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What to see in Germany on the way Frankfurt-Hamburg-Stuttgart and back to Frankfurt?
Mainz
If you stay in the Frankfurt area for a few days, you may want to see the beautiful "Dom" (cathedral) of Mainz, which is not far from Frankfurt. The building of the "Dom" started in 975 AD.
At the location of what is now Mainz there had been a Roman military post, Moguntiacum, by the river Rhine. Moguntiacum had a Christian community since the second century AD. The famous English missionary Bonifatius (about 672-754 AD) became Archbishop of Mainz. The old European Dome (cathedrals) are often built on ancient sacred sites and have an awesome energy from the prayers of millennia. One can feel this energy, when still and meditating there.
Rhine
A Rhine tour by boat is almost a must to see the many castles along the river Rhine and visiting Ruedesheim, the famous old wine city with its famous wine restaurants and narrow alleys.
Hameln - on the Way to Hamburg
On the way to Hamburg, you could stop by in Hameln, a medieval town with cute houses and the home of the Rattenfaenger of Hameln (the Rat Catcher of Hameln; Peter Piper).
Hamburg
The area around the Binnenalster (a lake-like body of water) in the center of the city is beautiful, especially at night. A view from the tower of the Michaeliskirche (St. Michael's Church) is impressive, and the Milchstrasse (Milk Street) with its medieval houses offers many restaurants and shops.
Hamburg began in ancient times as the Hammaburg (Hamma Castle), a name we can translate into hammer castle. The hammer was a holy tool of the gods, because it was able to beat a spark out of a rock. This was symbolic, of course, for our own divine energy.
Heather South of Hamburg
By train or car you could go from Hamburg to Lueneburg, the old salt city. The city is about 1000 years old. Salt was found in the vicinity of the city by a boar in old times and made the medieval city rich. Yet, taking the slat from underground also hollowed the city's foundation. One can see houses bent down from their weight in the course of centuries, built above the hollowed ground. The city hall is famous and so is Lueneburg's surrounding, the "Lueneburger Heide," (heather), a unique landscape which has inspired many artists.
After WW II, the English bombed the island of Helgoland, miles away from the German coastline in the North Sea. At the same time, houses in Lueneburg were damaged from "earth quakes." Could there be a connection between the bombing of Helgoland and the damages in far away Lueneburg? Helgoland (holy land), is an island of red-white striped cliffs, located on a geological layer that spreads underground and nears the surfaces under Lueneburg! Thus the detonations of Helgoland were shaking the houses in Lueneburg!
Weimar - on the Way to Stuttgart
You may consider visiting Weimar, the old city where the famous philosopher, scientist and poet, Wolfgang von Goethe, resided in a mansion at the city square and also owned a guesthouse across the park. Goethe lived from 1749 to 1832, yet his scientific research and interior decorations are still modern. Goethe's mansion now is a museum and the optic demonstration of Goethe's research is amazing. At first Goethe had been invited by the nobleman Karl August, who owned the mansion. Then Goethe moved in as a roommate, and finally he received the mansion as a gift from the nobleman. Goethe was a master of the German language and brought our its full beauty. The most famous work is Faust. Goethe's birth house can be visited in Frankfurt/Main, Grosser Hirschgraben.
Bayreuth, Wagner Town
From Weimar you may stop at Bayreuth, the town of Richard Wagner, the great musician. His works were played at the Bayreuther Festspiele (Bayreuther musical festivities) since 1872. His operas are world renowned, The Flying Dutchman, Lohengrin, Der Ring der Nibelungen (the ring of the Nibelungen). The old theater is worth seeing, where Wagner's work is still played.
Rothenburg - further South
Southwest of Bayreuth you will find Nuernberg and close by Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a small medieval town surrounded by a wall. It had been founded in the 13th century AD! The town feels like a living museum, with its narrow streets and awesome houses, it sets us back into medieval times. Awesome.
Muenchen
If time allows, there is Munich Southeast of Nuernberg, which I consider the most beautiful of the German cities. The angelic Glockenspiel (pealing of bells) at noon at the Rathaus (city hall) is famous as is the Hofbraeuhaus (beer hall) nearby. The steeple of the Frauenkirche (church of our Lady) allows for a splendid view, on clear days one used to see the snow-covered Alps. The BMW is made in Munich and a visit to the Olympic village with its tent like roofs may be interesting.
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is most famous for its cars, Porsche and Mercedes, although the Mercedes is made in Zuffenhausen, outside of Stuttgart. The TV tower offers a beautiful view over the city, which is embedded in a dish like valley in mid of the surrounding hills. The Stuttgarter Ballett and the theaters are of high quality, the Killesberg holds a beautiful park, and for wine lovers, there are many good wineries. Queen Elizabeth visited the Stuttgarter castle in the last sixties. There is a little burial chapel not far from Stuttgart, on a hill. I think a king is buried there. The views are great from this hill, and when one makes sounds inside, one hears an awesome echo.
Baden-Baden not Far from Stuttgart
This Black Forest city goes back to Roman times and has spas with natural mineral water, frequented by the rich and famous. One spa is situated on top of a high rise building with gorgeous views! The ruins of the Roman steam bath are worth seeing, discovered when a large underground garage was built. Baden-Baden has a casino with a Saline (public salt therapy arrangement) and a beautiful park.
Heidelberg
This city is famous for its castle built in the 14th to 17th century, and its Urmensch (primal human), Homo heidelbergensis, dated back 400,000 to 100,000 years.
Yet, the Prinzhornsammlung (Prinzhorn collection) has its own fame: it became the basis of modern art of Pablo Picasso, Max Ernst, Emil Nolde, Marc Chagall, Paul Klee, Richard Lindner, Salvador Dali and others that followed. The artists seemed to have picked "their" innovative style from the Prinzhorn catalog, which accompanied the Prinzhorn exhibit around 1920. Comparisons of the modern artists' art with the documented art in the Prinzhorn catalog tell the story, although the modern artists did not tell.
Dr. Prinzhorn (MD) collected the art of the so-called insane in the psychiatric hospital of Heidelberg and documented it in a catalog. There are expressive, innovative, and colorful styles, blending all kinds of media into dramatic and meaningful art. Such artwork was done before the patients were given drugs: it was self administered art therapy, using pencils and color pencils along with pieces of cloth and newspapers clips, oil and water color whatever was made available to the patients! The art is incredible and tells about the intelligence and sensitivity of the so-called insane!
The Prinzhornsammlung can be seen at the University of Heidelberg or at a new location to be found.
Darmstadt - Art Nouveau
Darmstadt is on the way to Frankfurt coming from Heidelberg. It was mentioned in the 8th century and has a castle. Yet, it is mainly famous for its art nouveau community (houses) and art nouveau museum on the Mathildenhoehe. The cafe of the museum may still have delicious desserts and the tower of the museum offers a nice view, The little Russian chapel nearby is a marvel of art in itself.
Back in Frankfurt you may want to spend your last Euros in the tax free shops at the airport. The batteries there have been expensive but lasted 10 times longer than those bought somewhere else!
Enjoy your trip and find more info at www.cometogermany.com or www.visits-to-germany.com.
Cordially, India.Magica |
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