Jaap van 't Veen's photos

In 1812 the Prussian army captured 1.000 Russian soldiers. King Friedrich Wilhelm III formed a choir from these men. Later - after a renewed friendship between Prussia and Russia - the choir remained in Potsdam. After the death of the Russian tsar Alexander, Friedrich Wilhelm paid tribute by building a village for the remaining members of the choir. The village of Alexandrowka with its thirteen houses was finished in 1827. Houses (PiP’s) were built in Russian style, fully furnished and came with a large garden and a cow. In honor of the inhabitant's religion, the king decided to add a Russian Orthodox Church to the settlement. It was named after tsar Alexander’s patron saint, Alexander Nevsky. The church was designed by a Russian architect. It is located on the Kapellenberg, north of Alexandrowka. The church has been in service continuously since its dedication in 1829 and is today the oldest existing Russian Orthodox Church in Western Europe. The last original inhabitant of Alexandrowka died in 1861. Today the houses have new private owners and most of them have been beautifully restored. Since 1999 the settlement and church are a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Around the year 1000 Stolberg ( Stollen = mining gallery, Berg = hill) was established as a settlement for miners. Iron, copper, silver, tin and gold were extracted close by. As early as the High Middle Ages coins were minted in Stolberg, reaching its heyday during the 16th century. The Old Mint (PiP 1) is one of the most beautiful timber-framed houses in town. It was built in 1534 and has acted as a mint, mining fee office and district court; now housing the local Stolberger Museum Alte Münze. The town hall (main picture) is dating back to the year of 1452. It offers a remarkable architecture, as it has no internal stairs; upper storeys only could be accessed by outdoor steps. Originally the building had 12 towers (months), 52 windows (weeks) and 365 glass windows (days). The sundial is from 1724, when the building became the town hall. Stolberg is one of the most picturesque villages along the German Timber-Frame Road. It still has about 380 timber framed houses in its centre (PiP 2 and 3).

The ‘Cathedral Church of St Mary the Virgin and St Ethelbert the King’ is the mother church of the diocese of Hereford and the seat of the bishop. Its history is stretching back to the 7th century and is one of the nine cathedrals of the ‘Old Foundation’, whose constitution remained undisturbed by the Reformation. The cathedral is a building of great antiquity - the date of its foundation is traditionally given as 696 - and beautiful ecclesiastical architecture. The building has examples of architecture from many periods: the stately nave from the 12th century; the graceful Lady Chapel from the 13th century; the central tower from the 14th century and the Stanbury Chapel from the 15th century. The cathedral is constantly changing. It has been in great peril several times during its lifetime: in 1786 when the west end collapsed and during the 1840’s when the Lady Chapel was in danger of falling. More recently a great deal of time and money has been spent on the stonework of the building. Hereford Cathedral with its impressive interior (PiP1)contains some of the finest examples of architecture from Norman times to the present day, including the 13th century Shrine of St. Thomas of Hereford (PiP2). It also offers the medieval map ‘Mappa Mundi’ and the unique Chained Library (PiP3).

When Basel joined the Swiss Confederation in 1501, the city wished to express this important step with a visible gesture. The Cantonal Parliament decided to replace the old town hall with a grander and more representative building in 1503. No expense was to be spared to underline Basel’s new importance. Between 1504 and 1514 - after the great earthquake - a new town hall was constructed. The oldest part consists of three pointed arcades, above which the richly decorated Legislature Hall is located. The coats of arms of Basel and the 11 other members of the then Confederation adorn the crenellations. The inner courtyard has playful frescoes (PiP 1). Due to the continuous growth of the city, the town hall was expanded several times. The last expansion - 1899 -1901 - were the tower at the right and the block-shaped administrative building with an elaborately decorated bay window (PiP 2). The town hall became its present characteristic façade at the Marktplatz in the middle of the centre of Basel. It is still the seat of the Basel government and its parliament.

Palamidi is a vast spectacular fortress that dominates Nafplio, nestled on the crest of a 216-metre high hill above the city. It was built between 1711 and 1714 by the Venetians built the castle during their second occupation of this part of Greece. It was one of the most important and impressive ‘castles’ the Venetians built outside their own country. This fort consists of eight bastions (PiP2), each was self contained, ensuring that if one bastion was breached the others could still be separately defended. The bastions were built one on top of the other and they all connected with one wall. Yet, in 1715, one year after completion, it was captured by the Turks and remained under their control until 1822, when it was captured by the Greeks. Nafplio is one of the first places in Greece that won independence. November 29th, 1822, a group of Greek rebels overpowered the Turks in Palamidi and the next day the town could celebrate its freedom. From 1840 and for nearly a hundred years, Palamidi was used as a prison. Theodoros Kolokotronis, hero of the Greek Revolution, was one of the prisoners. His cell can still be visited. Prisoners, who were held in Palamidi, constructed the stairs from Nafplio up to the castle was built. It is often said by locals in Nafplio that there are 999 steps, but I did read several numbers; some say "only" 857, others 901 or 913. The fortress can also be reached by car. The views of Nafplio, Bourtzi Castle, the Argolic Gulf and surrounding country are overwhelming (main picture and PiP3).

The parish church at Kilpeck, officially Church of St Mary and St David, is one of the finest surviving examples of the Herefordshire School of stonemasons. It is remarkable that so little is definitely known of the history of the church; the date of its commissioning and dedication is not confirmed, but is probably from about 1140 and is little changed since. Until about 1840 there appears to have been nothing written about the church, when a privately commissioned and funded book “The Sculptures of Kilpeck” was written, where the carvings and views were first illustrated. If any church deserves the word “extraordinary” it is the church at Kilpeck. The church is famous for its Norman carvings in the local red sandstone, which are remarkable for the number and fine preservation, particularly round the south door with its double columns (PiP) and a row of 85 corbels, which run right around the exterior of the church under the eaves. Many of the elaborate corbels (PiP) have a distinctly un-Christian nature. Celtic, Scandinavian, Anglo-Saxon and pagan imagery vies with Christian iconography in a riot of dragons, warriors, monsters, animal heads, birds, beasts and obscene subjects. It is generally presumed that these corbels were intended to teach something, however many also seem to be simply entertaining or the ideas of the individual carvers.

Wildhaus is a rural village, whose houses are scattered in a broad valley between the Churfirsten (main image) and the Alpstein mountains (PiP). The village is located on the Wildhaus Pass between the Rhine valley and Unterwasser in Toggenburg. With an altitude of 1.090 metres it is the uppermost village in canton St. Gallen. The precipitous rock formations of the seven Churfirsten contrast sharply with the gentle landscape on the valley floor and are the natural boundary between Toggenburg and Sarganserland. The limestone ridge is running from east to west with seven peaks formed by erosion. To the south it has a much more vertical drop of hundred metres towards Lake Walen. The seven peaks of the Churfirsten are (from left to right): Chäserrugg, Hinterrugg, Schibenstoll, Zuestoll, Brisi, Frümsel and Selun. With a height of 2.306 metres is the Hinterrugg the highest one. The name is a plural, indicating the peaks forming the historical boundary of the bishopric of Chur. It has historically also been folk-etymologized as Kurfürsten , i.e. the prince-electors of the Holy Roman Empire who in the later medieval period (until 1648) numbered seven, which in turn encouraged the count of seven main or "official" peaks.

Nafplio (or Nafplion) was the first capital of the newly born Greek state - after a Turkish occupation - between 1823 and 1834. It is situated along the Argolic Gulf in the north-eastern part of the Peloponnesus, just a couple of hours by car from Athens. The city with a small port is built on a small peninsula beneath the towering Palamidi fortress. According to mythology, the town was founded by Nafplios, the son of god Poseidon and the daughter of Danaus Anymone. The history traces back to the prehistoric era when soldiers from here participated in the Argonautic expedition and the Trojan War alike. The town declined during the Roman times and flourished again during the Byzantine times. Frankish, Venetian and Turkish conquerors left their mark in the town and strongly influenced its culture, architecture and traditions during the centuries. It is said that Nafplio is one of the most prettiest and romantic towns of Greece. After our visit I fully agree with that. It was such a pleasure strolling through the medieval old town with its narrow streets, lined with small shops, boutiques, (art) galleries, cafés and restaurants. Well preserved mansions with their architecture and beauty were on many places full with blooming jasmine and bougainvillea. .

The history of Ruurlo Castle (Kasteel Ruurlo or Huis Ruurlo) is dating back to the beginning of the 14th century, when it was first mentioned in the archives as a property of Graaf Reinhoud I van Gelre . The castle was first inhabited bij the family Van Roderlo, after which it is most probably named. The castle was several times renovated and expanded and shows architecture from five centuries. Its original lay-out is alomost inatct. Its current appearance dates from the 15th and 17th century. In the 15th century, it passed into the hands of Jacob van Heeckeren, the founder of the noble and distinguished family of Van Heeckeren. Castle and estate were owned and managed by the family for more than five centuries through to 1977. During World War II the castle was used as the headquarters of the German General Staff. In 1977 it passed into the hands of the municipality of Ruurlo and was used as town hall till 2005. Hans Melchers, a Dutch art collector, bought Castle Ruurlo in 2013. Four years later - after a thorough restoration - it became part of MORE (a museum for Dutch MOdern REalism) with paintings of famous painter Carel Willink and some special creations by the Chinese-Dutch fashion designer Fong Leng.

Abbey Dore Court is a 18th century coaching inn with a Victorian (PiP 1) wing attached. It is situated within the renowned Abbey Dore Court Gardens: a mature, six acre, plant-lovers’ garden developed by the present owner Charis Ward with formal, wild and river areas set in the Herefordshire countryside. Just over the River Dore bridge is a further four acre meadow full of unusual trees. Abbey Dore Court Gardens - open to the public since 1976 - are made up of a number of very different parts. Just after the entrance one will find a relatively new area with bamboos, trees and shrubs and several borders add colour and interest. The walled garden has nine individual borders, divided by brick paths. Along the River Dore is a wild garden full of trees, shrubs and bulbs. The arboretum offers young and unusual trees but also two large sequoias.

The monumental rock formations of the Externsteine are considered being one of the most remarkable and impressive natural and cultural monuments in Germany, if not in Europe. The sandstone pillars are situated in the Lippe region and are part of the Teutoburgerwald, at the edge of the Wiembecke pond. Millions of years ago, these originally horizontal layers of rock were shifted into a vertical position and presumably owe their current form to the action of water over millions of years and the friction of ice during the Ice Age. The pillars rise up to a height of 38 metres. It has an observation platform with stairway dating back to the 19th century. The Externsteine - with a medieval sacral site in the midst of bizarre rock formations - have always fascinated people. The people who lived in this area in the Middle Ages appear to have established a place of Christian worship, with a grotto, a grave and a relief showing biblical scenes. It is no surprise that these rocks have inspired numerous folk legends. For instance it is thought that the site was possibly used for astronomical observation, worship and sacrifice. And that the site may have been connected, in some way, with the Irminsul aspect of Teutonic paganism. Legends or not, it did not stop the Nazi party in the 1930’s labeling the site as a sacred grove at which the ancestors could be honored. Heinrich Himmler presided over the foundation created to mythologize the site. Over the centuries the Externsteine underwent many alterations. It passed from the hands of the church in to those of the local nobility. Under their ownership it became a sometime fortress and prison. In the 16th century it was a hunting lodge. There was even one time in the 18th century when it became a pleasure palace. Yet it was restored as close to its medieval Christian incarnation as possible in the 1800’s.

Hay-on-Wye was first - between 1135 and 1147 - mentioned as "Haya" and in 1299 the name of "La Haye" was used. By the 16th century it was simply called "Hay" and the use of the river as a suffix is a later addition Hay-on-Wye is a small characterful market town at the border between Wales and England. With over twenty bookshops, it is often described as "the town of books" and is the National Book Town of Wales. Many of the bookshops are selling specialist and second-hand books, although the number has declined sharply in recent years, many becoming general antique shops.

The majestic Matterhorn - king of mountains with a height of 4.478 metres - is the most famous landmark of Switzerland. Most probably this triangular pyramid shaped rock is the most photographed mountain in the world. Its shape and free-standing position make the Matterhorn to be the epitome of a mountain. There is no better-known mountain in the world whose natural shape is so close to a pyramid. Hundred million years ago enormous forces brought Africa closer to Europe. Fifty million years later, as the rock masses folded and deformed, the Matterhorn was born from the rock thrusting upwards. Matterhorn is first mentioned in medieval documents as Mons Silvus , which finally became Mont Cervin in French and Cervino in Italian. The German name Matterhorn first appears in the year 1682. The name is probably derived from Matte , meaning alpine meadow, referring to the grassy valley, which has now been almost completely covered by the village of Zermatt.

Didyma is a small rural and very quiet village in the middle of nowhere on the Peloponnese between Epidaurus and Porto Cheli. It is (well) known for its craters or caves, which are located one kilometer west of the village in the slope of Mount Didimo. The Big Cave (Μεγαλη Σπηλια - Megali Spilia), can be seen from the main road. From a distance (main picture) it looks impressive, but once at the edge of the cave - after a short walk - I was rather disappointed, as there is no depth to the cave at all and the ground of the doline is full of debris and some shrubs growing between the rocks. Much more interesting is the Small Cave (Μικρη Σπηλια - Mikri Spilia), which is situated below ground level and is not visible from the road, as it is also surrounded by trees. The cave is only accessible through a steep stair (PiP1) is leading down into the rock towards the inside of the round doline (PiP2). There is a path going round along two little Byzantine churches: One is Aghios Georgios with its wall murals dating back to the 13th century and the other chapel built into the surrounding rock, the Metamorfosis of Sortiros (PiP3). There is still some debate today how these cave holes came into being. It is for sure that they were not caused by space meteorites, as no evidence of un-earthly rock has been discovered around the area. Most probably the holes were created by underground natural gas explosions many centuries ago, as there are more similar holes on the opposite side of Mount Didimo.

Petite France (also called Gerberviertel = “tanners district”) is the most charming, beautiful and best preserved parts of the historical centre of Strasbourg with its bridges, black and white timber-framed buildings and winding streets. It is considered being one of the most picturesque places in France. In the early 12th century, Strasbourg began to expand southwards, extending the mediaeval ramparts right up to the delta formed by the river Ill. Petite France grew up around the four arms of the river. With houses built along narrow twisting streets the neighbourhood was markedly different to the much more bourgeois sector around the cathedral. The magnificent half-timbered houses date from the 16th and 17th centuries. Their sloping roofs open out onto lofts where hides were once dried. The canals built in the Middle Ages brought in fishermen and small industries, including tanneries (the smell of which had to be kept away from the more patrician residences of the city), three flour mills and a lots of other trades. The name Petite-France ("Little France") was not given for patriotic or architectural reasons. It comes from the Hospice des Vérolés, which was built in the late 15th century in the area, to cure persons with syphilis, then called Franzosenkrankheit ("French disease") in German. Petite France is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Grande Île, designated in 1988.

The Reformed Chucrh in Slochteren - located on a raised cemetery - exists of remnants of a13th century Romanesque-Gothic cross-naved church; the transept of the original church has been preserved. This part of that building has been considerably rebuilt in the 18th and 19th century; especially after a fire in 1880, where only the outside walls were spared. Only a rather small hall church remained. The impressive - nowadays free standing - tower (PiP) is the only part that has been preserved from the original 13th century church. It has a gable roof and has a church bell from 1373, which was made for a monastery. The church bell was bought in 1829.

We visited the city of Groningen in a weekend before Christmas and came across an atmospheric event WinterWelVaart (WinterWealth). Along the Hoge and Lage der A - cobblestoned quays with beautiful century old houses and (former) warehouses - about twenty of mainly historic (charter) ships were moored. On these ships several different cultural events were featured, such as intimate concerts, special children’s activities and art exhibitions. On the quays were a Christmas Market and an art route. WinterWelVaart can be seen as a tribute to the special and historic relationship between Groningen and the shipping trade.

‘De Wachter’ is an octagonal smock mill ( stellingmolen ). The three storey smock mill has a base of a four storey brick base. The stage is at 9,55 metres above ground level. The smock and cap are both thatched. The sails have a span of 22 metres. The flour and oil mill was built in 1851 for the family Van Bon; the first miller. In 1895 the mill was bought by Jan Medendorp, who installed two steam engines; one of these engines was used to power a spice mill. In 1935 the oil mill and spice mill ceased to be used and were dismantled, as were the steam engines. Between 1968 and 1970 the mill was restored, as the rest of the of the mill was later. In 1989 the mill was transferred into the ownership of a foundation (‘Stichting Koren- en Oliemolen De Wachter’). Nowadays ‘De Wachter’ is a cultural-historical museum (with limited opening hours). Apart from the flour, oil and spices mill the complex houses period shops and a couple of workshops. These are all presented as they would have appeared in 1895. (For more info: www.dewachter.nl)