Tag: 18th Century

A photo of the Bridge of Fists - Venice, Italy

The Bridge of Fists

It was a hot and humid day, the type where the clammy air sticks to you and weighs at your temples. I strolled through an alley barely wider than my shoulders, blinked as I entered the Venetian sunlight and turned right. I was looking for the Bridge of Fists, so I headed north-west from the charming apartment I had found on the southern end of Dorsoduro.
Cannonballs above the windows - Prague, Czechia

The Cannonballs of Prague’s Church

Of all the wars Prague was an active participant in, few leave their mark on the city today. One exception is on the church of Charlemagne in Prague's New Town - the Siege of Prague from 1757.
A photo of the plaque commemorating Peter the Great - Brussels, Belgium

The Belgians know Tsar Peter’s secret

The National Park in Brussels, right in front of the Royal Palace, is a welcome touch of greenery in the city. But why would the Belgians commemorate the spot in the park where Peter the Great, Tsar of Russia, felt violently sick?

Finding Prague’s lost Old Town fortifications

Tourists from the New World chuckle when they read that Prague's New Town dates back to the 14th century. The New World barely existed in those days. Prague's Old Town Fortifications have been lost but if you know where to look, you can rediscover the medieval limits of the Old Town of Prague.
A photo of one of the first postal sledges - Nymburk, Czechia

Loučeň Castle

Most stately homes and castles in Czechia close for the winter months. I suppose not many people enjoy traipsing around an unheated building when it’s -20 C outside. Loučeň castle is
Read More
A photo of Cock Lane - London, United Kingdom

The Scratching Fanny of Cock Lane

Nothing cheers up a good ghost story than a juicy double entendre. One of London’s most famous 18th century hauntings took place in the marvellously named Cock Lane.
A photo of Charles' Crown Castle - Chlumec nad Cidlinou, Czechia

Charles’ Crown Castle

As architectural designs go, insisting on a new castle that resembles a crown is quite original. Wanting this sort of thing to impress the king is less original, but that’s
Read More
A photo of the central pillar in the Brno Ossuary - Brno, Czechia

The Brno Ossuary

An ossuary is a building where human remains are stored. To be precise, it’s considered to be a final resting place for human remains. In places where space is scarce,
Read More