Over and out

Trani may have been founded by Greek settlers, but the known history starts late. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, it was dominated by Lombards, Byzantines, Saracens and again Byzantines. With the conquest of southern Italy by the Normans and after 50 days of siege by Robert Guiscard´s troops, Trani became part of the Norman Empire in 1073. Already under the Byzantines, Trani had become an important port for trade with the Orient. The heyday was in the time of the crusades in the 12th and 13th centuries, when crusaders and merchants mainly went to the Holy Land from Bari and Trani. It became an episcopal see in place of Canosa, destroyed by the Saracens. Frederick II built a massive castle. Under his rule, the city reached its highest point of wealth and prosperity. All prosperity and wealth have left the Alimentari. It is closed. Forever.

Thionville was settled already in early times by the Germanic Allemanni. King Pepin the Short had a "Kaiserpfalz" ("royal palace") constructed here. The Synod of Thionville was held here beginning in 835. It reinstated Emperor Louis the Pious. From the 10th century onward, the area was part of the Holy Roman Empire. It was in possession of the House of Luxembourg until 1462, then of the Duke of Burgundy and from 1477 to 1643, it was Habsburg territory. The Siege of Thionville in June 1639 occurred as part of the Thirty Years' War. In 1659 "Diedenhofen" (the German name for the town) was annexed by France. After the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, the area of Alsace-Lorraine was annexed by the newly created German Empire and became a "Reichsland". Following the armistice with Germany ending the First World War, the city was transferred to France by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, after it again became Thionville. I am not sure, but I had the impression that the Boulangerie Jost was closed. Maitre Jost may have reached retirement age - and so the new "in-store bakeries" had filled the gap.

Horn (since 1970 part of Horn-Bad Meinberg) was founded by Bernhard III, Edler Herr zur Lippe, after 1230. It was first mentioned in 1248. Horn was located on the old road, that run from Cologne to Hamlin - and today is known as "Bundesstrasse 1" (B1). Horn got strongly fortified with a surrounding wall and a moat. The castle, was part of this fortification, though it was later used as a kind of retirement home by several widows of the House of Lippe. Armed conflicts over the city took place in particular during the Soest feud (1444–1449) and during the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648). In 1864, large parts of the city were destroyed in a fire, about 60 houses burnt down including the town hall. "Salon Schöne" faces the central place in Horn, but is out of business. Maybe too many of the new fashionable "Barber Shops" made it impossible for a conventional hairdresser to survive the competition. But whoever erected the small, rectangular building must have been very brave, to place this between the traditional houses.

The place was founded by the Romans at springs already used by them. In 1344, Duke Pierre I de Bourbon obtained the possession of the lands. In 1410, a monastery of the Benedictines was founded here. In 1527, the Bourbon possessions reverted to the French crown. At the end of the 16th century, the first patients came to Vichy for the healing springs, which were soon considered to be true "miracle springs". The springs of Vichy became famous thanks to the Marquise de Sevigné, who came here for a cure in 1676 and 1677. She praised its healing properties. In 1761, two daughters of Louis XV came here for a cure. Their nephew, Louis XVI, had a new bath complex built at the springs in 1787. Napoleon's mother stayed here for a cure in 1799. It is attributed to her influence that the emperor had the "Parc de Sources" laid out in 1812. In 1830, the spa house was inaugurated. Napoleon III made Vichy his summer residence for several years. The town became a fashionable spa for the international aristocracy. From 1899 to 1903 following the construction of the Centre Thermal of the Dome with the drinking hall, a 700-meter-long ambulatory and a bath in oriental style were erected. Around 1900, 40,000 spa guests per year came to Vichy, and shortly before World War I, the number was nearly 100,000. During World War II, the town became the headquarters of the French Vichy regime under Philippe Pétain. After the war, Vichy resumed spa operations and once again acquired the title of "Reine des villes d'eaux" ("Queen of Spas"). But that changed in the 1970s, when the celebrities among the bathers preferred other resorts. Together with ten other spas of Europe the "Great Spas of Europe", Vichy was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2021. While around the park all buildings date back to the "Belle Epoque" are some houses further south in Vichy clearly older.

Legends tell, that in the 6th century a hermit named Porcianus, later known as Saint Pourcain founded a monastery on the height of land overlooking the river. The monastery was restored between 871 and 875 by monks of the Benedictine abbey of Saint-Philibert, (today in Loire-Atlantique), who had fled the Noirmoutier Abbey traying to bring St. Philiberts relics into safety from the the Norman raids. They stayed for a couple of years and settled finally in Tournus. The monastery of Saint-Pourçain became a priory dependent on the abbey of Saint-Philibert de Tournus. During the French Revolution, the monastery was closed and its church "Sainte Croix" became a parish church. I had noticed the decline of many stores here several years ago. More and more businesses were given up. The situation obviously did not improve since a Lidl store opened

Legends tell, that in the 6th century a hermit named Porcianus, later known as Saint Pourcain founded a monastery on the height of land overlooking the river. The monastery was restored between 871 and 875 by monks of the Benedictine abbey of Saint-Philibert, (today in Loire-Atlantique), who had fled the Noirmoutier Abbey traying to bring St. Philiberts relics into safety from the the Norman raids. They stayed for a couple of years and settled finally in Tournus. The monastery of Saint-Pourçain became a priory dependent on the abbey of Saint-Philibert de Tournus. During the French Revolution, the monastery was closed and its church "Sainte Croix" became a parish church. I had noticed the decline of many stores here several years ago. More and more businesses were given up. The situation obviously did not improve since a Lidl store opened

Legends tell, that in the 6th century a hermit named Porcianus, later known as Saint Pourcain founded a monastery on the height of land overlooking the river. The monastery was restored between 871 and 875 by monks of the Benedictine abbey of Saint-Philibert, (today in Loire-Atlantique), who had fled the Noirmoutier Abbey traying to bring St. Philiberts relics into safety from the the Norman raids. They stayed for a couple of years and settled finally in Tournus. The monastery of Saint-Pourçain became a priory dependent on the abbey of Saint-Philibert de Tournus. During the French Revolution, the monastery was closed and its church "Sainte Croix" became a parish church. I had noticed the decline of many stores here several years ago. More and more businesses were given up. The situation obviously did not improve since a Lidl store opened

On the left window is a paper that reads "STOP AMAZON".

A settlement was located here, that was destructed in 1325 by the Lithuanians. It was rebuilt and it was granted town privileges in 1364 by order of the Bishop of Warmia. The town was built with a central square and the parish church of St. Anne. North of the church was the bishop's castle in which the burgrave resided. It joined the Prussian Confederation in 1440 and in 1466 the town was confirmed as part of the Kingdom of Poland. It was the place of fights of the Polish–Teutonic War of 1519–1521. In 1521 the Teutonic Knights launched artillery fire on the town but had to withdraw. Ultreia! ... and a former bakery in the back.

Cine Foto Apollo has closed. The shutters are down for good.

Today's Piazza Armerina was founded in 1080. In 1161 the city was destroyed by the Normans. It was rebuilt from 1163. The actual city developed in the Middle Ages. Since 1817 the city has been the seat of a bishop. I have already uploaded a lot of photos previously taken in Sicily. Now I will add only a few. If you want to see more, follow this link: www.ipernity.com/doc/323415/album/1238300

The town known as Consentia was first mentioned in connection with the expedition of the Molossian king Alexander I from Epirus to southern Italy around 330 BC. In 204 BC. it came under Roman rule but was heavily influenced by Greek culture. In 410, Alaric I, king of the Visigoths, is said to have died in Cosenza after the sack of Rome and was buried with his booty in the riverbed of the Busento. The grave has never been found. German poet von Platen wrote the ballad "Das Grab im Busento" about it in 1820. After the end of the Roman Empire, Cosenza fell to the Byzantines and was then fiercely disputed between the Lombards and Saracens. In the 7th century, it became the seat of a diocese. In the 11th century the city came under the rule of the Normans. Under the Staufers, it was the seat of the Calabrian court. Subsequently, Cosenza fiercely resisted the rule of the Angevins. In 1461 it was conquered by Roberto Orsini, suffering serious damage. From 1500 it was under the control of Spain. Today it is a thriving city with a population of about 70.000 and not enough parking lots. It looks like the "Bottega d'arte il Duomo" (art workshop of the Duomo) has been closed for a long time.

The town known as Consentia was first mentioned in connection with the expedition of the Molossian king Alexander I from Epirus to southern Italy around 330 BC. In 204 BC. it came under Roman rule but was heavily influenced by Greek culture. In 410, Alaric I, king of the Visigoths, is said to have died in Cosenza after the sack of Rome and was buried with his booty in the riverbed of the Busento. The grave has never been found. German poet von Platen wrote the ballad "Das Grab im Busento" about it in 1820. After the end of the Roman Empire, Cosenza fell to the Byzantines and was then fiercely disputed between the Lombards and Saracens. In the 7th century, it became the seat of a diocese. In the 11th century the city came under the rule of the Normans. Under the Staufers, it was the seat of the Calabrian court. Subsequently, Cosenza fiercely resisted the rule of the Angevins. In 1461 it was conquered by Roberto Orsini, suffering serious damage. From 1500 it was under the control of Spain. Today it is a thriving city with a population of about 70.000 and not enough parking lots, so we could not really dive into it. Calze Ingrosso / Socks Wholesale

Duke Frederick II the One-Eyed (1090-1147) of Swabia built a hunting lodge on an island in the Moder. The settlement that grew around was the beginning of Haguenau. Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa fortified the settlement and gave it town rights, important for further development, in 1154. On the site of the hunting lodge, he founded an imperial palace he regarded as his favorite residence. In this palace were preserved the "Crown Jewels of the Holy Roman Empire", i.e. the jeweled imperial crown, scepter, imperial orb, and sword of Charlemagne. There is a story behind every abandoned business that has started with great hope.

The remains of a Gallo-Roman settlement were discovered as early as 1840. This settlement was replaced by the Visigoths. Their fortifications here controlled the route from Toulouse to Lyon, as there was a ford to cross the river. At the end of the 12th century, the beginning of the 13th century, the town was a stronghold of the Cathars. During the Albigensian Crusade, Rabastens was loyal to Raymond VII of Toulouse, who lost - and so the town had to demolish its walls in 1229. As in Castelsarrasin, the "shepherds" (Crusade of the Shepherds, Croisade des pastoureaux) attacked the Jewish communities. In 1337, during the Hundred Years War, the troops of Gaston Febus, Count of Foix and Béarn, massacred more than a thousand men inside the city walls.

The oppidum of the Celtic Alobroges became a Roman colony about 47 BC under Julius Caesar, but the Allobroges managed to expel the Romans. The exiles moved north and founded the colony of Lugdunum (today's Lyon). During the early Empire, Vienna regained all its former privileges as a Roman colony. The city flourished and became the second capital of southern Gaul during the Roman Empire. The first Christians lived in Vienne around 100 AD. In the 3rd century, the city became a bishopric. After the death of the childless last Burgundian king Rudolf III. Vienne fell in 1032 to the German king Conrad II and thus to the Holy Roman Empire. In the 12th century, Vienne became the capital of the Dauphiné. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Vienne experienced an economic boom, numerous houses were built in the half-timbered style of the time, and the cathedral was completed. During the Wars of Religion, the city was fought over and frequently looted. Vienne has a Lidl supermarket just a few hundred meters from the city center. The traces of such a development are visible.

The oppidum of the Celtic Alobroges became a Roman colony about 47 BC under Julius Caesar, but the Allobroges managed to expel the Romans. The exiles moved north and founded the colony of Lugdunum (today's Lyon). During the early Empire, Vienna regained all its former privileges as a Roman colony. The city flourished and became the second capital of southern Gaul during the Roman Empire. The first Christians lived in Vienne around 100 AD. In the 3rd century, the city became a bishopric. After the death of the childless last Burgundian king Rudolf III. Vienne fell in 1032 to the German king Conrad II and thus to the Holy Roman Empire. In the 12th century, Vienne became the capital of the Dauphiné. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Vienne experienced an economic boom, numerous houses were built in the half-timbered style of the time, and the cathedral was completed. During the Wars of Religion, the city was fought over and frequently looted. Unlike Vienna in Austria, "Le Danube" has dried up in Vienne.

The oppidum of the Celtic Alobroges became a Roman colony about 47 BC under Julius Caesar, but the Allobroges managed to expel the Romans. The exiles moved north and founded the colony of Lugdunum (today's Lyon). During the early Empire, Vienna regained all its former privileges as a Roman colony. The city flourished and became the second capital of southern Gaul during the Roman Empire. The first Christians lived in Vienne around 100 AD. In the 3rd century, the city became a bishopric. After the death of the childless last Burgundian king Rudolf III. Vienne fell in 1032 to the German king Conrad II and thus to the Holy Roman Empire. In the 12th century, Vienne became the capital of the Dauphiné. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Vienne experienced an economic boom, numerous houses were built in the half-timbered style of the time, and the cathedral was completed. During the Wars of Religion, the city was fought over and frequently looted. Once a coin laundry - now no hope.