CULTURAL HERITAGE IN FIVE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES
ERASMUS+PROJECT  2019-2022

Our cultural heritage

The 6 relief panels were repaired in 2017 and 2018 as they had started to crumble. The fountain shines again nowadays in its old pride again.

Impressions of theThe cathedral of Saint Vitus 

Torre de la Vela (the tallest defensive tower)

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Parchment

Learning Snacks_legends

As you stroll through the narrow and charming alleys, you will come across museums such as the Roman-Germanic Museum. You will also discover many monuments and fountains on your way, including the figures of Tünnes and Schäl and the Elves of Cologne. 

Marble

Queen Elizabeth’s legend

King Dinis was informed about Queen Isabel's charity work and the expenses it implied for the royal treasury. One day, the king decided to surprise the queen during one of her usual walks in which she gave alms and bread to the ones in need. He noticed that she was trying to disguise what she was carrying in her lap. King Dinis asked the queen where she was going and she replied that she was going to the monastery to decorate the altars. Not satisfied with her answer, the king was curious about what she was carrying in her lap. After a few moments of confusion, D. Isabel replied: "They are roses, my lord!” Suspiciously, the king accused her of lying, since it was not possible to have roses in January. He then forced her to open her cloak and reveal what was hidden there. Queen Elizabeth showed, before the astonished eyes of all, the beautiful roses that she kept in her lap.&nbsp; By a miracle, the bread she was carrying had turned into roses. The king was speechless and finally asked for a pardon from the queen, who went on with her intention. The news of the miracle spread through the city of Coimbra and the people proclaimed Queen Isabel of Portugal a saint.

Antique paper texture

Dracula, the fictional character in Bram Stoker's novel of the same name, is a gothic horror story. The name Dracula comes from the nickname of Vlad Tepeş, ruler of Romania between 1456 and 1462 and again in 1467, whom historians describe as a ruthless&nbsp;and bloodthirsty despot. Vlad Tepes used inhumane methods to hunt down thieves. His fame sparked the imaginations of many authors, resulting in the birth of several unforgettable stories even during the reign of the monarch. Dracula, as envisioned by Stoker, is a centuries-old vampire, a Transylvanian nobleman, who seeks to be immortal. He lives among the ruins of a fortified castle near the&nbsp;Carpathian&nbsp;Mountains.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Conversations with Jonathan Harker give Dracula the opportunity to display a special sense of pride in his noble culture, as well as a keen interest in his past. Dracula appears to have studied Negritude Magic. &nbsp;

Cross symbolizing the Christian conquest by Fernando III

On the top of the hill there is a monumental stone cross that recalls the sword that Ferdinand III stuck there as if it were a cross, the symbol of Christianity when it was conquered. We can find the "Sonnet to the Cross" by the poet Almendros Aquilar engraved in the rock at the foot of the cross.

PLANS Erasmus+ Students 2019-2020, Spain 2020

The Nazarite Palaces (Palacios Nazaríes) with its gardens (e.g. el Partal) constitute the heart of the Alhambra. These palaces were at the same time the seat of government and the private rooms of the Moorish rulers. Each palace of the Palacios Nazaríes is identified with the sultan who ordered its construction.&nbsp;The palaces were originally divided into three main areas: the Mexuar, the administrative and public part of the complex; the Palacio Comares, the emir’s official residence; and the Palacio de los Leones, his private quarters.

Inside the Castle of Prague, you can admire  The cathedral of Saint Vitus, the biggest church in The Czech Republic. It has an outstanding gothic decoration and multicolored stained glasses. We also glimpse the baroque silver tomb of St. John of Nepomuk.

Climbing the 95m tall tower you will have a wonderful view of the whole city Cologne.

Ceiling of the Cuarto Dorado (Mexuar)

From the Mexuar you reach the Golden Patio, decorated with in a renaissance style with gold leafing (Patio del Cuarto Dorado),a courtyard where the emirs gave audiences.&nbsp;

Decoration in la Alhambra

The decoration in the palaces comes from the last great period of Andalusian art in Granada. Artists of those times eventually created a new style that developed over the course of the Nasrid Dynasty, the last Moorish Muslim dynasty on the Iberian Peninsula ( 1230 - 1492), using all the stylistic elements created during eight centuries of Muslim rule in the Peninsula freely, including an unique combinations of the Caliphate Moorish arch, the Almohad, the Almoravid palm, as well as muganas (stalactite ceiling decorations).

Decoration includes combinations of the Caliphate Moorish arch, the Almohad, the Almoravid palm and muganas

You can see gruesome stone masks “grinning heads” on the facades of the old houses everywhere in the old city. In the Middle Ages they fulfilled a practical purpose. In the lower jaw there was a hole to hold a pole over which a rope could be thrown. With the help of this simple mechanism, barrels and heavy objects could be swung into the cellar.

Architecture does not end at the walls, but continues delicately on the mirrors of water where heaven and earth finally meet

"Our rich and varied cultural heritage has a profound power to help build our nation" Nelson Mandela

Thanks to water, the Alhambra branches out into an unusual network, in which the interior and exterior spaces merge and create a spiritual union between architecture and nature.&nbsp;This was the dream of the Sultans.

Cultural Heritage can be distinguished as:&nbsp; ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Built environment (buildings, townscapes, archaeological remains) ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Natural environment (rural landscapes, coasts and shorelines, agricultural heritage) ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Artefacts (books &amp; documents, objects, pictures)

The Alcazaba, La Alhambra in Granada, Spain

Wenceslas Square and its National Museum in Prague, Czech Republic

The Palacio de Comares served as the official residence of Emir Yusuf I, who built it. It's set around the lovely Patio de los Arrayanes (Patio of the Myrtles) with its rectangular pool

Another relic is the Gero cross from the 10th century. 

There are also coloured stained glass windows and beautiful choir chairs

CULTURAL HERITAGE FIVE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES Erasmus+ Project PLANS 2019-2022

Albaicin extends along three ridges, overlooking the Alhambra. This suburb is one of the main attractions of the province, offering the tourists an amazing view to la Alhambra and many small streets between the mostly whitewashed houses. Since 1994 Albaicín has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Olive trees are seen as trees of wisdom and peace, and one of the longest-surviving living things. They can live for hundreds of years, or even, in some cases, more than a thousand years and have known nutritious, cosmetic and therapeutic uses. 

What is cultural heritage?

Cultural heritage refers to the way of life developed by a community and passed on from generation to generation and that includes customs, practices, values, objects and artistic expressions.

Bearded jugs 16th -18th century by Cologne, Germany

Doors were part of the defensive wall&nbsp;(the Justice Door, the entrance to the Alhambra complex) but also as part of the palace itself, because they connected different rooms. All of them are near a garden or a fountain in order to be in touch with nature and give a vivid atmosphere&nbsp;to the palace. Decorated stone and tiles, nature and water mix into a harmonius scenery where sight and sound are unique

The&nbsp;Tančící dům, in English, Dancing House is an office building known for its particular architecture. At the top of it, it’s located a French restaurant where you can see the sight of this impressive capital.

What have the elves of Cologne done?&nbsp; -Why did they work at night?&nbsp; -Why did tailor´s wife put dried peas on the stairs?&nbsp; -What happened when the elves were seen by the tailor´s wife?&nbsp;

The capital of the Czech Republic is a magic city full of world cultural heritage sites.

In one part of the castle, we can enjoy one of the most important discoveries form Visigothic period, a set of votive crowns dated from 5th century, which were found in Torredonjimeno.&nbsp;In fact, they are a copy of the originals, which are kept in Madrid and Barcelona Museums.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Jan von Werth Jan von Werth made a career during the Thirty Years´War. He was first a stable boy living in Schlenderhan Castle in Quadrath-Ichendorf near Kerpen. After a fight with three Dutch soldiers, his employer noticed his talent for fighting and asked: “Don´t you think you were born to be a soldier?” Jan von Werth answered: “Yes, that’s a good idea”. Within a short time, he became a soldier and made his career, becoming a general and being ennobled. Towards the end of the war, he was rich and famous. The city of Cologne gave him a medal for freeing the city of Koblenz and the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress from the French to enable Cologne to trade again.&nbsp;

The Old Town Cologne´s Old Town comprises the area between the Cologne Cathedral, the Romanesque church Great St. Martin and the tower of the historic City Hall. Its rustic narrow alleyways have a special historical charm. Facing the River Rhine, this old part of the city shines through its traditional old houses, its innumerable pubs, restaurants and breweries where you can enjoy tasty typical German food and drink. Alter Markt and Heumarkt are the centre of Cologne’s old handicrafts and trade neighbourhood with its historic corners such as Buttermarkt, Eisenmarkt and Fischmarkt, major attractions for Cologne residents and visitors. Surrounded by many small restaurants and cafés, this area is an inviting place to enjoy and relax during every season of the year.

Windows and doors in the Alhambra

&nbsp; Window decoration with geometrical figures

Windows and doors play an important role in Alhambra Palace. Windows are decorated, since they are part of the monumental Arab style and give the rooms light and brightness. Moreover, they overlook gardens and fountains and the whole city of Granada

The Orthodox Church from the XIII century is the oldest monument in Bistrita. &nbsp;

The Evangelical Church in the city of Bistrita is one of the most important gothic monuments in Romania. Pieces of furniture from different centuries are displayed inside the church.

The wooden church in the Military Garison, also called the "Army Church" because the military unit was built in its backyard

The magnificent natural landscape of the Alhambra is the result of the interaction of the people in different times and the natural environment, a unique collection of plant species from all over the world introduced at a different times and historical moments.&nbsp;

Its gardens constitute a perfect vision with their proportioned rooms and courtyards, stucco walls, beautiful tiling and finely carved wooden ceilings, giving the whole building an eternal character, a character that remains in the mind of the visitor for many years. Plants with colourful flowers were particularly common in Hispano-Islamic gardens in Medieval times. Many of these are also fragrant, such as roses, violets, lilies and water lilies, which spread all over the fortress, constituting the living part of the monumental group.

Love padlocks on the Hohenzollern Bridge (railway bridge accessible for pedestrians) Between the main station and the Rhine promenade in Cologne-Deutz the main attraction for couples in love is without a doubt the Hohenzollern Bridge. This is the place where you can eternize your love. Tens of thousands of padlocks engraved with their names are attached to the grating between the tracks and the footpath. This idea was adopted by the eternally romantic Rhinelanders from the Italians. The first locks were hung on the bridge over the Rhine in 2008. In the meantime, their number is estimated at around 150,000, which, are supposed to be about 40 tons of additional weight for the bridge. They come in all shapes and colours. Some have first names, others only initials. Still others bear a date, have been painted or decorated with bows, all according to the motto: Our love lasts forever Meanwhile, the bridge has become a main tourist attraction also for families, travel groups or colleagues on a company outing. When four completely unromantic souls tried to remove locks with a bolt cutter to make money in summer 2010, the attempt failed. They were caught. Victory for love!

The treasure of Torredonjimeno was a fortuitous finding. The votive crowns were crowns to which a chain was added in the upper part to be able to hang them up. Letters were added in the part where it was fitted on the forehead.&nbsp;The name of the person who made the offering to the Visigothic church or the name of the saint to whom it was offered were written in those letters. The pieces are very fragmented because the treasure was distributed. The historical hypothesis is that the pieces came from a hermitage dedicated to the worship of saints and with the arrival of the Arabs in 711 someone stole them in an escape to the north of Spain. After they were distributed a lot was hidden in the place of the Majanos near Torredonjimeno. It remained there for nine centuries until it was found.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The legend of the lizard

Many years ago, around 1628, there was a large lizard that frightened all the citizens of the city of Jaén. This extremely huge lizard had its lair in the district of La Magdalena. It was always starving, and it would catch any animal or person that approached its cave. This cave was very close to a fountain where the citizens used to go to take their water. All the children were always very afraid to go and get some water. Many people tried to kill the scary lizard, which was a great threat to the city, but no one succeeded. One day, a man sentenced to death proposed to kill the giant lizard as an exchange for his freedom. The prisoner began to set small baits. These baits were large meat, little vegetables and some waste and he used them to make the animal approach the place he wanted, which was Saint Ildefonso Square. In the centre of this square, he placed a large sheepskin with dynamite inside. When the lizard arrived, it ate all the food the man had left, and finally it ate the trap, without realising what was inside. Suddenly, his mouth and stomach began to burn, and the lizard exploded. This was the end of the Lizard of Jaén. For this reason, there is currently a fountain in the Plaza de La Magdalena with a statue of a lizard, in memory of the Lizard of Jaén. Nowadays, people in Jaén still keep saying “don’t eat so much or you will explode like the lizard of La Magdalena”.

Discovering amazing examples of cultural heritage in Abrantes and Almourol

Geometrical forms as decoration in ceilings

Decorated plaster in different geometrical forms (mocárabe)

The robustness of the outer panels harmonizes with the delicacy of the interior, the architectural elements become thus ornamental

The legend of Colibita According to the legend, the lake was cursed because the creation of the lake meant the destruction of a whole village. Colibita was a Romanian town that vanished from the map in 1980.

It's the most famous square in Prague. We can learn a lot of Czech history in this place. Let's watch this video and answer the questions.

Let's discover Prague: Wenceslas Square

1. Andalusia - Jaén and Granada 2. Prague 3. Cologne 4. Abrantes and Almourol in Portugal 5. Bistrita in Romania

Cultural heritage connects people and fosters comprehension among them, comparing and contrasting their background and attitudes. Our project "PLANS" aims to link five countries by their cultural heritages. This is a book to get to know our neighbours and to establish the connections with help of some interactive and digital apps.&nbsp;

The Kostel Panny Marie Vítězné or, in English, the Church of Our Lady Victorious, is a baroque church from the XI century. Here you can find the Infant Jesus of Prague or the Pražské Jezulátko. It is said that this saint has protected Prague from the plague and destruction of the Thirty Years' War.

Bistrita - Nasaud in Romania brings you back to a fascinating medieval time

The Sugalete Ensemble features the longest row of medieval archways on the ground floor in Romania and it consists of thirteen gothic buildings which used to be homes of craftsmen's and merchants’ families.

Amazing parts of the Alhambra

Test what you know about the Alhambra

The “Heinzelmännchen’’ Fountain

The “Heinzelmännchen’’ fountain was planned by the architects Edmund and Heinrich Renard. The design of the fountain is based on the poem “The Elves of Cologne” (Die Heinzelmännchen zu Köln’’) by August Kopisch in 1836 and was built by the Cologne Beautification Association in 1899 to celebrate the poet’s 100th birthday. The 6 relief panels were repaired in 2017 and 2018 as they had started to crumble. The fountain shines again nowadays in its old pride again.

St. Nicholas Church Old Town Historic centre of Prague

The Baroque Church of St Nicholas is a very important monument in Prague. It was built between 1704 and 1755 and stands along with the former Jesuit college in the centre of the Lesser Town Square. The Church became the main parish church of the Lesser Town in 1775.

The Cathedral of Cologne

Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) is a Roman Catholic Church and the largest Gothic church in northern Europe. It has two twin towers that stand 515 feet (157 metres) In 1248 began the work on the present cathedral on the site of a Carolinian cathedral (870) and designed in emulation of French church architecture. Though the choir was consagrated in 1322, the construction continued until 1560. During the 1790s, when the troops of the French Revolution occupied Cologne, the cathedral was used as a stable and a hay barn. Restoration work began in the 1820s. King Frederick William IV of Prussia laid the cornerstone in 1842 and the construction finally ended in 1880. Cologne Cathedral was badly damaged by Allied air raids in 1944 having been the medieval windows removed beforehand. By 1948 the choir had been restored. In the late 20th century work began to repair the effects of acid rain on the stonework.

The Cathedral of Jaén has been a National Monument since 1931. It is a central element of the city of Jaén and a symbol of pride for all Jaén residents. It is considered to be one of the best examples of religious Renaissance architecture in Spain, being&nbsp;one of the few finished Renaissance cathedrals that exist on the Iberian Peninsula. It is also a model for other churches in Latin America such as Havana, Puebla, Morelia, Mexico City, Lima, Bogota or Cuzco.&nbsp;

History The history of the Rote Funken began during the French period in the 18th century. The Roten Funken were the militia of Cologne, but as the city had a big, safe city wall they almost never had to fight. In 1794, the French occupied Cologne and the soldiers disbanded. The French stayed in Cologne until 1814, declaring Cologne as a part of France. The militiamen wore a so-called “Grenadier” cap or “shako”. They threw grenades, so the typical hats (Tricorn) of the military at this time (18th century) wore back then would have been really obstructive. Therefore, the shakos had grenades painted on them.

Legend &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When the French were standing in front of Cologne´s city wall, the Funken were standing on it, watching the French. As the Sparks had never fought, they didn´t take the attackers seriously, and waved their hands at them. But the French fired at the town anyway. The "Rote Funken", wondering, shouted out: “Are you crazy?! There are people inside the town!” Finally, the Funken had to give up, but instead, they founded the present-day carnival club.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium Cologne

The Roman North Gate on the Cathedral platform&nbsp;

Oppidum Ubiorum (“town of a Germanic tribe of the Ubii”)&nbsp;&nbsp;was the first urban settlement in Cologne.&nbsp;It was founded in 38BC. The Ubii were a Cisrhenian Germanic tribe, who were driven out by Caesar in the present-day Cologne region. Emperor Claudius’ wife, who was born here, wanted her husband to declare the small town to a Roman colony. Therefore, in 50 AD, Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium (Colonia-Colony, Claudia-Claudius, Ara-altar, Agrippinensium for Agrippina)&nbsp;was founded by the Romans on the river Rhine, becoming the city the provincial capital of Germania Inferior in 85 AD. Nowadays, important Roman remains can still be found, especially near the wharf area, where a 1,900-year-old Roman boat was discovered at the end of 2007. From 260 to 271, Cologne was the capital of the Gallic Empire under Postumus, Marius, and Victorinus. Under emperor Constantine I (310), a bridge was built over the Rhine at Cologne. Roman imperial governors lived in the city and it became one of the most important trade and production centres in the Roman Empire north of the Alps, till the province was conquered by the Ripuarian Franks in 462. Maternus, who was elected as bishop in 313, was the first known bishop of Cologne.

The church impresses because of its architecture and decoration. The ceiling frescoes inside the dome are 70 metres high and show scenes of Saint Nicholas and his life. We can find many sculptures, making the building look like a palace. The 79-metre-high belfry offers a great panoramic view and is directly connected to the massive dome of the church. The belfry was completed later in the Rococo style in 1751-1756. Interestingly, the impressive Baroque organ inside the church, with over 4000 pipes up to six meters in length, was played by the famous musician Mozart in 1787. Shortly after his visit, his first spectacular masterpiece “Mass in C” was performed in the Church of Saint Nicholas. Even today, the organ is used during church music concerts which are held daily from April to October. It was also used as an observatory for State Security during the communist era because the huge tower offered a perfect view of the American and Yugoslav embassies and the access route to the West German embassy.

The Saint Nicholas Church

<a href="https://biparcours.de/bound/culturalheritagein2019de">https://biparcours.de/bound/culturalheritagein2019de&nbsp;&nbsp;</a>

Water as a symbol of purity and as a part of decoration

The Santa Catalina Castle or Alcázar Nuevo is a walled, almost triangular, enclosure defended by five towers. In the 8th century, the castle began as a Moorish fortress last improved by the Nasrid King Abdallah ibn a-Ahmad, who also built the Alhambra. After King Ferdinand III of Castile conquered the city in 1246, he began a transformation of the castle, including construction of the eastern extremity on the hill, later known as the New Castle. In the 17th century some interior parts from the building were remodelled. Then in the early 19th century, Napoleonic forces built a gunpowder store, stables, hospital, offices, kitchen, and artillery platform.&nbsp;

Water and fountains are relevant in all the palaces.

The most important element that the castle has preserved is the Alfarje (ceiling of carved or painted wood and combined artistically polychrome Mudejar style forms). It was built by D. Luis González de Guzmán in the 15th century, of the Calatrava order. There is a remarkable decoration: two serpentine cauldrons surrounded by eight armorial skins. In the second part of the Alfarje you can see the words Alá in the form of a mirror probably no to draw the attention of the Christians.&nbsp;

Jamilena,  with 3.300 inhabitants in Jaén,&nbsp;Andalusia, Spain has a wild Mediterranean climate and a great seasonal variation in summer and winter. The village is located among olive groves and mountains. Therefore the population of Jamilena is mainly devoted to the cultivation of the olive groves from which extra virgin olive is obtained, a gourmet product, exported all around the world, of which the province Jaén is the largest producer. The specialization in the cultivation of olive groves at the end of the 19Th century and the beginning of the 20th century has led to important economic and demographic growth in Jamilena.&nbsp;

The Castle of Almourol is a medieval castle located in the middle of the Tagus river, near the village of Vila Nova da Barquinha in Portugal. It was built by the Romans during the 1st century B.C, and later conquered by Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal, in 1129.

Renaissance style in Cathedral of Jaén&nbsp;

The Alcazaba was first mentioned in documents in the 9th century. This fortified military complex was the defensive area of the royal guard and are supposed to be the first Arab buildings dating from the Caliphal period, possibly built on the remains of a Roman fortress. It is believed that there were already several buildings on this site before its construction and the arrival of the Muslims in Granada

Legends: part of our common heritage Legends are part of the common heritage and cultural inheritance of our ancestors. All civilisations have myths and legends, imaginary or real, reflecting their folklore. As a form of oral communication, legends have been handed down from generation to generation since the beginning of time. The combination of imaginary or supernatural elements with real ones, in a specific socio-historical context, is the story we call a legend. Since ancient times, human beings have tried to explain the various phenomena occurring around them. In the same way, they recounted the important events that took place in order to preserve historical memory. The importance of legends lies in the possibility of discovering the roots of each culture. They allow us to enter the imaginary (or real) world of the founding cultures of the Earth. Often legends explain the emergence of the culture, and show the customs of the community. That is why they are part of the tradition and folklore of a certain place. As a literary sub-genre, legends are a resource for the study of geography. They allow us to identify geographical components such as climate, topography, environment and society.

The letters CCAA stand for Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium Cologne

La Alhambra Moorish traces in Andalusia&nbsp;

The Alhambra or the Red Palace, referring to the colour of the red clay, was completed under the Muslim rule in south of Spain by Yusuf (1333–1353) and Muhamed V, Sultan of Granada (1353–1391), in what was known by that time as Al Andalus. This impressive complex is a result of several cultures in the passing of the centuries and integrates natural sites with constructed structures and gardens. It is a testament to the Moorish culture in Spain as well as to the skills of Muslim, Jewish, and Christian artists, craftsmen, and builders of their time. The Alhambra has been a Unesco World heritage Site since 1984.

When it was conquered in 1129 by forces loyal to the Portuguese nobility, it was known as Almorolan, and placed in the trust of Gualdim Pais, the master of the Knights Templar in Portugal, who subsequently rebuilt the structure, starting in 1171.

Cultural Heritage in Prague

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR After Christian armies captured Jerusalem from Muslim control in 1099 during the Crusades, groups of pilgrims from across Western Europe started visiting the Holy Land. Many of them, however, were robbed and killed as they crossed through Muslim-controlled territories during their journey. Around 1118, a French knight named Hugues de Payens created a military order along with eight relatives and acquaintances, calling it the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and the Temple of Solomon—later known simply as the Knights Templar— in order to protect these pilgrims. They were recognized in 1139 by the papal bull Omne Datum Optimum.

Prague Castle is the largest ancient castle complex in the world. Founded in 880, it is a complex of many different castles and religious buildings in different styles of architecture from the Romanesque style of the 10th century to the Gothic style of the 14th century. With a length of 570 meters, its area is larger than 7 football pitches.&nbsp;

Let's discover Prague_ Prague Castle

Culture gives people a sense of belonging to a community

PLANS Erasmus+ Students 2019-2020, La Alhambra -Granada

21st century and tourism

Although access to the Portuguese National Monument and fluvial islet is free, visitors to the structure must pay for an inexpensive boatride across the river, the only way for visitors to reach the castle.

Charles Bridge is one of the oldest stone gothic bridges in Europe and the most important trade connection between Prague Castle and the city´s Old Town.&nbsp;It was built from 1357 to 1402 during the reign of King Charles IV. The old stone bow bridge crosses the Moldau River. It is 516 metres long, 10 metres wide and has 16 arches. The bridge replaced the Judith Bridge after a big flood damaged and nearly destroyed it.&nbsp; It survived many wars, especially the Thirty Years War and World War II. You can cross it to Charles Castle and to the old city. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Charles Bridge was originally called Stone Bridge or Prague Bridge, but since 1870 it has been referred to as Charles Bridge.&nbsp; From the Charles Bridge (Karlův Most) we get the chance to see the stunning view of the two sides of Prague divided by the Vlatva river.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Let´st discover Prague - Charles Bridge

Light, water and gardens joins in harmony in Alhambra Fountain of the Lions

Other plants without flowers such as basil, oregano, lemon balm, mint, thyme, rosemary or lavender fill the air with their aroma. Jasmine, citrus trees and cypresses also played a dominant role in the medieval Islamic gardening tradition. However, myrtle is without a doubt the most prevalent species in the Andalusian garden of la Alhambra and can be found in the moss garden areas.&nbsp;

The Cologne Carnival is a Rhenish folk festival, which is one of the world's largest and most famous carnival festivals. The people of Cologne also call it "Fastelovend" or "Fasteleer". The whole celebration is affectionately called "the fifth season of the year" by the people of Cologne. In the Middle Ages carnival was celebrated to drive out the winter. According to the Christian calendar, Carnival is the last weekend before Lent, which meant forty days of fasting. Three characters stand symbolically as a triumvirate for the Cologne Carnival – Prince, Farmer and Virgin. All three are played by men. They rule the city until Ash Wednesday. Today the festival is opened on 11/11 at 11:11. The carnival season with the performances of dance and music groups begins on New Year’s. On Fat Thursday (“Weiberfastnacht”), the Thursday before Ash Wednesday, the street carnival opens at 11:11 am. The women storm the city halls and take control of the city. They all wear costumes and go to the pubs to drink and sing.However, the official highlight is the parade on Rose Monday (“Rosenmontag”). More than a million people come to watch the parade. Everyone on the streets dresses up and sweets (“Kamellen”) are thrown from the floats in the parades. The louder you sing or shout “Kamelle”, the more sweets you get! On the night before Ash Wednesday the “Nubbel”, a clothed straw doll, is burned as a scapegoat for the sins in Carnival. This usually happens outside pubs. At midnight, Carnival stops and Lent begins.

When Agrippina's son Nero committed suicide, there were many fights in Rome. Vitellius wanted to be emperor, but some Romans recognised another emperor. He put a siege in Cologne and that's when the Cologne women emerged. The people of Cologne had enough to eat and drink, the only thing they lacked was firewood. They had to go out of the north gate into the woods to cut down trees so that they had enough firewood. Because they knew that Vitellius lurked in front of the city with his soldiers and could see when they came out of town to fetch the firewood, the people of Cologne invented a plan. One morning, the Roman soldiers took off with wagons and the woodcutters. Of course, this was reported to Vitellius, who gave the orders to his soldiers to block the way back through the north gate. In the evening, the woodcutters and the soldiers came back with the firewood from the woods, but Vitellius was waiting for them. He wanted to capture all the soldiers so that the people of Cologne had no more, and he could conquer the city. He told his own soldiers to stop and arrest the Cologne soldiers, but the moment they were stopped, they took off their helmets. The people hiding in these uniforms weren’t soldiers, but rather the Cologne women in uniforms of the Roman legionaries. The actual soldiers of Cologne were waiting behind the north gate to attack Vitellius and his soldiers. In the end, the people of Cologne got their firewood with a smart plan to defeat Vitellius.

Legend “The Woodgatherers” 

Jaén and its precious cultural heritage

Jaén is situated on the slopes of “Cerro Santa Catalina”, crowned by its important castle Castillo de Santa Catalina. Its artistic heritage includes buildings such as the Renaissance Cathedral built by the architect Andrés de Valdevira and San Idelfonso’s Basílica&nbsp;

The Legend of Šemík An old Czech legend

Near Prague there was a nice castle called Neumětely. It belonged to one Horymir. One day miners from nearby mines stormed the castle and demolished it. When Horymír saw the devastation, he wanted to take revenge. One night he came to the mines, started fires on all sides, and damaged the miners’ work. The miners went to Prince Křesomysl, so Horymír stood before the court at Vyšehrad. Prince Křesomysl decided that Horymír should die for all the crimes he had done. Horymír’s last wish was to ride once more in the courtyard of Vyšehrad on his faithful horse Šemík. The prince ordered that all the castle gates be firmly closed. Horymir could then go and saddle Šemík. He put his head against his mane and whispered something for a long time. Then he jumped into the saddle. The horse reared up and began to make long leaps, then said in a human voice: "Lord, my lord, hold on, hold on!" And before everyone recovered, the horse flew across the courtyard, bounced off, jumped over the high fortifications, and was carried through the air to the other bank of the river. Nobody could believe what had just happened, but they saw Horymír on his Šemík running along the other side of the Vltava River to Neumětely. They all begged Křesomysl to grant Horymir grace for such a miraculous thing. And Křesomysl forgave Horymir. However, Šemík, the horse, barely got home - the bold jump exhausted him too much and he died. Horymír then buried his horse, which had so miraculously saved his life, in front of his court and placed a heavy stone on the grave.

We travelled back in the times of Medieval period with dances prepared by our PE teacher and students to experience the idea of being in a castle in olden times, with students dressed up with typical clothes and dancing and listening to the music, giving a real sense of being involved in history

Wonderful columns and ground in checherboard style

The Cathedral has rectantular sacristy and one of the largest choirs in Spain, with 148 seats. This work of art was made in the 18th century, between 1730 and 1736, in walnut and is separated from the temple by a beautiful grille. With its high galleries, the Cathedral has an exceptional and unique character, since they form a kind of cloister located inside the building, but not attached to it.&nbsp;

One of the most important pieces is the massive gold Shrine of the Three Kings, a masterpiece of medieval goldwork, containing what are said to be relics of the Magi who attended the infant Jesus

The screens block the view into the rooms

Windows from Peinador de la Reina, the room where the queen was dressed and combed. She had a wonderful view of Granada.

Charles Bridge is decorated by 30 statues. The most famous is the statue of John of Nepomuk, the court priest of King Wenceslas IV who was thrown off the bridge. A Czech legend says that he refused to tell the king about the queen's confession so was killed by his request. Touching this statue is a usual ritual in Prague that is said to bring good luck and to make sure that you return to Prague soon.

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There is a local legend that the original clockmaker was blinded by city officials after completing his work. This was to prevent him from ever replicating their masterpiece elsewhere - a fine reward for his hard work! Enraged by the act, the blind clockmaker climbed the tower and sabotaged his work to stop it from working. The clock then remained silent for more than fifty years before being brought back into working order by Jan Taborský in 1552.

The procession of the Twelve Apostles sets in motion when the clock strikes the hour (from 9.00 a.m. to 11.00 p.m.).

Arab columns in the most known Patio from La Alhambra

Light, water and gardens joins in harmony in Alhambra

Archs and geometry are important in decoration

Bistrita is specially known in the Transylvania when relating it to the novel of Dracula by Bram Stoker. In his novel, this region is spoken of as the place where this character lives, and specifically of Bistrita as a place where the protagonist stays.&nbsp;

From the 15th century the castle of Torredonjimeno began to have a residential use, passing to private hands. Its appearance and architectural character was changed.&nbsp;Around 1750 the duke and owner of the castle started to build an oil mill in the south-east part, knocking down walls, draining the moat, the barbican and making a garden.During the 13th century and until the end of the 15th century the castle had a military and defensive use. When the Catholic Kings took Granada on January 2, 1492, after 800 years of reconquest, finally ended a long and convulsive period of wars.

Through our cultural heritage, we learn about our roots and appreciate a culture from its art, stories, traditions, language, stories or landscapes. Not only can we learn about the present, but also about the history of a group of people by examining those who lived many years before and who are important for an understanding of the modern character and way of thinking.

Profound features of faith were expressed through art and artefacts. Pieces of Visigothic origin of the 7th century, Torredonjimeno bei Jaén -Spain

Baths were an important element in the Arab culture (Jaén-Spain)

City Hall: Historical events The first City Hall was built in 1150. Cologne was liberated from the Archbishop of Cologne in 1288 but still under the reign of the Geman emperor. The tower of the town hall was built from 1407 till 1417 and though it was destroyed in the World War II, the tower was rebuilt afterwards. The town hall itself was built from 1560 to 1570. Cologne’s town hall has been the administrative centre for more than 600 years. The oldest still preserved part of the town hall , that was built around 1330. Since the hall occupied the entire upper floor, it was given the name Long Hall (Langer Saal) and later Hansa Hall. Here met an&nbsp;assembly of the Hanseatic towns on 19th November, 1367 and formed a confederation to wage war against the Danish King Waldemar IV. During the pogroms against the Jewish inhabitants of the surrounding Jewish quarter in 1349, the town hall was also damaged by fire spreading from neighbouring houses.

City Hall: Historical events The first City Hall was built in 1150. Cologne was liberated from the Archbishop of Cologne in 1288 but still under the reign of the Geman emperor. The tower of the town hall was built from 1407 till 1417 and though it was destroyed in the World War II, the tower was rebuilt afterwards. The town hall itself was built from 1560 to 1570. Cologne’s town hall has been the administrative centre for more than 600 years. The oldest still preserved part of the town hall , that was built around 1330. Since the hall occupied the entire upper floor, it was given the name Long Hall (Langer Saal) and later Hansa Hall. Here met an &nbsp;assembly of the Hanseatic towns on 19th November, 1367 and formed a confederation to wage war against the Danish King Waldemar IV. During the pogroms against the Jewish inhabitants of the surrounding Jewish quarter in 1349, the town hall was also damaged by fire spreading from neighbouring houses. &nbsp;

The Generalife was the summer palace next to the fortress wall. The building and its gardens were built in the 13th century. It consists of the Patio de la Acequia (Courtyard of the Water Canal), with a long pool of water framed by flowerbeds, fountains, and pavilions, and the Jardín de la Sultana (Sultana's Garden).

Courtyyard of the Water Canal (Patio de la Acequia)

The Castle of Abrantes and the Castle of Almourol

Abrantes-Almourol by João Pinheiro on Genially

Parts of the Nazarite Palaces were demolished to build the palace of Charles the Fitth Emperor. Charles V ordered Renaissance palace built in 1527, a design with two-storey cubic-looking castle, but it was never finished and he never lived there

Without any doubt, the most significant material in the architectural composition is plaster, which had a long tradition in the peninsula. It was a fast and economic way to cover different structures

Everyone could enjoy this little piece of art and history

The legend about City Hall In earlier times the former Archbishop of Cologne tried to reign the city of Cologne even though they had just become independent. He sent two of his followers into the town hall with the mission to kill the mayor. They had a great meal with the mayor. Then the followers told him that they had a lion in the prison downstairs. The mayor wanted to see the lion, so the followers showed it to him. They looked through the door and the followers of the archbishop opened the door, threw the mayor into the prison of the lion and closed the door again. The mayor took his robe, put it around his arm, fought off the lion with his arm, took his little sword (which he always had with him) and killed the lion. Since then even the archbishop repected the political freedom of Cologne.

The importance of the cultural heritage in present generations

Culture connects people through their social values, beliefs, religions or customs giving people a sense of belonging to a certain community and allowing them to identify themselves as a part of a group. To know more about a particular place or people, it is very important we understand their background culture.

Typical landscape in Jaén (Spain), where the cultivation of olives trees has defined the Mediterranean spirit

The present cathedral was conceived in the 16th century by Andrés de Vandelvira to replace the previous 15th century Gothic temple, which collapsed. Although the construction lasted several centuries, the master builders remained faithful to Vandelvira's original project. The main façade, which was designed by Eufrasio López de Rojas in 1667 and completed in 1688 by his disciple Blas Antonio Delgado, constitutes one of the masterpieces of Spanish Baroque. The façade measures 32 meters high by 33 meters wide and has a large collection of sculptures, almost all of them by Pedro Roldán.

Even though the current configuration of Almourol Castle does not entirely correspond to the work designed and built under Dom Gualdim Pais' plan, it is generally agreed that its primitive outline survives almost intact. Of all the factors that may have contributed to that relatively pristine state, the following are to be considered: -not having been the scene of significant war episodes (excepting the Yaqub al-Mansur invasion, in 1190). -its isolation and insularity may have saved it from real estate speculation; -having undergone judicious maintenance; -having been kept under military tutelage. By 1996, the walls had been repaired, sections of the keep were preserved, and the pavement in the castle restored.

Jan von Werth

Legend “Wer et hätt jedonn, wer et hätt jewoss” is a saying in the Cologne dialect based on the history of Jan von Werth´s love story. Griet, the maid he was in love with did not want to marry him. Instead, she wanted a rich man to become her husband. That’s why he became a soldier. After Jan von Werth had been honoured by Cologne´s people for freeing the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress in Koblenz, he and his soldiers marched through the Severin’s Gate in Cologne to receive the award. That was the moment he saw his old love selling apples. The only thing he said was: “If you would have married me!” and Griet replied “Jan, if I only had known!”

Most of the work, however, took place under the reigns of Alfonso X and Ferdinand IV. There are five towers and a dungeon, with one of the towers holding the Chapel of Saint Catalina. One of the last structures built during this period was the dungeon, which was the work of the Condestable of Castile, Miguel Lucas de Iranzo. The builders of the new castle used some of the towers and ramparts of the old fortress, and destroyed or replaced others. The few remnants of the original fortress occupy the western extremity of the hill.&nbsp;

The Cathedral of Cologne has countless religious treasures which date back to the 10th century

Fountain with cold water in the medium part form Arab baths

Jaén also preserves the Jewish quarter at Santa Cruz neighbourhood - where the Jews lived in medieval times and the largest and best-preserved Arabian baths from the eighth-century in Spain.

The hotter room witn heat coming from ground and walls

Cologne is an international city with over one million inhabitants, founded by the Romans over 2000 years ago on the Rhein, the main river in Germany. This cathedral city is also a world- wide known for its carneval, fireworks and christmas markets. Being the home home to over 180 different nationalities, this metropolis prides itself on its cosmopolitan and multicultural nature.&nbsp;

Cultural heritage is often expressed as either tangible or intangible Tangible forms include artefacts, buildings or landscapes, artistic creations, built heritage such as buildings and monuments Intangible heritage includes voices, values, traditions, oral history. This is perceived popularly through cuisine, clothing, forms of shelter, traditional skills and technologies, religious ceremonies, performing arts, storytelling.

Traditional pottery and bags, Bistrita-Nasaud-Romania

Santa Catalina Castle rises over the&nbsp;horizon of a high hill, standing as a landmark above Jaén and as a defender of the city&nbsp;

In the Middle Ages, the people were a bit embarrassed because the building of the Cologne Cathedral took so long, so they invented a legend. Near Cologne, there is an ancient Roman aqueduct, and people did not know what it was, so they saw a connection between the two things. When the cathedral was being, the master builder made a bet with the devil. He thought that he would be able to build the cathedral faster that the devil built a water pipeline from the Eifel Mountains to Cologne. Everyone knows that betting with the devil is a bad idea, but the master builder – he was called Gerhardt- was sure that he would win. The devil could not know that when you build a pipeline, you need to make a hole for the air every 15 minutes to make the water flow. That was a secret only master builders knew and they shared it from generation to generation. But somehow he was afraid of the bet, so he got nervous and angry and grumbled with his employees and with his wife. She was worried about her husband because he had changed much in the past few days. Thus, in her preoccupation, she went to the market place and asked a doctor for help. “To know how to heal him, I need to know about his worries”, he said. So the wife told him, “I heard him talk while he slept, so I listened to what he said. She was talking about a deal with the devil, but that the devil was not able to win. He could not know that you need to make a hole every 15 minutes to let the water flow.” And that was when she realized that the doctor was none other than the devil himself. Now he knew what he had been doing wrong, so he followed the wife´s instructions to make the water flow. When the master builder heard about the devil´s success, it was too late. The devil took him to hell. And no master builder meant no completion of the cathedral.

The legend of the Cathedral mason

The legend of the Cathedral mason

The “Prašná brána”, or as we call it in English, the “Gunpowder Tower” or “Powder Gate”, is one of the most famous towers in Prague and one of the most representative symbols of the city. It is a marvelous building in gothic architectural style. It was one of the 13 defensive towers built in 1475 that were part of the walls surrounding the city. Unfortunately, this tower was destroyed by a fire in 1571 but was quickly rebuilt. During the 17th century, the tower was used to store gunpowder and has since been called “Prašná brána“. The “Prašná brána” offers a great view of the stunning city of Prague from the top (after climbing 186 steps!). Inside of it you can also see an exhibition about the city and its towers.

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Tünnes and Schäl Tünnes and Schäl are two figures from Hänneschen Theater, the puppet theater in Cologne.&nbsp;Tünnes stands for Anthony or Antonius (Rhenish form). He is skinny and good-natured, possessing a farmer type of common sense and cleverness. Schäl on the other hand, wears a tailcoat and the name can refer to the squinted eyes of the two figures or also a term meaning two-faced or wicked in the Kölsch dialect. The two curious characters are supposed to personify many traits of the people of Cologne. Nowadays these two characters are embedded in the culture and humour of the city and there are many jokes referring the figures.

In terms of heritage, olive trees play a crucial role in defining the vital cultural character of the Mediterranean area, reflecting the culture and human transformation of the Mediterranean that stretches back a thousand years.&nbsp;

The Lennon Wall is a wall filled with graffiti, lyrics from Beatles songs and other designs related to international causes. This monument had become a memorial place since November of 2019 because of the 30th birthday of the fall of the communist regime in Czechoslovakia.

Water has not only a functional meaning in the Alhambra. Beyond its known usefulness, water is in an essential requirement&nbsp;in the Muslim world that allows the religious precepts to be fulfilled in search of purity. In Islamic culture, as in Hebrew mythology, the lost paradise is a garden where nature offers man all kinds of goods. The water in the Alhambra, coming from the Sierra Nevada and the nearby river Darro, made the Alhambra Hill the ideal place to forge an idyllic landscape.&nbsp;

On the right side of the finial ("Kreuzblume")outside the cathedral, you will find a part of the old Roman building on the right side of the cathedral. It´s called the Roman North Gate (Römisches Nordtor).&nbsp;&nbsp;

View of the Cathedral from the Deutz Bridge

View from Torre de la Vela

The structure consists of six palaces, two circuit towers, being the "La Torre de la Vela" the tallest one, and numerous bath houses and it can be divided into four parts: The Generalife outside the fortress walls, the Medina (Zitadelle) the palaces of the Nazarite (Palacios Nazaríes) and the Alcazaba, the defensive part.

The castle of Almourol is one of the more emblematic and picturesque medieval military monuments of the Reconquista, and one of the best representations of the influence of the Knights Templar in Portugal. When it was conquered in 1129 by forces loyal to the Portuguese nobility, it was known as Almorolan, and placed in the trust of Gualdim Pais, the master of the Knights Templar in Portugal, who subsequently rebuilt the structure, starting in 1171.

The muqarnas dome of the Hall of the Two Sisters.

Arabic inscriptions and elaborate stalactite-like muqarnas vaulting, all worked in mesmerizing, symbolic and geometrical patterns&nbsp;

Thanks to a mixture of engineering and design, images charged with poetry and fantasy come together.

The Mirador of Lindaraja is decorated with small tiles glazed in blue, green, honey and black, separated by white strips

The Prague Astronomical Clock is one of the city's most popular landmarks. It is well over 600 years old and is one of the oldest functioning astronomical clocks in the world. It is a magnificent blend of mechanical engineering and art. Like other astronomical clocks, it is a specially designed mechanism to display astronomical information. It shows the relative positions of the Sun, Moon, Zodiac constellations and other planets. The clock was first installed in 1410. It is the third oldest clock of this kind and the oldest still in operation today. During recent refurbishment works of the clock, a secret hidden message was uncovered inside one of its statues. For many years it was believed that the clock was designed and built by Jan Růže (also called Hanuš). This has since been shown to be a historical mistake. It is currently understood that the clock was built by Mikuláš of Kadaň.

Prague Astronomical Clock

The inner part of the palace and an entire city,&nbsp;Medina, was concieved to satisfy the needs of the palace. The three main streets which linked and connected all its parts are:&nbsp;The Lower Royal Street, giving access to the Lions' courtyard (Patio de los Leones), to the royal cemetery and to the Partal gardens; The Calle Real Alta: the main road that starts from the Puerta del Vino, and follows a route to the Abencerrajes Palace and the San Francisco convent; The Ronda street is also known as the street of the Moat, as it runs around whole perimeter of the walls.

The castle is the result of a nine-century process of transformation. For 900 years it has had different uses and various transformations. It was built by the Arabs in the last part of the 12th century, passing into Christian hands in the middle of the 13th century and after the reconquest, to King Fernando III.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the castle, passed into the hands of a family from Torredonjimeno. Only one of the six walls built has survived these changing of times. It is a circular tower about 12 meters high.&nbsp;

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