authenticity, besenwirtschaften, broomstick, germany, tradition

Besenwirtschaften Explained: Learn More About the Broomstick Inns

Many cultures have their unique seasonal practices, and among these are the Besenwirtschaften. While the Besen might not be something you’ve heard before, it comes with an exciting approach and can be something tourists are also welcome to experience. If you want to learn more about the Besen and the meaning behind the peculiar broomstick ...

Mike West

besenwirtschaft

Berlin’s Gas Lamps to Be Replaced by LEDs

Berlin, a city known for its unique atmosphere for almost two centuries, is on the verge of a transformation. The city’s streets, romantically lit by the soft, flickering flames of gas lamps, are set to adopt a new glow — that of electric LEDs. A decision driven by cost and environmental concerns, this switch has ...

Nathan Machoka

Streetlamp in Berlin at Gendarmenmarkt square with Berlin Concert Hall in the background at twilight.

How the Herrenchiemsee Festival Brings the Castle Back to Life

The Herrenchiemsee Festival in Neubeuern, Germany, is a royal treat for musicians and music lovers alike. The event is designed to stroke the flames again in a time of fewer kings and even fewer royalty. If you’ve wondered what a festival is like in a castle, the Herrenchiemsee Festival is one of the newest events ...

Mike West

The Herrenchiemsee Castle.

The Berlin Palace Reconstruction and Its Controversial Past

Many historic castles are left to die, fading into oblivion. But the reconstruction of the Stadtschloss (Berlin Palace) at the heart of Berlin has seen it resurrect from the ashes like the proverbial phoenix.   Acclaimed as the “largest cultural development in Europe,” the Berlin Palace has been renamed the Humboldt Forum Museum. The museum’s overarching ...

Nathan Machoka

The Humbolt Forum Museum.

Melitta Bentz Set an Entrepreneurial Milestone for Women in 1908

Sometimes simple inventions can change the world. This is especially true for the coffee filter paper, invented by Frau Amalie Auguste Melitta Bentz 114 years ago in Germany.  If you’ve been at it for a while, working on your dream, and just can’t seem to find a breakthrough, then rest assured that all your efforts ...

Nathan Machoka

The Melitta Coffee Logo on a smartphone.

Why Germany’s Parliamentary Visit to Taiwan Hit a Nerve in Beijing

One does not just symbolically show support for Taiwan without the risk of antagonizing China. Or, more specifically, infuriating Beijing like Germany’s Parliamentary visit to Taiwan did recently, when a delegation of 6 German lawmakers met with Taiwan’s President Tsai-Ing Wen on Monday, October 3.   The group from Germany arrived the day before and planned ...

Hermann Rohr

German lawmaker's delegation with Tsai Ing-wen.

The Successful Renovation of Lowenburg Castle in Kassel, Germany

Lowenburg Castle or “Lion’s Castle” may look like a medieval castle, but it was built between 1793 and 1801. Located within Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe, this ornate castle has been undergoing restoration to regain its lost glory.  Lowenburg Castle restoration work During World War II, the castle was severely damaged, and its keep suffered the brunt of ...

Nathan Machoka

Lowenburg Castle.

Dazzling Art and History: The 300-Year-Old Baroque Margravial Opera House

The Margravial Opera House (German: Markgräfliches Opernhaus) is a Baroque opera house in Bayreuth, Germany, built between 1745 and 1750. It first opened in 1748 and has barely changed since, making it the best-preserved example of a free-standing Baroque court theater. It was modeled on the greatest opera houses of the time in Vienna and ...

Haidene Go

The Margravial Opera House.

The Scandal of Arnold Schoenberg’s Skandalkonzert of 1913

You may have heard of mosh pits, places at concerts where fans can engage in an extreme form of dancing to express their enthusiasm for the aggressive music being performed. Critics argue that this behavior is angsty and highly risky, and it is not reminiscent of sincere love for music. Injuries are common and deaths ...

Viena Abdon

A caricature of the Skandalkonzert, with concertgoers fighting orchestra members and each other while the conductor waves his baton and police carry people out.

The Lack of an Engine May Sink the Chinese Submarine Deal With Thailand

Thailand’s purchase of a Chinese-made Yuan-class S26T submarine worth 13.5 billion baht (US$408 million) has stalled over the manufacturer’s failure to obtain German-made diesel engines as stipulated in the contract. China had a plan to sell three of its Yuan-class submarines to Thailand; however, only one was purchased. Sub seeks engine The submarine was built ...

Max Lu

A Chinese Yuan-class submarine.