Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Jugenstil

There was already a fortified settlement in Beja in Celtic-Roman times, which was renamed Pax Julia after the peace treaty between Julius Caesar and the Lusitanians in 48 BC; from then on it belonged to the Roman province of Lusitania. The town remained an important economic and strategic centre under the Suebi, Visigoths and Moors. In 1159, King Alfonso I of Portugal reconquered the town from the hands of the Muslims, but abandoned it just a few months later. In 1191, the Almohad sultan and general Almansor conquered the area. It only reverted back to the Christians in the 1230s. Kings Alfonso III (+ 1279) and especially Dinis I (+ 1325) restored and enlarged the castle. This beautiful building was for sale in February 2024. Yes it would need a bit TLC

The Ottonian kings began conquering the Slavic region in the 10th century. In 928, Henry I conquered Brandenburg. His son Otto founded the diocese of Brandenburg in 948. The city of Burg is mentioned for the first time in the founding charter. To secure their influence, especially Albrecht the Bear attracted Flemish settlers to the land of Burg. They founded the lower town of Burg and introduced cloth making. The Flemish immigrants brought with them important trade connections from their homeland. Their cattle breeding, beer brewing and the production of woolen cloth became a basis for the flourishing development of the town of Burg. At that time, Burg consisted of two largely independent settlements, the Upper Town and the Lower Town. The building was erected in 1890. The relief shows a hunt and a brewing scene and is "subtitled" with the sentence „Die Legende vom Bierbrauen“ (The legend of beer brewing). So maybe Gambrinus is to see on the right.

The Ottonian kings began conquering the Slavic region in the 10th century. In 928, Henry I conquered Brandenburg. His son Otto founded the diocese of Brandenburg in 948. The city of Burg is mentioned for the first time in the founding charter. To secure their influence, especially Albrecht the Bear attracted Flemish settlers to the land of Burg. They founded the lower town of Burg and introduced cloth making. The Flemish immigrants brought with them important trade connections from their homeland. Their cattle breeding, beer brewing and the production of woolen cloth became a basis for the flourishing development of the town of Burg. At that time, Burg consisted of two largely independent settlements, the Upper Town and the Lower Town. An art nouveau/Jugendstil facade from MCMVIII (=1908).

Riga is the capital of Latvia. With a population of more than 600.000 about a third of all Latvians live here. A settlement of the Finno-Ugric Livs existed on the bank of the Düna. At the end of the 12th century, merchants from Gotland came to trade here. Albert von Buxthoeven, a fierce missionary, was the first bishop in Riga from 1201 to 1229. Riga developed as the hub of Russian trade and the starting point of the German colonization of the Baltic. The merchants who settled here after the subjugation of the surrounding peoples rapidly gained influence. In 1225, they were able to elect the city bailiff themselves, when the City Council existed already. After the Reformation, the power of the archbishops came to an end. After the outbreak of the Livonian War in 1558 the city favoured the status of a free imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire. It was only when the imperial support failed to materialize that the renewed advance of Russian armies led the city to pay homage to Poland's King Stephen Báthory in 1581, who in return confirmed the city's traditional freedoms and privileges. The 40-year Polish-Lithuanian rule, under which the citizens of Riga successfully resisted anti-Reformation efforts ended with the conquest of the city by Gustav II Adolf of Sweden in 1621. The Swedish crown treated Riga by its rank as the second-largest city in the kingdom and had it lavishly fortified. During the Russo-Swedish War (1656-1658), Riga withstood the Russian siege and maintained its position as one of the most important cities in Sweden until the beginning of the 18th century. During this period the city enjoyed extensive self-government. Rīgas Melnais balzams (Riga Black Balsam) is a traditional Latvian liqueur made from herbs, flowers, oils and berries with 45% alcohol content. The traditional recipe was created in 1752 by Abraham Kunze, an apothecary living in Riga. It was initially known as the Kunzer Balsam and sold only in apothecaries as a prescription medicine. According to a legend, Empress Catherine the Great was heading back to Russia and stopped in Riga for a few days. She became very ill and Kunze was asked to step in after the empress's personal doctor proved helpless. The balsam's success in curing Catherine the Great provided it with popularity and Kunze with exclusive rights to produce the balsam for the next 50 years.

Aachen, the westernmost city in Germany, developed from a Roman settlement and spa, subsequently becoming the preferred medieval Imperial residence of Emperor Charlemagne of the Frankish Empire. From 936 to 1531 Aachen was the place where 31 Holy Roman Emperors were crowned Kings of the Germans. Pepin the Short had a castle residence built in the town, due to the proximity of the hot springs and also for strategic reasons between the Rhineland and northern France. Charlemagne´s coronation as king of the Franks took place here in 768. He spent most winters in Aachen between 792 and his death in 814. Aachen became the focus of his court and the political centre of his empire. During the reign of Otto II, the nobles revolted and the West Franks under Lothair raided Aachen in 978. The palace and town of Aachen had fortifying walls built by order of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa between 1172 and 1176. Later Aachen remained a city of regional importance, due to its proximity to Flanders and achieved a modest position in the trade in woollen cloths, favoured by imperial privilege. The "Hof" square has a couple of small cafés and restaurants (all closed during the lockdown). One of them is "Masuto" on the ground floor of this building, erected around 1900. The facade mingles neo-Baroque and Art Deco/Jugendstil elements.

Offenburg was first mentioned in 1148 and was declared a Free Imperial City by 1240. During the 9-Years-War the town suffered under the French occupation of Offenburg. In 1689 Offenburg was set on fire and completely destroyed except for the Capuchin monastery and two other houses. The "Offenburger Programm" which consisted of thirteen demands "in the name of the people of Baden", was put forward here on 12 September 1847. This was the first known demand for democracy in Germany, demanding basic and human rights as well as freedom of the press. It was one of the triggers that started the 1848-Revolution in Southern Germany. Jugendstil in Offenburg.

Sicily, the largest Mediterranean island, has a long history, that starts around 8000 BC, but later there were Phoenician, Carthaginian, Greek and Roman periods. After the Roman Empire had fallen apart the Vandals tried to take over the island but failed. Finally, the Ostrogoths took possession. Mid of the 6th century Sicily was conquered by troops of the Byzantine Empire. After the advent of Islam, Sicily got attacked by the Arab forces. Raids seeking loot continued until the mid-8th century. A Muslim army was sent to the island in 827 but met with much resistance. So it took a century to conquer it and even later revolts constantly occurred In 1038 the Byzantines invaded the island supported by Norman mercenaries, led by Roger. In 1072, after the siege of Palermo, most of Sicily was under Norman control. Roger´s son Roger II raised the status +of the island to a kingdom in 1130. During this period, the Kingdom of Sicily was prosperous and powerful, The court of Roger II became melting out of culture from Europe and the Middle East. This attracted scholars, scientists, artists, and artisans. Muslims, Jews, Greeks, Lombards, and Normans cooperated and created some extraordinary buildings. In 1186 the last descendant of Roger, Constance of Sicily married Emperor Henry VI, the second son of Barbarossa. So the crown of Sicily was passed on to the Hohenstaufen Dynasty. Frederick II, the only son of Constance, was crowned King of Sicily at the age of four in 1198. He became "Stupor Mundi", one of the greatest and most cultured men of the Middle Ages. Palermo, founded in 734 BC by the Phoenicians, became a possession of Carthage and later was part of the Roman Empire. From 831 to 1072 the city was under Arab rule. Following the Norman conquest, Palermo became the capital of a new Kingdom of Sicily and the capital of the Holy Roman Empire under Emperor Frederick II and King Conrad IV. - The "Teatro al Massimo" is a building neighbouring the "Teatro Massimo", Palermos opera house. Compared to the huge opera house, which is the biggest in Italy, this building, completed in 1924 as "CineTeatro Massimoa" looks humble. www.teatroalmassimo.it/

Porto is with a population of about 250.000 the largest city in Northern Portugal. In "Greater Porto", the metropolitan area, live even more than 1.7 million people. The historical center of Porto was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. Port wine is named after Porto, since the cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia on the southern banks of the river Douro are the centers for packaging, transport and export of the fortified wine. Some years ago I had been here for a couple of days before I started the "Camino Portugues" here. A night stroll through the city. The "Café Majestic" is, following by guide-book, one of the most beautiful café - worldwide. I admired the wonderful marble art-deco facade and decided to return and see the interior during daylight. www.cafemajestic.com/en/Majestic-Cafe/History.aspx