The Fisch Wappenbuch

Hans Ulrich Fisch (1583-1647) was a stained glass painter, book illustrator and local politician in the northern Swiss town of Aarau in the canton of Aargau.

Aargau is significant because the 11th century castle in the small town of Habsburg gave rise to the name (and original family seat) of the mighty Habsburg royal dynasty which ruled significant portions of Europe for more than five hundred years.

The eccentric album seen here, produced by Fisch in 1622, is an abbreviated family tree and record of the coat of arms of the Habsburg (Hapsburg) dynasty rulers. No doubt they claimed an impeccable pedigree, with the inclusion of Julius Caesar in their ranks (third picture from top). [Having said that, I think it might be something of a tradition in Wappenbuch (Coat of Arms books)].

2008 is the commemorative year with regards to both the first written mention of the Habsburgs (1108) and also the murder of King Albrecht I of Habsburg Germany in 1308, who was regarded as the founder of the Habsburg empire. {The abbey church of Königsfelden was built 700 years ago in remembrance of the murdered king Albrecht I}

• 'Wappenbuch des Hans Ulrich Fisch' was digitised last month by the Aargau Archives -- click the dropdown menu at 'Anzeige' and choose a thumbnail display configuration -- and is hosted by the Virtual Manuscript Library of Switzerland. The images above were slightly cropped and some of the background stains have been reduced. The website has a range of image sizes available. [via Archivalia]
• Table of contents (in German)
  
• Aargau / Aarau / Habsburg (town) / Habsburg (castle) / Habsburg (dynasty) / King Albrecht I at Wikipedia.
• Kanton Aargau (in German)
  
• Habsburg town site (in German)
• Previously related (although there are probably more): Duke Dress and Heraldry; Simon Haendel's Stammbuch; Bavarian Wappenbuch.
  

Deepest Swimming Pool in the world

Nemo 33 is a recreational scuba diving center in Uccle, Belgium near Brussels that is home to the world's deepest swimming pool. The pool itself consists of a submerged structure with flat platforms at various depth levels. The pool has two large flat-bottomed areas at depth levels of 5 m (16 ft) and 10 m (32 ft), and a large circular pit descending to a depth of 33 m (108 ft). It is filled with 2,500,000 liters of non-chlorinated, highly filtered spring water maintained at 30 °C (86 °F) and contains several simulated underwater caves at the 10 m depth level. There are numerous underwater windows that allow outside visitors to look into the pools at various depths. The complex was designed by Belgian diving expert John Beernaerts as a multi-purpose diving instruction, recreational, and film production facility, and opened in 2004.

You can take only a few items of your own dive kit (computer, mask, pool fins) but no BCD, fins that require booties, regulators (unless they have an integrated air linked to your computer - but no DIN fittings at all). torches, etc... You are not allowed to practice any skills unless you have an instructor in your group.

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See the Video @ bottom

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