Paul Smit  Mick Palarczyk | Features, Photos and TextTwo faces, one philosophy |
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![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/Features/Europe/Germany-Parks-and-Castles-in/39/139248169_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.THUERINGEN 35]
'Goethe's garden house, Park an der Ilm, Weimar.'
Weimar is the city of Goethe. When he was twenty-six he was invited by Karl August, duke of the mini-state Sachsen-Weimar and seven years his minor, to be his personal teacher. Later Goethe became minister of mining and taxes. He improved the social climate of the miners and decreased the number of soldiers in the army, leading to lower taxes and higher prosperity for the Weimarians.
After a long journey to Italy he returned and became minister of education and director of the theatre. Everyone knows Goethe as a poet and author, but these were just two of his side-activities. He also liked to draw and was thoroughly involved with botanics, zoology, geology and colour theory. He was one of the last universal minds in history.
His garden house is another proof of his versatility. Not only did he design its garden, he designed the adjacent landscape park as well: the Park an der Ilm. In fact, he decorated it with his own romantic dreams: gothic ruins, artificial caves and antique temples.
His house proper, situated in the town's heart, is open for the public as well, but don't expect to be alone: it's the busiest attraction of Thüringen. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/Features/Europe/Germany-Parks-and-Castles-in/35/139248102_DuU7g-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.THUERINGEN 35]
'Goethe's garden house, Park an der Ilm, Weimar.'
Weimar is the city of Goethe. When he was twenty-six he was invited by Karl August, duke of the mini-state Sachsen-Weimar and seven years his minor, to be his personal teacher. Later Goethe became minister of mining and taxes. He improved the social climate of the miners and decreased the number of soldiers in the army, leading to lower taxes and higher prosperity for the Weimarians.
After a long journey to Italy he returned and became minister of education and director of the theatre. Everyone knows Goethe as a poet and author, but these were just two of his side-activities. He also liked to draw and was thoroughly involved with botanics, zoology, geology and colour theory. He was one of the last universal minds in history.
His garden house is another proof of his versatility. Not only did he design its garden, he designed the adjacent landscape park as well: the Park an der Ilm. In fact, he decorated it with his own romantic dreams: gothic ruins, artificial caves and antique temples.
His house proper, situated in the town's heart, is open for the public as well, but don't expect to be alone: it's the busiest attraction of Thüringen. Photo Paul Smit.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.THUERINGEN 34]
'Wartburg, Eisenach.'
After Luther had been banned following his 95 theses against the catholic church, he was abducted. It was a clever move by Friedrich der Weise (Frederick the Wise) - Luther's protector - to have him kidnapped and then hidden in his own castle, disguised as Junker Jörg. Now everyone thought him to be dead.
Luther's stay in the Wartburg has been of great significance for Germany. On Friedrich's advice (who remained catholic himself) Luther set himself to the enormous task of translating the Bible into ordinary German. It helped keep depression at bay during the months he was isolated in his little room high in the castle (photo). The result wasn't just beneficial to the Reformation, but to the German language as well. Luther had listened to the man in the street to make sure that God's word would be understood. And in doing so he laid the foundation for the modern German language.
Hundreds of tourists a day are being led around the Wartburg and get to see Luther's little room. As the story goes Luther once saw the devil, and in his fear threw the inkpot to its head. Unfortunately the resulting ink spot has disappeared, as too many fingers have touched it. In the course of the centuries Luther's desk disappeared as well, taken home by pilgrims, splinter by splinter, as a souvenir. The desk you see here was taken from the furniture at his parents' home. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/Features/Europe/Germany-Parks-and-Castles-in/34/139248097_BH7Dc-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.THUERINGEN 34]
'Wartburg, Eisenach.'
After Luther had been banned following his 95 theses against the catholic church, he was abducted. It was a clever move by Friedrich der Weise (Frederick the Wise) - Luther's protector - to have him kidnapped and then hidden in his own castle, disguised as Junker Jörg. Now everyone thought him to be dead.
Luther's stay in the Wartburg has been of great significance for Germany. On Friedrich's advice (who remained catholic himself) Luther set himself to the enormous task of translating the Bible into ordinary German. It helped keep depression at bay during the months he was isolated in his little room high in the castle (photo). The result wasn't just beneficial to the Reformation, but to the German language as well. Luther had listened to the man in the street to make sure that God's word would be understood. And in doing so he laid the foundation for the modern German language.
Hundreds of tourists a day are being led around the Wartburg and get to see Luther's little room. As the story goes Luther once saw the devil, and in his fear threw the inkpot to its head. Unfortunately the resulting ink spot has disappeared, as too many fingers have touched it. In the course of the centuries Luther's desk disappeared as well, taken home by pilgrims, splinter by splinter, as a souvenir. The desk you see here was taken from the furniture at his parents' home. Photo Paul Smit.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.THUERINGEN 33]
'Wartburg, Eisenach.'
After Luther had been banned following his 95 theses against the catholic church, he was abducted. It was a clever move by Friedrich der Weise (Frederick the Wise) - Luther's protector - to have him kidnapped and then hidden in his own castle, disguised as Junker Jörg. Now everyone thought him to be dead.
Luther's stay in the Wartburg has been of great significance for Germany. On Friedrich's advice (who remained catholic himself) Luther set himself to the enormous task of translating the Bible into ordinary German. It helped keep away depression during the months he was isolated in his little room high in the castle. The result wasn't just beneficial to the Reformation, but to the German language as well. Luther had listened to the man in the street to make sure that God's word would be understood. And in doing so he laid the foundation for the modern German language. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/Features/Europe/Germany-Parks-and-Castles-in/33/139248085_AFGiM-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.THUERINGEN 33]
'Wartburg, Eisenach.'
After Luther had been banned following his 95 theses against the catholic church, he was abducted. It was a clever move by Friedrich der Weise (Frederick the Wise) - Luther's protector - to have him kidnapped and then hidden in his own castle, disguised as Junker Jörg. Now everyone thought him to be dead.
Luther's stay in the Wartburg has been of great significance for Germany. On Friedrich's advice (who remained catholic himself) Luther set himself to the enormous task of translating the Bible into ordinary German. It helped keep away depression during the months he was isolated in his little room high in the castle. The result wasn't just beneficial to the Reformation, but to the German language as well. Luther had listened to the man in the street to make sure that God's word would be understood. And in doing so he laid the foundation for the modern German language. Photo Paul Smit.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.SACHSENANHALT 21]
'Ottonic abbeychurch in its stronghold, Quedlinburg.'
Maybe the most beautiful town of Germany: Quedlinburg. In 1994 UNESCO rightly took the complete town center under protection, thus creating the largest world hertitage site of the Germany.
Over a thousand years earlier Finkenherd, now a pittoresque square at the foot of the fortified hill, was an open space in the wood. Heinrich, duke of Saxonia, had left his governmental tasks and went catching finches. The birds had to shine at the singing birds contests he used to participate in, which have continued to exist up until today. Suddenly a group of richly dressed horsemen came forward from the woods and fell on their knees for the amazed Heinrich. They were counts, dukes and nobleman, honouring him as their emperor.
Thus Heinrich der Vogler (Henry the Birdman) became the first emperor of the first Ottonic dynasty, named after his son Otto. Heinrich established his first Paltz, Quiltenburg, on the isolated mound in the forest, immediately behind Finkenherd. Around this hill, which not only holds the fortification but also a beautiful Ottonic abbey church (photos), grew the city of Quedlinburg. Her medieval centre is that big Id advise not to take a townplan. Lose your way and let yourself be surprisedLose your way and let yourself be surprised by the coblestone alleys, the timber framed houses and the medieval squares and churches. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/Features/Europe/Germany-Parks-and-Castles-in/21/139247922_mfbdZ-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.SACHSENANHALT 21]
'Ottonic abbeychurch in its stronghold, Quedlinburg.'
Maybe the most beautiful town of Germany: Quedlinburg. In 1994 UNESCO rightly took the complete town center under protection, thus creating the largest world hertitage site of the Germany.
Over a thousand years earlier Finkenherd, now a pittoresque square at the foot of the fortified hill, was an open space in the wood. Heinrich, duke of Saxonia, had left his governmental tasks and went catching finches. The birds had to shine at the singing birds contests he used to participate in, which have continued to exist up until today. Suddenly a group of richly dressed horsemen came forward from the woods and fell on their knees for the amazed Heinrich. They were counts, dukes and nobleman, honouring him as their emperor.
Thus Heinrich der Vogler (Henry the Birdman) became the first emperor of the first Ottonic dynasty, named after his son Otto. Heinrich established his first Paltz, Quiltenburg, on the isolated mound in the forest, immediately behind Finkenherd. Around this hill, which not only holds the fortification but also a beautiful Ottonic abbey church (photos), grew the city of Quedlinburg. Her medieval centre is that big Id advise not to take a townplan. Lose your way and let yourself be surprisedLose your way and let yourself be surprised by the coblestone alleys, the timber framed houses and the medieval squares and churches. Photo Paul Smit.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.BRANDENBURG 11]
'Schloss and Park Sanssouci, Potsdam.'
Stairs climbing terraced vineyard garden towards the baroque Sanssouci palace, french for free of worries. This garden is the heart of the much larger, 290 ha Sanssouci Park, that itself is just the centerpiece of a whole chain of parks, gardens and palaces. Friedrich der Große (Frederick the Great) and generations of Prussian kings after him had these parks constructed along the banks of the Havel, a river that widens into an idyllic lake every few kilometers. The park landscape starts at Werder and reaches, via Potsdam, deep into Berlin. In the past the Glienicker Bridge, famous for its exchange of spies, divided this area. Since the German unification you can enjoy it as a whole and it has become a UNESCO World Heritage site. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/Features/Europe/Germany-Parks-and-Castles-in/12/139247731_Pzi7b-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.BRANDENBURG 11]
'Schloss and Park Sanssouci, Potsdam.'
Stairs climbing terraced vineyard garden towards the baroque Sanssouci palace, french for free of worries. This garden is the heart of the much larger, 290 ha Sanssouci Park, that itself is just the centerpiece of a whole chain of parks, gardens and palaces. Friedrich der Große (Frederick the Great) and generations of Prussian kings after him had these parks constructed along the banks of the Havel, a river that widens into an idyllic lake every few kilometers. The park landscape starts at Werder and reaches, via Potsdam, deep into Berlin. In the past the Glienicker Bridge, famous for its exchange of spies, divided this area. Since the German unification you can enjoy it as a whole and it has become a UNESCO World Heritage site. Photo Paul Smit.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.BRANDENBURG 10]
'Schloss and Park Sanssouci, Potsdam.'
Stairs climbing terraced vineyard garden towards the baroque Sanssouci palace, french for free of worries. This garden is the heart of the much larger, 290 ha Sanssouci Park, that itself is just the centerpiece of a whole chain of parks, gardens and palaces. Friedrich der Große (Frederick the Great) and generations of Prussian kings after him had these parks constructed along the banks of the Havel, a river that widens into an idyllic lake every few kilometers. The park landscape starts at Werder and reaches, via Potsdam, deep into Berlin. In the past the Glienicker Bridge, famous for its exchange of spies, divided this area. Since the German unification you can enjoy it as a whole and it has become a UNESCO World Heritage site. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/Features/Europe/Germany-Parks-and-Castles-in/11/139247724_2vgEj-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.BRANDENBURG 10]
'Schloss and Park Sanssouci, Potsdam.'
Stairs climbing terraced vineyard garden towards the baroque Sanssouci palace, french for free of worries. This garden is the heart of the much larger, 290 ha Sanssouci Park, that itself is just the centerpiece of a whole chain of parks, gardens and palaces. Friedrich der Große (Frederick the Great) and generations of Prussian kings after him had these parks constructed along the banks of the Havel, a river that widens into an idyllic lake every few kilometers. The park landscape starts at Werder and reaches, via Potsdam, deep into Berlin. In the past the Glienicker Bridge, famous for its exchange of spies, divided this area. Since the German unification you can enjoy it as a whole and it has become a UNESCO World Heritage site. Photo Paul Smit.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.BERLIN 8]
'Park and Schloss Charlottenburg.'
When roaming through the baroque, rococo, romantic, classicist and Biedermeier palace interiors it is hard to believe that bombs devastated Schloss Charlottenburg in 1943. Originally it was built as a present of elector Friedrich III to his wife Sophie Charlotte, and post-war Berlin went into full overdrive to return this architectural and historical jewel to its citizens. Berliners love to go there, especially on hot summer days when the park and waters offer shade and cooling. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/Features/Europe/Germany-Parks-and-Castles-in/09/139247685_J6jJe-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.BERLIN 8]
'Park and Schloss Charlottenburg.'
When roaming through the baroque, rococo, romantic, classicist and Biedermeier palace interiors it is hard to believe that bombs devastated Schloss Charlottenburg in 1943. Originally it was built as a present of elector Friedrich III to his wife Sophie Charlotte, and post-war Berlin went into full overdrive to return this architectural and historical jewel to its citizens. Berliners love to go there, especially on hot summer days when the park and waters offer shade and cooling. Photo Paul Smit.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.BERLIN 7]
'Schloss Charlottenburg.'
When roaming through the baroque, rococo, romantic, classicist and Biedermeier interiors it is hard to believe that bombs devastated Schloss Charlottenburg in 1943. Originally it was built as a present of elector Friedrich III to his wife Sophie Charlotte, and post-war Berlin went into full overdrive to return this architectural and historical jewel to its citizens. Berliners love to go there, especially on hot summer days when the park and waters offer shade and cooling. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/Features/Europe/Germany-Parks-and-Castles-in/08/139247677_XGKRM-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.BERLIN 7]
'Schloss Charlottenburg.'
When roaming through the baroque, rococo, romantic, classicist and Biedermeier interiors it is hard to believe that bombs devastated Schloss Charlottenburg in 1943. Originally it was built as a present of elector Friedrich III to his wife Sophie Charlotte, and post-war Berlin went into full overdrive to return this architectural and historical jewel to its citizens. Berliners love to go there, especially on hot summer days when the park and waters offer shade and cooling. Photo Paul Smit.")
[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.
'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 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/Features/Europe/Germany-Parks-and-Castles-in/39/139248169_LNQYc-S.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.")
[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.
'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.
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