That weekend when we drove to Münster, Germany, back on February 7th, was the opening night of the Winter Olympics in Sochi. Two weeks of that and then the Oscars....and you can see that a lot of water has gone under the bridge!
This is my 4th and last post of that trip, appropriately ending up with two castles as the crowning glory, so to speak.
But first, as we drove to castle #1, 'M' had us stop at this wee precious church....
It's the catholic Parish of St. Johannes der Täufer in Venne, from 1249.
After the Crusades, this church was built especially for those with contagious diseases, like leprousy.
And thus it's called the Leper's Church.
What a special and cozy space for worship!
Our hearts were warmed knowing about it's history.
Even today you can take a a rolled prayer/scripture verse for your journey (center image).
And on a sunny Sunday, it made such a great start to our day.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Then we were on our way to the first castle of the day: Schloss Nordkirchen.
Look at her from a distance, surrounded by a great moat.
It was built in 1703 as one of the residences of the Prince-Bishops of Münster.
Today it's a state-run college specializing in the training of future tax inspectors.
Can you imagine being a student there?!
Coming or going, look at all that pomp and circumstance!
Nothing was open to go into but the clock and sundial were enough....
...before driving around to the back side!
'M' stopped for us to see the bowing trees. How did THAT happen? Namaste.
And again, on such a sunny day, it was our next good start to the day.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
But it was the second and last castle of the day that took our breath away, less than half an hour away...and where we spent our time: Burg Vischering from 1271. Philine knows us well!
With the castle in the background, we passed this wee chapel on our way in.
It's the most typical and one of the largest moated castles in Münsterland, according to Wiki.
It didn't take long for it to become our favorite thus far, even after our river cruise a year ago.
What is it about castles, especially for those of us from America??
Is it that they're like fairy tales to us?
Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair.
See what I mean?!
You can actually cross the moat bridge....
...and enter the castle courtyard, just to see what yesteryear looked like.
Our imaginations were able to run wild there.
Back across the moat, the baker was in his shoppe, doing his thing.
Did we buy anything???? Do bears poop in the woods???
See. Even Philine knows a good onion roll when she sees one. Mmmmm.
Btw, the café was in the former horse stables. :)
Philine isn't the only one who knows how to fool around, of course.
It was a day for being short of eyes.
What is it about castles and archways and pillars and, and, and...
...roadside shrines, statues and weathervanes.
Oh, and don't forget the churches!
