Traffic on the main street of Salmünster is reduced to a few cars of the local people as a result of the freeway and the modernized road that is avoiding the historic center. A large number of the buildings along the main street are either half-timbered houses or have their walls covered with wooden shingles …
Via Regia Impressions: The Stundensäule
Just where the commercial zone ended at the outskirts of the village, the road became optimized for car traffic. While there were sidewalks all along the road within the limits of the long stretched settlement of Aufenau, here were only crash barriers. Cars rushed along the modern road at or above the allowed limit of …
Via Regia Impressions: Hanauer Landstrasse
Office buildings, car dealerships, fast food restaurant and retail outlets line up for five kilometers on both sides of the road that leaves Frankfurt to the east. The Hanauer Landstrasse seems to have nothing to do with a historic route. But then again, you can find one of these traces of the past: Hidden between …
The Old Elbe Tunnel – Crossing Hamburg’s Harbor
The Elbe estuary in Hamburg is a natural obstacle for modern land-bound traffic. Yet the harbor made Hamburg into a traditional trading city. The old Elbe tunnel is part of both, the harbor and the means to cross the river. It is a hidden gem of industrial heritage in the vibrant city. 19th century …
Warm-up to Via Regia – The Old Mainz to Frankfurt Route
Starting an adventure on your own doorstep is something very exciting. With my Via Regia project I was able to do just that. As a warm-up to the Frankfurt to Leipzig route, I walked through the Rhine-Main agglomeration from Mainz to Frankfurt in search of an old long-distance trade route. The Old Mainz to Frankfurt …
Walking a Roman Road in Andalusia
I have just returned from a short holiday in Andalusia. It is always surprising to me, how much Roman heritage can be found throughout Europe. One thing that struck me was a stretch of Roman road in Andalusia that I stumbled across, when looking for things to do on a day trip to the Sierra …
Amsterdam Canals
Amsterdam is known for its canals. The network of these artificial waterways is a part of the special appeal that this cosmopolitan city has. But what is the story behind the Amsterdam Canals? When you look at the map of Amsterdam you notice a ring of concentric canals around the city center. The large scale …
Walking the Via Regia – Frankfurt to Leipzig
What does a centuries-old road through the heart of Germany look like today? This is what I want to find out in the next couple of months, when I walk from Frankfurt to Leipzig on a route that is known as the Via Regia. History of the Via Regia For centuries the Via Regia was …
Kumano Nachi Taisha
The Nachi area of the Kii Peninsula in Japan has a long history as a place of worship. Let’s see how a waterfall, a holy tree and a Buddhist temple are part of this unique pilgrimage destination together with the Nachi Taisha, the Nachi Grand Shrine. The Nachi waterfall is among the highest in Japan …
Planning the TGO Challenge from abroad
Do you think about crossing the Scottish Highlands as part of the TGO Challenge and you come from outside the UK? Have a look at this post for some tips that might help you to plan the TGO Challenge from abroad. I took part in the TGO Challenge in 2015 and enjoyed it a lot …