The Eifel Region
I was surprised when Brigid told me what she remembered about our last trip to Germany almost two years ago was the water screw in one of the towns. Myles remembered it strongly, as well, but at the time Brigid was only two and a half. I was surprised. We had just arrived a few days before. She was asleep before we even ate our dinner both night we were in Euskirchen.
But she did give it a spin in 2011
And once again, on her own in 2013.
More after the jump
Soon after we checked in our hotel this time, the kids practically ran to places that are now familiar to them in Euskirchen, like the water screw and the gelateria downtown.
Euskirchen was just as we had left it two years ago, except for one seasonal difference. This time we arrived in mid-May, and the Maypoles were still all over town. The generic English term is perhaps a little misleading to describe how these looked in this part of Germany. In German, the Maypole is called Maibaum, and in the Eifel, the Baum is quite literally a tree, not a pole. A birch tree, to be specific.
The next day while Randy consumed by his meetings, Myles, Brigid, and I returned to Bad Münstereifel for a leisurely day there. In 2011 we only had a few hours because of our check-out time from the hotel. We wanted to make sure we saw everything we missed before. It rained off and on all day, but we were lucky to be indoors the few times it poured.
There were, of course, Maibäume.
We spent time walking in and out of the Medieval walled town, when it wasn't raining.
We ducked inside St. Donatus, also called Jesuitenkirchen, as soon as it the rain started. We had visited this before in 2011.
The legend associated with this church comes from the time that relics of St. Donatus were being transferred from Rome to here, with the entourage stopping at many other churches along the way. They were in St. Martin in Euskirchen (current church can be seen in this post) when lightning struck the priest and altar during Mass. The priest invoked the intercession of St. Donatus, and was fine. Even though the relics originated in Rome, and the miracle itself occurred in Euskirchen, this saint is forever after known as St. Donatus of Münstereifel
Of course we lit candles in front of this Gnadenbild and prayed. There were prayer cards, in German, that only said this was painted by a monk that had a vision.
We also took shelter from rain in the older Catholic Church we missed last time, Sts. Chrysanthus and Daria. The church is named for the relics that were transferred here at that time from Rome. It is one of a handful of churches claiming to house the relics of Sts. Chrysanthus and Daria. This church as part of the Benedictine abbey which gave the town its name, which means "Monastery in the Eifel" (the Bad, meaning "bath," was added in the 20th century).
This church was also built with a raised altar and tabernacle over the crypt, both being part of the Abbey's chapel which was built in lower and upper stages during the 8th century.
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The sarcophagus of Sts. Daria and Chrysanthus. "Sarcophagus" is one of those words that is so fun to say, until you remember what it really means.
We, of course, lit candles.
The Gnadenbild at this church is a 14th century walnut carving kept out of public view in the crypt and brought out for special processions. A copy of it is mounted in an iron chandelier. I love this version of Mary standing with her hips tilted realistically (yet gracefully) as she holds her baby.
When we were here before, there was construction work reinforcing part of the town wall. That was completed, so we enjoyed a walk along the wall. From her we could look out on the town and the low, rolling Eifel.
One last visit to St. John Nepomuk on a bridge, and we returned to Euskirchen to play in the water screw fountain again.
But she did give it a spin in 2011
And once again, on her own in 2013.
More after the jump
Soon after we checked in our hotel this time, the kids practically ran to places that are now familiar to them in Euskirchen, like the water screw and the gelateria downtown.
Euskirchen was just as we had left it two years ago, except for one seasonal difference. This time we arrived in mid-May, and the Maypoles were still all over town. The generic English term is perhaps a little misleading to describe how these looked in this part of Germany. In German, the Maypole is called Maibaum, and in the Eifel, the Baum is quite literally a tree, not a pole. A birch tree, to be specific.
The next day while Randy consumed by his meetings, Myles, Brigid, and I returned to Bad Münstereifel for a leisurely day there. In 2011 we only had a few hours because of our check-out time from the hotel. We wanted to make sure we saw everything we missed before. It rained off and on all day, but we were lucky to be indoors the few times it poured.
There were, of course, Maibäume.
We spent time walking in and out of the Medieval walled town, when it wasn't raining.
We ducked inside St. Donatus, also called Jesuitenkirchen, as soon as it the rain started. We had visited this before in 2011.
The legend associated with this church comes from the time that relics of St. Donatus were being transferred from Rome to here, with the entourage stopping at many other churches along the way. They were in St. Martin in Euskirchen (current church can be seen in this post) when lightning struck the priest and altar during Mass. The priest invoked the intercession of St. Donatus, and was fine. Even though the relics originated in Rome, and the miracle itself occurred in Euskirchen, this saint is forever after known as St. Donatus of Münstereifel
Of course we lit candles in front of this Gnadenbild and prayed. There were prayer cards, in German, that only said this was painted by a monk that had a vision.
We also took shelter from rain in the older Catholic Church we missed last time, Sts. Chrysanthus and Daria. The church is named for the relics that were transferred here at that time from Rome. It is one of a handful of churches claiming to house the relics of Sts. Chrysanthus and Daria. This church as part of the Benedictine abbey which gave the town its name, which means "Monastery in the Eifel" (the Bad, meaning "bath," was added in the 20th century).
This church was also built with a raised altar and tabernacle over the crypt, both being part of the Abbey's chapel which was built in lower and upper stages during the 8th century.
\
The sarcophagus of Sts. Daria and Chrysanthus. "Sarcophagus" is one of those words that is so fun to say, until you remember what it really means.
We, of course, lit candles.
The Gnadenbild at this church is a 14th century walnut carving kept out of public view in the crypt and brought out for special processions. A copy of it is mounted in an iron chandelier. I love this version of Mary standing with her hips tilted realistically (yet gracefully) as she holds her baby.
When we were here before, there was construction work reinforcing part of the town wall. That was completed, so we enjoyed a walk along the wall. From her we could look out on the town and the low, rolling Eifel.
One last visit to St. John Nepomuk on a bridge, and we returned to Euskirchen to play in the water screw fountain again.
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