The Bode Museum in Berlin, Germany boasts a number of spectacular artifacts from the Roman Empire, but the medallion of the Emperor Valens particularly stands out. Valens was Emperor of the eastern half of the Roman Empire from 28 March 364 until his death at the battle of Adrianople (in Turkey near the border of Bulgaria … Continue reading Emperor Valens from the Trier Mint
After so many years of travel, it is difficult to choose one single place as a favorite, but there is one place stands out in my mind more than the others. Trier, Germany’s oldest city, and nicknamed, “the Rome of the North," calls me back again and again. Every visit to Trier is like the first … Continue reading Trier: The Rome of the North
I’ve neglected my blog for a little while to pursue my license to teach middle and high school history. When I first started Jaunting Jen, I thought I wanted to travel full time, but after two months in Europe and Malta, it's clear to me that it's better to maintain a base to travel from for … Continue reading Curse Scrolls, Mystery Cults, and the Secret Roman History of Mainz
In light of the recently released news that "Charlemagne's Bones are Probably Real" I thought this would be a good time to share my experience visiting Charlemagne's Palace of Aachen, Germany. The first time I visited Aachen, it was the early spring of 2008, and there were few tourists in sight. When I returned, two … Continue reading Charlemagne’s Bones and Aachen Cathedral
After viewing thousands of artifacts in multiple museums, sometimes it can be tempting to just keep walking. But then there are times when something just grabs you, stopping you in your tracks.That's what happened to me when I was in the Speyer, Germany State Museum a few days after visiting Museum Island in Berlin. I … Continue reading Four Gold Hats: A Bronze Age Mystery
You would never guess that main attraction of the Bode Museum in Berlin is a mosaic from Ravenna, Italy. The Bode Museum on Museum Island houses a unique collection of Byzantine art, and I went there specifically for their Byzantine collection. I had no idea that a mosaic from Ravenna was waiting for me at the end of the exhibition hall. … Continue reading The Byzantine Beauty in Berlin
Limberg an der Lahn is a quaint medieval town tucked away in Hesse, Germany. You can't miss the imposing late-Romanesque Cathedral from the highway. Limberg was founded in about 800 CE. It is one of the few towns in Germany where the medieval "Old Town" escaped destruction over the years. Entire blocks of original buildings remain. Limburg … Continue reading Limberg, Lunch, and an 1,100 Year-Old Cellar
Just outside of the famous city of Worms, Germany is a lesser-known, but historically significant little abbey known as Kloster Lorsch. It may not look like much from the outside, but there is a lot of history at Kloster Lorsch. Founded by the Frankish Count Cancor in 764, the abbey stands as a monument to … Continue reading Lorsch Abbey: A Carolingian Monastery
A trip to Cologne, Germany usually means a trip to see the Kölner Dom, or Cologne Cathedral, and why not? It's one of the most spectacular Cathedrals in Germany. However this post is not about the Cathedral, this post is about the modern-looking building right next door, the Römisch-Germanische Museum. If you're wondering what's so special about another … Continue reading Glass Slippers and Sixth-Century Wine
Wartburg in Eisenach sounds like something from the Lord of the Rings, but it is a reality, not a fantasy. In 1068 Louis the Springer (1042-1123) count of Thuringia, began construction on the castle. Wartburg is unique because much of the inner castle is still intact and original, suffering neither decay nor destruction from WWII … Continue reading Wartburg in Eisenach
Ever wonder why you are drawn to certain things and certain times? I wonder why, all the time, and I have yet to find an answer. For some reason, I have always been drawn to Childeric's Bees, and feel compelled to tell their story. Why they were made? What was their purpose? Who was the artist … Continue reading The Story of Childeric’s Bees
