The modernization of the monarchies
One of the strongest traditions of the monarchical institutions has been the steadfast view that a monarch reigns until death, unless exceptional political circumstances have forced the incumbent out prematurely. The only traditional exception to this rule has been the…
Centennial of the shots in Sarajevo
Today it is exactly 100 years since the ill-fated attentate on the Austro-Hungarian crown prince Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie. The double murder is traditionally viewed as the event which started the First World War and even if its…
European borders: the curious case of Baarle-Nassau
European borders are the product of centuries of warfare, dynasty changes, trades and negotiations. This also means that they can over time become rather complicated, in particular in more populous areas. The small Belgian exclave town Baarle-Hertog in the Netherlands…
Malbork – A crusader castle at the Baltic Sea coast
Situated at the southern coast of the Baltic Sea in Poland is one of the largest medieval castles of northern Europe. Malbork, or Marienburg as it is known in German, once served as the headquarters for the Teutonic Order whose…
Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum reopens
One of the most famous art museums in the world, the Dutch Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam has reopened with a grand ceremony after several years of renovations and construction of new space for the multitude of art in its collections. Among…
An article about one of Paris’ “hidden” attractions
Among Paris’ many attractions there are also a lot that aren’t as well-known as the main ones. Like a journey on the old partially underground canals in the Bastille area of the city. It’s blogged about in NZZ.ch.
Otto von Habsburg – the end of an epoch
Otto von Habsburg, once crown prince of the Austro-Hungarian empire, has died aged 98 and must be said to have had a remarkable life that spanned almost the entire 20th century. He can be said to have carried both the…