Welcome to Nordreich

[AvgUsr 47]

Preface

Hello all! This thread will feature several cities that i am building. They represent a fictional European kingdom that in real life would be somewhere around Denmark and Germany but with slightly milder weather (I do not have Snowfall). The cities would have nonsensical Germanic names and most of the cities would have a more European theme.

Before someone get twitchy at the word "reich", it simply means empire in German. My Cims are not ... well, you know.

A tour of Nordreich part 1: Schlossberg

Welcome to Nordreich, a nation of happy, friendly and hard working people. The empire was created 200 years ago from a loose confederation of 7 duchies and principalities, and since then it has been guided by the goals of prosperity, freedom, and progress.

Schlossberg is a coastal city of about 200,000 people. Before the creation of the empire, the city was the  capital of the Duchy of Schlossberg. Today, it is governed by a democratically elected provincial assembly, while the Duke retains his nominal role as the leader of the duchy.

Traveling to Schlossberg is easy. International travelers are welcome via the international airport.

 

Meanwhile domestic flights are welcomed through the smaller Schlossberg North Regional airport:

Passengers would be treated to a breathtaking Aerial view of the city while they are still up in the air, especially at night:

The city is also easily accessible by train and by cruise ships. In fact it is such a popular destination for cruise ships that the has 3 cruise ports to handle the many travelers coming and going.

Meanwhile, travelers by rail would arrive at the new Central Station, a regional transport hub that is also home to several subway lines and inner-city train routes that makes traveling within the city a breeze and car free.

Once you arrive, there are plenty to see and enjoy all over the city. Here are some highlights:

The Old Lighthouse is one of the oldest buildings in the city. Although no longer functional, today it is a popular location for tourists and locals searching for a romantic location to get married. A small team of provincial officers are there to conduct on site weddings for everyone who wish to tie the knot.

The Basilica by the Sea is located near the site of the former cargo port. Originally built to pray for safety of seamen and remember those who were lost at sea, today it is a museum that commemorates the empire's role during the age of exploration and discovery. Around the Basilica is the Beach and Seaside district, home to major hotels, museums, and other leisure businesses.

These include the panda sanctuary, a gift from the Chinese government

One of the newest attractions of the city is the new Central park, located in the outer city district.

And finally, the Schlossberg Palace and Gardens is one of the most popular destinations in the city, attracting thousands and thousands of visitors. Built around 200 years ago, the palace is the official part-time residence for the royal family, as well as the full-time residence of the duke and his court. The gardens was a partial replica of the larger imperial gardens in the capital of Reichsstadt, and it is open to the public. 

In the next entry: transportation and living in Schlossberg: green spaces, more attractions, and monuments.

 

 

[AvgUsr 47]

Living in the green city

Life in Schlossberg is green and clean. This entry would showcase some of the city's landmarks alongside transportation, industry, and other remarkable areas.

Located by the coast and situation on top of gentle hills, Schlossberg is one of the greenest cities of Nordreich. Strict enviornmental and zoming policies ensure citizens can enjoy a pleasant living environment. Hugging the coast around the national park, the seaside district offers some of the best ocean views of the country:

The national park is a giant green space in the heart of the city, and it is very popular with locals and tourists:

In the evening, campfires lit up the night sky as nature lovers make camp:

On the other side of the national park, the Hill district features gentle rolling hills and upscale neighborhoods for those who seek peace and quiet from the city center. Active citizens can ride their bicycles on dedicated bike lanes throughout most of the city.

The Thoreau Lake, located just a short distance away from the city center, is home to some of the most exclusive real estate in the province. It is also the location of the mayor's mansion, where glamorous parties and gatherings often take place:

 

Meanwhile, in areas closer to the city, there are major high density residential areas, featuring apartment buildings as well as terraced housing. Here is one of the many high schools, looking well-blended among apartments and terraced homes.

Getting around

In keeping with the ethos of environmental friendliness, Schlossberg is well equipped with public transportation options. A network of 11 subway lines and 5 inner city train lines run throughout the city, transporting thousands of citizens every day to work and play. Here is one of the train stations alongside the subway platform for easy transfers.

By the airport, the Airport Station transports tourists to the heart of the city, preventing traffic congestion:

Recently, some city districts began to add bus lines to provide even more transport options.

Government Services and Education

As the provincial capital, Schlossberg is of course the legislative and administrative center of the region. Located north of the Palace, the Schlossberg Parliament House is the hub of lawmakers. Located next to it is the Academy of Law and the regional Imperial Archives.

In the neighborhood of the palace and gardens, the Provincial services building is home to bureaucrats and other government service workers who maintain city and provincial functions:

Understanding that well-educated citizens are the key to a great city, Schlossberg is home to two major public universities along with various private institutions. Nestled next to Observatory park, Schlossberg University is the oldest institute of higher learning of the province. Thousands of students come to campus every day to learn and be inspired.

Meanwhile, in North Schlossberg, the Mechanical Technology Institute offers training in material sciences, technologies, and experimental medical sciences.

In the next entry: Working in the city

[AvgUsr 47]

Working in Schlossberg

Are you bored with your job? Do you want a new, exciting career? Then you should move to the City of Schlossberg!

In Schlossberg, we have a diverse selections of career available, from city services tending to our fire, police and healthcare (although the city is so healthy, most of our healthcare professionals play video games during their shifts!).

Or maybe you are more of a people person? How about a job in the tourist and leisure industry? We have a robust leisure and entertainment district, filled with businesses and attractions that aim to please both locals and tourists.

Prefer more hands on work in manufacturing and farming? Schlossberg got you covered too! In fact we will provide extra incentives to people who want to work these positions to come here. The city is host to a variety of industries, from farming and lumber to good old fashioned manufacturing. The city is massive enough to absorb all of its manufacturing capacity, but in case you want to export stuff...

Our industrial zones are well connected to locations throughout the region, so your goods would be exported far and wide through two massive cargo stations. They are also located well away from residential areas, so you and your family would stay healthy and happy! Don't worry about the commute though, you can get there by subway or train.

Are you a scientist? Excellent! The city of Schlossberg is looking for someone like you to join our ranks. Work in our state of the art nuclear power station:

Or our brand new Mineral Recycling and experimental geothermal generator:

Or, turn your eyes towards the heavens and search for far away civilizations with the Astronomic Observatory, located in the appropriately named Observatory Park just outside Schlossberg University.

Civil engineer? We got you covered. We need engineers to maintain our water supply and waste disposal array, which works hard to provide water and sewage services to all our citizens:

But wait, if you want a plain old office or commercial job, we got plenty of opportunities for you too! From old-school European offices to sleek skyscrapers in the Commerzeville and Wiltshire districts, we have plenty of space for you to grow and expand your business and recruit from the tens of thousands of college grads from elite universities right here in the city. We even have zones created just for IT start-up companies!

Next up: scenes from a city.

[AvgUsr 47]

Schlossberg Part 4: New developments and pictures!

 

 

We are at the end of our tour of Schlossberg. Before we leave this wonderful city, let's look at some of the city's newest developments.

In keeping with Schlossberg's commitment to environmentally friendly development, the city is happy to be host to some of the most environmentally friendly housing in the Duchy. Development was recently completed for two massive high density residential projects in Hart Valley, a green residential zone in North Schlossberg. Developers were successful in buying out homes from citizens of selected areas to erect high rise apartments that recycles almost 100% of building waste on site, reducing stress on city infrastructure. Here is Hart Valley as it stood a year ago:

And Hart Valley Towers, Group 1 and 2 today:

In addition to Hart Valley, a brand new green development was launched with investments from the Imperial Trust on crown-owned land on the northeastern edge of Schlossberg. Named Underhill, it is home to advanced energy efficient mixed-density homes. The Underhill Towers condominiums are sought after for the panoramic views of the old city and the Imperial Nature Preserves on the higher floors.

For citizens who wish for more traditional style, Redwood Park in the far north end of the city is one of the newer zones in the city. It is the only "self-contained community" in metropolitan Schlossberg, with its own city services and schools. built in traditional English suburban style.

As we bid farewell to this wonderful sity, let's look at some pictures submitted by our citizens as part of our "City Beautiful" campaign last year:

Here is a street view on Elizabeth Avenue, a major thoroughfare that connects Imperial Highway 12 to the far north end of the city:

The Eggplant, located in the Chester Hills, a popular neighborhood for the LGBT community. The mayor never noticed the snickering in the crowds during the opening ceremony.

The Triumph Arch, to commemorate the end of the civil wars that led to the creation of Nordreich as we know it today:

The church of St. Wilhelm in East Schlossberg, one of the oldest buildings in one of the oldest districts in the city.

Inside the bustling Central Station:

and above the always busy Airport Station:

Some shots from the Leisure and Tourism distinct provided by a recent visitor:

The Palace and the royal gardens at night:

The Mayor's office

That is all for now!! Thank you for visiting and see you again soon!!

Next up: St. Wilhelm, the tiny principality that could.

[AvgUsr 47]

St. Wilhelm: Part 1 (the little Princess that could)

 

 

Once upon a time, more than a millennium ago, a prince revolted against the tyrannical king. Having lost his land and pursued by the king's army, he led his followers to seek refuge  on an Island just off the mainland in the frigid Northern sea. There, the Prince Wilhelm the Devout proclaimed the creation of Nordinseln.Three generations later, the sitting Prince renamed the islands after his sainted ancestor, and the Principality of St. Wilhelm was born.

Welcome to St. Wilhelm, the little principality that could.

Today, St. Wilhelm is one of the northernmost regions of Nordreich. Prince Harold III was one of the founders of the confederation that would eventually lead to the creation of the Empire. It is also the smallest, consisting of the three Islands originally claimed by Wilhelm in the 11th century. The largest Island of the three, also named St. Wilhelm, is the capital and the largest settlement of the principality. The current ruler is Princess Charlotte, who was enthroned 10 years ago as the 5th sovereign princess in the principality's history.

Visitors to St. Wilhelm can reach the island through Imperial Highway 3, as well as by rail. The St. Wilhelm Central Station makes traveling to the Island easy and traffic-free.

 

Built on land reclaimed from the sea, the St. Wilhelm Airport welcomes visitors from around the world. Multiple airlines now have regularly scheduled flights to and from the Island.

Lovers of historical sites would find St. Wilhelm irresistible. The city is positively crammed with historical sites. One of the most popular destinations is the Prince's Fortress, built in the 13th century to defend the principality from pirates and hostile navies. It also served as the royal palace for a time. It is a well-preserved ruin today:

It is also spectacular at night:

Built in the 18th century, the Schloss Wilhelm is the seat of the government, and the official residence of the Princess and her family. The People's Assembly, the single-chamber legislature, sits nearby to make laws.

Around the corner from the Palace (it is a tiny island, things are a bit cramped)  is the magnificent St. Helena Cathedral, named after the sainted princess consort of Prince Haldor the Kind. After the original building was destroyed by war, a replacement was built over the long-standing ruins in the 17th century. Visitors can visit the royal crypts in the under-croft and observe archaeologists working under the crypts unearthing the ruins of the original church.

The St. Wilhelm Arch, erected with funds provided by Princess Charlotte, was created to commemorate founding of St. Wilhelm a thousand years ago. 

The mysterious "Black Chapel", the foundation of which is so old that it has been lost to history. The building atop of the foundation dates back 300 years. The crypt is the home for the Princely family's jewels, and it is heavily guarded.

Last but not least, the crown jewel of St. Wilhelm historical sights: the St. Wilhelm Castle, dating back to the founding of the principality. Legend has it that Prince Wilhelm erected the castle himself in 3 days, although archaeological findings and contemporary records from the Imperial Archives show that it was more likely built during the reign of his son Prince Henry. Abandoned after a fire in favor of Prince's Fortress on the shore, the castle has been in ruins since the 13th century, and it has been used as a cemetery for the Princely family and important nobles since the 15th. Today it is a landmark historic site, and archaeologists have been excavating the crypts under the castle to search for the rumored tomb of St. Wilhelm and other early princes.

Next: Growth and Expanding the city.

[AvgUsr 47]

St. Wilhelm: Part 2 (Great Works and Growing Pains)

St. Wilhelm is growing.

Under the guidance of Princess Charlotte, the formerly underdeveloped principality, the smallest province of Nordreich, is expanding. Thanks to substantial financial assistance approved by the Imperial government, St. Wilhelm embarked on multiple public renovation projects to alleviate traffic, improve lives, and attract new citizens.

One of the most important project is the expansion of the Imperial highway to connect with Nordinsel, the largest island of the principality and the second most populous.

Settled centuries ago, what started as a fishing village on the east side of the island eventually became the town of Fischerstadt. Citizens of this town relied on sea trade and farming on the fertile land on the west side of the Island.

For centuries, the only transportation option between Nordinsel and the main island of St. Wilhelm was by boat, operated by private shipping companies. Trade with Nordreich's northern neighbor, Vitsmunir, was conducted through a bridge that connected the Island. There the situation remained until 30 years ago, when Princess Charlotte's father, the late Prince Harold expanded the Imperial Highway to connect with Nordinsel. Nicknamed the Slingshot by locals, the highway was expanded from St. Wilhelm over three massive overwater bridges, connecting with Vitsmunir to the northwest branch and Fischerstadt through the northeast one. A giant highway roundabout, built in the middle of the sea, facilitated the direction of traffic.

Here you can see the roundabout, camera facing south (towards St. Wilhelm proper)

Here you can see the bridge's starting point, at the old lighthouse of St. Wilhelm (Archival photograph courtesy of the Imperial Archives) :

Here is another archival photograph, showing the northeastern terminus of the Slinghsot and the town of Fischerstadt about 20 years ago. Much of the Island was wild back then, but the town was already transforming into the small city it would eventually become:

Thanks to the Slingshot, Nordinsel enjoyed an unprecedented period of economic growth. Trade flourished and the island moved from a farming and industry focused economy to a white collar economy. To accommodate the demand for highly educated citizens  who can work in white collar positions, a community college in Fischerstadt was established to provide adult education and training.

Like every other cities, however, growth of St. Wilhelm brought on other problems. By the time Princess Charlotte ascend the throne 10 years ago, aging infrastructure and changes in the economy has led to a couple of issues. Thanks to increased trade and manufacturing, the slingshot has become a tangled mess of traffic. leading to long gridlocks on the Imperial Highway. The downtown roundabout that marked the start of the over-water expressway and the main overwater roundabout became chokepoints, causing traffic jams. Worse, the over-water roundabout was severely eroded by the sea below and the concrete pillars that supports it were crumbling. On the west side of Nordinsel, the collapse of the agricultural industry has led to mass abandonment of the farming communities, and wildlife has reclaimed much of the land.

To solve these issues, Her Highness' Government embarked on a massive project of redevelopment. The first issue to be tackled is the redesign of the Slingshot and the Imperial Highway. Using computer simulation and other new methods of construction, engineers were able to demolish the old central roundabout with a new ramp system. Nicknamed the Helix, the new central traffic hub moved traffic through an web of on-ramps, built high above the water on an improved concrete foundation. The result is much improved traffic flow, greatly shortening travel time.

A brand new design is also implemented at the start of the slingshot. The roundabout that surrounded the old lighthouse was completely demolished, and the highway is now buried in a tunnel so through traffic can enter the slingshot without mingling with local traffic, which enters the highway through on-ramps. To replace the old lighthouse, the Duke of Schlossberg sent one, originally built a hundred years ago to illuminate the old cargo port (since demolished), to St. Wilhelm as a gift. Today the lighthouse stands on the spot of the old one and it is a tourist attraction.

To further prevent congestion, the government created the StWilhelm Ferry Authority (SFA), which provides ferry services from the main island to Nordinsel. It is headquartered in a small modern office tower in front of the main ferry terminal.

Thanks to traffic and transportation improvements, Fischerstadt expanded and improved tremendously. new citizens flocked to the town, turning it into a mini metropolis not unlike St. Wilhelm Island itself:

Traditional and modern architecture commingle on the shore of the Fischer Spring, a massive freshwater spring and lagoon in the middle of Nordinsel.

To attract high-tech industries, the government reclaimed the abandoned farmland on the west side of the island and created the newest district of the Principality: Seeküste. Designed with environmentalist ideas and advanced green technologies, Seeküste is a brand new, master planned city filled with green architecture, efficient public transportation, wide tree-lined roads and world-class city services.

Highly educated citizens and immigrants flocked to this neighborhood, where the government has provided incentives for technology and media companies to set up offices. Self-sufficient homes, green apartment buildings and soaring offices quickly turned Seeküste into the most modern district in St. Wilhelm.

Next: An ancient Castle, a growing City

[AvgUsr 47]

St. Wilhelm: Part 3 (Wait, there is a third Island?)

 

This entry would cover the last and final Island of the trio that makes up the Principality of St. Wilhelm. Welcome to St. Henrick:

Settled around 200 years after the founding of the principality, the island was named after Prince (and later Saint) Henrick, who reclaimed the throne after his traitorous uncle usurped it. To fend off enemy forces from the sea, he built a massive fortress in the center of the island as the headquarters for his troops. There it remained in use as a fortress and later as a monastery until the 13th century, when the Prince's Fortress was built on the main island. In the remaining centuries, the castle grounds remained the property of the Princely family, which uses it as their hunting retreat while a town was founded on the former ramparts of the fortress. Visitors can still enjoy the centuries-old village green in downtown St. Henrick, now featuring a modernist sculpture from a popular local artist.

Being the small principality surrounded by water, one of the major problems facing St. Wilhelm's government is the lack of build-able land. With a burgeoning population and massive influx of new citizens seeking fresh opportunities, St. Wilhelm must seek the most value out of every scrap of solid ground without overbuilding and sacrificing the standard of living of its citizens.

With the consent of Princess Charlotte as one of her first acts on the throne, the old Fortress and Royal hunting grounds were converted to residential use. The ruins of the keep and the castle towers were retained, and roads were built around them to create a pleasant suburban environment. High-rises were built along the repaved access road to the fortress, and the old Rampart Road was widened to create a causeway around it.

The view from a drone shows the engineers' effort to preserve history while maximizing land utilization by building roundabouts around each of the ten ruined towers. The ancient town of St. Henrick is located in the upper right hand corner.

The ruins of the keep lies in the middle, a memorial to history surrounded by upscale, modern homes.

Citizens are connected to the other two islands through the Ft. Henrick Parkway, one of the newest legs of the Slingshot project described in the last entry. Here is the terminus on the Island connected from Nordinsel. Of course, there is also a ferry service to the other islands to serve commuters and tourists.

The ruins of the coal power plant and former ammunition factory, built during the last World War, lies on the coast. It served as the main source of power to the island until wind and wave power became the sole (and green) sources of energy. 

In addition to the re-purposing of the old Fortress and Hunting Grounds, the government also created one of the most scenic green spaces in all of Nordreich: the St. Henrick Imperial Park and Nature Reserve, located in what was the Royal forest on the Eastern part of the Island, just beyond the hamlet of Bachdorf. 

It is a massively popular attraction, and citizens across Nordreich and beyond came to visit the expansive park, featuring nature trails, camping areas and other recreational amenities. At night, campfires lit up the night sky.

On the other side of St. Henrick Park sits the Summer Palace, a working residence for the Princely family. Built in the 1800s over the ruins of the royal hunting lodge. A covered botanical gardens was added in the 1900s. Today the palace grounds offer breathtaking views of the other islands, and is open to the public when the Princess and her family are not in residence.

Next: Living, Working, and Playing.

[boformer 3,169]

I enjoyed this journal so far! It's a good mix of custom assets and the good old vanilla content!

Schlossberg Part 4 and St. Wilhelm Pt. 1. This is my favorite screenshot:

[AvgUsr 47]

On 6/9/2018 at 6:30 PM, boformer said:

I enjoyed this journal so far! It's a good mix of custom assets and the good old vanilla content!

Schlossberg Part 4 and St. Wilhelm Pt. 1. This is my favorite screenshot:

THANKS BO!!

High praise coming from the maker of one of my favorite mods.

The problem is that the roads i used for that particular zone have disappeared with Green City and I have to remake that district for some reason.