Karlstein Castle, Czech Republic

Karlstein Castle (Hrad Karlštejn), located 30 km from Prague, is one of the most important castles in Bohemia. It was founded by Charles IV to preserve the jewels of the Imperial crown of the Holy Roman Empire, the royal crown of the Bohemian states and the various holy relics. The original castle was of Gothic architecture but after being abandoned for over a century, many Gothic elements were replaced by others of the Renaissance type. It is known as the most visited castle of the Czech Republic. It has 5 levels with several towers and the large dungeon has 60m.

Tips

Prepare for a walk of about 20 minutes to get there, as the access by car stops in the parking of the main road, the rest of the ascent must be done on foot.

Do not miss the Saint Croix chapel in the upper tower. Generally it is necessary to make a reservation to visit it because of the great affluence of tourists. It has 4 partially glazed windows of gems, a cross of ogives and frescoes illustrating the life of Christ and 129 paintings representing saints signed by Theodoric.

You will also find a well with a depth of 80m where the bucket is raised and lowered by a wheel once driven by people who walked.

It is possible to book a guided tour in different languages. For visits in Czech, German or English it is not necessary.

Postdam, Land of Brandebourg, Germany

Potsdam is the capital and most populous city of the state of Brandenburg; it borders Berlin (to the southwest). The city was the residence of the kings of Prussia and there are many castles and parks and a bourgeois city center. Since 1990 the city has been on the UNESCO list for its cultural and natural heritage of humanity as the largest group of German world heritage sites. There are three universities, several research institutes and film and television production centers. 75% of the city is covered by green spaces. Its best-known monument is the Sanssouci Palace. To see: the Dutch Quarter, the Church of St. Nicholas, the Old Market Square, the Nauen Gate, Brandenburger Street with its shops, the film museum, etc.

Tips

If you are in Berlin, you can visit Potsdam with public transport. If you like walking, its parks are magnificent.

Bus, boat and walking tours are offered and you can purchase tickets easily online before your visit.

If you want to deepen your knowledge of the city and its rich historical past, there is also a historical trail named “City of Soviet Secret Services” 2.5 km long which informs with signs and mobile phone applications about the past of KGB city no7.

Bahia Palace, Marrakech, Morocco

Bahia Palace is a palace of century XIXᵉ of eight hectares in Marrakech, Morocco. It is a masterpiece of Moroccan architecture, one of the major monuments of cultural heritage. It was built southeast of the medina of Marrakech between 1866 and 1867. It was built for Si Moussa, chamberlain of Sultan Hassan 1st of Morocco, at his death, his son, Ahmed Ben Moussa, had enlarged the southern part his father’s palace by the successive acquisition and glitzy development of large sets of neighboring houses. The palace takes its name from his favorite mistress, Bahia. From 1912, General Lyautey, Marshal of France, used it as his personal residence as well as the residence of French officers by adding chimneys, heating and electricity. It has about 150 lavishly decorated rooms. There are marble, wood paintings, stained glass windows, many patios and gardens with orange trees, banana trees, cypresses, hibiscus and jasmine. The Moroccan royal family of King Mohammed VI sometimes stay there in a large private party not open to the public.

Tips

The palace is open to visitors, at your visit ask for information because you can also attend concerts of Arab-Andalusian music and art exhibitions.
You can also ask for a guide to accompany you and tell the whole story which is very interesting.