a backlash after World War II. This article explores the little-known story… Continue Reading
  • The Red Tower of Death September 5, 2022 - In western Czechia, there is a grim reminder of how the Communists treated prisoners. This article explains what the Red Tower of Death is, and why it exists. Continue Reading
  • The Czech-German tri-point July 13, 2022 - 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… Continue Reading
  • The occult plot to kill Hitler March 22, 2021 - Before World War II, Czechoslovak occultists tried to use black magic to kill Hitler. It sounds like the plot to a Hollywood B-movie, and in some ways it is. But… Continue Reading
  • The Maltese chapel of bones March 1, 2021 - I’ve written about Czech ossuaries before, and I’ve visited the one in Paris, but few know there is a Maltese chapel of bones. Well, there used to be one anyway. Continue Reading
  • The ultimate story of Czech heros February 1, 2021 - Many countries have memorials to fallen heros, and stories of bravery from wartime. Czechia is unusual in that it has heros from both sides of World War II. Continue Reading
  • Father Toufar – tortured by communists September 14, 2020 - Czechoslovak communists tortured Czech priest Josef Toufar in 1949 for a miracle which may or may not have happened. This article describes the story and the tragic ending of Father… Continue Reading
  • The Allied bombing of Prague May 18, 2020 - During World War II, Prague wasn't as affected by bombing as many other European cities were. This was because planes didn’t have the range to reach Prague, and also because… Continue Reading
  • The World War II Death Marches February 17, 2020 - While travelling overland across Europe, it’s easy to enjoy the scenery and hospitality without a second thought to horrific acts which took place over the centuries. We often don’t realise… Continue Reading
  • In exile in Malta November 11, 2019 - The town of Sliema, Malta, is marked with high-rise apartment blocks and frustrating traffic. It was not always so and people have fond memories of days gone by. Few talk… Continue Reading
  • The Punctation of Olomouc: Prussia vs Austria October 21, 2019 - The small town of Olomouc in Moravia is the place were the issue of German unity became a sore point in the 19th century between expansionist Prussia and dominant Austria.… Continue Reading
  • Milada Horáková: Czech resistance fighter September 2, 2019 - People who speak out against a regime ? are targeted. We think this happens in dictatorships but a democratic society can face the wrath of an angry administration. Under communist… Continue Reading
  • Český Šternberk Castle August 26, 2019 - It’s not everyday you find castles still owned by the original family. Czechia's Český Šternberk ? towers over the town of the same name, and is one of the few… Continue Reading
  • For people interested in World War II stories October 22, 2018 - There's a plaque on the wall in the castle in Ghent, Belgium, thanking the city for the symbolic establishment of the SAS. In Belgium. The SAS? Symbolic establishment? I started… Continue Reading
  • The Buskett Forest and the Maltese Falcon June 5, 2017 - When the Knights were given the Maltese islands they were asked to pay tribute of a Maltese Falcon every year to the monarch of Sicily. It's a strange request, and… Continue Reading
  • The Stone Lamb House May 29, 2017 - Right in the middle of Prague’s Old Town Square stands a house where scientists, musicians, and mystics once crossed paths. The portal of the Stone Lamb House contains symbols that… Continue Reading
  • Renaissance Pavillions … and Communism? December 5, 2016 - The Royal Garden beside the castle in Prague is a joy to behold. There is a Renaissance pavilion there which seems to have a connection to Czechia's recent communism-tainted past.… Continue Reading
  • The Communist Clock of Olomouc November 14, 2016 - In Prague, tourists push one another to catch a glimpse of the Astronomical Clock in the Old Town Square. In Olomouc, there are not that many tourists in front of the… Continue Reading
  • The Bridges of Prague October 10, 2016 - Prague's lengthy promenades along the river Vltava are one of the most underrated features of the city. Walking along them using the bridges as stepping stones provides you with a great… Continue Reading
  • Relaxed Dining at a Bargain – Warsaw June 22, 2015 - In Warsaw, everything is relaxed. Rebuilt after the War, the city gleams with a shine that comes from being polished to within an inch of its life. The carefully maintained buildings ooze centuries of life, hiding… Continue Reading
  • Lost Prague – Tesnov Train Station April 20, 2015 - Like any city, Prague has lost certain elements of its past to the mists of time. Now, these items live on only as a name whose significance few understand. The lost train station… Continue Reading
  • Shock, Terror and War – Bombing Via Rasella March 16, 2015 - Wherever you are in Europe, it is safe to say that you are no more than a stone's throw away from the location of some key historical event. Rome is… Continue Reading
  • Hypogeum – The Land that Time Forgot November 18, 2013 - If you're planning a trip to Malta and fancy visiting the oldest prehistoric temple that is completely underground, I would highly recommend a visit to the Hypogeum of Hal-Saflieni in… Continue Reading
A photo of St Nicholas Cathedral's facade - Famagusta, Occupied Cyprus
St Nicholas Cathedral’s facade – Famagusta, Occupied Cyprus

1950 – 1959

  • Creating the Emirates June 5, 2025 - The United Arab Emirates exist because of a reaction to Britain's loss of power, post-Word War II. That power, in turn, came about because of geography, rather than outright politics.… Continue Reading
  • The Icelandic anomaly April 21, 2025 - In geopolitical terms, Iceland is a bit of an anomaly. It gained independence from Denmark, but found itself unable to defend itself. It joined NATO even though it doesn't have… Continue Reading
  • The lost Cathedral of St Sophia March 5, 2025 - In occupied Cyprus, across the demilitarised zone in Nicosia, the French gothic cathedral of St Sophia is now Selimiye mosque. The building was at the heart of Cypriot crusader history,… Continue Reading
  • RAF hijacking in Prague May 22, 2024 - In 1950, three ex-RAF pilots, persecuted by the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia, coordinated the hijacking of three flights, leading to a daring escape to the West. Continue Reading
  • The fake and fatal border crossing July 20, 2023 - The way a communist state handles border control is key to handling internal dissidents. It's always about tracking who goes out, as well as who goes in. Operation Border Stone… Continue Reading
  • The Red Tower of Death September 5, 2022 - In western Czechia, there is a grim reminder of how the Communists treated prisoners. This article explains what the Red Tower of Death is, and why it exists. Continue Reading
  • Operation NEPTUNE January 4, 2021 - You may think 'fake news' is a modern invention, but you'd be wrong. One of Czechoslovakia's most famous disinformation campaigns was Operation NEPTUNE. This article explains why Czechoslovak spies carried… Continue Reading
  • Father Toufar – tortured by communists September 14, 2020 - Czechoslovak communists tortured Czech priest Josef Toufar in 1949 for a miracle which may or may not have happened. This article describes the story and the tragic ending of Father… Continue Reading
  • The results of a nuclear incident in Czechoslovakia August 10, 2020 - I don't think there's anyone who hasn't heard of the Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe. The recent Sky drama reanimated people's memories of those days. Few are aware there almost was a… Continue Reading
  • Learn all about Drimnagh castle May 25, 2020 - You’d think a city of Dublin wouldn’t be the place to hide a castle. Yet many Dublin natives had no idea what I was talking about when I mentioned Drimnagh… Continue Reading
  • The amazing Koněprusy caves January 27, 2020 - The Koněprusy cave complex is in the middle of a nature reserve and is 40 km away from Prague. Don’t think this is a mere collection of caves because it… Continue Reading
  • In exile in Malta November 11, 2019 - The town of Sliema, Malta, is marked with high-rise apartment blocks and frustrating traffic. It was not always so and people have fond memories of days gone by. Few talk… Continue Reading
  • Milada Horáková: Czech resistance fighter September 2, 2019 - People who speak out against a regime ? are targeted. We think this happens in dictatorships but a democratic society can face the wrath of an angry administration. Under communist… Continue Reading
  • Do you know Dublin has a surprising megalithic tomb? November 19, 2018 - I find pre-historical buildings fascinating. We don't know why they built them, who designed them or how ?‍♂️. The lack of writing means we will never know. All we do… Continue Reading
  • St Valentine was not Irish – but he is now September 24, 2018 - I’ve written about relics of saints before. They exist because people believe proximity to part of a saint ?means  ‘something’ can rub off. Dublin has the remains of St Valentine… Continue Reading
  • Terrorist attack in Prague March 5, 2018 - Olga Hepnarová is not a name that is familiar to many people even in Czechia. She is infamous here as the last woman to be executed by the state in… Continue Reading
  • Prague’s Metronome – and Communist Past April 24, 2017 - With a hand that is around 75 feet long (22.8 metres), the metronome that waves above Prague is impressive enough as it is. Its location is no random choice and… Continue Reading
  • Renaissance Pavillions … and Communism? December 5, 2016 - The Royal Garden beside the castle in Prague is a joy to behold. There is a Renaissance pavilion there which seems to have a connection to Czechia's recent communism-tainted past.… Continue Reading
A photo of Abu Dhabi today
Abu Dhabi today – United Arab Emirates

1960 – 1969

  • Creating the Emirates June 5, 2025 - The United Arab Emirates exist because of a reaction to Britain's loss of power, post-Word War II. That power, in turn, came about because of geography, rather than outright politics.… Continue Reading
  • The Icelandic anomaly April 21, 2025 - In geopolitical terms, Iceland is a bit of an anomaly. It gained independence from Denmark, but found itself unable to defend itself. It joined NATO even though it doesn't have… Continue Reading
  • The lost cathedral of St Nicholas December 2, 2022 - 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. Continue Reading
  • The Red Tower of Death September 5, 2022 - In western Czechia, there is a grim reminder of how the Communists treated prisoners. This article explains what the Red Tower of Death is, and why it exists. Continue Reading
  • Operation NEPTUNE January 4, 2021 - You may think 'fake news' is a modern invention, but you'd be wrong. One of Czechoslovakia's most famous disinformation campaigns was Operation NEPTUNE. This article explains why Czechoslovak spies carried… Continue Reading
  • The Soviets wanted to ‘protect’ Czechoslovakia August 17, 2020 - Following the fall of the Iron Curtain Soviet troops started to leave Europe. Czechoslovakia, as it then still was, was happy that the ‘temporary deployment’ of Soviet troops was coming… Continue Reading
  • The church that moved June 8, 2020 - We often hear of buildings being “in the way” of new developments. It’s a constant argument between conservationists and modernisers. Sometimes, ancient treasures are even lost in our quest to… Continue Reading
  • Prague’s mysterious menhir March 2, 2020 - Prague has continued to expand in the same way many other cities have grown over the centuries. We may never know what they used the land for before becoming part… Continue Reading
  • Milada Horáková: Czech resistance fighter September 2, 2019 - People who speak out against a regime ? are targeted. We think this happens in dictatorships but a democratic society can face the wrath of an angry administration. Under communist… Continue Reading
  • St Valentine was not Irish – but he is now September 24, 2018 - I’ve written about relics of saints before. They exist because people believe proximity to part of a saint ?means  ‘something’ can rub off. Dublin has the remains of St Valentine… Continue Reading
  • Terrorist attack in Prague March 5, 2018 - Olga Hepnarová is not a name that is familiar to many people even in Czechia. She is infamous here as the last woman to be executed by the state in… Continue Reading
  • Finding Prague’s lost Old Town fortifications January 22, 2018 - Tourists from the New World chuckle when they read that Prague's New Town dates back to the 14th century. The New World barely existed in those days. Prague's Old Town… Continue Reading
  • Do you know when the Union Jack first flew over Malta? December 4, 2017 - Maltese history is a rich tapestry of events, influences and wars. The Maltese are proud of British heritage, but few seem to know where the British flag was first flown… Continue Reading
  • The Bullet Holes in the Gas Tank October 2, 2017 - A gas tank is not the sort of thing most people put on your "Must see" list. In the Prague suburbs, there is one of the world's last surviving gas… Continue Reading
  • Skorba Temples in Malta June 26, 2017 - Would you bother to see a unique 6,000 year old temple just because it is not as impressive or complete as the others? If you answered 'no', you would miss… Continue Reading
  • Prague’s Metronome – and Communist Past April 24, 2017 - With a hand that is around 75 feet long (22.8 metres), the metronome that waves above Prague is impressive enough as it is. Its location is no random choice and… Continue Reading
  • Santa Engracia – Lisbon August 4, 2014 - The National Pantheon in Lisbon, Portugal is a 17th century church that was converted to a national monument and is now the final resting place for Portuguese personalities. Walk with… Continue Reading
A photo of a British Royal Air Force Vulcan bomber
A British Royal Air Force Vulcan bomber – By Alastair Barbour – commons.wikimedia, CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=93837479

1970 – 1979

  • The Fruttuaria Abbey March 7, 2026 - A King Died Here. Then the Church Buried It. Then a Plumber Found It Again. The Abbazia di Fruttuaria has been a monastery, a political pawn, a makeover project, and… Continue Reading
  • The significance of the little bridge November 19, 2025 - Prague's Můstek neighborhood and metro station has a fascinating story behind it. This area represents a remarkable convergence of medieval history and modern urban development. What appears today as a… Continue Reading
  • The Abbey of Bourgueil August 2, 2025 - In 990, Emma of Blois leveraged her dowry and family alliances to found an abbey in Bourgueil, France. The abbey grew into a regional powerhouse over the next 500 years… Continue Reading
  • Creating the Emirates June 5, 2025 - The United Arab Emirates exist because of a reaction to Britain's loss of power, post-Word War II. That power, in turn, came about because of geography, rather than outright politics.… Continue Reading
  • St Clements in Pořiči March 26, 2025 - Near Prague's city centre, but not quite close enough, St Clement's church is possibly one of the oldest religious structures in the city. It is more than 1000 years' old. Continue Reading
  • A church for a cousin January 20, 2025 - In the 11th century the Duke of Aquitaine built an abbey in exchange for permission to marry a relative of his. It sounds like the ultimate form of privilege but… Continue Reading
  • The RAF Vulcan crash in Malta April 15, 2023 - In 1975, a British RAF Vulcan bomber exploded as it approached the runway of Malta's airport. That few cilivians died is near-miraculous. This article describes what happened and the view… Continue Reading
  • The lost cathedral of St Nicholas December 2, 2022 - 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. Continue Reading
  • The fake ruins of Baba July 20, 2022 - Europe is full of ruins that paint a delightful picture of its turbulent past. It's not every day you can see ruins that are as artificial as a fast food… Continue Reading
  • The Maltese chapel of bones March 1, 2021 - I’ve written about Czech ossuaries before, and I’ve visited the one in Paris, but few know there is a Maltese chapel of bones. Well, there used to be one anyway. Continue Reading
  • Operation NEPTUNE January 4, 2021 - You may think 'fake news' is a modern invention, but you'd be wrong. One of Czechoslovakia's most famous disinformation campaigns was Operation NEPTUNE. This article explains why Czechoslovak spies carried… Continue Reading
  • The results of a nuclear incident in Czechoslovakia August 10, 2020 - I don't think there's anyone who hasn't heard of the Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe. The recent Sky drama reanimated people's memories of those days. Few are aware there almost was a… Continue Reading
  • The church that moved June 8, 2020 - We often hear of buildings being “in the way” of new developments. It’s a constant argument between conservationists and modernisers. Sometimes, ancient treasures are even lost in our quest to… Continue Reading
  • The Allied bombing of Prague May 18, 2020 - During World War II, Prague wasn't as affected by bombing as many other European cities were. This was because planes didn’t have the range to reach Prague, and also because… Continue Reading
  • The truth behind the Sudetenland November 4, 2019 - Before living in Prague I thought I knew about the Sudetenland and how Hitler annexed it before World War II. There’s a lot I’ve learnt about the nuances of history… Continue Reading
  • Malta’s mysterious cart ruts September 16, 2019 - One of the great mysteries of this world is the Maltese cart ruts. They appear all over the islands. We still don’t know what they are, or what they were… Continue Reading
  • Milada Horáková: Czech resistance fighter September 2, 2019 - People who speak out against a regime ? are targeted. We think this happens in dictatorships but a democratic society can face the wrath of an angry administration. Under communist… Continue Reading
  • Terrorist attack in Prague March 5, 2018 - Olga Hepnarová is not a name that is familiar to many people even in Czechia. She is infamous here as the last woman to be executed by the state in… Continue Reading
  • The Scratching Fanny of Cock Lane October 23, 2017 - Nothing cheers up a good ghost story than a juicy double entendre. One of London’s most famous 18th century hauntings took place in the marvellously named Cock Lane. Continue Reading
  • The Knights of St Lazarus August 14, 2017 - The Knights of Malta (to give them their full name, the Knights of St John of Jerusalem, Rhodes and Malta) are certainly familiar to followers of this site. I was… Continue Reading
  • The Bridges of Prague October 10, 2016 - Prague's lengthy promenades along the river Vltava are one of the most underrated features of the city. Walking along them using the bridges as stepping stones provides you with a great… Continue Reading
  • The Tongue of St John (Of Nepomuk) April 25, 2016 - I've written before about the Czech saint St John of Nepomuk - but I hadn't visited the main church dedicated to him, right in the middle of Czechia. Read my… Continue Reading
  • Lost Prague – Tesnov Train Station April 20, 2015 - Like any city, Prague has lost certain elements of its past to the mists of time. Now, these items live on only as a name whose significance few understand. The lost train station… Continue Reading
A photo of the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary - Most, Czechia
The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary – Most, Czechia

1980 – 1989

A photo of the tiled eastern facade of the Igreja do Carmo - Porto, Portugal
The tiled eastern facade of the Igreja do Carmo – Porto, Portugal

1990 – 1999