We sometimes buy books at our local book shop for research. The book shop has a regular visitor who behaves very brazenly. He walks in, doesn't buy anything and is just lying around lazily. But everybody loves and pets him, which he enjoys very much. #cats

Katz castle was built in 1360-1371 for count William II. von Katzenelnbogen as an outpost to secure the city of St. Goarshausen at the Rhine. In 1692 it helped Rheinfels castle on the other side of the river to fend off a siege by French troops.

The origins of Gutenfels Castle date back before 1257. In 1277 it came in possession of the count palatinate. Its very secure position high above the Rhine river helped it survive a 39 days siege by the landgrave of Hessen in 1504. #germany #rheinlandpfalz #medieval #castle #rheinromantik

Pfalzgrafenstein castle is an impressive sight on an island in the Rhine river. In 1327 king Ludwig within just one year had a tower erected on the island for taking tolls. The Rhine was the major traffic route in central Europe back then.

Space was scarce within the walls of historic cities in Europe. Therefore, even bridges were used as building ground for houses. Here in Bad Kreuznach some of the historical bridge houses are preserved until today. #germany #rheinlandpfalz

Tippstadt palace is a beautiful example for a mid 18th century mansion in southern Germany. It was built in 1767 for Franz Karl Freiherr von Hacke, a professional hunter in the service of the count of the Palatinate, and his wife Amönia von Sturmfeder.

Ich stehe in Waldesschatten wie an des Lebens Rand, die Länder wie dämmernde Matten, der Strom wie ein silbern Band. Von fern nur schlagen die Glocken über die Wälder herein, ein Reh hebt den Kopf erschrocken und schlummert gleich wieder ein.

Altenbaumburg castle is built on a ridge above the valley of the Alsenz river. Its creation can be assumed around the 11th/12th century as a family seat for the Raugrafen dynasty. Today it is in part in ruins. In the preserved part there is a restaurant located. #rheinlandpfalz #germany #castle

This fascinating castle ruin was briefly shown in our last video. Rheingrafenstein Castle in Bad Münster am Stein was probably built in the 11th-12th century and was the ancestral seat of the Knights of Stein, who later became the Counts of the Rhine.

Tratzberg Castle in Austria was built in 1500 for the Tänzl brothers. Later it had various owners. Among others the wealthy Fugger family. The castle is located on a steep slope high above the Inn valley. Its courtyard is beautifully decorated with artful paintings.

Kufstein Fortress is a remarkable example of a well preserved renaissance fortress. Located on a rock at the entrance to the Inn valley in Austria it guarded a strategical key position at the frontier of the Habsburg Empire.

Another impression of baroque Kirchheimbolanden. An old decorative gate in the Palace Garden. #baroque #park #garden

The historical town centre of Kirchheimbolanden in Germany bears witness to a time of blooming in the 18th century under the rule of the Counts of Nassau-Weilburg. Many buildings of that time are well preserved, and it is a great joy to go for a walk through the town. #rheinlandpfalz #baroque

An abandoned cable car station on top of Malberg Mountain near Bad Ems in Germany. The Malbergbahn cable car was in operation from 1887 - 1979. For almost a century it transported people from the city to a hotel and view tower on the mountain top. It served for the pleasure of countless travelers.

Bertradaburg castle in the Eifel was in the hands of Prüm monastery during the middle ages. Monasteries were often prosperous communities with immense wealth. The double tower with a gate facing the village is an interesting feature of the structure. #germany #eifel #castle #medieval

Some impressions of the medieval city fortifications of Bad Münstereifel. They smartly secured the entrance of the river into the city with a stone tower. Originally it had a metal grid in the opening below that sealed the entrance while allowing for the river to flow. #eifel #germany #medieval

This beautiful renaissance gate stands in the historical town centre of Bad Münstereifel. It marks the entrance to a staircase that leads up to the medieval castle on a mountain, connecting the castle to the town. Today no monarch walks through the gate. The castle is inhabited by ordinary tenants.

Nice view of the romanesque church and the medieval castle in Bad Münstereifel. #eifel #germany #historic #nrw

Satzvey castle was built during the middle ages. The water filled moat is typical for castles in locations that are not protected naturally by altitude. It got its fairytale like look through modifications during the 19th century. #eifel #germany #medieval #middleages #castle

Hengebach castle is located in a strategically well chosen location on a mountain above the Rur river, overlooking the conjunction of several valleys in the northern Eifel. It was built originally for the lords of Hengebach and later expanded when it came into possession of the count of Jülich.

A beautiful and well preserved room in Nideggen castle. With some imagination you can travel 700 years back in time and see a fire burning in the chimney. The floor with a star pattern in the stones is perhaps covered with a fur.

The keep of Nideggen castle is a massive structure that served as a symbol of power and contained living quarters for the lord of the castle.

The citizens of Nideggen rebuilt their town after it was destroyed by the French in the 17th century. Parts if its medieval city fortifications and a romanesque church from 1177 are well preserved. The town offers a picturesque ensemble of red sandstone buildings from 9 centuries. #eifel #germany

The oldest part of Kasselburg castle was built in the 12th century under the lords of Castel north of Gerolstein in the Eifel region. Later the owner changed many times until it ended up in the hands of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Its double tower is a remarkable feature. #eifel #germany

What amazing craftsmanship they had at Steinfeld monastery in the 18th century. #eifel #germany #baroque

Steinfeld monastery is a place that has seen many ups and downs in history. Its origins date back to the middle ages. As you can see in its architecture it had a blooming period during the late 18th century. Its garden of silence is a perfect place for a moment of contemplation. #eifel #germany

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Hiking on the Eifel trail you pass by beautiful old mansions like this.

A monumental place with a dark history. Ordensburg Vogelsang was built by the nazi terror regime in the 1930ies as a facility for the indoctrination of young men. It's troubling to see how bad ideas from the past seem to have a revival these days.

Monschau castle was built in the 12th century for the counts of Limburg. The big battery tower on the right side was built in 1543 - 1558 for light cannons. After its restoration in the 19th century the castle is now used as a youth hostel and a retirement home.

The red house in Monschau was built in 1760 for the clothier and merchant Johann Heinrich Scheibler, who succeeded in marketing his cloth all over Europe. It is a unique and well preserved example of an 18th century residential building and warehouse for a wealthy family of the bourgeoisie.

Another autumn greeting from the historical town centre of Monschau. Walking through the streets feels like traveling in time.

Monschau is a town that became wealthy in the 18th century through the weaver industry. With the decline of that local industry because of industrialisation and bigger factories in the big cities the town got frozen in time.

Some impressions of the medieval city fortifications of Cochem. It's remarkable how the terraced walls block the entrance to the city, incorporating the mountain and the river into the city's defense system. #cochem #Mosel #germany

Stolberg castle is a magnificent sight. But don't be deceived, it's not a real castle from the middle ages, but an idealised fantasy version of a castle built in the 19th century at the location of a destroyed castle.

You just can't help falling in love with those historic stone houses with lattice windows in the Eifel region. Like here in Kornelimünster, Aachen.

Oranienstein Palace in Diez, Germany, was built in 1672-1681 and redesigned in 1704-1709. It served as a widow's residence for Countess Albertine Agnes von Oranien-Nassau. The interior is richly decorated with frescos by italian artists.

To all German followers: Zeitspuren team wishes everybody a happy Unification Day 🇩🇪🇪🇺 What better picture can capture the soul of our country than this. You walk along a forest trail, push aside some branches and suddenly a magnificent castle comes into sight like from a fairy tale.

This style of timber frame architecture with straight lines in black and white is typical for the Sauerland area in Germany. This picture was taken near Hagen. #sauerland

The Place Stanislas is a unique and magnificent architectural ensemble in the French City of Nancy. It was built in 1752-1755 at the command of Duke Stanislas of Lorraine and is designed in the most harmonious baroque style. The fountain seems to be overflowing with golden decorations.

A baroque estate in the Wallonie region in Belgium. Manors like this with the typical grey stone are often to be found in the southern part of Belgium.

Spangenberg Castle was built during the middle ages at an old trading route between Leipzig and Frankfurt. At first it was used by robber knights. Later it was sold to the Landgrave of Hessen.

Some impressions of the historic town of Spangenberg, Germany. A monument of history with its dense historic centre of timber frame houses.

The city hall of Melsungen was built in the 1560ies at the place where the previous medieval city hall had burned down. It's built in the timberframe architecture that is typical for northern Hessen, Germany.

The ruins of Disibodenberg monastery are located on a hill where the river Glan joins the river Nahe in Germany. For 40 years the monastery was home of the famous medieval scholar Hildegard von Bingen. The older parts of the monastery were built in 1108 in romanesque style.

Oberstein Castle was built around 1320 at the command of the Count of Oberstein-Daun on a rock high above the city of Idar-Oberstein in Germany. #medieval #castle #rheinlandpfalz #germany

In the historical town centre of Oberursel there are traces of time around every corner. This house is standing since 1679.

Another building that has the Mainz wheel in its stone crest above the entrance. The city hall of Oberursel was built in 1447. After its destruction during the 30 years war it was rebuilt in 1659.

Dear friends of Zeitspuren, we're overwhelmed by the positive reactions to our début video. Thank you for all your kind comments. That motivates us to keep going and to produce more videos that will inspire you. Unfortunately, the algorithm couldn't process the videos in other languages than German

Erbenheimer Warte was a guard tower built in the years 1492-1497, at the same time as the Mapper redoubt was built. Located between Mainz and Wiesbaden it was - just like the Mapper redoubt - part of a Landwehr, a medieval border protection system.