The Dutch city of Haarlem, capital of the North Holland province, is a historic city filled with reminders of its medieval and Dutch Golden Age Roots. Its grand Gothic cathedral, the St. Bavokerk, is the centrepiece of the city, and the windmill Molen de Adriaan and the Haarlem Cathedral are also impressive buildings of the … More Amsterdamse Poort – Haarlem’s Last Surviving City Gate
Every year in the Finnish town of Sonkajärvi, one of the world’s weirdest sporting competitions take place – the Wife Carrying World Championships (known locally as eukonkanto). It’s exactly what it sounds like, with male competitors carrying their wives across an outdoor obstacle course of sand and water. With an amazing grand prize for the … More Is This The World’s Weirdest Sport? The Wife Carrying World Championships Of Finland
In the south of France, there is an unusual traditional sport that comes along once a year. Water jousting (joutes nautiqes) is just like horse jousting, but is played between two rival boats that row towards each other. Water jousting is a major event in some French towns, most famously in the port town of … More Water Jousting In Séte – France’s Medieval Sport Tradition
Cremona, located in the northern Italian region of Lombardy, is known as the home of hand-made violin workshops, called botteghe. A historic city of 70,000 people, violins from Cremona are considered some of the most exquisite musical instruments in the world. For centuries, the city has been a city of luthiers (stringed instrument makers), practising … More Cremona Violins – Visiting The Master Instrument Craftsmen Of Italy
Astronomical clocks are not just regular clocks. These elaborate and enormous timepieces display astronomical information such as the time, date, positions of the sun and moon, tides, lunar phases, and even zodiac signs. They’re also works of art and engineering masterpieces, first coming to widespread prominence in medieval European cities. Proudly displayed in public spaces, … More The Most Impressive Astronomical Clocks From Around The World
Switzerland’s small capital city Bern is home to the Zytglogge Astronomical Clock, a masterpiece of medieval clockmaking. Overlooking the charming UNESCO-listed Old Town streets below, the clock is installed in one of the city’s oldest monuments, the Zytglogge tower. While it would still be several centuries until the Swiss dominated the craft of watch-making, this … More How The Zytglogge Astronomical Clock In Switzerland Inspired Einstein
Le Gros Horloge (the Big Clock) is an ornate astronomical clock located on an archway in the French city of Rouen, capital of Normandy. A Gothic-style masterpiece in design and engineering, the clock is one of the proud centrepieces of the old town of Rouen. With pedestrians passing underneath the arch over Rue du Gros-Horloge, … More Le Gros Horloge – The Medieval Astronomical Clock Of Rouen
Italy’s tallest brick tower, the gorgeous Romanesque-style Torrazzo of Cremona, is also home to the world’s largest astronomical clock. The clock, sitting uncharacteristically low on the tower so everyone can read its face, is beautifully painted with zodiac symbols against a blue sky. The clock is extraordinarily large, and is even larger than London’s Big … More The Astronomical Clock Of The Torrazzo Of Cremona
Prague Astronomical Clock (Prague Orloj) is one of the world’s most beautiful and fascinating timepieces, a medieval artefact which has been running for over 600 years. Prague Astronomical Clock is located on the south wall of the Old Town Hall in the Old Town Square. Covered with details and carvings in a Gothic style, it … More The Prague Astronomical Clock And The Curse Of The Clockmaker
One of England’s most magnificent astronomical clocks is Hampton Court astronomical clock, a sixteenth-century masterpiece located in Hampton Court Palace. As King Henry’s lavish residence was designed to celebrate his wealth and magnificence, the astronomical clock served as an extra symbol of royal prestige. Built not only for decorative purposes, it was also vital to … More Hampton Court Astronomical Clock – Henry VIII’s Extravagant Timepiece
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