Bavaria / Bayern

"Weltenburger Enge" (aka "Donaudurchbruch bei Weltenburg" is the "Danube Gorge" near the Weltenburg Monastery. The gorge is enclosed on either side by rock faces up to 80 metres high. The Danube narrows by up to 110 metres and attains a depth of 20 metres. The area was designated as a natural monument under King Ludwig I of Bavaria as early as 1840.

The "Befreiungshalle" ("Hall of Liberation") seen from the riverboat on the Danube. The neoclassical monument above the town of Kelheim was built on the order of King Ludwig I of Bavaria to commemorate the victories against Napoleon during the Wars of Liberation that lasted from 1813 to 1815. The ceremonial opening took place on 18 October 1863 – the 50th anniversary of the Völkerschlacht (Battle of Nations) near Leipzig.

Kloster Weltenburg (Weltenburg Abbey) is the oldest abbey in Bavaria, founded about 620 by iro-scottish monks. The abbey is situated on the banks of the Danube, just west of the "Weltenburger Enge" ("Danube Gorge"). Saint Rupert may have consecrated a church here, dedicated to St. George around 700. In 1050 Benedictian monks founded a brewery here, that is still existing (though the abbey got secularised in 1803 and refounded some decades later). The brewery claims, to be the oldest monastery brewery in the world today, even older than the brewery in Weihenstephan. There are not many traces from the early times. During the wars of the 16th/17th century, the abbey was looted a couple of times. Most of the buildings were erected within the first half of the 18th century in the Baroque style. At that time the abbey was wealthy again and could effort to have the best artists here to work. - As the photos I took inside the church in 2012 are much better than the photos I took in 2020, I have added two PiPs.

Kloster Weltenburg (Weltenburg Abbey) is the oldest abbey in Bavaria, founded about 620 by iro-scottish monks. The abbey is situated on the banks of the Danube, just west of the "Weltenburger Enge" ("Danube Gorge"). Saint Rupert may have consecrated a church here, dedicated to St. George around 700. In 1050 Benedictian monks founded a brewery here, that is still existing (though the abbey got secularised in 1803 and refounded some decades later). The brewery claims, to be the oldest monastery brewery in the world today, even older than the brewery in Weihenstephan. There are not many traces from the early times. During the wars of the 16th/17th century, the abbey was looted a couple of times. Most of the buildings were erected within the first half of the 18th century in the Baroque style. At that time the abbey was wealthy again and could effort to have the best artists here to work. The monastery has a guesthouse. I had booked this basic room there, as I wanted to see (and hear) the Danube very late and very early.

The Danube seen from the window of my room in the early morning. I had booked the room (prev. upload.) in Kloster Weltenburg´s guest house - and I could hear the mesmerizing noise of the water all over the night.

Watching the Danube in the early morning.

Kottingwörth developed from a settlement on an island ("Werder") in the Altmühl river. The first wooden church may date back to the time of Christianisation. The first stone church, dedicated to St. Vitus, was built in the 12th century. It got consecrated between 1183 and 1195. The towers were built between 1250 and 1310. In the first half of the 16th century, the towers were raised. In the years 1760/61, the medieval church building was replaced by a baroque new building, with the two towers being incorporated into a double tower facade. A high wall surrounds the cemetery around the church. I rough times the church served as a “refuge” during enemy attacks.

Kottingwörth developed from a settlement on an island ("Werder") in the Altmühl river. The first wooden church may date back to the time of Christianisation. The first stone church, dedicated to St. Vitus, was built in the 12th century. It got consecrated between 1183 and 1195. The towers were built between 1250 and 1310. In the first half of the 16th century, the towers were raised. In the years 1760/61, the medieval church building was replaced by a baroque new building

Kottingwörth developed from a settlement on an island ("Werder") in the Altmühl river. The first wooden church may date back to the time of Christianisation. The first stone church was built in the 12th century. It got consecrated between 1183 and 1195. The towers were built between 1250 and 1310. In the first half of the 16th century, the towers were raised. In the years 1760/61, the medieval church building was replaced by a baroque new building. This late Gothic relief depicting the Magi was probably on display already in the Romanesque church.

Kottingwörth developed from a settlement on an island ("Werder") in the Altmühl river. The first wooden church may date back to the time of Christianisation. The first stone church was built in the 12th century. It got consecrated between 1183 and 1195. The towers were built between 1250 and 1310. In the first half of the 16th century, the towers were raised. In the years 1760/61, the medieval church building was replaced by a baroque new building. The oldest part of the church is the basement of the west tower, dated to the 13th century. Around 1310 the choir of the church (now the Vitus chapel) was adorned with frescoes. During the renovation work in the chapel in 1891 these murals were rediscovered under a coat of paint. The paintings are still well preserved.

The church of St. Zeno, just seen, was an abbey-church and not just easily open for the pious villagers. So in 1181 Archbishop Adalbert III gave his ok to Reichenhall for the erection of a parish church. Already 10 years later, St. Nikolaus, a three nave basilica, got consecrated. Another five years later, Reichenhall was burnt down by the Archbishop´s troops over some dispute. The church did not got damaged at that time, but had to be rebuilt after the great fire in Reichenhall in 1515. It got rebuilt, altered, repaired - and in the 1860s got enlarged in Neo-Romanesque style. The medieval tower was demolished and got replaced by the tower seen now. The complete western facade, seen here, is just 150 years old.

In 1181 Archbishop Adalbert III gave his ok to the pious dwellers of Reichenhall for the erection of a parish church. 10 years later, St. Nikolaus, a three nave basilica, got consecrated. Another five years later, Reichenhall was burnt down by the Archbishop´s troops over some dispute. The church did not got damaged at that time, but had to be rebuilt after the great fire in Reichenhall in 1515. It got rebuilt, altered, repaired - and in the 1860s got enlarged in Neo-Romanesque style. The medieval tower got demolished and replaced. The carvings that once decorated the Romanesque tower were saved - and saved in this frieze around the southern side apse. Here a detail of the frieze. I have the impression the person is holding flowers or ears = "harvest crops".

In 1181 Archbishop Adalbert III gave his ok to the pious dwellers of Reichenhall for the erection of a parish church. 10 years later, St. Nikolaus, a three nave basilica, got consecrated. Another five years later, Reichenhall was burnt down by the Archbishop´s troops over some dispute. The church did not got damaged at that time, but had to be rebuilt after the great fire in Reichenhall in 1515. It got rebuilt, altered, repaired - and in the 1860s got enlarged in Neo-Romanesque style. The medieval tower got demolished and replaced. The carvings that once decorated the Romanesque tower were saved - and saved in this frieze around the southern side apse. Here a detail of the frieze. I have no idea, what they are holding.

In 1181 Archbishop Adalbert III gave his ok to the pious dwellers of Reichenhall for the erection of a parish church. 10 years later, St. Nikolaus, a three nave basilica, got consecrated. Another five years later, Reichenhall was burnt down by the Archbishop´s troops over some dispute. The church did not got damaged at that time, but had to be rebuilt after the great fire in Reichenhall in 1515. It got rebuilt, altered, repaired - and in the 1860s got enlarged in Neo-Romanesque style. The medieval tower got demolished and replaced. The carvings that once decorated the Romanesque tower were saved - and saved in this frieze around the southern side apse. A detail of the frieze. A lion, compared to that masterly carved lions, guarding the doors at St. Zeno, not even two kms north, this is a pretty naive style.

In 1181 Archbishop Adalbert III gave his ok to the pious dwellers of Reichenhall for the erection of a parish church. 10 years later, St. Nikolaus, a three nave basilica, got consecrated. Another five years later, Reichenhall was burnt down by the Archbishop´s troops over some dispute. The church did not got damaged at that time, but had to be rebuilt after the great fire in Reichenhall in 1515. It got rebuilt, altered, repaired - and in the 1860s got enlarged in Neo-Romanesque style. The medieval tower got demolished and replaced. The carvings that once decorated the Romanesque tower were saved - and saved in a frieze around the southern side apse.

A legend tells, that Charlemagne personally founded a first monastery here, but there are so many places, who claim that... A small monastery existed here within the 9th century. As it was built close to the river Saalach, it was dedicated Saint Zeno, an early Christian Bishop of Verona and a patron saint against floods. In 1136 Konrad I von Abensberg, Archbishop of Salzburg, established Augustinian Canons here, well equipped with income from the salt (= hall) that was produced here. The construction of the three-nave-basilica took 80 years, it got consecrated in 1228. With a length of 80 meters, this was a huge structure. The church burnt down in 1512. When it got rebuilt, many Gothic elements were added (vaulting). Another fire destroyed great part in 1789, just before the monastery got secularized in 1803. Since then this is a parish church. There is an important cloister here, that even has a carving depicting Frederick I (Barbarossa). If you plan to visit Bad Reichenhall, inquire at the Tourist Office about it the opening hours. As the cloister now is part of a school, it is open for tourists only once or twice a week for an hour or two. I could not wait that long.. - The western portal from 1228 fortunately survived all fires and modernisations. Protected by a narthex, it is still on place and only little damaged. Seen here is the left of the two lions, guarding the portal. A small crocodile (?) has bitten in the lion´s tongue. Somehow this lion reminds me on one of the lions guarding the HSBC-building in Hongkong. Three lions from Bad Reichenhall, that probably watched over St. Zeno´s side portals, are kept in Bavarian National Museum (Bayrisches Nationalmuseum) in Munich.

A legends tells, that Charlemagne personally founded a first monastery here, but there are so many places, who claim that... A small monastery existed here within the 9th century. As it was built close to the river Saalach, it was dedicated Saint Zeno, an early Christian Bishop of Verona and a patron saint against floods. In 1136 Konrad I von Abensberg, Archbishop of Salzburg, established Augustinian Canons here, well equipped with income from the salt (= hall) that was produced here. The construction of the three-nave-basilica took 80 years, it got consecrated in 1228. With a length of 80 meters, this was a huge structure. The church burnt down in 1512. When it got rebuilt, many Gothic elements were added (vaulting). Another fire destroyed great part in 1789, just before the monastery got secularized in 1803. Since then this is a parish church. There is an important cloister here, that even has a carving depicting Frederick I (Barbarossa). If you plan to visit Bad Reichenhall, inquire at the Tourist Office about it the opening hours. As the cloister now is part of a school, it is open for tourists only once or twice a week for an hour or two. I could not wait that long.. - The western portal from 1228 fortunately survived all fires and modernisations. Protected by a narthex, it is still on place and only little damaged.

A legend tells, that Charlemagne personally founded a first monastery here, but there are so many places, who claim that... A small monastery existed here within the 9th century. As it was built close to the river Saalach, it was dedicated Saint Zeno, an early Christian Bishop of Verona and a patron saint against floods. In 1136 Konrad I von Abensberg, Archbishop of Salzburg, established Augustinian Canons here, well equipped with income from the salt (= hall) that was produced here. The construction of the three-nave-basilica took 80 years, it got consecrated in 1228. With a length of 80 meters, this was a huge structure. The church burnt down in 1512. When it got rebuilt, many Gothic elements were added (vaulting). Another fire destroyed great part in 1789, just before the monastery got secularized in 1803. Since then this is a parish church. There is an important cloister here, that even has a carving depicting Frederick I (Barbarossa). If you plan to visit Bad Reichenhall, inquire at the Tourist Office about it the opening hours. As the cloister now is part of a school, it is open for tourists only once or twice a week for an hour or two. I could not wait that long.. - The western portal from 1228 fortunately survived all fires and modernisations. Protected by a narthex, it is still on place and only little damaged. Seen here is the right of the two lions, guarding the portal. The lioness holds a cub between the paws Three lions from Bad Reichenhall, that probably watched over St. Zeno´s side portals, are kept in Bavarian National Museum (Bayrisches Nationalmuseum) in Munich.