In Charles’ Footsteps
Fascinating Places to Visit linked with Charles V
This website was originally inspired by visits to various European cities whose history was influenced in some way by Emperor Charles V. He was undoubtedly the most travelled ruler of his time. As he pointed out in his abdication speech he had journeyed to Germany nine times, to Spain six, to Italy seven, to the Low Countries on ten occasions, and to England and Africa twice each. He had sailed on the Atlantic Ocean three times and on the Mediterranean eight times. All this when travel, whether by land or sea, was slow and arduous. We loosely followed some routes that he had taken and realised that not only did they create an excellent theme for a holiday but they also took us to some wonderful cities. Whether in the form of buildings, specific rooms, statues and bas-reliefs, paintings, prints or medals in museums, even the Goulden Carolus beer in Mechelen (Belgium), it became difficult to avoid this monarch who had ruled so much of Europe.
A sample of these places is presented here – from the Low Countries (Ghent and Mechelen), from Spain (Cordoba, Seville, Granada), from Germany (Augsburg and Regensburg) and from Italy (Bologna) - together with an account of Charles’ visits to England. They have been selected from the many others that could have been included because events significant in Charles’ life occurred in them - birth, upbringing, marriage, coronation, important meetings, death - or they can be used to illustrate aspects of history that were central to understanding his life. They also make great places to visit – for the bars and restaurants as well as for the history – and they are so much easier to get to than in Charles’ day.
See Blogs for information about other places linked to Charles V.