These are
reconstruction of the original woven border patterns form textile found
in Hochdorf grave in Germany. Unlike other Celtic patterns with knotwork
or spirals, this particular clan chose diamond and Swastika shapes,
making it unique for Celtic clothing.
These are authentic
reconstructions from garments made 5,000 years ago. It was only in the
early 20th century did the Swastika gain a sinister meaning. Up until
then, the Swastika was a popular symbol in many cultures through out the
world, and generally were considered a good luck charm.
With
Days of Yore Travel, you can learn from Celtic experts how to weave
original celtic border or woven belt and bring home a truely original
souvenir.
What would it be like to sail an original 14th century ship? Imagine you as part of the crew aboard a real medieval Cog ship, right out of the Middle Ages, sailing on the Baltic Sea!
Days of Yore Travel is all about experiential travel into the past – we don’t just take a walk-through tour of a historic ship; we take a voyage on it.
Come aboard the Wissemara, pride and joy of the Poeler Cog Club, and experience first-hand what life on a medieval merchant vessel was like. This is no ordinary passenger cruise, but a real hands-on learning experience. On the Wissemara the crew will so you how to set the sail, how medieval vessels were navigated, medieval seamanship and even shoot the ship’s own swivel gun. You can take a cruise to visit medieval castles or to a Hanse League town to learn how goods were traded in the Middle Ages.
This kind of experience will make your next trip to Europe a real adventure – because you become a part of living history when you travel into the past and experience yourself.
Can I take my kids?
Yes, or your retired parents if you like. This kind of trip is for people of all ages.
This is a medieval ship - is it really safe?
Yes, even though it's a geniune replica of a real medieval Cog, it must to conform to modern-day German passenger ship standards, which are some of the toughest safety standards in the world. That means it must have state-of-the-art safety and rescue equipment on board.
We're a Living History/Reenactment Enthusiasts. Can our group do a trip in costume? You most certainly can! This would make your experience even more authentic. The crew of the Wissemara are Living History enthusiasts, too. Who knows? You might even end up on German television that day.
What kind of accomodations do they have on board?
This is ship is designed for day cruises, so there are no cabins on board. But they do have a nice dining salon below deck for your group lunch or dinner. Can I do this alone?
Yes. They have regular scheduled trips, which
you can book as an individual person, but it's unlikely your guide will
speak English.
Do they speak English?
That's no problem. If you're worried about receiving correspondence in English, you can have it translated for free for you by sending it to Days of Yore Travel.
As plain and simple
as this throne is, there is something almost magical about it. Everyone
who touches it can sense the spark of medieval power.Charlemagne's
Throne is one of Europe's oldest thrones - older than Edward's Chair in
Westminister Abbey. Unlike King Edward's Chair, which is unaproachable
to the public, you can get up close to Charlemagne's Throne - let your
hand glide over the marble that was carried all the way from Jerusalem
to this cathedral in Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle).
A
curious throne, because unlike King Edward's Chair, there are no fancy ornaments, precious jewels or gold. Not that they were destroyed or stolen. It was built
like this on purpose. Yes, the coronation chair in which 31 German Kings
were crowned Holy Roman Emperors is missing that expected pomp and glory. At
least until you find out that this throne wasn't built for Charlemagne.
He didn't rule here. It was built for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The marble throne is allegedly made from the steps
of Pilate's Palace, where Jesus dribbled blood all over his floor after being tortured. But more even mystery! You can still see the faint traces of not only Christian graffitti, but pagan as well.
On the right side of the chair, you can obviously see the outline for a
Nine Men's Morris game.
The throne is authentic.
The original wooden construction under it carbon-dates back to the 9th Century.
While it's debateable if the marble really was from Pilate's Palace -
the marble is really all the way from Jerusalem. Even the floor paving
under the throne is original 9th Century. The throne even had a secret
compartment which once housed Saint Stephan's Purse (now located in
Vienna). The arch underneath the throne was for royal subjects to crawl
through, to demonstrate their fealty to the newly crowned Holy Roman
Emperor.
Would would it feel like to be crowned on this throne?
In the sobre atmosphere of this ancient cathedral and its stainglass
windows? Come experience medieval power and travel back to the Days of
Yore.
How do you become a leading archaeologist without having a university degree in archaeology?
Meet Horst Klötzer, a retired industrial lathe factory operator from Hagen, Germany. He became one out of passion. His qualifications are a burning interest in history and archaeology and a treasure hunter’s instinct. The passionate pensioner is responsible alone for about 15% of all the artifacts on display on the Museum of Ancient History in Hagen.
How could he just go out and do it, without any special knowledge or training? And can just anybody call themselves an archaeologist?
While it’s true that Horst in no academic archaeologist, he is a recognized “archaeological enthusiast” by Ralf Blank, the Regional Museum Director for Science, History and Archives in Hagen, who speaks of Horst in the highest praises. “Horst is one of kind, and we need more people like him.”
Really? So just anybody could go out and find things like Horst did, including rare Celtic coins, Bronze Age axes, rare arrow heads, amber pearls, not to mention an entire area of long-lost castle ruins that has escaped academic archaeologist for decades?
Well, yes you can. The pre-requisites are, of course that you share the same passion for history that Horst does, and you have to follow some simple rules, such as accepting the fact the things you find don’t really belong to you, but in part to every person after you who will stand behind the glass in a museum and stare in awe and wonder at the thing you were the first person to rediscover.
Being an archaeologist like Horst Klötzer in Germany can be part of your chance to discover something no person has ever seen before. You can be the person who digs up something new that will make scientists decide that the history books have to be revised again. You could be the next person that finds the one thing that people will one day travel half around the planet to look at through glass or by guided tour.
It's hard to imagine long ago there once was a large and impressive Roman city in Germany, but that's what Trier or Augustus Trevori was - Emperor Augustus' city in the land of the Celtic clan of the Trevori. This ancient metropole on the Mosel river has an entire program of interactive re-discovery about this magnificent gate along with the other Roman sites to see. It received its name from the locals, because the grey sandstone oxidizes and turns naturally black - hence the name Porta Nigra or the 'Black Gate'
This is the main entry gate to the Saalburg Roman fortress.
This is the main gate of a real ancient Roman fort on the ancient frontier of Germania, from back in the days where only a picket wall separated the Germanic barbarians from Roman civilization; a fort just like you would expect to see in the film “Gladiator”. Except this is no Hollywood backdrop. It’s the real thing and a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, just a few miles outside the City of Frankfurt.
How would you like to see how real Romans lived? Maybe learn how to swing a gladius sword? Or throw a pilum spear? Or how about dining in Roman style? With Days of Yore Travel we can take you back in time to experience what life was like living on the Roman frontier. If you would like to experience the true Roman feeling, send us an email for more information.
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