All About Royal Families

Imperial Interferences  with disastrous consequences In Ghent, the capital of Eastern Flanders in the northern part of Belgium,  there once was a beautiful Abbey called the Saint Bavo's Abbey.  However due to Imperial Interferences, this Abbey was demolished in the 16th. century.  Luckily for us, there still are a few traces from the Saint Bavo's Abbey and it still has a wonderful royal history. St. Bavo's Abbey and the eldest wall of Ghent Royal history Saint Bavo's Abbey was founded in the 7th. century by Saint Amand, who also founded the Saint Peter's Abbey in Ghent. Originally the Saint Bavo's Abbey was called Ganda, which meant "river mouth in Celtic" referring to the location of the area.  Louis the Pious , the youngest son of Charlemagne and also King of the  Franks, from 814-840 chose Einhard as abbot of the St. Bavo's Abbey. Einhard was the biographer of Charlemagne.  In the 9th. century, the St. Bavo's Abbey was raided twice by the Vi

On 13 September 1843, Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and her husband Prince Albert visited Belgium. The visit Their Royal Yacht brought the couple to Ostend. During this visit, the Queen of the United Kingdom and her husband were officially received in Bruges, Brussels, Ghent and Antwerp. Ostend nowadays - a lot of differences when Queen Victoria paid a visit there ...  Of course the Queen and her husband visited uncle King Leopold I of Belgium and his wife Queen Louise-Marie. Waterloo In these days the battlefield of Waterloo wasn't officially visited. King Leopold I of Belgium didn't want that the ties between France and England deteriorated.  However in all silence, lord Aberdeen, the British minister of Foreign Affairs, visited the battlefield of Waterloo. His younger brother had died there in 1815. The Return In Antwerp the royal company embarked to their yacht to return to London. Source pictures: Wikipedia

One of the most beautiful churches in Rome is without no doubt the Santi Michaele e Magno in Rome. Perhaps this name doesn't say anything to you, but it is better known as the Friezen church in Dutch. Frisian Church in Rome, Italy The Church is dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel and Bishop Saint Magnus of Anagni. The Santi Michaele e Magno is located on the northern slope of Palazolo Hill in Rione Borgo near the Vatican in Rome. It is the national church dedicated to The Netherlands. Frisian Church in Rome Outside Some history From the 8th. century Frisian pilgrims regularly visited Rome. At the same time a colony of Frisians was living there. The Scola of Frisians was first mentioned by Pope Leo III's return to Rome in 799. In 845, the Frisians defended the Old St. Peter's Basilica against a Saracen invasion. Its patron was St. Michael the Archangel, who liberated Rome from the Plague and it was a favoured Saint during the Lombard

During an exceptional very warm weekend in October 2018, I went to the beautiful city of Lille in France. By train there is a direct line to this city from my hometown Sint-Niklaas. It lasted about one hour and a half. Although Lille is known for its amazing shopping centers, I decided to be just a tourist and to discover the town's wonderful history. Lille France on a busy Friday afternoon Royal history According to archeological research, already in 2000BC people lived in the area of Vieux-Lille. From 830 till 910 the Vikings invaded Flanders and the northern part of France. Then the eastern part of the region was ruled by local princes. In 1066, Lille was mentioned for the first time in written documents. Then the town was controlled by the County of Flanders, one of the most prosperious regions of Europe at that time. Évrard, the Carolingian duke, lived in Lille in the 9th. century and he participated in many of the day's politicial and military

Imagine a lovely commune in northwestern France, located on the estuary of the Seine and Le Harvre ... it was written in the stars that this town must attract lots of tourists and artists. This beautiful place was painted by Courbet, Eugène Boudin and even Claude Monet. Honfleur is not only beautiful it also has a splendid (royal) history! Honfleur - picture taken in 2019 by my mother History Honfleur was first mentioned in documents of Richard III, Duke of Normandy in 1027. During the Hundred Years' War (1337 - 1453) between France and England, Honfleur held a very strategic position. In 1357 and again from 1419 and 1450 Honfleur was taken by the English. At the end of the Hundred Years' War, Honfleur had much advantages from the booming maritime trade. During the years of religion conflicts in the 16th. century trade was disturbed. It lasted till the end of the 18th. century. The wars of the French Revolution and in particular the blocade cau

Usually beautiful castles or palaces are located in or near a town. However there are some exceptions, inter alia the Jagdschloss Grunewald.  This hunting lodge, near the Grunewaldsee in Dahlem, Berlin, Germany  really is a royal surprise. It also has a very nice history. Some royal history At the beginning of the 16th. century, Elector Joachim II Hector started to order the building of some hunting lodges in the Margraviate of Brandenburg in the wooded and wild area around Alt-Berlin and Cölln. For the construction of a hunting lodge in the forest area of the Teltower Heide today's Grunewald, Elector Joachim II acquired from the noble  family of Spi(e)l a plot of land.  During the reign of Joachim II, Renaissance architecture also found its way into the Margraviate of Brandenburg. He received inspiration for  the design of his buildings from his cousin the Saxon Elector Johann Friederich I. The actual master builder o

Westin Hotel in Paris, taken in 2017 The Westin Paris is located at the Rue de Castiglione on the corner of the Tuileries and the Rue de Rivoli, near the Place Vendôme in Paris, France. Nowadays the building still is an important landmark but it really has an interesting and even a royal history. Some history * The Westin Hotel was opened on June 1st. 1878 as the Hôtel Continental . Share of the Hotel Continental - Source: Wikipedia * It was designed by Henri Blondel, who was the son-in-law of Charles Garnier, one of the best known French architects. * During that time, the Westin Hotel was one of the most luxurious hotels in Paris. * During the first World War, the hotel was used as an hospital. Royal guests * The Grand Dukes of Russia ussually stayed here inter alia Duchess Marie of Mecklenburg - Schwerin and her son Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich of Russia * Empress Egénie, wife of Napoléon III of France, visited regularly the hotel. * Queen M

São Jorge Castle - Lisbon - Portugal São Jorge Castle - Lisbon - Portugal On one of my recent trips, I visited the São Jorge Castle in, Lisbon, Portugal. This Moorish Castle on top of the hill is an important tourist site of the Portuguese capital. Entrance tickets of the São Jorge Castle The main entrance is a 19th. century gate surmounted with the coat-of-arms of Queen Maria II of Portugal and 1896. Main Entrance São Jorge Castle - Lisbon - Portugal However the other entrances are also very beautiful entrance and stairs of São Jorge - Lisbon Royal History of the São Jorge Castle in Portugal In 1147 the castle and the city of Lisbon were freed from Moorish rule by Alfonso Henriques. When Lisbon became the capital in 1255 the castle served as the alcáçova, a fortified residence for King Alfonso III. São Jorge Castle Portugal - Flags  It was highly renovated around 1300 by King Denis I. Then it was transformed from a Moorish Castl

India is a huge country with a great culture. One of the important things is Architecture. There are a lot of temples and other historical buildings. The most famous is the Taj Mahal . Painting of the Taj Mahal - Source: Wikipedia The white marble mausoleum was built between 1632 and 1653 by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory for his third wife. Emperor Sha Jahan - Source picture: Wikipedia Emperor Shah Jahan was very sad after the loss of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal (a Persian Princess). She died during the birth of their 14th. child. Mumtaz Mahal - Source: Wikipedia In 1983, the Taj Mahal was listed as UNESCO World Heritage.