Münsterland Castles

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.

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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.

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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!

More Münster Churches: Part 2

Today's Münster churches come to you with a very special twist!  It so happens that 'M', Philine's best friend in Münster, joined us on Saturday (back on February 8th) to show us some masterpieces of her father's handiwork in stained glass and mosaics.

First of all, let me introduce you to Ludwig Baur:

August 26, 1904 - September 8, 1977 (with further bio)

He was a devote catholic who dedicated his life to his art.

Lucky for us, we got to visit 3 churches where we viewed his craftsmanship.

 We drove first to the Catholic Church of St. Joseph, built in 1894.

See the glass work with only hints of color?  It's his work, all of it, from 1950.

(the details are explained here)

But it's the Madonna and Child alcove that set this church apart for me.

His mosaic work is intricate and colorful, with doves of peace flying overhead.

A huge pillar stands nearby with these 2 guardians.

I so wanted to know what they were there for!

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From St. Joseph's we drove to the Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit, built in 1928.

There was actually a contest for the architectural design as well as for the interior glass and art.

 Guess who won the contest for the latter!

(the details are explained here)

Can you imagine looking at this scene above the altar each Sunday!

'M' used her trusty book to describe everything to us.

She was so calm, cool and collected.  I would have been popping my buttons with pride!

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From that point we drove 10km outside of Münster, to Telgte, where 'M' grew up with her parents and 2 siblings.  It's a town of just under 20K inhabitants, best known for its annual pilgrimage dedicated to the Black Madonna, the Blessed Virgin Mary.  It's Germany's second largest pilgrimage.

We were in for a real treat!

 As we entered the town from the parking lot, we passed this mosaic marker.

Guess who did the mosaic work!

(Pay attention to the Black Madonna and the Chapel, coming up.)

 But first things first.  It was time for lunch...at the Alter Gasthof Seiling.

If you want real German food, that's the place to eat, 'M' said.

 And because it was right there on the town square, we walked around afterwards.

Did you ever hear about the town crier...and about not looking a gift-horse in the mouth?

And see that delightful Markt Café (top-left)?

(hold that thought....

...while we first check out the markers all over the square's coblestones)

That's where we had koffie to follow up our real German lunch!

Yes, we ate lunch in one place and then walked across the square for koffie and dessert.

Don't you love how the Europeans do these things!

THEN we were ready to see the Chapel of the Black Madonna (Gnadenkapelle).

This chapel, at the doorstep of the St. Clemens church, was built expressly for her in 1654.

Small.  Intimate.  Cozy.  Built for the pilgrimage.  

This Sorrowful Mother (Black Madonna) is from 1370, 

connected to Mother Earth and the ancient goddesses.

Right next door is the Catholic Church of St. Clemens, built in 1522 on the River Ems.
(you can see how close it is to the chapel in the top-right image above)

Everything means something with these churches, of course.
It would take a lot of digging to unearth it all, I'm sure.

But THIS is what we were there to see.  The stained-glass masterpeices of Lugwig Baur from 1947-52!
Those right-bottom images are for separate municipalities in the area.
Only the bottom-center tower window is not his, from 1878.
(the details are explained here)

Another magnificent church made special because of a personal connection!

And since we were right there, we walked across the street to see the River Ems
and Dümmert Park on the other side of the bridge...with LOVE PADLOCKS!
"Thanks for 40 years."  Isn't that sweet!

Walking through the park on our way back to the car, we saw the fish dams
and the statue of the Judas Kiss....and the new crocusses starting to bloom.

Back at the parking lot, who could miss this work of art!  Bucheum:
It apparently drives around Münsterland with fairy tales and stories for children of all ages.

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Later that evening, after we all had a rest, we drove over to 'M's lovely home...

...for a "lite" supper and fellowship that took us long into the evening.
And while we had dined with her there 3+ years before, this was different.
This was the pure cementing of a friend for life, made more special because of her father!

'M' is one year my senior.  We could be sisters.  We ARE sisters.
And now I know for sure our dads would just love getting to know each other!
My dad, the Preacher.
Her dad, the Church Painter.
Oh, and Astrid's dad, the Trumpeter/Musician.