Showing posts with label Germany. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Germany. Show all posts

Thursday, October 12, 2017

Touching History in Schwäbisch Hall Rathaus

When we were in Schwäbisch Hall we visited the Rathaus
 (a town hall not a house of rats.) 
I was drawn to this beautiful staircase off to the side of the main hall. 

 

I would have LOVED to have gotten closer and even gone up the steps 
to check out the view looking down. 
But when you are traveling with 11 other family members for the day
 you have to snap and run. 
(Which really means I have to return alone someday.) 
;)

 

We received a personalized tour from my husband's cousin Johannes. 
(Technically a first-cousin-once-removed for those who like those details.) 

And who better to have led the tour than the artisan who worked on 
the gold leaf adorning the statues in the hall? 
Yes. Johannes is a retired artisan and teacher of the arts. 

The Schwäbisch Hall Crest 

Johannes was pretty amazing while touring us around hilly Schwäbisch Hall. 
He had just had knee replacement surgery and more often than not 
he was carrying his crutches or someone much younger was holding them for him. 
He is also knowledgable in History 
and has a great sense of humor. 



The detail inside the Rathaus was beautiful. 
I loved that while it serves as a modern government building 
you still sense the awe of history inside. 


Speaking of history, before leaving for Germany, 
I read a true story called The Burgermeister's Daughter by Steve Ozement. 
(Burgermeister=Mayor)
It tells the tale of a legal struggle between a father and daughter in the 16th century 
that happened right here in Schwäbisch Hall. 


Reading the book gave me a deeper appreciation while walking through 
these buildings knowing something of the people 
who frequented them so long ago. 

Front view of the Rathaus from St. Michael's Church

I loved Schwäbisch Hall - 
so much more than I anticipated! 
Yes, a return trip is definitely on the Bucket List. 



Shooting target from 1802 or 1803 showing Württemberg soldiers parading in front of the town hall of Schwäbisch Hall. Württemberg peacefully occupied and annexed that city in 1802. Like nearly all the other free Imperial cities, Hall lost its independence in the course of the German mediatization of 1802-1803. Wikepedia

My first post on Schwäbisch Hall is here 
and more images can be viewed here




Wednesday, October 4, 2017

And Then There Was Schwäbisch Hall


The Kocher River in Schwäbisch Hall

On our recent trek to Germany 
I was completely unprepared to fall in love with Schwäbisch Hall. 
And I almost don't want to tell you about it - 
and keep it my secret. 


Schwäbisch Hall is breathtaking. 

Schwäbisch Hall, or Hall as it is commonly called, 
sits along the Kocher River in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.  
Just south of Hall, in the small village of Ottendorf, is where my husband's family is from. 
Meeting family is why we visited Hall. 
But Hall is definitely worth your visit even with no family to meet. 

Original watch towers still exist.

Hall is like a medieval village frozen in time 
and most travel guide books barely mention it - if at all. 
So it is definitely off-the-beaten tourist path. 

St Michael's Church.
The animals are fake and props for the outdoor theater. 

What put Hall on the historical maps 
was the salt springs (now spas), 
the mint providing currency throughout Europe,  
and St Michael Church's role in the reformation. 

The Rathaus with the seating for the theater in the foreground. 

Hall does have some tourism due to
 an outdoor summer theater that takes places on the 53 steps 
leading up to St. Michael's Church 
and the salt springs feeding a spa.  
Hall also attracts students to the Goethe Institute branch located there. 


This property is owned by my husband's family and was purchased c1940.
The property from where I am standing has been in the family for centuries and has a similar look
but is undergoing rennovations. 
Old meets new.  Renovations must be historically accurate. 

One branch of my husband's family settled in Hall. 
There they were originally leather workers. 
We were able to tour the old home and see where the leather was tanned. 

St. Michel's Church at night

Today, the family still owns that home as well as the property they purchased across the street 
where they operate a high end interior design business. 


Charming! 

Hall has everything I love. 
If big time night life is more your style 
then Hall might not be for you. 


Nothing says history like sword marks in the church wall where soldiers blessed their swords for safety before going to battle. 

But if you love history, architecture and off-the-beaten-path quaint villages 
Hall will be right up your alley. 

From the tower of St. Michael's Church

I cannot even say how much I loved this place and hope to return someday. 

On the balcony of our hotel overlooking Hall and the Kocher River. Sigh. 


Map of Germany showing Schwäbisch Hall





Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Where Clouds Rule the Sky

In Garmisch-Partenkirchen the chance of a sunny day is always below 25%. 
So that explains all the clouds we encountered there. 


At the top of the Alpspitze

We had great plans to go to the top of the Zugpsitze, 
but what's the point if you can't see anything once you are there? 
So we went to the top of the Alpspitze. 

The AlpsPIX viewing platform in a cloud. 

We still didn't see much 
but it didn't hurt our wallets quite as much either. 
On one of those rare sunny days, 
the view from here must be stunning. 
And the viewing platforms hanging off the mountain over the valley would be amazing. 




We hiked down through the clouds enjoying what we could see. 

I love German cows.
I love the sound of the cowbells even more. 

And then we went to the baker for bread, 
the brewer for beer, 
the cheese shop for cheese, 
and the butcher for meats. 
I love that. 


We had our picnic lunch in front of our hotel. 
It was a great day, clouds and all. 

Oh, and here's what the brochures and travel guides show you: 

www.bavaria.by

But remember, chances of that view are less than 25%. 
I'm not sure I would recommend a summer stay here 
unless you are prepared for perpetual clouds. 

http://www.plz-postleitzahl.de/

Garmisch Partenkirchen is in southern Germany just north of the Austrian Border. 
Alpspix Ausichtsplattform, 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany



Thursday, September 7, 2017

A Promise Kept

In my last post I shared the beauty of Ettal Abbey
Today we will visit the village of Ettal which has a population of just about 800 people.  
What really puts Ettal on the map is the Passion Play. 

A Sample of the Lüftlmalarei painted on houses.

The Passion play is performed once every 10 years going back to   
1633 when the villagers prayed for protection from the plague 
during the time of the 30 years war. 


They promised God if he would spare them from the plague
 they would perform a play about the life of Christ. 


Today, the play is still performed by the local villagers. 
Now that is what I call keeping a promise! 
We were not there during the year a of the performance, 
that will occur next in 2020. 


But Ettal has beautiful Lüftlmalarei* adorning the houses. 
*painted scenes on houses
And the area has a strong tradition of woodworking and handcrafts. 
If you are in the area, it is worth a visit. 
It is a good place for souvenirs as well. 


In fact in all our travels in Germany, 
we noted they value handwork. 
I don't recall seeing anything made in China. 
What a welcome change from the USA. 

A woodworker working on Christ. 

Oh...and here is something else you don't see in America...
sausage vending machines. 
Imagine that? 




As beautiful as these places are...
I still haven't shared my favorite location! 
Stay tuned! 

http://www.tompgalvin.com/places/de/bayern/1_de_by.htm