No trip without a monument

We encounter them particularly often in cities. They are an expression of their time. Memorials to history. Glorification carved in stone or expression of a hard-won culture of remembrance. Some have been elevated over time to the status of works of art, others started out as works of art and went from being thought-provoking to becoming monuments. Still others were created by nature and are revered by man as monuments. What all monuments in this world have in common is their contribution to education. Without them, we would all return from a trip a little less educated. So there are plenty of reasons to put together a small selection on the occasion of International Monument Day, which is celebrated every year on April 18.

Art and Monument in Kassel

In the year of documenta fifteen, there is no way you can miss Kassel. For Kassel is peppered with works of art that have become monuments. Every five years during the documenta, the city becomes a big stage for contemporary art and also works with the existing monuments. They are shrouded, emit smoke signals or are given a temple at their side. This all happened at the last documenta in 2017, and documenta fifteen is yet to be reported in 2022. Only this much, Lumbung, the Indonesian rice barn, will play a role.

High density of monuments in the city

In cities we often walk past many monuments. Their density is simply too high. If you wanted to understand them all and explore their backgrounds, you wouldn’t get anywhere in many cities. Bamberg is such a case. Beautiful area monument, rich world cultural heritage, beautiful old town, tempting inns and restaurants. Now this is not to say that you should avoid a city with a lot of history potential, you just have to make a choice. In Bamberg, instead of baroque, we focused on beer. In the city center alone there are 13 breweries and 50 different types of beer. In Bamberg, the World Heritage Site includes not only the Old Town, but also the Garden City. Bamberg families have been cultivating historic farmland in the middle of the city for centuries. A very special monument.

Monument in the country – mystical places

In the countryside, the perception of monuments is different. If a monument lies on a hill, stands on a cliff, at the end of a lake or in the middle of a sheep pasture, the opposite often happens. One is literally drawn to these remnants of the past. Here are examples from the often mystical countries of Scotland and Ireland.

Natural monuments

Then there are the monuments that nature has created. Some of them reach the status of a deity. For example, Mount Fuji in Japan. In fact, the city of Fujinomiya is home to the Mount Fuji World Heritage Centre. The city is located at the foot of Mount Fuji in Shizuoka Prefecture. Fujinomiya is the city closest to the Bright Mountain of Japan. Only in a short window of time in the summer months is it possible to climb the 3,776 meter high and sacred mountain of Japan. in all other months remains a visit to the museum.

The Sigiriya rock fortress in Sri Lanka is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you interpret the historical graffiti lying on the megaliths at the ascent correctly, it is probably one of the world’s oldest tourist attractions. After a steep and quite arduous climb, one is rewarded with a breathtaking view down from the rock fortress over the rice fields to a mountain range

Everyone is a monument or the satirical ME

Last but not least, let’s take another look at Kassel. The pedestal made of red sandstone, on which ICH is written in capitals, was made by the Kassel stone sculptor Siegfried Böttcher according to the plans of the satirist Hans Traxler. The ICH monument is an invitation to each and everyone to rise up and feel unique. Unfortunately, there are more and more people who always carry such a pedestal in their heads and do not have the slightest doubt about their uniqueness. The selfie queen in the background of the photo seems to belong to this not so rare species anymore.

International

Material

Our works are inspired by human encounters and always culinary discoveries. What format do you need? A newsworthy report, an entertaining reportage, a short travel tip or a picture gallery? At the international photo agency Alamy you will find a large selection of photos by Georg Berg on the subject of monuments and memorials. Clicking on one of the images below will take you directly to the agency image.