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Signs

Sator square in Golling

Sator square in Golling an der Salzach, Austria

A sator square seen on a facade in Golling an der Salzach. The sator square, also known as rotas square, is a word square containing a five-word Latin palindrome. The oldest datable representation of a sator square was found in Pompeii.

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Pharmacies Signs

Pharmacy house sign in Knittelfeld

Two lions in a pharmacy house sign

This house sign was created by two Italian migrant workers and renewed in 1957 by Alfred Kala. You can see it at the town pharmacy in Knittelfeld. I love the combination of lions with a mortar and pestle. The lions look a bit weird anyway. The lions, however, do not look particularly trustworthy for their job as a pharmacist.

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Pharmacies Signs

Relief of a laurel tree in Naumburg (Saale)

Relief of a laurel tree in Naumburg (Saale), Germany

This relief displaying a laurel tree and two men is fixed at a 16th-century building with the address Herrenstraße 2 in Naumburg (Saale). The building houses a pharmacy named Lorbeerbaum Apotheke (Laurel Tree Pharmacy).

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Shops Signs

Shop sign of a brush-maker in Naumburg (Saale)

Shop sign of a brush-maker in Naumburg (Saale), Germany

This shop sign at the Bürstenmacherei Steinbrück in Naumburg (Saale) shows in a fine way the main products of a German Bürstenbinder (brush-maker). Inside the shop you can not only buy brushes manufactured in a traditional way but also learn details about this tradition.

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Signs

Inn sign in Dornbirn

Inn sign in Dornbirn, Austria

Inn sign at the wine tavern ‘Alte Post‘ in Dornbirn. The sign is labeled with the name of the tavern and the date 1869. The sign shows a postilion which probably refers to the earlier use of the building as coaching inn.

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Signs

Fun traffic sign in Hallstatt

Fun traffic sign in Hallstatt, Austria

Fun! This traffic sign – which is most probable an unofficial one – gives warning of hasting waiters. Some restaurants of Hallstatt offer table right next to the Hallstatt Lake so waiter have to cross a small street. Well, as only a few cars are allowed to use this calm street there is more danger to get hit by a waiter than a waiter will get hit by a car.

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Signs

Shop signs in Bad Aussee

Shop sign of a shoemaker in Bad Aussee, Austria

Shop sign of a shoemaker ([German]: Schuster) seen in Bad Aussee, Austria. I wonder what is the meaning of the arrow?

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Signs

Zum blauen Karpfen in Vienna

Zum Blauen Karpfen in Vienna (Detail)

The ‘Haus zum Blauen Karpfen’ (Blue Carp House) is located in Annagasse N° 14 at the 1st district of Vienna. The façade of the building was converted into the style of Empire in the year 1824.

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Signs

Escalator out of order in Vienna

Fun sign in a passage of Vienna

This notice made me smile. Literally translated it says: ‘This escalator has been disabled for reasons of safety’. I do hope they will be able to modernise this escalator soon.

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Signs

Go to Hell!

Place name sign of Hell, Austria

Fun: On my bike ride through the lovely landscape along the Neusiedler See I also entered a region named Hölle (Eng.: hell). What weird names of places do you know?

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Signs

A facade full of hopes and sorrows

A fascade full of hopes and sorrows in Podersdorf, Austria

An interesting detail of Podersdorf: The façade of a parish building is decorated with phrases written down by the people of the place. It reminded me of a kind of Twitter wall, but in Podersdorf the phrases at the wall will last for a longer time.

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Signs

The beekeeper with a crossbow in Nuremberg

The beekeeper with a crossbow in Nuremberg, Germany

Surprising detail seen at this house sign of an inn: The man with the crossbow is actually a beekeeper! I was told beekeepers were allowed to use this dangerous weapon in order to keep away bears.