Old Retired Guy Blog

July 8 - 14, 2010

The altar in the Schutzengelkirche.

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Eichstätt (Page 5 of 5)

On our last full day in Eichstätt, Gerhard and Ursula picked us up at 10 AM to show us around.  Our first stop was at the Schutzengelkirche, which was built by the Jesuits in 1617 as part of the counter-reformation.  I said it before and I'll say it again, I've run out of things to say about the beautiful churches we've visited in Germany.  Just look at the photos and think of your own things to say.

Gerhard told us that when he and his family were showing Eric around, he remembers Eric saying, "Mr. Müller.  Car, church. Car, church."  Gerhard thought that was quite funny.  As it turned out, this story was an omen of things to come.  After we left the Schutzengelkirche we went to the Eichstätter Dom, the church that the Müllers attend.

The current Eichstätter Dom still contains part of the original church that was built in about 800.  Gerhard told us that the new part of the church is an interesting mix of gothic, baroque, and rococo styles.  I think I can recognize gothic but I didn't take enough art to know the difference between baroque and rococo.  When Gerhard showed us where they sit every Sunday Ursula said that the only reason Gerhard goes to church is to sing.  Sounded like a good enough reason to me.

The beauty and the majesty of the Eichstätter Dom.

While we walked back to the car, Gerhard told us that a large part of Eichstätt was destroyed during the 30-years war.  As a result, many of the current buildings were reconstructed in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.  Quite a few of them were designed by the same person and have a similar style.

The Müllers picked up a pizza and cold drinks and we headed out of town, driving through the Altmühl Valley.  This is a very scenic valley, so much so that it is home to a large nature park, the Naturpark Altmühltal.  It's a very popular place for hiking, biking, and canoeing.  They drove us to Kipfenberg Castle, which is located high on a hillside overlooking the town of Kipfenberg.  With pizza and drinks in hand we walked to the edge of the valley and enjoyed our lunch while gazing out at the Altmühl Valley.

View of the beautiful Altmühl Valley from Kipfenberg Castle.

After returning to Pfünz, Andi and Simone took us on a short drive to visit an old stone bridge over the Altmühl.  Just down the road from the bridge we stopped at a small icy stream that people wade in supposedly for health reasons.  Kathy tried it with Simone and said it was so cold that her feet ached.  I didn't wade.  My feet didn't ache.

We then joined the Müllers for supper.  Gerhard gave me a beer mug and told me that the lid was to keep the bees out when I'm drinking outside.  Andi, Gina and the kids came over to say good-bye.  Gina gave us one of her paintings.  She had to select a small one so that we could get it in our luggage.  It was sad to say "auf wiedersehen" but it was soon time to go.  We returned to our room to pack.

End of 'Eichstätt' Entry
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Read Part 7 of the Anderson's European Vacation