Europe – Page 47 – WANDERLUST FAMILY ADVENTURE

Heidelberg Castle – Heidelberg, Germany

July 23, 2020 Rita Aguilar Architecture, Castle, Europe, Germany, Historic Sites

Heidelberg Castle is a ruin in Heidelberg, Germany. The earliest castle structure was built before 1214 and later expanded into two castles circa 1294; however, in 1537, a lightning bolt destroyed the upper castle. The present structures had been expanded by 1650, before damage by later wars and fires. In 1764, another lightning bolt caused a fire which destroyed some rebuilt sections. Today the ruins are one of the most striking sites in Germany.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

Heidelberg itself is a university town and a center of scientific research with several research centers. Heidelberg University founded in 1386, is Germany’s oldest and one of Europe’s most reputable universities.

Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial – Dachau, Germany

July 23, 2020 Rita Aguilar Architecture, Europe, Germany, Historic Sites, Memorials, Museums

Dachau was a Nazi concentration camp opened in 1933 originally for political prisoners. After its opening by Heinrich Himmler, its purpose was enlarged to include forced labor, and, eventually, the imprisonment of Jews, German and Austrian criminals, and finally foreign nationals from countries that Germany occupied or invaded. Dachau served as a prototype and model for the other German concentration camps that followed. There was 32,000 documented deaths at the camp and a great many more that were undocumented. When the end of the war was evident Himmler began evacuating the camps in an attempt to gain favor with the allies as he was hoping he would be in line to rule post war Germany. When the allies did liberate the camps the true horror of the Holocaust was brought to light. Between 1945 and 1948 when the camp was handed over to the Bavarian authorities, many accused war criminals and members of the SS were imprisoned at the camp, eventually some former prisoners banded together to erect a memorial on the site of the camp. Today there are some original buildings and some reconstructions as well as a museum.

Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial – Normandy, France

July 23, 2020 Rita Aguilar Beaches, Cemetery, Europe, France, Historic Sites, Memorials

The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in France is located in Colleville-sur-Mer. The cemetery contains the graves of 9,385 American soldiers, most of whom lost their lives in the D-Day landings and ensuing operations. The memorial consists of a semicircular colonnade surrounded by maps and descriptions of the operations.

Arromanches – Normandy, France

July 23, 2020 Rita Aguilar Architecture, Beaches, Europe, France, Historic Sites

Arromanches, in full Arromanches-les-Bains is a seaside resort in the Normandy region of northwestern France. It lies on the English Channel, 6 miles northeast of Bayeux. During the Normandy invasion of World War II it was part of the Gold Beach landing area and was taken by the British 50th Division on D-Day. Arromanches is remarkable for the artificial harbor that was constructed to facilitate the off-loading of equipment and materiel. Pre-fabricated concrete supports, steel spans, and floating piers were towed across the channel in sections and aligned perpendicularly to the beach. Some of these structures are still visible on the beach today.

Luxembourg American Cemetery/Patton’s Grave – Luxembourg

July 23, 2020 Rita Aguilar Cemetery, Europe, Luxembourg, Memorials

The grave of General George S. Patton is located in the Luxembourg American Cemetery in Hamm, Luxembourg. Established on December 29, 1944 it contains the remains of 5,076 American soldiers most of whom died in the Battle of the Bulge. When the unexpected German offensive action into the Ardennes Forest began Patton and his 3rd Armored Division were in the Alsace, in the east of France. Between December 18-31 133,178 vehicles covered the 100 miles and carried 41,933 tons of materials from the Alsace to Bastogne. This was the last German offensive of the war and the last gasp of the Nazi regime. After Patton’s death in a car accident in 1945 he joined many of his men in their final rest here.