Paul Smit  Mick Palarczyk | Features, Photos and TextTwo faces, one philosophy |
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FEATURE (Category: Europe | Germany | summer | scenic drives | cultural-historical | gardens)
Germany: Gardens and Castles in the East
Germany: Gardens and Castles in the East
Much longer than other European countries Germany consisted of feudal states in varying sizes. It took until 1871 for this situation to change, when Bismark molded the territories into one unified nation. For us, travellers, the caleidoscopic map of former countships, duchies and kingdoms is a treasor trove of castles, palaces and country houses, parks and gardens. Because no monarch or duke, however small, had deemed his power complete without these status symbols.
![Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.THUERINGEN 37]
'Wasserburg Kapellendorf near Weimar.'
Not far from Weimar, near Kapellendorf, the largest water castle of eastern Germany can be found, gothic in its origin. It has remained in its original state, boasts a five cornered floorplan, a high, 12th-century living tower and is surrounded by a canal. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/139248149_xPHHF-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.THUERINGEN 37]
'Wasserburg Kapellendorf near Weimar.'
Not far from Weimar, near Kapellendorf, the largest water castle of eastern Germany can be found, gothic in its origin. It has remained in its original state, boasts a five cornered floorplan, a high, 12th-century living tower and is surrounded by a canal. Photo Paul Smit.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.SACHSEN 38]
'Völkerschlachtdenkmal near Leipzig.'
Everything looks heavy, the atmosphere is dark and the interior seems to be imported straight from the computer game Doom: the Völkerschlachtdenkmal. It seems as if the granite giants inside can wake up from their slumber any moment and crush you under their weight. It was built in 1913 as a monument for peace and commemorates the tens of thousands of deceased soldiers that fell one hundred years earlier in an enormous battle against Napoleon.
In reality nothing refers to peace, and everything to megalomanic, brainless Teutonhood. Maybe not so strange, being constructed only one year before the First World War. It shows clearly with which philosophy the country would thrust itself into war. Its Wagnerian, mythical Germanian kitsch makes clear that Germany was in fact ready for Nazism in 1913, ten years before its actual conception. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/139248161_o77vX-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.SACHSEN 38]
'Völkerschlachtdenkmal near Leipzig.'
Everything looks heavy, the atmosphere is dark and the interior seems to be imported straight from the computer game Doom: the Völkerschlachtdenkmal. It seems as if the granite giants inside can wake up from their slumber any moment and crush you under their weight. It was built in 1913 as a monument for peace and commemorates the tens of thousands of deceased soldiers that fell one hundred years earlier in an enormous battle against Napoleon.
In reality nothing refers to peace, and everything to megalomanic, brainless Teutonhood. Maybe not so strange, being constructed only one year before the First World War. It shows clearly with which philosophy the country would thrust itself into war. Its Wagnerian, mythical Germanian kitsch makes clear that Germany was in fact ready for Nazism in 1913, ten years before its actual conception. Photo Paul Smit.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.SACHSEN 39]
'Völkerschlachtdenkmal near Leipzig.'
Everything looks heavy, the atmosphere is dark and the interior seems to be imported straight from the computer game Doom: the Völkerschlachtdenkmal. It seems as if the granite giants can wake up from their slumber any moment and crush you under their weight. It was built in 1913 as a monument for peace and commemorates the tens of thousands of deceased soldiers that fell one hundred years earlier in an enormous battle against Napoleon.
In reality nothing refers to peace, and everything to megalomanic, brainless Teutonhood. Maybe not so strange, being constructed only one year before the First World War. It shows clearly with which philosophy the country would thrust itself into war. Its Wagnerian, mythical Germanian kitsch makes clear that Germany was in fact ready for Nazism in 1913, ten years before its actual conception. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/139248169_LNQYc-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.SACHSEN 39]
'Völkerschlachtdenkmal near Leipzig.'
Everything looks heavy, the atmosphere is dark and the interior seems to be imported straight from the computer game Doom: the Völkerschlachtdenkmal. It seems as if the granite giants can wake up from their slumber any moment and crush you under their weight. It was built in 1913 as a monument for peace and commemorates the tens of thousands of deceased soldiers that fell one hundred years earlier in an enormous battle against Napoleon.
In reality nothing refers to peace, and everything to megalomanic, brainless Teutonhood. Maybe not so strange, being constructed only one year before the First World War. It shows clearly with which philosophy the country would thrust itself into war. Its Wagnerian, mythical Germanian kitsch makes clear that Germany was in fact ready for Nazism in 1913, ten years before its actual conception. Photo Paul Smit.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.SACHSEN 40]
'Völkerschlachtdenkmal near Leipzig.'
Everything looks heavy, the atmosphere is dark and the interior seems to be imported straight from the computer game Doom: the Völkerschlachtdenkmal. It seems as if the granite giants can wake up from their slumber any moment and crush you under their weight. It was built in 1913 as a monument for peace and commemorates the tens of thousands of deceased soldiers that fell one hundred years earlier in an enormous battle against Napoleon.
In reality nothing refers to peace, and everything to megalomanic, brainless Teutonhood. Maybe not so strange, being constructed only one year before the First World War. It shows clearly with which philosophy the country would thrust itself into war. Its Wagnerian, mythical Germanian kitsch makes clear that Germany was in fact ready for Nazism in 1913, ten years before its actual conception. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/139248202_YyNmn-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.SACHSEN 40]
'Völkerschlachtdenkmal near Leipzig.'
Everything looks heavy, the atmosphere is dark and the interior seems to be imported straight from the computer game Doom: the Völkerschlachtdenkmal. It seems as if the granite giants can wake up from their slumber any moment and crush you under their weight. It was built in 1913 as a monument for peace and commemorates the tens of thousands of deceased soldiers that fell one hundred years earlier in an enormous battle against Napoleon.
In reality nothing refers to peace, and everything to megalomanic, brainless Teutonhood. Maybe not so strange, being constructed only one year before the First World War. It shows clearly with which philosophy the country would thrust itself into war. Its Wagnerian, mythical Germanian kitsch makes clear that Germany was in fact ready for Nazism in 1913, ten years before its actual conception. Photo Paul Smit.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.SACHSEN 41]
Vaults like origami in the Albrechtsburg, Meissen.'
Ribless cellular vaults cover the halls of the Albrechtsburg in Meissen. In 1525 architect Arnold von Westfalen had completed the construction of Albrechtsburg. In the final stage he got the brilliant idea to leave out the ribs that the arches usually were anchored on. The vaults were to be self-supporting. This enabled faster building if the masons were very experienced. The result was a web of cell-vaults, unfolding in different patterns in each hall and looking like Japanese origami, elegant and seemingly weightless. At the time, however, the Renaissance style, which hearkened back to classical examples, had already taken Europe by storm. The vault without ribs - revolutionary, but associated with the 'old-fashioned' Gothic age - never had a chance to become popular. Its first application at the Albrechtsburg was also one of the its last. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/144202858_UDk7V-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.SACHSEN 41]
Vaults like origami in the Albrechtsburg, Meissen.'
Ribless cellular vaults cover the halls of the Albrechtsburg in Meissen. In 1525 architect Arnold von Westfalen had completed the construction of Albrechtsburg. In the final stage he got the brilliant idea to leave out the ribs that the arches usually were anchored on. The vaults were to be self-supporting. This enabled faster building if the masons were very experienced. The result was a web of cell-vaults, unfolding in different patterns in each hall and looking like Japanese origami, elegant and seemingly weightless. At the time, however, the Renaissance style, which hearkened back to classical examples, had already taken Europe by storm. The vault without ribs - revolutionary, but associated with the 'old-fashioned' Gothic age - never had a chance to become popular. Its first application at the Albrechtsburg was also one of the its last. Photo Paul Smit.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.SACHSEN 42]
Vaults like origami in the Albrechtsburg, Meissen.'
Ribless cellular vaults cover the halls of the Albrechtsburg in Meissen. In 1525 architect Arnold von Westfalen had completed the construction of Albrechtsburg. In the final stage he got the brilliant idea to leave out the ribs that the arches usually were anchored on. The vaults were to be self-supporting. This enabled faster building if the masons were very experienced. The result was a web of cell-vaults, unfolding in different patterns in each hall and looking like Japanese origami, elegant and seemingly weightless. At the time, however, the Renaissance style, which hearkened back to classical examples, had already taken Europe by storm. The vault without ribs - revolutionary, but associated with the 'old-fashioned' Gothic age - never had a chance to become popular. Its first application at the Albrechtsburg was also one of the its last. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/144202894_qgNVk-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.SACHSEN 42]
Vaults like origami in the Albrechtsburg, Meissen.'
Ribless cellular vaults cover the halls of the Albrechtsburg in Meissen. In 1525 architect Arnold von Westfalen had completed the construction of Albrechtsburg. In the final stage he got the brilliant idea to leave out the ribs that the arches usually were anchored on. The vaults were to be self-supporting. This enabled faster building if the masons were very experienced. The result was a web of cell-vaults, unfolding in different patterns in each hall and looking like Japanese origami, elegant and seemingly weightless. At the time, however, the Renaissance style, which hearkened back to classical examples, had already taken Europe by storm. The vault without ribs - revolutionary, but associated with the 'old-fashioned' Gothic age - never had a chance to become popular. Its first application at the Albrechtsburg was also one of the its last. Photo Paul Smit.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.SACHSEN 43]
'Jachtschloss Moritzburg near Dresden.'
The baroque hunting lodge Moritzburg, situated northwest of Dresden, is surrounded by water in summer. During the winter this turns into ice, resulting in the palace being approachable not only across the bridge, but from all directions ... on skates! The castle and its park used to form the background for baroque parties, organized by August the Strong, elector of Saxonia. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/139248207_TYJUY-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.SACHSEN 43]
'Jachtschloss Moritzburg near Dresden.'
The baroque hunting lodge Moritzburg, situated northwest of Dresden, is surrounded by water in summer. During the winter this turns into ice, resulting in the palace being approachable not only across the bridge, but from all directions ... on skates! The castle and its park used to form the background for baroque parties, organized by August the Strong, elector of Saxonia. Photo Paul Smit.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.SACHSEN 44]
'Jachtschloss Moritzburg near Dresden.'
The baroque hunting lodge Moritzburg, situated northwest of Dresden, is surrounded by water in summer. During the winter this turns into ice, resulting in the palace being approachable not only across the bridge, but from all directions ... on skates! The castle and its park used to form the background for baroque parties, organized by August the Strong, elector of Saxonia. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/139248209_UAMvB-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.SACHSEN 44]
'Jachtschloss Moritzburg near Dresden.'
The baroque hunting lodge Moritzburg, situated northwest of Dresden, is surrounded by water in summer. During the winter this turns into ice, resulting in the palace being approachable not only across the bridge, but from all directions ... on skates! The castle and its park used to form the background for baroque parties, organized by August the Strong, elector of Saxonia. Photo Paul Smit.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.SACHSEN 45]
'Jachtschloss Moritzburg near Dresden.'
The baroque hunting lodge Moritzburg (in the distance), situated northwest of Dresden, is surrounded by water in summer. During the winter this turns into ice, resulting in the palace being approachable not only across the bridge, but from all directions ... on skates! The castle and its park used to form the background for baroque parties, organized by August the Strong, elector of Saxonia. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/139248222_PsUwJ-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.SACHSEN 45]
'Jachtschloss Moritzburg near Dresden.'
The baroque hunting lodge Moritzburg (in the distance), situated northwest of Dresden, is surrounded by water in summer. During the winter this turns into ice, resulting in the palace being approachable not only across the bridge, but from all directions ... on skates! The castle and its park used to form the background for baroque parties, organized by August the Strong, elector of Saxonia. Photo Paul Smit.")
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 37]
'Wasserburg Kapellendorf near Weimar.'
Not far from Weimar, near Kapellendorf, the largest water castle of eastern Germany can be found, gothic in its origin. It has remained in its original state, boasts a five cornered floorplan, a high, 12th-century living tower and is surrounded by a canal. Photo Paul Smit.
'Wasserburg Kapellendorf near Weimar.'
Not far from Weimar, near Kapellendorf, the largest water castle of eastern Germany can be found, gothic in its origin. It has remained in its original state, boasts a five cornered floorplan, a high, 12th-century living tower and is surrounded by a canal. Photo Paul Smit.
![> [GERMANY.THUERINGEN 37]
'Wasserburg Kapellendorf near Weimar.'
Not far from Weimar, near Kapellendorf, the largest water castle of eastern Germany can be found, gothic in its origin. It has remained in its original state, boasts a five cornered floorplan, a high, 12th-century living tower and is surrounded by a canal. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/139248149_xPHHF-S.jpg "> [GERMANY.THUERINGEN 37]
'Wasserburg Kapellendorf near Weimar.'
Not far from Weimar, near Kapellendorf, the largest water castle of eastern Germany can be found, gothic in its origin. It has remained in its original state, boasts a five cornered floorplan, a high, 12th-century living tower and is surrounded by a canal. Photo Paul Smit.")
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 37]
'Wasserburg Kapellendorf near Weimar.'
Not far from Weimar, near Kapellendorf, the largest water castle of eastern Germany can be found, gothic in its origin. It has remained in its original state, boasts a five cornered floorplan, a high, 12th-century living tower and is surrounded by a canal. Photo Paul Smit.
'Wasserburg Kapellendorf near Weimar.'
Not far from Weimar, near Kapellendorf, the largest water castle of eastern Germany can be found, gothic in its origin. It has remained in its original state, boasts a five cornered floorplan, a high, 12th-century living tower and is surrounded by a canal. Photo Paul Smit.
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