Erinnerungen von Ernst Freiherrn von Plener

Name of traveller

Ernst von Plener (1841-1923)

Reason for travel

  • travels as cultural and industrial tourist; holidaying

Date of travel

August 1868

Ich fuhr nach Dowlais Iron Works, wurde nach einigem Parlamentieren zur Besichtigung eingelassen, große Schmelzöfen mit neuer Einrichtung, welche das Herausschlagen der Flammen verhinderte, dann eine Anhöhe hinauf und auf der Lokomotive eines Werkzugs zu den Kohlenschächten; die Arbeiter sprachen alle nur wallisisch [sic], so daß man sich nicht mit ihnen verständigen konnte. (Plener 174)

Content

  • architecture: mistakes the Britannia Bridge for the Menai Suspension Bridge
  • language: colliers in Merthyr Tydfil speak Welsh which makes communication with them impossible
  • industry:
    • Cardiff enjoying first successes of coal trade
    • inspects Dowlais ironworks and visits a coal mine
    • reference to a great number of colliery women working in front of the entrances to the mine shafts
    • industrial production has laid waste to the landscape around Merthyr Tydfil
    • slate mining around Snowdon
  • recreation:
    • visits the waterfall at Devil's Bridge and comments sarcastically about the female gate keepers demanding entrance fees
    • breaks his journey northwards for one day at Aberystwyth; the seabathers here are similar to those at Margate
    • finds climbing Snowdon strenuous, but the view from the summit is rewarding
  • terrain:
    • describes south Wales as a mixture of romantic, picturesque landscapes dotted with features of industry
    • beautiful valleys in north Wales
    • the unique vegetation around Snowdon creates a more pronounced mountain character
  • transport:
    • modes of travel: on foot; train; tram
    • 250 Austrian ships dock in Cardiff annually

Nationality of traveller

Austrian

Language of publication

German

Gender of traveller

Male

Type of publication

autobiobraphy

Citation

Plener, Ernst von. Erinnerungen von Ernst Freiherrn von Plener: Erster Band; Jugend, Paris und London bis 1873. vol. 1 Stuttgart and Leipzig: Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt, 1911. 173-5. Print.

Entry created: 9 September 2016
Entry last updated: 11 November 2016