We drove back to the region where we‘d been on Wednesday, this time to walk around the Laacher See (Lake Laach), a lake that originates from a volcanic eruption about 13.000 years ago. The entire area where we‘ve been staying was rich in volcanic activity, shaping the landscape and still visible if you know where to look. For instance, different kinds volcanic stone feature prominently in the historic buildings of the region, and are still being quarried today.
It was a sunny and warm day at a high of 25 C. Unlike he day before, many other people, most of them with dogs, were on the same path of about 13 km around the lake.
Half way round, we stopped at Maria Laach, a famous monastery and church. The monastery is of the Benedictine order and still active. An entire tourist industry has developed around it, with the farmland belonging to the monastery managed as organic farms, selling their products in the monastery shop. The monastery owns a book publishing house and art publisher, both of which sell their products in another large shop on the premises. There is also a garden centre, plus a restaurant, café, hotel and a venue where talks are given.All this made for a busy place, which took away somewhat of the quiet, peaceful, spiritual atmosphere I had expected. But of course, we were there, too - ourselves being part of the busy-ness. We found the place too busy to stop for a drink or snack, but visited the beautiful basilicata. The different coloured stone used to build and adorn it is, of course, of volcanic origin.
On we walked, and not far from the monastery came upon a small pier where rowing and pedal boats could be rented (also managed by the monastery). We took a pedal boat, something we‘d not done in years, and pedaled about on the lake for half an hour in the sunshine.
Later, the path took us uphill into the woods to a viewing tower, „Lydia-Turm“, named Lydia after the wife if one of the men who donated money to have the tower built in the mid-1800s.The views from up there were beautiful!We reached the end of the circuit shortly afterwards and stopped for a shandy at a place next to the parking lot.Back in Münstermaifeld, we bought icecreams and strolled around the historic old town once more. The door to the Minster was open, and so we went inside for the first (and only) time during our stay here.
The light coming through the stained glass windows was wonderful, much more so in real life than what you can see on the photo.
The medieval fresco of St. Christophorus is 8 m high and was rediscovered in 1936 during renovation work.Leaving the minster, we found the evening far too beautiful to retreat to the house yet, and walked for a while in those quarters of town where we had not yet been.Eventually, back at the house, we cooked spaghetti and ate up all the fresh food we still had, since we were leaving tomorrow for the second part of our holiday.
The days are so beautiful there! I'm very impressed with the amount of walking you and O.K. do each day of your holiday. I would never be able to keep up and would be exhausted! But you sure are getting to see all of the lovely sights around you there. Looking forward to the rest of your holiday, Meike!
ReplyDeleteIt‘s been really beautiful so far; late summer/early autumn at its best. From today (21 Sept.) onwards, we‘re in for much colder, wet weather for the second half of our holiday.
DeleteWe take breaks during our walks, and between the walk around the lake and the stroll in town there was the drive back, sitting in the car. As long as there is not too much uphill, a short stop every 2 hours or so is enough for me to keep going.
It all looks so beautiful, helped by the blue skies. I love that effect of stained glass light patterns in the Minster. I've been to that region but so long ago (when I was a teenager) that I have only the haziest memories of it. I do still have a pair of those wine glasses with chunky green stems, that my parents bought when we were there.
ReplyDeleteI know the kind of wine glass you mean, Jenny! They are called Römer (Romans) here and experienced a revival a few years ago. Most people had them when I was a kid.
DeleteInteresting that you‘ve been in this area as a teenager! Were you on a family holiday?
The Benedictines know how to make a good living , and their efforts must be greatly appreciated by the tourists. Beautiful architecture in the MInster, and the mediaeval fresco is astonishing. It looks so fresh.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure how much of the fresco‘s condition is original and how much has been restored, but it is really quite striking. It was good to go inside the minster on our last day there, and I really liked the basilica at Maria Laach; parts of it reminded me strongly of Monreale, a place on Sicily I visited when I was 19 and have never forgotten.
DeleteYour comments about certain places being crowded with tourists always seem to stand in odd contrast to your photos, as you seem to have a knack for avoiding actually getting any people "in the picture"... My visual impression is always that the German countryside is a vast empty space, and you and OK the only ones out wandering around in it... ;-)
ReplyDeleteBelieve me, some of the places were heaving with people! For instance Burg Eltz was quite overrun, but when I took pictures of the inner courtyard, I aimed my mobile phone‘s camera up the walls. Inside, photos were forbidden anyway.
DeleteWhen it comes to walks in the countryside, it really is often the case that we don‘t see other people for a while.