Roland statue in Bremen Sticky post

The Roland statue in Bremen has quite a history

There are Roland statues in many German towns and cities, symbolizing freedom and market rights. Bremen’s Roland statue is one of the most beautiful, and, according to UNESCO experts, the most representative and one of the oldest examples. As the legendary knight and protector of Freedom, he statue Roland stands 10 meters (33 feet) high and is made of limestone. Together with Bremen’s town hall, … Continue reading The Roland statue in Bremen has quite a history

Mespelbrunn moated castle, Bavaria, Spessart Sticky post

The romantic picturesque Mespelbrunn Castle

Sometimes, when arriving at the Frankfurt Airport and driving on the Autobahn to Würzburg, I stop by the Mespelbrunn palace built in 1569. The moated castle, also called Wasserschloss, is located in north Bavaria between Aschaffenburg and my hometown Würzburg The castle has gained worldwide fame due to its picturesque appearance and romantic location. In May 1, 1412, the Archbishop Johann von Mainz gave the … Continue reading The romantic picturesque Mespelbrunn Castle

Wieskirche, South Bavaria Sticky post

Wieskirche, a popular pilgrim church in Bavaria

A couple years ago I was driving towards Füssen through the Bavarian countryside. I saw the sign “Wieskirche” and instantly remembered visiting this church with my parents as a child. The Wieskirche in Upper Bavaria is a jewel of the South German Rococo. The building, created by the Zimmermann brothers, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983. In this volume, the church and … Continue reading Wieskirche, a popular pilgrim church in Bavaria

Levi Strauss, Jeans inventor and birth place (photo by wikimedia)

The town of Buttenheim has a legacy, the famous Levi Strauss

The approx. 3000 inhabitants of Buttenheim did not suspect for a long time that Levi Strauss originally came from there. Only a letter from America, which asked the then mayor in 1983 for information about the birthplace of the jeans inventor, triggered intensive research. An entry in the birth register of the Buttenheim Jewish community and an emigration certificate from the Bamberg State Archives finally proved that Levi Strauss spent his first 18 years of life in Buttenheim. Continue reading The town of Buttenheim has a legacy, the famous Levi Strauss