The Abbey in Vendome
Legends underpin so many historical stories it's hard to tell what is fact and what is fiction. I've found a factual explanation for the legend behind the foundation of the Holy Trinity Abbey in Vendôme, France.
The flamboyant chapel in Chartres’ cathedral
Chartres Cathedral features a Flamboyant Gothic chapel by Louis de Bourbon, Count of Vendôme, built to honor a vow made during his imprisonment.
RAF hijacking in Prague
In 1950, three ex-RAF pilots, persecuted by the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia, coordinated the hijacking of three flights, leading to a daring escape to the West.
Einstein in Prague
Albert Einstein developed key aspects of relativity during his 1911-1912 stay in Prague, lecturing at the local university.
HMS Orwell
In 1903, a British navy drill off Corfu ended disastrously when HMS Orwell collided with HMS Pioneer during a night exercise.
The Samo Empire
Samo, a French arms dealer, became king after leading a Slavic federation to victory against the Turks. He established the first Slavic state, which dissolved after his death in 658.
The 1923 Spanish gambling ban
The town hall building in San Sebastian, built in the 1880s, has a rich history including the gambling ban in 1923. The ban led to the building's closure for almost 20 years before it was revived as a Town Hall in 1943. Today, it stands as a grand Belle Epoque landmark.
The Hilsner Affair
Anti-Jewish sentiment has long been a problem - even before the Nazis. This article describes the infamous Hilsner affair from Bohemia.
St Stephen’s missing rotunda
The Rotunda of St Stephen in Prague, was part of the Christianization effort in Bohemia. Constructed in the Benedictine-owned village of Na Rybničku, the rotunda was later owned by Teutonic Knights who reconsecrated it to St Longinus in the 15th century.
Harry Potter and Porto’s Hidden House
In Porto, in between the Igreja do Carmo and Igreja dos Carmelitas, there exists a hidden, narrow three-storey house called Casa Escondida. Some claim this house inspired J.K. Rowling, but did it?