Germany
Lindau Hauptbahnhof – Main train station
Lindau, Germany – After taking cog trains, cable cars, and multiple trains, we finally arrive.
Lindau is a Bavarian town and is an island located at Lake Constance, near where the borders of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland meet.
Evidence has been found that the Romans had a settlement there as far back as the 1st century, but the first documentation mentioning the town was in a letter written by a monk in 882, which said that a nunnery (convent) had been founded there.(3)
German flag
Check out the fish hanging above and the fish inlaid in the road below
McDonald’s – I don’t know where you live, but Arizona’s McDonald’s look nothing like this.
Large statue of a lion is overlooking the bay. It stands guard over the entrance along with the only lighthouse in Bavaria.
Old Town Hall
I believe on some of the buildings, they list the name of the families that lived there and what century it was. This one is dating back to the year 1386.
Ambient lighting as the sun sets
The narrow winding roads are so quaint, unless you’re driving.
The Lion statue and the Lighthouse light up at night.
Hotel Peterhof
FeinBackerei (Fine bakery)
Love how their trees grow right up tight to the buildings
The beautiful flowers and greenery decorating the old architecture
Old turret of St. Peter’s Church
A larger turret at St. Peter’s Church
Amazingly beautiful frescoes in unbelievable condition
Finanzamt Building – (Tax Office)
Kanton China Restaurant
Amazing how trees grow like this
Close up of the harbor Lion
Gasthaus Zum Suenfzen
New Town Hall in Lindau
Such charm with the contrast of part white and part brown block, matching turret, graceful windows, medieval architecture and highlighted by the cobblestone road
Volksbank
Outside dining allows you to enjoy the weather and medieval scenery.
Lindau Museum
Peek-a-boo
Lindavia-Brunnen – Fountain in the Markt Platz in front of Old Lindau Town Hall
Rothenburg ob der Tauber
In the Middle Ages, Rothenburg was Germany’s second-largest city, with a population of 6,000. The first recorded signs of settlement here date back to 950 AD. The first castle was built here in the late 11th century, while a second castle was constructed in 1142. It is the best preserved medieval town in Europe, complete with half-timbered houses, medieval wall and towers, and interesting cobblestone streets winding through the city.(4) We enjoy walks on the wall, looking down on a town that looks now much like it did over a thousand years ago. Tall towers serve as ‘gates’ to the town.
Bavarian corner house
Top – Reichsstadt-Apotheke (apothecary). The medieval apothecary was the ancestor of the modern GP (general practitioner). In medieval Europe individuals selling wine, spices and herbs were known as apothecaries. They prepared and sold medicines to physicians and directly to patients.(5)
Steeples of St. Jakob’s church
I am so fascinated with the medieval times and absolutely loved all the medieval places we went on this trip.
I felt transported back in time walking up and down the beautiful cobblestone streets. Wondering how long and how many people it took to lay the stones as evenly as they did, and some with artistic inlay work. I could almost hear the clip clop of the horses’ hooves, walking with their fares on board. I wondered about all the people back in that time, who walked down the street and what their stories were. Strolling along the wall that surrounds the town, I contemplated the bravery and pride the town’s people had in protecting their town, the fear that hit when Rothenburg was bombed in WWII, and the perseverance of the people who rebuilt afterwards.
Visiting the Criminal museum was unimaginable. Seeing the punishment they dealt out back then. Some were uncomfortable and shaming for trivial acts like gossiping, and some were tortured for more severe crimes. I’m glad those times have changed.
The roof in the center looks like it has ‘eyes’ watching over the town
The wall that surrounds the town including arrow-slits to enable defenders to launch arrows at attackers.
Above – View from the right side of The Plönlein
Horse-drawn carriages added to the medieval feel of the town.
The Plönlein – meaning ‘little square’ is the most photographed spot in town.
Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas shop is open all year. It fills all your senses with the magic of Christmas. Love their whimsical Christmas vehicle.
Simply stunning!
St. Jakob’s steeples peering in the background
Gasthof Glocke
Town Hall of Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Metzgerei
I love the character of this building!
Hotel Gasthof Greifen
Tower on The Wall
Ancient turret in background, once used to protect the walled city
Old carriages
Hotel Goldener Hirsch
Ratstrinkstube, or Councilor’s Tavern
Top Right picture – There are various versions of the “Legend of the Master Draught” but the basis is the same. The legend was said to have occurred in 1631, during the Thirty Years’ war. The protestant town was seized by the imperial army led by a man named Count Tilly, a catholic. Count Tilly was going to destroy the town, and have four of the town councilors executed. Pleas for mercy went ignored and the Mayor was ordered to fetch the hangman.
In the meantime, at the Ratstrinkstube, the town offered Count Tilly a huge tankard which held 3.25 liters (.85 gallons), of the best local wine. This put him in a much better mood. Jokingly, Count Tilly said he would spare the town if one of the councillors would drink a full tankard of wine in one sitting without stopping. A former mayor named Bürgermeister Nusch, took the challenge and successfully drank it all.
Count Tilly was so amazed, he spared the town. The townspeople were overjoyed and it is said the Mayor slept for three days.
To this day, at the top of the hour, two doors open, one to the left and one to the right of the clock. Out of one door comes ‘Count Tilly’ and out of the other door comes ‘Mayor Nusch’ The mayor lifts a giant tankard up to his lips while the clock chimes.
Close up of the Ratstrinkstube, or
Councilor’s Tavern clock
Baumeisterhaus Restaurant and Cafe
Market Square, Fountain of St. George, Marien Apotheke
Charming cafe
The Rathaus on City Plaza
Lowen – Apotheke and Konditorei Prezel Café am Marktplatz
Shops line up the winding road toward the ancient turret that used to protect the walled city.
Rödertor (Röder Gate)
Restaurant
Above – These two pictures were a little spooky. They made me feel like Jack the Ripper was lurking about. The picture – top left – was taken at night, and the picture – top right – was taken early morning with a lot of fog. I think we were the only ones around (except for Jack).
Shame Mask – for talkative women with a long tongue and long ears, signifying women listening to gossip and spreading the gossip as soon as they heard it. The bell rang with each turn of the head.
Executioner’s Mask – 17th century – It covered the executioner’s face to protect him from the evil stares of the victims.
Shame Mask for Men – A similar fate awaited men who told lascivious jokes, and those who interfered in other people’s business.
The masks were made out of iron and exaggerated features representing each specific misconduct.
From social shaming tools to more physically torturous devises, the museum chronicles the brutal history of over 1,000 years of crime and punishment. The museum displays over 50,000 objects relating to law and order as it was enforced and structured in the medieval era and thereafter.
Professional misdemeanors were not excused either. For baking bread loaves too small or light, bakers were locked into a cage and dunked repeatedly into water and off-key musicians wore a shame flute fastened around their necks.
Konstanz
Located on the third-largest lake in Europe, Konstanz is the largest city on Lake Constance (known as Bodensee in German).
The history of Konstanz is over a 1,000 years old and many of the buildings in its Old Town, known as Niederburg, have the dates of their construction elegantly marked across their facade. Konstanz is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Germany. Because it almost lies within Switzerland, directly adjacent to the Swiss border, Konstanz was not bombed by the Allied Forces during World War II. The city left all its lights on at night, and thus fooled the bombers into thinking it was actually part of Switzerland.[6]
These are pictures of the same block. The German side and the Swiss side. It was cool being in 2 countries at the same time.
Inlaid designs in the cobblestone streets
Wohnturm zum Goldenen Löwen
This ‘face’ was underneath a window turret
Fierce baby lion posing
‘Imperia’ in the Konstanz harbor
Our hotel
Zum Leopard built 1399
Haus zum vorderen und hinteren Elefant -1468-
Konstanz Minster -Located in the center of town is The Cathedral Of Our Lady. This opulent church towers over the city and stands as a watchtower for the city. Parts of this building date back to the 11th Century with beautiful architecture that are Baroque and Renaissance in style. The interiors of the church are just as impressive with amazing murals and paintings.
Water feature
Unique water fountain
Haus zum wolf am Bleicherstad
Meersburg
Winzerstube zum Becher
Bäckerei Mayer
Resting after a long night of protecting the town
Baren Hotel
Meersburg– is an attractive small port on the northern shore of Lake Constance in the southwestern part of Germany.
Once a residence for the prince-bishops of Konstanz on the other side of the lake, the town center is filled with evidence of its history.
On the shore of Lake Constance, it’s surrounded by vineyards. Medieval Meersburg Castle houses the Fortress Museum, showing a medieval living room and castle dungeon.
Coat of Arms of Johann Franz II von Stauffenberg (1658-1740) was Prince-Bishop of Constance from 1704 to 1740 and Prince-Bishop of Augsburg from 1737 to 1740.
The town buildings look so small compared to the castle towering behind it.
Medieval body armor
Meersburg Castle chapel
Gasthof Zum Bären
Tower by Gastof Zum Bären
Gasthof Zum Bären corner turret