Tag Archives: Construction

Burgos Cathedral

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Burgos Cathedral

Go back in time with Burgos Cathedral.

  • Burgos Cathedral is one of Spain’s many cathedrals, and it is located in Burgos, and it is used for Roman Catholic religious purposes.
  • The construction of Burgos Cathedral was arranged by King Ferdinand III, along with the then Bishop of Burgos, Don Mauricio who was born in England.
  • The Burgos Cathedral building process began in 1221, and the building is said to be located on land that originally housed another cathedral.
  • Burgos Cathedral was completed in 1567, although an alter had been built by 1260, when it was consecrated; while the long construction period was due to a two century-long break.
  • ‘Burgos Cathedral’ is officially known as the ‘Cathedral of Saint Mary of Burgos’, or in Spanish, ‘Catedral de Santa María de Burgos’, and it is also known as ‘Our Lady of Burgos’.
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Part of Burgos Cathedral
Image courtesy of Rafael dP/Flickr
  • Burgos Cathedral was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, and it is dedicated to, and named after Mary, the mother of Jesus.
  • Burgos Cathedral features significant French Gothic architecture, and includes many spires, windows and statues in the style.
  • Burgos Cathedral sits on a site that is an area of 10,300 square metres (110,870 square feet) and the tallest parts of the cathedral are the two spires on the two main towers; and they reach a height of 88 metres (289 feet).
  • Numerous artworks, including sculptures, such as a virgin Mary statue, and paintings, are featured in Burgos Cathedral, with notable works by Juan de Anchieta and Gil de Siloé.
  • Burgos Cathedral has many mass services each week and is open to tourists for a fee.
Bibliography:
Burgos Cathedral, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burgos_Cathedral
Burgos Cathedral, 2015, UNESCO World Heritage Convention, http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/316
Catedral de Burgos History, n.d., Catedral de Burgos, http://www.catedraldeburgos.es/

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Wartburg Castle

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Wartburg Castle

Be dazzled by both the architecture and history of Wartburg Castle.

  • Wartburg Castle is a medieval castle located approximately 410 metres (1345 feet) high on a rocky hill in Germany’s Thuringia, in Europe.
  • ‘Wartburg Castle’ is also known as ‘Wartburg’ and ‘Schloss Wartburg’.
  • Around 1067, the building of Wartburg Castle commenced, under the orders of Louis the Springer, Schauenburg’s count.
  • Wartburg Castle was built looking out over Eisenach, a nearby town, and protrudes from a surrounding forest, on a hill.
  • The term ‘Wartburg Castle’ possibly comes from the German words for ‘warte’, ‘berg’ and ‘burg’, translating as ‘wait’, ‘mountain’ and ‘fortress’, respectively.
Wartburg Castle, Germany, Renovated, Part, Side, Ten Random Facts, Flickr, HillPart of Wartburg Castle
Image courtesy of Forarama/Flickr
  • Some of the best Romanesque architecture can be found as part of Wartburg Castle, and the site has been home to many significant historical events.
  • Wartburg Castle is a common tourist attraction, visited by approximately 500,000 people annually, and it is the home to a museum, as well as an area suitable for opera productions and concerts.
  • The German Catholic priest and theologian, Martin Luther is believed to have translated the Bible’s New Testament to German, from the Greek language, during the months he was in exile at Wartburg Castle between 1521 and 1522.
  • Wartburg Castle was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, and is owned by the Wartburg Foundation of Eisenach.
  • Wartburg Castle became majorly abandoned and unused from the 1500s, until the Grand Duke of Saxony in the 1800s decided to re-establish and repair the castle early in that century.
Bibliography:
Wartburg, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wartburg
Wartburg Castle, 2015, Sacred Destinations, http://www.sacred-destinations.com/germany/wartburg-castle
Wartburg Castle, 2015, UNESCO World Heritage Convention, http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/897

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Transmission Tower

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Transmission Tower

The transmission towers have done their work quite efficiently.

  • Transmission towers are constructed objects that are used to keep electricity lines stable and safe above the ground.
  • ‘Transmission towers’ are also known as ‘electricity pylons’, and in some circumstances they are called ‘hydro towers’.
  • Transmission towers are typically erect off the ground, and stand between 15 to 55 metres (49 to 180 ft) in height, although some can reach heights of 370 metres (1214 feet).
  • Transmission towers generally transmit electricity voltages from 66 to 230 kilovolts, and different towers are needed for different voltages.
  • Typically, wires are carried through transmission towers and are insulated with ceramic, glass, or other materials; while three or more wires can generally be held on the tower at one time.

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  • Transmission towers are generally built with a lattice-work structure and are most often made of metal, but concrete, wood, and other materials can also be used; and the towers usually include a lightening rod that directs any lightning-caused energy towards the ground.
  • Transmission towers are often marked with a notice that notes certain properties and the identification number of the specified tower; and some towers also have lights, that are used to signify their location during nighttime.
  • As at 2014, the tallest transmission towers in the world were 370 metres (1214 feet) high, found in Asia, on China’s Damao and Liangmao Islands, however there is a taller tower planned for a site on Indonesia’s island of Bali, that is proposed to reach 376 metres (1234 feet) in height.
  • Transmission towers can be constructed in position, or on the ground, and put in place using air or land based cranes.
  • Scenic views can be disrupted by the presence of transmission towers, and this is classified as visual pollution; while drops in land or house values can occur as a result.
Bibliography:
Transmission Tower, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transmission_tower
What is a Power Transmission Tower?, 2015, WiseGEEK, http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-power-transmission-tower.htm

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Great Zimbabwe

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Great Zimbabwe

Great Zimbabwe is much more than a crumbling ruin.

  • Great Zimbabwe is the remains of an old, abandoned city, found in Africa’s Zimbabwe, in an elevated part of the country.
  • The actual city of Great Zimbabwe encompasses an area of approximately 0.8 square kilometres (0.3 square miles), while the protected area, as designated by the World Heritage Convention, covers an area of 7.2 square kilometres (2.8 square miles).
  • Communities had been living on the site of Great Zimbabwe since around 300 AD, although it wasn’t until around 1000 AD that the building of the city first commenced.
  • Great Zimbabwe was a once thriving city made of granite stone, that had at least one wall reaching 11 metres (36 feet) in height, and the city is believed to have been built by the native Bantu people.
  • Great Zimbabwe is believed to have been the central point and home to rulers of the area; and the city was in prominent use from around 1000 to 1450 AD.
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Great Zimbabwe
Image courtesy of Erik Torner/Flickr
  • Many objects of archaeological significance have been found on the site of Great Zimbabwe, including soapstone sculptures and figurines, jewellery, money, weaponry and pottery.
  • Great Zimbabwe was originally a prominent centre of trade, with ivory and gold on offer; and the city is believed to have become vacant when a variety of resources became depleted.
  • Portuguese records have shown knowledge of Great Zimbabwe since the 1500s, although it was not until the late 1860s that Europeans found and took interest in the site, and by 1893, the site was designated as a protected area.
  • Great Zimbabwe was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986, as the ‘Great Zimbabwe National Monument’ and it is also known as the ‘capital of the Queen of Sheba’, due to speculation of its origin.
  • Great Zimbabwe sits at 1100 metres (3,609 feet) above sea level, and was, and still is a site of spiritual significance for some people.
Bibliography:
Great Zimbabwe, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Zimbabwe
Great Zimbabwe National Monument, 2014, UNESCO World Heritage Convention, http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/364

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Bourges Cathedral

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Bourges Cathedral

The architecture of Bourges Cathedral is quite amazing!

  • Bourges Cathedral is a cathedral found in France’s Bourges, in Europe, that is used and was built by Roman Catholics.
  • ‘Bourges Cathedral’ is also known as ‘Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Bourges’ in French.
  • The construction of Bourges Cathedral began around 1195, although other churches had already inhabited the site from the 200s.
  • Bourges Cathedral was likely used from 1214 onwards, as significant parts had been built, and the main part was completed by 1230, however the building was not consecrated until 1324, as construction continued until the late 1400s.
  • Bourges Cathedral has been largely preserved throughout conflicts such as the World Wars and the French Revolution, although nearby related buildings were destroyed.
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A View of Bourges Cathedral
Image courtesy of James Mitchell/Flickr
  • The nave, the central meeting area, of Bourges Cathedral reaches a height of 37 metres, and the cathedral covers an area of 5,900 square metres (63,500 feet), while it sits on an area of 8,500 square metres (91,500 square feet).
  • Bourges Cathedral has numerous features such as stained-glass windows, carvings, and a crypt, and is a great example of Gothic architecture, and as such was declared a Historical Monument in 1837, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992.
  • Bourges Cathedral is the base for the Archbishop of Bourges, who, from 2007, was Armand Maillard, while Henri de Sully, who died in 1200, was the archbishop who ordered the original construction of the cathedral.
  • Tourists may visit Bourges Cathedral on most days, except for Sunday morning when the cathedral holds services.
  • In 1506, soon after its completion, the northern tower of the Bourges Cathedral collapsed and had to be rebuilt, which was funded by donations and other means.
Bibliography:
Bourges Cathedral, 2012, French Monuments, http://www.frenchmoments.eu/bourges-cathedral/
Bourges Cathedral, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bourges_Cathedral
Bourges Cathedral, 2014, UNESCO World Heritage Convention, http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/635

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Blue Ridge Parkway

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Blue Ridge Parkway

Blue Ridge Parkway is a road trip that you won’t get bored on.

  • Blue Ridge Parkway is a road and long park, situated in the Blue Ridge Mountains area, in North Carolina and Virginia, in the United States.
  • Blue Ridge Parkway is 755 kilometres (469 miles) long, and as a result, is the lengthiest linear park in the United States.
  • Blue Ridge Parkway is a protected area governed by the United States National Park Service, and out of the all the areas owned by the National Park Service, it is the most visited.
  • Twenty six tunnels and 168 bridges can be found along Blue Ridge Parkway; and some sections of the road can be closed due to dangerous weather conditions or repairs.
  • The building process for Blue Ridge Parkway began in late 1935, and it was constructed by various companies, and while it was almost finished in 1965, it took until 1987 for it to be complete, due to protests from the owner of Grandfather Mountain, who wanted to protect it.
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Part of Blue Ridge Parkway
Image courtesy of G N Basset/Flickr
  • Much vegetation can be found around Blue Ridge Parkway, including, but not limited to, wildflowers, trees, annual and perennial plants, and bushes, such as rhododendrons and daisies.
  • Blue Ridge Parkway has turn-offs that connect with other roads and highways, although it is not necessary to stop for traffic along the way.
  • Speeds are limited to a maximum of 72 kilometres per hour (45 miles per hour) on Blue Ridge Parkway.
  • Blue Ridge Parkway is popular with visitors due to its scenery, and during 2013, it was visited by a count of almost 13 million people.
  • Blue Ridge Parkway is the home to numerous species of fauna, including 225 bird species, 60 species of mammals, 99 fish species and 31 species of reptiles.
Bibliography:
Blue Ridge Parkway, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Ridge_Parkway
Nature & Science, 2014, National Park Service, http://www.nps.gov/blri/naturescience/index.htm

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