Last week Wednesday was almost as unsettled as the stormy day before, but a little warmer and showing some promising patches of blue sky. We decided on a circuit we had not walked before, recommended by O.K.‘s sister and husband, who had walked there the Saturday before and had much enjoyed it.
The circuit is advertised as a 360 degrees panoramic tour around Sasbachwalden, a community about half an hour‘s drive from the village. It is not too strenuous but has enough uphill bits for my liking. The views, both of the wider area, taking in the Black Forest, the Rhine plain and all the way to France and the Vosges mountains, as well as of the various parts of Sasbachwalden, some just one or two farm houses, others little hamlets, wineries and beautiful timbered buildings, were beautiful.
Also, the route leads through very varied landscapes; anything from vineyards to orchards, meadows of wild flowers and woodland. Signposting is well done so that it is always clear which way to go next.
The weather and the skies were as varied as the landscape - one minute we were walking in plain sunshine, only to round a corner and see us face to face with inky black clouds. Only once, though, did one of the showers catch up with us, lasting only for a little while. We were so lucky!
After leaving Sasbachwalden, the path enters the woods and leads uphill along a series of waterfalls.
Reaching the top of the waterfalls and coming out of the woods, we arrived at this beautiful chapel, built by a family who explain about their family history and the reasons for building the chapel on the chapel‘s website. We found the atmosphere there very warm, welcoming and peaceful, something I find rarely in newer buildings of the kind and more often in old village churches.
On we went, through woodland and always observing the fast changing sky.
The small mill is from the mid-1800s and was in use for grinding flour until 1938. After it lay dormant for several decades, it was renovated twice (in the late 1980s and again around 2000) and is now fully functional again, but not in use.
Already while we walked there, I was thinking of how beautiful it must be in autumn, with the woods and vineyards showing their colours. We are determined to come back here in 5 or 6 months.
What a glorious walk in unfamiliar territory under those dramatic skies and how lovely to stumble across that beautiful little chapel. I hope you got down on your knees to pray for forgiveness for all your past sins.
ReplyDeleteI did not, but I do in fact pray quite a lot, just never on my knees.
DeleteIt really was a glorious walk, the best of this holiday so far.
Good novels like poems have their own geography, real or half imagined.
ReplyDeleteKeats writes about magical casements (windows) looking out on a Faerie landscape.
You have photographed that landscape in a way one could never imagine.
The chapel is a dream. The arched doorway quite magical.
*All places that the eye of Heaven visits.* Shakespeare.
Meister Eckhart said there is nothing more like God than silence.
Wonderful that you have to climb to get there, up through woods and past waterfalls.
This post is as good as a holiday.
*After Leaving Sasbachwalden*: It could be an essay by Robert Walser or WG Sebald.
Even the lowering skies are electrifying.
I never want to leave this place.
J Haggerty
For those less inclined (or able) to walk, the chapel is accessible by car as well. The story of that family was moving, and they sound very sincere in their wish to do something to the honour of God. The skill that went into the wooden beams and glass windows is admirable.
DeleteThose skies were quite spectacular, weren‘t they!
That was an amazing hike! Such a variety of dramatic skies to compliment the lovely views! Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome, Ellen - glad you enjoyed the walk!
DeleteThose big open views - infinity in the palm of your hand.
ReplyDeleteIt‘s what makes me happy and keeps me sane.
DeleteSuch a lovely walk - quite envious that I couldn't do it now. The Chapel was beautiful as well. A good experience for you both.
ReplyDeleteThe chapel really was beautiful. I would have liked to link to its homepage here on my blog, but it is only in German and therefore would not make sense to the majority of my readers.
DeleteThis is truly a beautiful walk! I enjoyed all of your pictures, especially the bridge over the falls and the church. The stained glass on the door to the church is amazing and different than any I have see. I am so happy for you to be able to enjoy such wonderful hikes!
ReplyDeleteThe waterfalls were a great start to the walk, and actually all of it, the variety and beauty, was enjoyable - never mind the quick shower and sometimes strong winds!
DeleteThank you. I scrolled slowly through the photos whilst eating my breakfast. Then I read the text and then had another look at the photos. All in all a very good way to spend breakfast even if nowhere as good as actually doing the walk in person.
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to know my pictures are appreciated by others, too, and not just good for my own remembering of beautiful walks. Blogging from my ipad is a bit tricky, as I do not have a proper keyboard and mouse, but it is doable. I find the quality of the pictures is not as good on the blog as when I view them directly in the photo library on the pad, but maybe I just need to change settings.
DeleteThank you for sharing the wonderful photographs of that beautiful area...and those changeable skies. So happy you had such a marvelous day. I was in the Black Forest in late September 2019, but the fall colours had only just started to come in. Hope you are able to see them in all their glory this autumn.
ReplyDeleteI am sure we will be able to make it there again in autumn, it is not far from where O.K. lives. In what part of the Black Forest were you?
DeleteThank you for reading and commenting!
What a gorgeous area for a walk! And the chapel with those beautiful stained glass windows....how I would love to see it in person. I think going back in autumn is an excellent idea!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous is the right word! We both really liked the chapel, stained glass and carved wood making for a wonderfully warm atmosphere.
DeleteWhat a gorgeous place Sasbachwalden looks! So much of interest, and that little chapel is stunning with its stained glass windows too. I also love little chapels like this, and the mill is - I was going to say "adorable" but I think it needs a more dignified word. It may look cute but it was built to work. It must have served a very small community as it looks smaller than most English watermills I have seen. The skies are remarkable. I would absolutely love to go on this walk!
ReplyDeleteIt is a very picturesque place, and the people who live there obvioisly take pride in it. The chapel is quite unlike any other I have seen before. The mill did indeed serve a small community, not only in size but also in volume. The area does not lend itself much to the cultivation of cereals, and so the families only had what they needed to make their own bread.
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