Two of the most sacred places in Bulgaria

Located in inaccessible areas and surrounded by impressive mountains, Bulgarian monasteries have played during centuries a significant liturgical, cultural and educational role. Monasteries have been continuously destroyed but managed to keep their secrets and continue the tradition of cultural and educational centers.

Situated 10 km from the city of Troyan on picturesque area and surrounded by forest, Troyan Monastery is one of the most sacred places in Bulgaria and is also a great historical monument of national importance. The monastery is situated on the foot of the mountain and has its own spirit.

The monastery and the beautiful gardens.

The courtyard brings spiritual and magical impressions.

The church built in 19^th century with the amazing paintings inside and outside is a beautiful and spiritual place.

Inside is the holy icon of Mother Mary with three hands, which according to the legend has been brought up from Athon Monastery. This sacred piece of art attracts people from the whole country who make pilgrimage to this monastery.

The monastery is also related to the Bulgarian history and here the Bulgarian revolutionary Vasil Levski was hiding during the Ottoman period and formed a revolutionary committee.

I visited the monastery in a sunny summer day and enjoyed a lot the gorgeous sceneries and the beautiful construction.

The residential area of the monastery with great views and the spectacular landscapes.

After enjoying the spirituality and the breathtaking views I relaxed over a cup of coffee and a tasty slice of cake in one of the restaurants close to the monastery. The sun was already lower in the sky and casted wonderfully soft lights while I continued my trip to the next destination.

Another interesting mountain monastery to visit is Glozhene, located close to the town of Teteven. The monastery is surrounded by mountain ranges and steep cliffs. According to a legend, the monastery was founded by prince George Glozh, who, chased by Tatars, moved to this part of the Balkan mountains.

The road to the monastery is steep and narrow, surrounded by forest and suddenly the monastery appears in all its beauty.

The monastery magnificently rises above the cliff and overlooking a forest.

The monastery consists of a church and residential buildings and is closely related to several memorable moments of the Bulgarian history. The monastery was also visited by Vasil Levski who spent 9 months here.

Peaceful, quiet and well-maintained, Troyan and Glozhene monasteries are highly recommendable places to visit.

The Knight’s Castle Eltz

The beauty of the medieval castle is something which I admire very much. Castle Eltz (Burg Eltz) represents the Middle Ages like no other historical building in Germany.

This is the first castle, I visited in Germany and I got fascinated by its magic and the nature paradise in the middle of the Eltzbach valley.

Hidden in the forest and surrounded by nature of serene beauty, the castle is a unique setting erected on a 70m high rock. Unbelievable!

The castle was erected in 12^th century on a strategically important position, connecting the trade road of Mosel with Eifel and Maifeld. The castle has been used by the three branches of Eltz family who lived together.

The castle is so impressive by its unique architecture, timber framed structures and eight towers.

Like a fairy tale.

The impressive inner courtyard.

The guided tour was very informative and detail explained the history of the castle. The rooms inside are also very well preserved and reveal the life style of past times. It was just an unforgettable experience to be inside of a real castle.

The treasury and armory collections of precious artefacts.

Getting to Burg Eltz is difficult but many signs indicate the way.

I reached the castle at late autumn and the long hiking tour through the colorful forest was memorable. Part of the walk was thorough the town of Moselkern where the nearest train station is.

Burg Eltz is one of the most impressive historical castles in Germany which has preserved its own authenticity and character.

Trier, The Oldest German City

The Mosel wine producing area is world-famous by its top-quality wines. Experiencing the wine and cultural landscapes of the Mosel River can be best felt by the charming cities around the river, by the proud castles, vineyards and idyllic meadows. This is a great place to experience pure joy and vivid atmosphere and to feel the Roman Antiquity, represented by hundreds of archeological sites along Saar and Mosel Rivers, Luxemburg and Belgium.

Near the border with Luxemburg is Trier, the oldest German city and the oldest seat of a bishop north of the Alps.

The best place to start the tour in Trier is from Porta Negra, a Unesco site. The old Roman gateway is a great historical spot and represents the Roman influence in Trier. Porta Negra is the north gate into Trier when it was a Roman city. In the Middle Ages the gate was recycled and the stones spread around but the Greek monk Simeon collected them and after his death the gate was reconstructed again.

This well-preserved piece of architecture was built around 180 A.D. and can be visited and from here visitors can enjoy lovely views towards the market center.

Iconic site of Trier.

The area around the gate is always full with people, this is definitely a nicely place to enjoy which makes you think about the past.

I enjoyed walking around the market square, a great place to shop, eat, meet people, a perfect place to take a break and enjoy the medieval feeling. One of the most significant buildings here is Steipe, used by the city council. An alley leaves into the old Jewish quarter and gives a glimpse of life in past times. There is also an interesting fountain from the 16^th century.

The beautiful market square with its lovely buildings, the obelisk and St. Gangolf Church behind.

The cathedral of Trier is also very beautiful and is overlooking the market, this is the oldest bishop’s church in Germany. The cathedral was built on the place of the former palace of Emperor Constantine the Great. The visit is for free and the gardens and the tombs are also opened for public. The cathedral is absolutely fantastic and full of history.

The oldest Gothic cathedral in Germany.

Nearby is the Basilica, the first protest church, I really liked the Constantine’s throne room, expressing the magnificent of the emperor.

Behind the Basilica is the beautiful building of the Kurfurstliches Palais, surrounded by the gorgeous, colorful park, ponds and fountains. The place is really crowded but I liked wondering around and this fantastic combination of architecture, garden and colors, make it my favorite destination in Trier.

The spectacular ornate building.

Not far away from here are the Imperial Roman baths.

The area of the baths is not big but they are still an architecture wonder and visiting them is a nice experience which gives a glimpse to the life in Roman times.

Going back to the city center, I continued my walk to the Kornmarket Square and former Imperial Post. This is a great place to sit, and enjoy the vivid atmosphere, surrounded by many restaurants and cultural buildings.

St. George’s Fountain in the center of the city looks amazing.

Karl Marx house is another attraction in the city, the exhibition reveals details of Karl Marx’s life, family, work and influence.

I continued my walk to the Mosel River and to the famous old bridge, the oldest in German. The surroundings here are very beautiful. I walked along the river and enjoyed the panoramic views.

The old Mosel cranes are very interesting to see. Through the small windows I got a glimpse of the treadmill in which people have walked to make the crane move.

As a history enthusiast I got overwhelmed by everything I saw in Trier. The city offers am unforgettable and informative journey of thousand years history. Multi-faced and exciting, Trier is truly memorable city which is worth visiting.

 

Wiesbaden

Wiesbaden is the main city in Hessen and has been well known since centuries by its thermal springs and gambling. In the 19^th century Wiesbaden has been a global spa resort, attracting numerous famous guests. Today a large number of buildings have an extraordinary architecture from that time.

Wiesbaden and the nearby Rheingau-Taunus region represent a great variation of culture and nature. Rheingau, situated west of Wiesbaden between the Rhine River and hills of Taunus, is one of the best areas for wine production in Germany.

My favorite attraction in Wiesbaden is the casino and the park, which are close to the city center.

Spielbank is the casino in Wiesbaden and is an interesting place to visit not necessary for gambling but also for a dinner. The interior is also spectacular with nice ceiling decorations and ball halls. This very imposing and elegant building is the symbol of Wiesbaden. In the casino Dostoyevsky lost a lot of money but he got material to write his novel “The Gambler”.

The lovely and majestic building is surrounded by beautiful grounds. The gorgeous large park brings to a big lake with a fountain.

The park is in an English style and is a wonderful example of a gardening art.

A great and charming place to have a walk, this is definitely one of the most gracious locations in the park. The lovely park offers nice and relaxation areas.

A beautiful area to wander and admire the views. This is one of the most picturesque parts of Wiesbaden. There are also streams floating around the paths.

The park is a lovely oasis to walk and relax in the heart of Wiesbaden, while surrounded by nature.

When I visited the park everything was blooming. I took a long walk and to the lake in the middle, a home of ducks and geese. Many people were renting a boat or jogging. The atmosphere was just perfect, people were happy and enjoying the sunny day.

Fascinating views over the lake and the church.

The Baroque opera building was built by the German emperor Wilhelm I.

Wilhelmstrasse is the widest and longest city boulevard and a very nice area in Wiesbaden. There are many very nice buildings, notable architecture attractions and shops on one side and the park on the other. The street is very well maintained with flowers and lights, I love this part of Wiesbaden.

I really like the old towns of the German cities and the old town of Wiesbaden is also very interesting to visit with its paths and small cozy buildings.

A real highlight for me is the majestic Marktkirche.

The charming square Schloßplatz is really awesome and one of the top places in Wiesbaden.

Nearby is located the City Palace, which was used as a city residence by the Dukes of Nassau. The complex is used by the Hessian State Parliament.

The historical district of Wiesbaden is also well known by the Goldstrasse, offering a great variety of places to eat.

Old town hall.

Close to the city center is the Heidenmaur, situated next to the Roman gateway.

The Roman gate with a covered wooden bridge.

Wiesbaden is such a lovely city with a very special flair and a nice destination for a day trip in Hessen.