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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.

Traces of a bygone era. A border stone from 1697 close to the village Wollmerschied in Germany. The white wheel on red ground was the coat of arms of one of the most powerful German principalities: the Electorate of Mainz.

The ruin of the Mapper redoubt is the starting point of our documentary. It always fascinated us because it's located very remotely in the forest. You have to hike or cycle there for several kilometres from the nearest road.

After more than one year of work we're happy to present our début documentary. Find out about the secrets of an astonishing medieval border fortification in Germany that has been abandoned and forgotten today. youtu.be/CxBcWTsDIxc?...

We're about to publish our début documentary. In our video we will take you to the Rheingau area and reveal the secrets of a forgotten border fortification. Here a pretaste with a picture of the historical town centre of Rüdesheim. #germany #hessen #rheingau

Riddagshausen monastery was founded in 1145. The monks made a successful self sustained community out of this place. Today Riddagshausen is part of the city of Brunswick.

St. Trinitas Church in Wolfenbüttel was built in 1719 on an old city gate. #niedersachsen #germany #baroque #architecture #historic

This very narrow house in Wolfenbüttel looks like squeezed in between the neighbouring houses. In the middle of the front is written the year of its construction: 1751. #niedersachsen #germany #timberframe #baroque #historic

Beatae Mariae Virginis in Wolfenbüttel is an extraordinary architectural monument and probably one of the most remarkable and beautiful churches in Germany. Built in 1608, it melds elements of gothic and baroque architecture in a unique Renaissance style.

Wo hast du all die Schönheit hergenommen, Du Liebesangesicht, du Wohlgestalt! Um dich ist alle Welt zu kurz gekommen. Weil du die Jugend hast, wird alles alt, Weil du das Leben hast, muß alles sterben, Weil du die Kraft hast, ist die Welt kein Hort, Weil du vollkommen bist, ist sie ein Scherben,

The coat of arms of the Duchy of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel in full splendour above the entrance portal of Wolfenbüttel Palace. Heraldry dates back to the middle ages as a way of identification of different parties and dominions.

Schloss Wolfenbüttel was the residential palace of the Dukes of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel from 1283 - 1754. The original castle was redesigned several times. Today's baroque look with a decorative facade and statues was created in the early 18th century.

This elegant building in baroque style in Wolfenbüttel, Germany, looks like the urban palace of a wealthy merchant. But it was built for a much nobler and more charitable purpose. The house served as an orphanage.

The royal palace in Goslar is the reconstruction of a medieval palace, a so called "Kaiserpfalz". This kind of palace was built in locations all over Germany as a temporary residence for the Emperor.

The city of Goslar in Germany had its blossom in the 15th and 16th century because of the extensive mining operations in the Harz region. Many buildings in the city date back to that time. In the 16th century there was a conflict with the Duke of Brunswick over the mining rights.

This richly decorated house in Duderstadt, Germany, was built in 1620 and is considered a highlight of Renaissance timberframe architecture in the area. The Latin bible quote on the facade displays the protestant beliefs of the former owners.

The City Hall of Duderstadt, Germany, was built in 1302. The timber frame facade and towers were added in the 16th century. A proud monument of medieval times urban administration. #niedersachsen #germany #medieval #historic #history #architecture #geschichte

A well preserved historical city centre with authentic timber frame houses like here in Duderstadt, Germany, is often a sign of lost former prosperity. The city had its blossom in the medieval age because of its location at a cross roads of important trade routes.

The city of Wiesbaden in Germany was a blooming spa town in the 19th century. Today it is the capital of the state of Hessen. The city got lucky during the war and was hardly damaged by allied bomb attacks.

I came across this ruin during a hiking tour in the Spessart mountains. It's an ancient chapel at a crossroads next to an old mill in a valley. Markus chapel was first mentioned in 1216. It was destroyed during the peasent wars around 1525.

The Ellinger Tor is a medieval city gate from the 14th century in the city of Weißenburg in south-eastern Germany. As a reminiscence of former times it features prominently the imperial eagle in the middle.

Schloss Fasanerie in Eichenzell, Germany, was built in 1757 at the command of the Prince Bishop of Fulda. Later it came in possession of the House of Hessen, which holds it until today. It is the perfect location for the annual "Time Travel to the 18th century". #baroque #hessen #germany

Wilanów Palace in Warsaw was built as a summer residence for Poland’s king Jan III Sobieski (1629-1696). The building’s wings, which match the style of the central section, were added in the years 1720-1729.

The "Time Travel to the 18th Century" takes place every year at Schloss Fasanerie in Germany and is the biggest reenactment event of Europe. #history #baroque #military #18thcentury #revolutionarywar #revolutionaryarmy #hessen #legacy #historypassion #geschichte

The "Amthof" in the German city of Bad Camberg was built in 1605 and offers a marvelous display of traditional Hessian timberframe architecture. The building served as a residence of the bailiffs (Amtmänner) of the electorate of Trier. #germany #hessen #architecture #timberframe #fachwerk #history

The hanging kitchens of Appingedam were originally places for loading and unloading goods from and to ships on the canal. In the 16th century the Dutch city was an important trading place. #netherlands #history #town #dutch #legacy #historypassion #geschichte

Fraeylemaborg Palace dates back to the middle ages. This kind of manour, surrounded by a moat filled with water, is very common in the Netherlands. #netherlands #baroque #renaissance #architecture #mansion #legacy #historypassion #geschichte