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Animals

Fantail pigeon at Wartburg Castle in Eisenach

Fantail at the Wartburg Castle in Eisenach, Germany

This pigeon is member of a breed living within the walls of Wartburg Castle in Eisenach. According to legend this breed was part of the dowry, Elisabeth of Hungary brought to the castle after her wedding with Louis IV, Landgrave of Thuringia.

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Animals Industrial Heritage

Sundheimer Huhn at Zeche Zollern

Sundheimer Hühner at Zeche Zollern, Germany

In earlier times German miners used to have a small garden for vegetable and animals behind their homes. While strolling around a mining settlement next to the colliery Zeche Zollern I came across this special breed of chickens. In German they are called Sundheimer.

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Animals

Shropshire sheep in Schlierbach

Shropshire sheep in Schlierbach, Austria

In Schlierbach I met the Shropshire sheep the first time. This sheep are known for loving grass but not nibbling at trees. So they are ideal for keeping grass short in fruit farms and in Christmas tree plantations. Best lawnmower ever.

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Animals

Free running piglets in Schlierbach

Free running piglets in Schlierbach, Austria

In Schlierbach I had the chance to speak with the founder of SPES which is also a local organic farmer. While visiting his farm next to my hotel I came across these free running piglets. Well, the operative word is running! As you can see it was pretty difficult to get my camera ready on time.

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Animals

Bear at a window in Vienna

Bear at a window in Vienna, Austria

For several weeks this bear standing in the window of a house made me always smile while passing the city railway station Gumpendorfer Strasse in Vienna. By the way it is not the once toy animal that makes me smile in Vienna.

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Animals

The cat at the ice cream shop

Cat at ice cream shop in Graz, Austria

Cute! A cat observing people in front of an ice cream shop in my native town Graz, Austria. I wonder what it is thinking right at that moment. Any ideas?

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Animals

Storks in Deutschkreutz

Stork's nest in Deutschkreutz, Austria

A trip through Burgenland wouldn’t be complete without taking photos of storks. One can see their nests on many roofs in the easternmost state of Austria. Coincidentally, I found the nest with the most storks on top of a house that bore the name Burgenland.

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Animals

Early birds vs early cats in Kukmirn

Cat having breakfast

‘The early bird gets the worm’ but the early cat gets the breakfast! A fun experience while staying in Kukmirn, a pretty rural place in the Austrian state Burgenland.

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Animals

Dog at the Burggarten of Graz

Dog at the Burggarten of Graz, Austria

Sometimes I am having a picnic at the Burggarten of Graz. This is a park next to the former castle of Graz. It happens to be a beautiful dog posed right in front of my camera this time. Isn’t it a cutie?

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Animals

Project Schafsinn in Haus

Herd of sheep in Haus, Austria

A cute project in Haus, a place in the Austrian province Styria: Schafsinn. At a mountain next to Haus there is a theme path where people are told about the life of sheep. One can not only read the info boards along the path but also meet the sheep grazing up and down the hill.

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Animals

Close encounter with white donkeys

Close encounter with white donkeys in Burgenland, Austria

While biking through the National Park Neusiedler See – Seewinkel I came across white donkeys! These donkeys with yellow-white coat and blue eyes were raised in 17th/18th century in the area of Austria and Hungary. In Austria, they are called Österreichisch-Ungarischer Weißer Esel or shortly Barockesel.

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Animals

Peacock at Schloss Eggenberg in Graz

Peacock at Schloss Eggenberg in Graz, Austria

Action! On my way back home from the rose mound of Schloss Eggenberg a peacock blocked my way. I tried to frighten him by looking squarely into his eyes … but he had so many of them! So I went back on a different path …