Cesky Krumlov (pronounced “chesky krumhov”) is a fairytale town a few hours from Prague and it’s been at the top of my bucket list for some time. Actually, it was the only place I visited aside from Prague because I really, really wanted to see it. I thought it made a nice trip out.

A Brief History of Cesky Krumlov

There’s lots of evidence of a large settlement in the area during the Bronze age, dating back about 8 thousand years, and later a large Celtic settlement.

“Modern” Cesky Krumlov history starts in the 6th-7th centuries, when Slavic tribes settled … Continue reading

One place I’ve always wanted to visit was Nuremberg. The home of a famous artist, with a preserved and rebuilt medieval center – it looked like a magical place. I finally got to visit and Nuremberg is definitely as lovely a city as I could’ve imagined it.

Some of Nuremberg’s History

Nuremberg prides itself on being one of Germany’s most important medieval cities. It was first mentioned in the historical record with its imperial castle in 1050, but it had probably existed at least several years before then, so its origins are still unknown. It was a popular stop on … Continue reading

Vienna is known for its imperial architecture and world-class art museums, so it’s been on my list for a long time. After spending a few days museum hopping and exploring the what I could of the city, I really liked Vienna and can’t recommend a trip enough for art lovers.

A Brief History of Vienna

Ironically, Vienna started as a Roman settlement named Vindobona or “white base/white city.” When I think of Vienna today, I think of all the white Baroque buildings that give the city its personality.

The city grew with ties (and animosity) to surrounding Celtic and Germanic … Continue reading

Whenever I hear of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, it’s accompanied by that picture. You know the one. I get worried when towns become synonymous with a certain view because I think, is that all there is? But I was still eager to see what all the fuss about Rothenburg was about and visited myself. It’s a cute town, for sure.

A Short History of Rothenburg ob der Tauber

The modern history of Rothenburg starts in the 10th century, when the town Detwang was founded next to what is currently Rothenburg. A castle was built here on the hilltop in the … Continue reading

Prague has always been high on my list so I was super excited when I scored cheap-ish plane tickets there. I absolutely loved it, and I got to do and see a lot in the few days I had there. The museums can be quite expensive and Prague doesn’t have a great combo pass, so I hope this guide is helpful in deciding what to (and what not to) see.

A Brief History of Prague

The area around Prague was first permanently settled by Slavic and Germanic tribes and it became a city in the 800s, at the site of … Continue reading

Sometimes touristy places are famous for a reason, so Hallstatt was a place I wanted to see for myself. It’s definitely a crowded little place but I definitely thought it was pretty and liked my visit.

A Quick History of Hallstatt

The salt mines of Hallstatt have been worked for millennia, and it’s believed there was a settlement in the area around 2500 years ago. Interestingly enough, the area wasn’t largely inhabited for centuries after that, probably because it’s difficult to reach, but Hallstatt became a market town in the early 14th century. The economy for centuries revolved around salt … Continue reading

When I was in Vienna, visiting Kreuzenstein Castle was an easy option since it’s so close to the city. I absolutely fell in love with it, a medieval gem with charming influences from all around Europe. It was exactly what I was hoping to see in a medieval castle and I can’t recommend a visit enough.

Kreuzenstein Castle’s History

Kreuzenstein Castle dates back to the early 12th century when the original name “Grizanstein” was first documented in 1115, and the Habsburgs came into possession of the castle in the mid 13th century. During the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648), it became … Continue reading

A visit to Salzburg made sense for my trip to Austria. There are lots of places to see in the country but Salzburg had a lot to do and had that historic charm I always look for in a city, so I decided to make a stop there for a few days. Unfortunately there was some flooding for a day when I was there but I was still able to see a lot the city has to offer. It’s a cute place in a stunning setting.

A Short History of Salzburg

The area where Salzburg currently stands has been inhabited … Continue reading

“See a play at Shakespeare’s Globe” – that’s been on my bucket list for quite some time. When my mother and I visited London, we decided it was something we had to do and so I finally got to see my play! We opted for Richard III, a new one for me.

While I was planning on just putting my experience in my London travel guide, I made a ton of notes on what to expect that it made more sense to make a separate blog post. So without further ado (about nothing), here’s some of what to … Continue reading

When we went to Belgium, my mom wanted to go to Germany. Monschau was close enough to the border for us to make a trip into Germany for the day, while also visiting a town that looked super cute.

Some of Monschau’s History

Monschau is a medieval town that dates back at least to the 1100s. However, its heyday came much later in the 1700s. It had a thriving textile industry that gave its economy a good boost. After the 18th century, however, the economy declined. However, the town ended up being very well preserved and now looks as it … Continue reading