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Malta: Layers of History in the Mediterranean

September 16, 2025

Malta was one of the most unique stops on my journey. I stayed around Valletta, the capital, and explored the cities around it. Everywhere I walked I felt the Mediterranean atmosphere. Narrow streets, bright stone houses, and the sea always close by.

The history of Malta is long and complex. The islands have been a crossroads for many cultures, from Phoenicians and Romans to Arabs and later the Knights of St. John. Valletta itself was built after the Great Siege of 1565, when the Knights defended the island against the Ottomans. The result is a city planned like a fortress, with massive walls and straight streets leading down to the harbor.

Malta is also home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Valletta itself is one of them, recognized for its well-preserved baroque architecture and military history. Even older are the Megalithic Temples scattered across the islands, some of the world’s earliest free-standing stone structures, built between 3600 and 2500 BC. There is also Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, an underground burial site carved into rock more than 5,000 years ago. These places show how far back Malta’s story goes and how many cultures left their mark here.

For me, Malta was a place where history is not hidden in museums but visible in every street. The sea, the fortresses and the temples all tell stories of different times and influences. With my camera I tried to capture this Mediterranean blend, showing both the bright light of the coast and the deep history carved into the stone.

Montreal: Sunrise over the City

September 16, 2025

Before visiting Quebec, I had a short Layover in Montreal and took the time to explore it’s historic port and take some pictures of the impressive skyline.

The best moment was climbing Mount Royal early in the morning to see the skyline at sunrise. From above, the tall buildings slowly lit up and the city woke under a soft glow. With my camera I tried to capture that quiet moment before the streets filled with life.

Later I walked through the historic port. The mix of old warehouses, wide quays, and the St. Lawrence River gave the area a strong character. Seen through my infrared camera it looked almost surreal, with bright glowing trees against the stone buildings and the water.

Montreal felt less about monuments and more about atmosphere. It is a city where modern life and history stand side by side, and where you can discover a new perspective just by changing the light in which you see it.

Bonjour Québec!

September 16, 2025

Arriving in Quebec was one of the highlights of my trip. After traveling through Europe, it felt both familiar and completely new. I was welcomed at the local OWHC office, where people took the time to explain the city’s heritage and gave me tips on where to go. It was a friendly start that made me feel connected right away.

Quebec’s old town is like stepping into France on another continent. Narrow cobblestone streets, small cafés, and colorful houses climb up the hill towards the Château Frontenac, the grand hotel that looks like a castle watching over the city. Walking through the upper and lower town, I could feel how much the French heritage still shapes daily life here. People speak French, the food has its own local twist, and the atmosphere feels both European and North American at the same time.

Beyond the city, I also visited Jacques Cartier National Park. It is a huge natural area only a short drive from Quebec, with mountains, rivers, and endless forests. Hiking there showed me another side of heritage. It is not only the old walls and streets that matter, but also the landscapes that have been preserved and protected. In the park I had moments of quiet, looking at the wide valleys, that balanced the lively city experience.

For me, Quebec brought together many layers of heritage: the cultural history in the old town, the iconic landmark of the Château Frontenac, the living French traditions, and the natural heritage of the surrounding wilderness. 

Bamberg: A City Built on Seven Hills

September 16, 2025

Bamberg is often called the “Franconian Rome” because it sits on seven hills, each crowned with a church. Walking through the old town feels like stepping into medieval times. The entire city center is UNESCO World Heritage, and you notice immediately why. Narrow streets, half-timbered houses, and the cathedral all create a strong sense of history.

One of the most striking buildings is the Old Town Hall. It stands right in the middle of the Regnitz River, connected by bridges on both sides. Legend says the bishop did not want to give land for a new town hall, so the citizens built it on an artificial island in the river instead. Its painted facades and its unusual position make it one of the most photographed spots in the city. The red trees add a stark contrast to the glowing cyan water in the Infrared pictures, composing a stunning view.

Bamberg is also famous for its cathedral. Inside lies the tomb of Emperor Henry II and his wife Cunigunde, both canonized. The stone sculptures and the atmosphere of the cathedral are impressive. One of the most famous works here is the Bamberg Horseman, a mysterious equestrian statue whose exact meaning is still debated.

Life in Bamberg is not only about monuments. The small breweries spread throughout the town give the city a unique culture. The most famous is the smoked beer, called Rauchbier, which tastes very different from anything else you’ve probably tried. Drinking one while sitting next to a half-timbered house in the citycentre, you can get a glimpse on what it must have felt like in medieval times.

For me, Bamberg was a place where every corner revealed another piece of history. From the canals and bridges to the grand churches and quiet alleys, the city shows how heritage can live in both the big monuments and the small daily traditions.

Augsburg’s Water System and the Fuggerei

September 16, 2025

Augsburg is one of Germany’s oldest cities, and it has been shaped by water for centuries. The city’s water management system, consisting of canals, water towers, and Renaissance fountains, is recognized as UNESCO World Heritage. Walking through Augsburg, you constantly hear or see water running. It flows quietly between houses and across squares, part of a system that has worked for more than 500 years.

In the center stands the Augustus Fountain. Built in the late 16th century, it shows the emperor Augustus, the city’s legendary founder. Around him are figures symbolizing rivers, connecting Augsburg’s history directly to its water sources. For me, it felt like a monument that celebrates not the ruler, but the engineering masterpiece that Augsburgs Watersystem is.

But Augsburg’s story is not only about fountains and canals. It is also about people who changed the city. One of the most famous sites is the Fuggerei, the world’s oldest social housing complex still in use. Founded by the wealthy Fugger family in the 16th century, it offered affordable housing for citizens in need. Walking through the small streets inside feels like stepping into a quiet village within the city. As per its founders will, the rent has never risen in the Fuggerei and today it stands at only 0,88€! I used the infrared camera to shoot the overgrown buildings, creating a calm autunmn vibe. 

Another highlight is the Schaezlerpalais, often called the Silver Traders House. It is a baroque palace once owned by rich merchants, showing how much wealth trade brought to Augsburg. Inside you can still see decorated rooms, art collections, and a ballroom that stretches through the building. It is a reminder that Augsburg was once one of Europe’s most powerful trading hubs.

Together these places show Augsburg’s character. A city built on water, proud of its fountains, shaped by powerful families, but also remembered for early social housing. Exploring Augsburg was a way to see how heritage is not one-sided. It is both what you see in grand monuments and what you don’t immediately notice, like the quiet canals or the long tradition of community care.

Walhalla: Bavaria’s Monument to German Heritage

September 16, 2025

Just outside my hometown of Regensburg, high above the Danube, stands the Walhalla. From the river it looks like a Greek temple placed on a hill, but it is in fact one of Bavaria’s most famous monuments. King Ludwig I built it in the 19th century as a hall of fame for German-speaking figures who shaped history, culture, science, and art.

 

Inside, rows of marble busts line the walls. Walking between them feels both impressive and heavy. The atmosphere is quiet, almost like a church, but instead of saints you stand face to face with writers, kings, inventors, and politicians. I took most of my photos here in black and white. The strong contrasts underline the cold marble and give the statues a dramatic presence, almost as if they were watching me back.

Outside, the building is even more striking. The temple is set in bright stone with massive columns, and from the terrace you get one of the best views over the Danube valley. Here I used my infrared camera. The surrounding trees and fields turned into glowing red tones, creating a surreal contrast to the white monument. It was fascinating to see a site so rooted in national history through a perspective that changes reality. The glowing red foilage around the temple may also serve as a reminder for the great violence surrounding Germanys past. 

 

The Walhalla is not just about architecture or the people remembered inside. It also raises questions about who we choose to honor and what heritage means today. Some of the busts were added much later, and the collection is still debated. For me, visiting was both a look into the past and a chance to think about the present.

Hi, Leon here! Starting my journey in Regensburg.

July 31, 2025

Heyo, I’m Leon! I’ve been selected for the OWHC Young Traveling Scholarship to explore five World Heritage sites: Regensburg, Bamberg, Augsburg, Quebec City, and Malta.

As an engineering student with a passion for photography, I’ll be documenting these heritage sites using both conventional and infrared photography. Infrared photography captures light beyond human vision (700-1200 nanometers), creating ethereal images where foliage glows in bright colours, skies turn dark, and stone structures gain an otherworldly quality.

This technique offers fresh perspectives on historic locations. I’ll blend practical travel insights with photography techniques while focusing on each site’s cultural significance.

From Roman origins to French colonial fortifications to prehistoric structures, these locations span centuries of architectural heritage. Stay tuned as I explore how different photographic approaches reveal new layers of their stories.

First up: my hometown Regensburg in Infrared: