Before we left for our trip to Hannover to see Rolf, we took a trip to an outdoor art exhibit and park in Neuss with Stefan and Michiel. The Museum Insel Hombroich (Museum Island Hombroich) is a peaceful walking park of building and art sculpture with creative interspersed plantings of trees and plants. A nature river flows through the park creating a tranquility and peace as you stroll, sit or just take a moment to enjoy the sounds of nature.

The park and a museum combine architecture, art and nature on over 62 acres of meadowland. The park includes the "Kirkeby-Feld" and the "Raketenstation", a disused NATO missile base. The park was created in 1982 with the purchase of Pink Haus and the land. We had the perfect weather to just take a relaxing stroll and enjoy the fall foliage changing among the interesting landscape and art features.

Large stone head with trees growing like arms

Water running through the park. Beautiful fall colors throughout.

Khmer Heads from Angkor Tom, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Wayne and Keith hanging feet dish, sounds echo through out

We take a very casual drive to Hannover from Düsseldorf. We take our time heading north, enjoying minimal traffic during the late morning drive and arrive 2.5 hours later. We have an opportunity to relax with Rolf before we head to dinner with his friends Reinhardt, Christian and Yents.

Plans have been made by Rolf and Yents to tour Hannover on our first full day in the City. First stop is the New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus) which was opened in July 1913 after 12 years to construct, cost 10 million Deutsche Marks, 6026 Beech pilings support the weight of the building from sinking into the marshlands it sits upon. The most important aspect of this great building is the elevator that inclines as it climbs inside the bronze tower to the two spiral staircases at the top. Yents told us the history of Hannover while we looked at the historical city maps of Hannover in 1689, 1945 post British bombing of 1943 and today.

New Townhall (Neus Rathaus). The top of the dome of the New Town Hall reaches 97,73 m (320 ft.). The diagonal lift in the town hall's dome is unique in the world. At a 17-degree angle it covers the 43 metres up to the gallery at the top of the dome. There are windows in the cabin bottom and top that can be switched lucent while travelling if you like. At the top you are rewarded with a fantastic view of the city and its sights and the wooded ridge of the Deister far in the distance.

Hannover from the Tower of New Townhall

Keith, Wayne and Rolf with City park behind

Manmade lake, Leine River and Forest if Hannover

Then we walked to the 7 figures statue (Denkmal Göttinger Seiben (Monument Göttingen Seven) made up by the Bros. Grimm and 5 other philosophers). We walked towards MarktHall for lunch past old townhall and the old medieval Catholic church, first gay and lesbian gathering club. We have lunch in the MarktHall.

Jacob Grimm stands in the gate.

The Göttingen Seven were a group of seven professors from Göttingen. In 1837, they protested against the abolition or alteration of the constitution of the Kingdom of Hanover by Ernest Augustus and refused to swear an oath to the new king of Hanover. The company of seven was led by historian Friedrich Christoph Dahlmann, who himself was one of the key advocates of the unadulterated constitution. The other six were the Germanist brothers Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm, jurist Wilhelm Eduard Albrecht, historian Georg Gottfried Gervinus, physicist Wilhelm Eduard Weber, and theologian and orientalist Heinrich Georg August Ewald. Ernst August I., König von Hannover / Ernest Augustus I sits upon the horse.

At the end of World War II 95% of Hannover was destroyed by the British Air Force. Around 1,000 aerial mines, 34,000 high explosive bombs, 900,000 incendiary bombs and 50,000 fire bombs (napalm) were dropped. The final raid was April 1945.

The Leibnizhaus was originally a Renaissance house built in 1499 in Hanover. It was named after the philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz . He lived in the house from 1698 until his death in 1716. After the war the building, what part of the building survived was boxed and placed in storage for 50 years before being rebuilt.

Ballhofplatz first gay and lesbian gathering area

Cafe Konrad, gay owned coffeehouse

Original architecture that survived the bombing of Hannover.

Market Church (Marketkirche)

The Marktkirche St. Georgii et Jacobi (Market Church of Sts. George and James), commonly known as Marktkirche, is the main Lutheran church in Hanover, Germany. It was built in the 14th century and, together with the nearby Old Town Hall, is considered the southernmost example of the North German brick gothic (norddeutsche Backsteingotik) architectural style. The roof and some interior aspects were destroyed during the bombing in 1945 but restored by 1952. The altar is the original, which existed in the church up to 1663, then subsequently moved to a museum in the mid 19th century. The altar was placed back in the church after renovations in 1952. The main altar was carved of linden wood, around 1480. The front depicts the Passion of Christ in 21 scenes, following models of Martin Schongauer.The back shows scenes from the lives of the two patron saints, Saint George and Saint James.

Entrance in Gothic styling with Saint George on the left and Saint James on the right.

North German brick gothic (norddeutsche Backsteingotik) architectural style of the ceiling and interior structure. Beautifully to the original appearance of this church.

Interior of Market Church built in 1349

The altar and stain glass windows

Descent of Christ from the 16th century

The old Town Hall was built over a period of more than 100 years. The earliest part (from 1410) overlooks the Schmiedestrasse (Blacksmith Street), the later wing next to the market was erected on the foundations of the 13th century trade hall. The adjacent wing in the Koebelinger Str. is called the "Chemists' Wing ("Apothekenflügel"), because it was the location of the Town Hall's pharmacy. This wing was later rebuilt in Italian Romanesque style, after a citizen's "action group" led by a well known neo-Gothic architect, Conrad Wilhelm Hase, managed to save the entire building from demolition in 1844. Hase was subsequently commissioned to renovate the remaining wings in their original style of 1500, with its exceptional gothic gables and the ornamental frieze.

The old Town Hall and Market Church

After touring the center part of Hannover, Yents, Rolf, Keith and Wayne went to Herrenhausen Palace (Schloss Herrenhausen) the former royal summer residence of the House of Hanover in the Herrenhausen district of the German city of Hanover. It is the centerpiece of famous Herrenhausen Gardens. The gardens are reminiscent of the gardens at Versailles. The beautiful design, statuary, the spectacular fountains and artwork throughout. Peaceful and serene areas to stop and look over the great gardens, then walk across the street to the botanical gardens. We saw Majestic beauty of an ornamental baroque garden. The water fountains were not operating when we arrived but Yents and Rolf knew that we had to be at a certain point at 15:00 when the fountains came to life, especially the fountain that was 72m in the air. We were standing on the Pavillon above the grotto which was designed by Niki de Saint Phalle.

Fountain at Schloss Herrenhausen

Schloss Herrenhausen

Am Großen Garten (Herrenhausen Garden)

Keith inside The Grotto, designed by Niki de Saint Phalle

Am Großen Garten (Herrenhausen Garden)

Die Goldenen Figuren, The golden figures within the Herrenhausen Garden

Keith and Wayne within the Golden Figure are of the

Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen

The Great Fountain shoots water 72 meters into the air. Operated with the original equipment used when the fountains were installed.

The Great Garden has been one of the most distinguished baroque formal gardens of Europe while the Berggarten has been transformed over the years from a simple vegetable garden into a large botanical garden with its own attractions. Both the Georgengarten and the Welfengarten have been made in the style of English gardens, and both are considered popular recreation areas for the residents of Hanover.

The Great Garden owes much of its aesthetics to Sophia of Hanover, consort of the Elector of Hanover and herself heiress to the British throne, who in 1683 commissioned the French gardener Martin Charbonnier to enlarge an existing garden. The centerpiece of the garden is the rather small Herrenhausen Palace, originally a manor house of 1640 which had been enlarged since 1676. Whereas Sophia's husband, Ernest Augustus, Elector of Brunswick-Luneburg, planned its replacement with a large baroque palace, and began construction with the nearby grand Gallery Building, their son, elector George Louis, who in 1714 succeeded to the British throne as King George I, gave the palace project up and concentrated on water features. Sophia, Ernest Augustus and George I are buried in the mausoleum in the Berggarten.

The Berggarten across the street was filled with so many botanical gems from around the world. We strolled towards the mausoleum for George I of United Kingdom and Ireland, elector of Hanover. 36 German oak trees were moved from rural Germany and planted around the mausoleum.

We walked the botanical gardens enjoying the fall flowers and colors of trees changing. Peaceful, quiet walk to end the day. We arrived to the car and Yents had Rolf turn down a quiet street towards a brick wall that surrounded and protected a Jewish Cemetery. The coffins are buried on top one another over the centuries with dirt placed on top creating a mounded Hill.

Baroque Garden looking towards the Schloss

Berggarten botanical garden

Sophia, Ernest Augustus and George I are buried in the mausoleum in the Berggarten.

Gorgeous Fall foliage and flowers

Old Jewish cemetery on Oberstraße, used from circa 1550 until 1864 and contains about 700 graves. The bodies have been buried on the former dead making this hill. Of interest, this is the oldest extant Jewish cemetery in Northern Germany.

Rolf's apartment building is the only building in Hanover that takes up one block. This is where we stayed for 2 weeks while visiting and touring.

Across from Rolf's flat is Eilenriede, forest that is twice the size of New York’s Central Park, the Eilenriede is a city forest almost in the centre of Hanover. We could see The Queen Monument on the edge of the city forest Eilenriede : Luise on the left, Friederike on the right. The statue represents the two princesses and later queens Luise of Prussia and Friederike of Hanover . Both were in Hanover in the Old Palace opposite born the Leineschloss as daughters of the later Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Karl II. The sisters were through their double wedding with Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm (1770-1840) and Prince Friedrich Ludwig (1773-1796) in 1793 in Berlin first princesses of Prussia . A little later, the sculptor Johann Gottfried Schadow created for 1795 to 1797 for the Berlin Castle, the earlier established there princess group . This sculpture is today an exhibit in the Old National Gallery in Berlin. Through her third marriage (from 1815) with Ernst August I. Friederike 1837 Queen of Hanover.

The Queen Monument

Our second full day of touring with Rolf and Yents led us to our first UNESCO World Heritage site on this tour. We were off to Hildesheim for the day. We parked the car and walked around the area with Yents leading us to the treasures of Hildesheim.

Episcopal Gymnasium Josephinum (All Boys Catholic School). In 815, the old cathedral school was founded by Emperor Ludwig the Pious. From 1595 to 1773, the Jesuits led the Josephinum, built a college with a school building and built the classical high school.

Across the church square from the All Boys Catholic School are the two Hildesheim churches and their art treasures were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985. St Michael’s Church was built as an abbey church between 1010 and 1022 by Bishop Bernward, completed by Bishop Godehard, and consecrated in 1033. The building is an important example of Ottonian and Romanesque architecture. St Mary’s Cathedral is one of Germany’s most ancient episcopal churches and was erected around 872. The basilica with its nave and two aisles was built of ashlar and crushed stone. Behind the churches are the courtyard and monastery.

The Church of St. Michael (Michaeliskirche) is an early-Romanesque church. It has been on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list since 1985. It is now a Lutheran church.

St. Michael's Church is one of the most important churches of early Christian period Architecture. It is a double-choir basilica with two transepts and a square tower at each crossing. The west choir is emphasized by an ambulatory and a crypt. Nikolaus Pevsner wrote that St. Michael's is the earliest surviving example of a truly Romanesque exterior.

The church square

The bronze doors of St Mary, dating back to 1015, represent the events from the book of Genesis on the left and the life of Christ right side

The Bronze baptismal font (German: Bronzetaufe) in the Hildesheim Cathedral is a late Romanesque baptismal font which was probably made in Hildesheim in the first third of the thirteenth century. It is noted for its pictorial decoration which is of the highest quality and for its perfect proportions and is considered among the most outstanding works of its type. For centuries the baptismal font stood in the western part of the nave, until it was moved to the last of the northern side-chapels (George's chapel) in 1653. Placed in the nave under the Hezilo chandelier.

The font was given to the cathedral by Wilbernus, Provost of Hildesheim, and is one of the most important bronze artworks to survive from the Middle Ages.

The font Including its original lid, is about 170 cm high and is supported by personifications of the four Rivers of Paradise. Eight sculptural reliefs on the sides of the baptismal font and its lid depict important scenes from the Old and New Testaments that refer to the sacrament of baptism. They are framed by allegorical figures.

The artistic quality of the reliefs is just as exceptional as the technical expertise of the rare cast bronzework. The baptismal font dates back to around 1226, which is just about the period when Nicholas of Verdun was completing the Shrine of the Magi in Cologne. The name of the master who created the Hildesheim baptismal font is unknown, but he certainly was one of the major artists of his time. His striking rendition of the figures bridges the gap between Romanesque treasury art and the sculptural programmes of French Gothic cathedrals.

The cloister of Hildesheim Cathedral encircles the cathedral’s eastern apse with its three wings. St. Anne’s Chapel was built in the cloister courtyard for commemoration celebrations in 1321. It was the first purely Gothic church built in Hildesheim.

St. Anne Chapel, built in the cloister courtyard for commemoration celebrations in 1321. It was the first purely Gothic church built in Hildesheim.

The Thousand-year Rose (Tausendjähriger Rosenstock, literally translated to: Thousand-years rosebush) is also known as the Rose of Hildesheim.

Yents told us the legend or folklore story of the rose. The rosebush with a legend dating back to 815. The story is the German emperor Louis the Pious lost his cherished reliquary while chasing game and promised that he would erect a chapel wherever it was discovered. The reliquary was found on the branches of a wild rose and the Emperor constructed the sanctuary beside the rose, with the altar close to the site where the rose was growing. Eight weeks after the complete destruction of the Hildesheim Cathedral in March 1945, as a result of which the rose tree also burnt, 25 new shoots appeared from a root buried by the debris.

Gothic influences on the church

The courtyard with the cloisters, St. Anne Church and the Hildesheim Cathedral

The original Cathedral Renaissance Rood Screen is now in the museum of the cathedral

Cathedral's nine-metre-high rood screen, whose sandstone reliefs summarise the key tenets of Christian faith in a comprehensive series of scenes from the Old and New Testaments.

Closer view of the reliefs on the rood screen

Gospel of Bernward from 1015 is silver, gilded silver with niello, filigree, semiprecious stones, and late 10th-century Byzantine (Constantinople) ivory on wood foundation; Manuscript: tempera, gold, and silver on parchment

The central ivory plaque, taken from a prestigious Byzantine triptych, depicts Christ flanked by Mary and John. The cover’s renewal in the late twelfth century, probably to secure or commemorate Bernward’s canonization, added the gilded silver crucifix and symbols of the Evangelists, antique intaglios, and precious and semiprecious stones.

We continued our tour of the Dommuseum Hildesheim of the old religious artifacts, then we went to the traditional square of the Old City and had lunch at the restaurant located in the old Butcher's Guild building on the Historic Market Place Square of Hildesheim.

Marktplatz (Historic Market Place) of Hildesheim with the Bäckeramtshaus (Bakers' Guild Building) (left with Cafe on the building). Directly in front is Rathaus (Town Hall).

Marktplatz (historic market place). the buildings surrounding the market are the Rathaus (Town Hall), Knochenhauer-Amtshaus (Butchers' Guild Hall), Bäckeramtshaus (Bakers' Guild Hall), Tempelhaus and Wedekindhaus.

Tempelhaus and Wedekindhaus

The Tempelhaus, a late-Gothic 14th-century patrician house, which today houses the tourist information office. It suffered some damage during the Second World War but was restored and inaugurated in 1950.

The Wedekindhaus (Wedekind House), a patrician house dating from 1598, is characterized by its high, ornately carved storeys including their ledges with depictions of allegorical figures. The building has been the headquarters of the Municipal Savings Bank since the 1950s. It was the first half-timbered house of the Market Place to be reconstructed. The inauguration was on 23 March 1986.

The Butchers' Guild Hall was originally built in 1529 in a Gothic style. The building was used as a meeting place of the butchers' guild, which was a very wealthy and influential guild in Hildesheim in the Middle Ages. As the cellar has walls with a thickness of up to 1.4 metres which keep the temperature very low, it was used for storing meat and sausages. In 1884, the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th floors were destroyed by a fire, but rebuilt immediately.

We had a wonderful lunch at OS- das Marktrestaurant im Knochenhaueramtshaus. We enjoyed a traditional German lunch with apfelshorle (apple juice with sparkling water). We would recommend this restaurant if you tour Hildesheim. Service and food were very good.

Bäckeramtshaus (Bakers' Guild Hall) in 1825 was built, replacing an older guildhall.

Gothic Rathaus (Town Hall) and St. George Fountain

Yents told us the story of The Huckup monument created by the Dresden sculptor, Carl Röder, in 1905 on the corner of Schuhstraße and Hoher Weg, at the southern end of the pedestrian zone in Hildesheim. There is folklore surrounding this monument: the statement of the monument is a leprechaun who jumps on the back of thieves. In the depiction, which is to serve as a warning to all thieves, a juvenile apple thief is the one sought after in this way. Essentially, saying you should have a bad conscience from stealing.

Approaching by car you are surprised with a view Schloss Marienberg, amazing castle in the distance

Schloss Marienberg (Marienburg Castle), embedded into the hills of the Calenberger Land, rises up on the south-western slope of the "Marienberg" Hill, some 20 km south of Hanover and 15 km north-west of Hildesheim.

The castle was built between 1858 and 1867 as a birthday present by King George V of Hanover (reigned 1851–1866) to his wife, Marie of Saxe-Altenburg. Between 1714 and 1837 there had been virtually no royal court in Hannover as the House of Hannover had ruled the kingdoms of Hannover and Britain by personal union. The original 19th-century summer residence of the Guelph family, one of Europe's oldest royal houses, is one of Germany's most significant monuments built in neogothic style.

The castle is a very nice neogothic style castle. Yents and Rolf were excited to show this castle to us. The historic value with the connection to the House of Hannover and the Royals of Great Britain. We discovered that much of the items described in the English audio guide were not in the building. There was damage to the walls from paintings being removed and not replaced. There was a theft in the castle a couple of days prior of the antique weaponry. Yents and Rolf had told us of the copper pots and pans in the kitchen, which was disappointedly empty. The castle is worth a trip to see based on the architecture.

Schloss Marienberg from the parking area

Walk around the castle to the lower path

Entrance to the stables

Courtyard and Stable entrance

Rolf, Keith and Yents sit while we wait for the tour

Kurfürst von Braunschweig-Lüneburg (Duke Ernst Angst) with Wayne

Ernst Angst (Ernest Augustus), 4th son of Duke George, Prince of Calenberg (1679–1698). He became Prince of Calenberg on the death of his brother John Frederick. He was elevated to prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire in 1692. Ernst Angst's wife, Sophia of the Palatinate, was declared heiress to the throne of England by the Act of Settlement of 1701, which decreed Roman Catholics could not accede to the throne. Sophia was at that time the senior eligible Protestant descendant of James I of England.

The castle is currently owned by Prince Ernst August of Hanover, after his father signed it over to him, together with all other royal properties at Hanover and Gmunden. The castle houses the property management offices of the Royal House of Hanover and serves as its official seat.

After long day of touring we drive back to Hanover and call it a day. We said our thanks to Yents for taking us on two days of touring in Hanover, Hildesheim and Marineberg.

The following day (19Oct) we are touring in grand style when Rolf takes out the Rolls Royce. Our first stop was an off the path castle built in the Middle Ages before heading to Bückerburg.

Rittergut Wichtringhausen

The two-story mansion of the manor stands on an island surrounded by a wide ditch, which is accessible via three bridges. The mansion, which has been a listed building since 1948, was probably built in the 16th century. The building consists in the lower part with the basement and the ground floor of rubble , in the upper part of plastered framework .

Forerunner to the manor in the Middle Ages was a saddle yard. In 1188 Wichtringhausen is mentioned as the first time as "Wicmeringehusen" in a feudal register of Mindener bishop . The bishop gave the estate to his vassal. In the Middle Ages, the manor served as Vorwerk and rest stop on the passing trade route. In the 15th century, the manor came to the Schaumburg counts , who lent it and built a smaller castle here. In the 16th century, the castle was rebuilt into a moated castle with tomb, chapel and gatehouse.

In the 17th century, the first alterations to the mansion took place. It received on the east side a renaissance designed oriel, which is dated by the number "1611". In the 19th century, there were further structural changes to the manor and the mansion, no longer recognizing the original forms. The Hanoverian politician and Reichstag deputy Heinrich Langwerth of Simmern (1833-1914) fundamentally repaired the estate, whereby in 1866 a redesign of the mansion in the neo-gothic style came about. This resulted in a stone stair tower , a Söller , a bay window and a turret.

The manor house on the estate there is a stately home built in 1865 with annexes, a massive cowshed from 1905 and stone and half-timbered buildings as commercial buildings from the 17th to 19th centuries. In the former steward's house of the manor is today a wine tavern as a branch of the winery Freiherrlich Langwerth of Simmern's Rentamt in Eltville.

Timber frame barn and cowshed, still used for storage of equipment for work on the farm and vineyard

1969 Rolls Royce Silver Spirit Mark IV (Last production year for the Mark IV, only 122 were made)

We drove out to Bückerburg Schloss and Stadtkirche (Gothic Church with another Adrien Vries Baptismal Fot made in bronze). The fot is exquisite with the details of hands, feet and muscles. The artist is from Belgium and started as a goldsmith then changed to lost wax in bronze.

When we arrived in Bückerburg there was a Farmer's Market in the square near the Town Hall (Rathaus). Beautiful, crisp, sunny day with many people walking from each vendor. We looked for Bratwurst but there was none to be had. We then walked through the gates to the castle. The present building is a Renaissance palace with historic halls and rooms from four centuries.

Bückerburg Rathaus and Marktplatz (Town Hall and Market Place)

Bückeburg, gate and wall to enter Schloss Bückeburg grounds

Adriaen de Vries bronze, Venus and Adonis on bridge leading to Bückeburg Schloss

Bronze by Adriaan de Vries on the bridge over the moat to the palace

Bückeburg Palace (Schloss Bückeburg) has been in the possession of the family of the Counts of Holstein-Schaumburg, later the Princes of Schaumburg-Lippe, for over 700 years. The Palace was the residence of the Princes of Schaumburg-Lippe. Although the Princely family surrendered political power in 1918, they still live there today. The palace, part of which is open to the public, is an important major tourist sight and houses important works of art and an important library. The history of the building spans 700 years, with the most important contributions stemming from the 16th, 17th, and 19th centuries.

While visiting the Palace we had a wonderful lunch, we then had to wait for our tour and casually strolled over to the stables. An amazing part of the palace complex is the Princely Riding School. The stables are more than 400 years old and accommodate noble stallions of baroque breeds.

Rathaus and Marktplatz (Town hall and market square)

Cobblestone pedestrian area in this quaint German City

Rolf took us for a stroll through Bückerburg on our way to the Stadtkirche (City Church). He did let us know the hidden treasure and surprise ahead of us.

The city church represents sacral architecture in post-Reformation northern Germany. Commissioned by Prince Ernst zu Holstein-Schaumburg, the city church was built in the west between 1610-1615. The main portal bears the date 1613. The façade is designed in the formal language of late Renaissance and early Baroque, the so-called Weser Renaissance.

The bronze font was from 1613/1614 is an outstanding piece artwork completed by Bronze baptism by Adriaen de Vries. We actually saw the font and placed the top on it with the help of another person. The pulpit is one of the most beautiful in northern Germany with decorated with bas-reliefs by Hans Wolf. The Golden Perch rises above the entrance with the coat of arms of Schaumburg-Lippe. We were inside the church but could not get photos. We left the church after seeing another piece of artwork completed by Adriaen de Vries. We drove Stadthagen to see the medieval church of St. Martini.

There was a elderly group that we were with at the Bückerburg Palace then they came in while we were at the church. We drove to Stadthagen where we had the church and mausoleum to ourselves for a tour in English, it was magnificent.

St. Martitni Church

St. Martini Church was first mentioned in 1230 as a Roman Basilica, later rebuilt into a Gothic hall church. The choir is from 1318, tower and nave circa 14th and 15th century.

Interior of St. Martini Church, aisle built in the 14th century

Beautiful altar piece, hides the entrance to the Mausoleum of Prince Ernst

The Mausoleum of Prince Ernst in Stadthagen, Lower Saxony, is a mausoleum erected by Ernst of Schaumburg (d. 1622) and his widow Hedwig of Hesse-Kassel in the years 1620-1627. Its unusual architecture and the resurrection monument by Adrian de Vries make it a site of European rank. The crypt was used as burial place of the House of Schaumburg and the House of Schaumburg-Lippe until 1915.

The mausoleum, attached to the chancel of Stadthagen parish church St. Martini, is a domed heptagon in Italian renaissance style designed by Giovanni Maria Nosseni. Four of its walls are furnished with Latin inscribed epitaphs for Prince Ernst, his parents, and his wife, framed by aediculas with Italian marble columns. The mausoleum was private to the family and not shared with the public until recent times. There is a door behind the altar.

The centerpiece is the Resurrection Monument by Adriaen de Vries consists of a huge pedestal bearing the cenotaph of Prince Ernst - simultaneously conceived as the tomb of Christ: the cenotaph is surrounded by four drowsing Roman guards, and a larger-than-life figure of Christ triumphant surmounts its top.

The Vision of Ezekiel (Old Testament), painted by Anton Boten

Anton Boten: Raising of Lazarus (John 11) (New Testament)

The dome, painted with fourteen musician angels, represents heaven. The seven vaulted segments are each painted with two musical angels in front of white cloudy sky blue and framed with decorative ribbons. The angels play contemporary musical instruments such as Theorbe , Dulzian and Pommer . Above it the lantern opens, the ceiling of which shows the Schaumburg Nesselblatt coat of arms in the center of a seven-pointed star as well as seven angel heads. Through their windows, indirect daylight enters. n the years 1625/26 he painted the Angel Concerto in the form of 14 life-size musical angels in the 7 dome segments of the mausoleum.

Sleeping guardian, the anatomy is amazingly detailed from muscles in arms, legs and entire design.

Sleeping guard, only one guard has his eyes were open.

Gothic Octagonal Mausoleum of Prince Ernst, held the secret of its contents for many years

Latin School (Lateinschule)1565 als Sandsteingebäude im Renaissancestil neu erbaut. Die wappengesschmückte Steintafel erinnert an den Erbauer un Erneuerer der Schule, den Grafen Otto IV, und zugleich an den Rat der Stadt, den Förderer dieser Schule. Heute: Gemeindehaus der St. Martini-Gemeinde. Rebuilt in 1565 as a sandstone building in the Renaissance style. The coat of arms-decorated stone tablet commemorates the builder and renovator of the school, Count Otto IV, and at the same time to the city council, the patron of this school.

The Coat of Arms on the Latin School

After walking through the arch of the Latin School we came out in an open area and walked past the Olympic Training building from 1936.

1936 Olympic Gymnastics training center

Stadthagen Castle (Schloss Stadthagen) was built in the Weser Renaissance style circa 1200, this was major trade route.

The main interest is a castle built in the years 1535-1539 by Count Adolf XI. The first castle on this site was built in 1224, as Wasserburg by Count Adolf III. Since the beginning of the 13th century, Stadthagen was the ruling power of the counts of Holstein-Schaumburg. Castle was designed as a residence and not as a military object, that's why it looks pretty friendly. In 1539 the Schaumburg county authorities moved into the castle.

Weser Renaissance architectural style

Courtyard of Schloss Stadthagen

Holstein-Schaumburg Coat of Arms

Sundial on castle

Amtspforte

Built in 1533, this half-timbered building was the seat of the bailiff, who fulfilled the administrative, police and judicial tasks in the former Amt Stadthagen. Since 1963: museum of local history. The woman in the museum heard us speaking English and asked where we were from then asked us to come in and look around, the museum was closing in 10 minutes. Rolf spoke to her in German and explained we were from the US visiting him in Hannover. She was delightful and spoke some English.

Rolf had made reservations for dinner at an exotic restaurant locally known and very popular, called Mooshutte Restaurant. We had venison and wild boar for dinner. Very quaint, good service and very good food.

The following day was a down day from touring, so we took the Bentley to the carwash after we discovered some birds had flown through where she was kept, cleaned the car and secured some new photos for Rolf.

1964 Bentley S3

Keith and Wayne with the 1964 Bentley S3

We decided to relax the rest of the day at Vulcan Sauna and had 4 dry sauna applications (one was Russian style, Smoke with oms, eucalyptus, and ice). We had dinner afterwards at the sauna then went back to the apartment for Babylon Berlin.

On Sunday, 21October, we are up early and off to Potsdam in the 2006 VW Phaeton. We parked the car in a very convenient underground lot. We entered Sanssouci Park and walked along the tree lined walk to Marly Garden (Marlygarten). We could not enter the Church of Peace as mass was being said. The east side of the group of buildings abuts a manmade pond and a garden; the façade to the west leads to the Marly Garden. The church is located in the area covered by the UNESCO World Heritage Site Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin. secured tickets for several castles.

Church of Peace in Sanssouci Park. The cornerstone of the churchhouse was laid on April 14, 1845. The building was dedicated on September 24, 1848, though construction continued until 1854. The structure resembles a High Medieval Italian monastery.

Inside the cloister of the Church of Peace is this beautiful marble relief in the south part of the arcade, last work of the sculptor Christian Daniel Rauch. It shows Moses in prayer for his people for help against the Amalekites, supported by the high priests Aaron and Hur.

Within the Marly Garden is the Girl with the Parrot statue which stands on a column facing the Church of Peace off in the distance.

Weiss blaue Glassäule. The girl with parrot is a gilded zinc-cast sculpture after the model of the sculptor Heinrich Berges , which was made in the Berlin iron foundry of Siméon Pierre Devaranne. The form is standing on a white-blue striped column of individual glass tubes plastic three orders of the same specimens were made on behalf of Frederick William IV .

We had a stroll through the park and be outdoors, sunny, warm day with not a cloud in the sky. We sat outdoors enjoying a cappuccino and some delicious cake at Potsdam Historische Muhle. First stop was Sanssouci Park and Sanssouci Schloss. We went to Neue Kammern. We had lunch and at 16:05 the Neue Schloss.

Approaching the grandeur of Sanssouci Schloss from Marly Garden takes your breath away to see the magnificent park grounds, tiered vineyard and then approach closer to see fig trees between the terraces in closeted glass doors.

On a small rise covered with vineyard terraces near Potsdam, Friedrich had his Sanssouci summer palace constructed in 1745 –1747. This was not merely a summer residence and his favourite place to stay. It also became a personal sanctuary.

Before work on the Palace began, the hill was first terraced and planted with rows of vines. On 10 August 1744, Frederick The Great ordered the establishment of terraced vineyards on the Wüster Berg.

One of the many marble statues in Park Charlottenhof, it will be housed in an individual box on its stand for the winter. While visiting some statues had already been encased in its winter home.

Keith and Wayne standing on the stairs above the terrace to Sanssouci Palace (Schloss Sanssouci)

Caryatids on the Garden façade

The garden facing palace

Frederick the Great's tombstone sits in the area where his dogs were buried, people place potatoes on his tomb.

Frederick’s Summer Palace and ultimately the site of his burial. Frederick had never been particularly fond of his wife, and so instead elected to be buried alongside his trusty greyhounds, which he usually named after the King of France’s mistresses in order to anger the man.

Among his many accomplishments Frederick the Great also happened to introduce potatoes to Germany. He thought they were a great idea, and made a big production out of eating potatoes and smacking his lips enthusiastically at state dinners.

King Frederick's wish was to be buried in a crypt on the vineyard terrace of his beloved Sanssouci. However, his successor entombed him in the Garrison Church, beside his father. His last wish was finally fulfilled, on the 205th anniversary of his death on 17th August, 1991 with his re-burial. Frederick The Great is now laid to rest on the highest terrace of Sanssouci Palace.

Ruinenberg (Mount of Ruins) built on a hill above the fountain and seen from Sanssouci Palace.

View of the carriage entry of Sanssouci Palace, after we purchased tickets this photo was taken.

Sanssouci Palace from across the street near Muhle.

Ceiling in the vestibule

Entrance for guests into the Palace from the vestibule

Small hall and gallery, the sofas are for appearance not for sitting since they are half the normal width for esthetics.

Music Salon, Frederick would play the piano here

Entering the Marble Hall

The main reception room, the Marble Hall was the heart of the palace. The glistening dome and marble columns along with the arched French windows facing the gardens interface between building and the garden, a transition anticipated in the plant motifs found in the colored marble inlay in the floor.

Floral inlay in the floor around marble statues and columns.

The Arts looking over the Marble Hall

The Voltaire Room in Sanssouci Palace

This is the Fourth guest room, known as the Voltaire Room, is lavishly decorated with woodcarvings of flowers, fruits and animals spreading out across the ceiling and walls. Due to the elaborate interiors, the room is always associated with the King's favorite guest: Voltaire, even though the famous philosopher never stayed here. The room was completed in 1753, after Voltaire had departed following disagreements with Frederick.

The impression of harmonious ensemble (the goal of Rococo art) is here achieved by using flowers to unify the motif on the walls, as garlands on the ceiling and ornaments on the chandelier.

Voltaire's bed chamber

On the door leaving the room, this is the last room on the tour of the palace.

The palace is grand on a small scale and the rooms are incredible. It would be impossible to place every photo from every room here. We have placed the most significant to give you and idea of the magnitude of beauty and artistry found in this palace.

The view walking from the Schloss Sanssouci to Neue Kammern (New Chambers in the former Orangerie)

Neue Kammern and Windmill

The New Chambers (Neue Kammern) was built in 1747 to serve as an Orangery according to the plans of Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff. It's re-designed from 1771 to 1774 by Georg Unger as the guests' palace serving Frederick II. The Orangery contains guest apartments, the Jasper Hall, the marquetry cabinet, and the Ovid gallery. The Orangery was built to bring the orange trees in for winter protection.

Blue Room

The New Chambers (Neue Kammern) is part of the ensemble of Sanssouci Palace. Frederic II had a luxurious residence for guests built and fitted directly adjacent to Sanssouci Palace. The splendour and refinement of its lavishly equipped apartments and ballrooms are certain to impress contemporary visitors just as they used to impress Frederic's guests.

Unmissable highlights include the Jasper Hall, which was decorated using precious red jasper and white marble only as well as the Ovid Gallery. Its gilded wall reliefs depict scenes from Ovid's "Metamorphoses", further images of which can also be found in the elegant Blue Gallery.

Graffiti from Soviet Army in 1945 when they stayed in the new chambers.

The Ovid Gallery is decorated with gilded reliefs whose subjects are taken from the “Metamorphoses” of Ovid - a favorite theme of Frederick the Great. They were executed by the brothers Johann David and Johann Wilhelm Lorenz Räntz.


	Perseus and Andromeda by Johann Lorenz Wilhelm Räntz and Johann David Räntz 1773. Persues holds the head of Medusa in his hands that turned the beast to corral. Andromeda's parents in the background smile.

Bacchus und Ariadne

Jasper Room ceiling, Venus with her Entourage by Johann Chrisoph Frisch 1744

The Jasper Room is in the middle of the building, under the cupola, lies the largest room.

The ballroom's walls are decorated with red jasper and grey Silesian marble. The same colors are found in the floor design. The ceiling painting Venus with her Retinue was created in 1774 by Johann Christoph Frisch.

Jasper Room

Decorated panels from both antiquity and the 18th century were attached to the background of red jasper. Frederick II was intersted in collecting Roman artifacts, eventhough he never went to Italy, he had a love for the classics and Italy.

Third Guest Room

Third Guest Room, behind the two doors is the commode.

The walls are intarsia veneer, only two mm thick, consists of dyed or different colored woods such as maple, walnut and pear, and is inlaid and glued on a base of pine boards. The door was added later to accomodate a commode. The Grosses Intarsienkabinett (Large Intrasia Room) decorated by The Spindler brothers, who came from Bayreuth and had been active at the court of Frederick's sister, Wilhelmine, before they came to Potsdam. The use of an idiom drawn from nature in this room is characteristic of the late phase of Frederician interior decoration. The motifs of flowers, fruits and birds are united by an intricate latticework of motifs relating to hunting and musical instruments. the wood used for the inlay is largely indigenous and was tinted with natural dyes and sealed with colored beeswax.

Above the exit of a Guest Room, two gorgeous Peacocks with porcelain objects

Seventh Guest Room, The pictures found here are a number of views of Potsdam, giving an impression of the town as it was under Frederick the Great. The king commissioned paintings speciallly for his guest rooms.

The King had interests in Roman Empire, antiquarian Rome and Venice. He commissioned paintings of these cities for his guest rooms. There are original oil paintings of Roman Gods and Goddesses throughout the guest palace.

Garden below the New Chambers, this garden was charming with a free feeling of peacefulness.

The Orangery

We were taken in to the splendor of the Neus Palais which is made from brick and looks like it is painted from a distance decorated with thousands of statues. Built in the Late Baroque style. This palace and the grounds are magnificent, the greatest surprise was the two buildings across from the palace are the Communs.

Opposite to the palace’s westward-opening court of honour are the Communs, designed by Carl von Gontard and Jean Laurent Le Geay. Styled in the same manner as the palace itself, the two buildings housed the royal kitchens, utilities, gardeners’ shops, palace guards and servants. Between the two buildings stretches a curved colonnade, decorated with statuary and obelisks, which acted as a state entrance and as a screen to shield the view of the marshlands beyond. In 1896, Wilhelm II had an underground tunnel constructed to allow passage between the palace and the Communs, avoiding possibly inclement weather. The curved staircases, domes, pilasters and columns do not show the practical purpose of the buildings.

Walking to the Neus Palais from the Orangery

Approach to the back of the Neus Palais

Statuary and lamps along the palace

Entrance to Neus Palais

The Communs

The New Palace was erected in the western part of Park Sanssouci between 1763 and 1769. Frederick’s New Palace marks the symbolic end of an era, since after its completion no further baroque palaces were built in Prussia. The head architects were Johann Gottfried Büring (1763-1764), who had already built the Chinese House and the Gallery at Park Sanssouci, and Carl von Gontard (1764-1769). In the immediate vicinity are the Temple of Friendship and the Antique Temple. On account of his deeming it too ostentatious, Frederick only rarely used his New Palace as a personal residence, preferring to make it the guest house. Of Frederick’s successors to the throne, only Emperor Frederick III and his son William II chose to use the New Palace in Potsdam as their personal residence. Once the royal residence during the German Empire (1871-1918).

Keith and Wayne inside the entrance gate to the palace

We entered the Neues Palais amazed at the Frederich Rococo style in the Palace, the grotto made from seashells, muscle shells with a theme of water creatures, the marble room on the second floor above the grotto is a massive room free of columns. The rooms are ornate and each had a different theme and appearance.

Ceiling in the entry room

One of the many marble statues within the entry hall.

When we left the entry hall we entered the ground floor Grotto Hall, we were enthralled with the appearance of the room with more than 24,000 seashells, minerals, fossils and gemstones glitter and sparkle in all their original glory. The motiff of the grotto forms a companion world of Neptune. The walls are deocrated with shells, minerals, corals and glass clinkers, then later gems and fossils were added.

Grotto Hall

Part of the design of the Groto Hall is a marble floor depicting marine animals and plants and an 1806 ceiling painting, Venus and Amor, the Three Graces and Putti. Attributed to Johann Gottfried Niedlich, the painting has replaced an earlier work. Niches around the room contain statuary and fountains, with cut crystal chandeliers hung in the arches.

Riding Dolphins

Narrow Hallway between large rooms

At the end of the war Soviet Red Army Soldiers occupied the New Palace, with its basement giving shelter to military as well as civilian refugees. After invading the palace Soviet soldiers wrote in red on the wall: "Death to the German occupants'. Already relocated artwork was taken as booty to the Soviet Union by art commissioners. Only a few of the many pieces have been reinstated since. For instance, all the seating arrangement of this room is lost but the one armchair. Today, the color pictures, as well as the black and white reproductions, represent the hangings of King Frederick the Great's time. They show the king's taste for Italian paintings of the 16th to the 18th century. The reconstruction has been made possible due to Matthias Oesterreich, the Prussian paintings director, who had published a visitor's guide in 1772.

Tammerlan Room, 'Death to the German Occupants' and the black and white reproduction of the painting that existed during the period of King Frederick the Great

The New Palace was a demonstration of the Prussian state’s undiminished power and wealth following the deprivations of the Seven Years’ War. The paintings in the King's Chambers / Royal Suites.

Fireplace in the King's Chambers/ Royal Suite

Classic Frederich Rocco design on the ceiling of the King's Chamber

One of 200 rooms in the palace.

Ceiling to the above room photographed

The Braided Room

Original fabric on the walls, curtains are closed to prevent sun damage. World Monuments Fund helped the Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation (Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten) to restore four rooms of the Lower Royal Suite (Unteres Fürstenquartier) of the New Palace. The rooms, on the ground floor of the main wing, overlook the formal garden. Members of the royal family and their guests could withdraw to these intimately sized rooms for privacy and seclusion. The suite consists of a dining room known as the Braided Room (Tressenzimmer), a concert room (Konzertzimmer), an oval-shaped cabinet resembling a bower (Ovales Kabinett), and an antechamber (Vorraum). Restoration focused on exquisitely crafted parquet floors and wall coverings such as the red silk damask with gold braided trimmings after which the Braided Room is named. In the Konzertzimmer, missing furnishings were reconstructed. The project, which also had the support of the Ostdeutsche Sparkassenstiftung (East German Savings Bank Foundation) together with Mittelbrandenburgische Sparkasse in Potsdam finished in 2012 in time for Frederick the Great’s tricentennial. Meissen porcelain snowball vases are sitting on the mantel in the Braided Room.

The Braided Room original wall coverings

Apollo Room / Concert Room William II, the last German emperor, and his family used this room as a dining room.

Apollo Room / Concert Room

Oval Cabinet with porcelain chandelier

Writing Closet (Schreibkaninett)

Writing Closet

Large Bedchamber (Grosse Schlafzimmer) with the original bedroom furniture

The original furniture was missing from this room. Someone found out the furniture was being auctioned and the foundation purchased the furniture placing it back in the room.

Large Bedchamber (Grosse Schlafzimmer)

Armoire in the Large Bedchamber

The Hunting Room

The Hunting Room with black and white replica of the stolen painting.

Meissen Porcelain Chandelier in the Hunting Room

Music Room (Konzertzimmer)

Green Damask Chamber (Grüne Damastkammer)

Great Chamber (Grosse Kammer)

Due to construction errors and the use of wet beams, the 90-ton hall was at risk of crashing into the Grotto Hall, one floor below. The renovation works, which began in 2013, cost around 4.9 million euros ($5.6 million). The restoration of the Marble Hall in Sanssouci's New Palace in Potsdam has been completed. The 600 square-foot room on the upper floor of the palace built by Prussian King Frederick the Great has been returned to its original character.

Situated directly over the Grotto Hall is the Marble Hall, the largest of the festival halls, which was used variously as a ballroom and as a banqueting hall. Rising over two floors, the hall overlooks the eastern parterres and the axial vista leading to Sanssouci. The richly gilt, curved ceiling rises into the attic area under the great copper dome. The painting in the center of this ceiling, The Induction of Ganymede in Olympus, was created in 1769 by Charles-Amédée-Philippe van Loo. With a surface of 240 square meters, it is the largest canvas ceiling painting north of the Alps. Four enormous paintings commissioned before the Seven Years' War adorn the marble walls of the hall. Positioned at the pilasters are twelve statues, depicting eight Brandenburg Prince-electors and four famous "emperors": Julius Caesar, Constantine, Charlemagne and Rudolph II. A balcony with an intricate gilt iron railing overlooks the hall from the third floor.

Marble Hall (Marmosaal), you can see the magnificence of this massive hall with Frederich Rococo style architecture.

Ganymede in Olympus

Marble Hall, large space of marble flooring

Marble Hall

Large canvass painting

Sunset over the Communs and Colonnade, the former cobblestone is being uncovered. Following the split of Germany , the former East Germany had covered the cobblestones with grass. It is be recovered.

Neues Palais

The Neues Palais was neglected after Frederick’s death in 1786 and sat virtually abandoned until 1859 when the future Frederick III used it as a summer residence and his home during his famed 99 day reign. The last German Emperor and King of Prussia Wilhem II modernized the building, but became the final residence in 1918 when he abdicated and Germany became a republic. He made it a point to take all the good stuff with him to his new, exiled life in the Netherlands.

While walking back to the entrance to the Park we came across this architectural gem, The Chinese House (Chinesisches Haus). Framed by sculptural groups showing Chinese people eating fruit, drinking tea, and making music. The leaf gilded sandstone sculptures are amongst the most expressive work produced by Johann Gottlieb Heymüller and Johann Peter Brenckert, two sculptors who were given frequent commissions by Frederick the Great.

The Chinese House (Chinesisches Haus)

The Chinese House has the shape of a trefoil. The rounded central building contains three cabinet rooms regularly interspersed with free spaces. Rounded windows and French windows that reach almost to the ground let light into the pavilion's interior. The rolling tented copper ceiling is supported in the free space by four gilded sandstone columns, the work of the Swiss ornamental sculptor Johann Melchior Kambly, who was in the employ of Frederick the Great from 1746.

The gilded sandstone sculptures that sit at the feet of the columns and stand at the walls of the rooms originate from the workshops of the sculptors Johann Gottlieb Heymüller (ca. 1715-1763) and Johann Peter Benckert (1709-1769). People from the area stood as models for the eating, drinking and music-making Chinese figures, which explains the statues' European features.

The cupola crowning the roof is surmounted by a gilded Chinese figure with an open parasol. Friedrich Jury created it in copper after a design by the sculptor Benjamin Giese. Light falls into the central chamber through the long oval window openings of the cupola as it does through the windows in the façade.

After a wonderful day of touring Potsdam, we drove to Zum Rittmeister in Kemnitz (Werder) for dinner and sleep. Had a very large dinner and delicious micro brewed beer.

On Monday morning, 22 October we had a wonderful full breakfast then we drove from Hotel to Werder Havel on a grey and misty morning. We walked briefly in the wind driven mist around the village on the lake (see).

Werder Havel would be a great place to walk around on a sunny Spring or Summer day. Our walk took us through quaint cobblestoned ways through the island into the main market place, along the shore near fishing houses, boats and restaurants.

Werder Havel walking on the Unter den Linden bridge to Werder Island

Parish church in the neo-Gothic style, which was built by August Stüler (one of Schinkel’s pupils)

Beautiful flowers still in bloom

Bockwindmühle (a windmill that is typical of the region) as well as old fishermen’s houses that date back to the 18th century make an impression in the old town centre, on Werder Island.

We drove to Tangermünde, which changed from sunny to warmer weather. We park the car and Rolf shows us some hidden treasures not on the usual tourist trail.

The Tangermünde Town Hall is the historic town hall of the city of Tangermünde, built in the Middle Ages. It is one of the most beautiful late medieval buildings of secular architecture in northern Germany.

The oldest part of the building is the east wing, at that time in the Mark Brandenburg and built by Pomerania builder Hinrich Brunsberg. Noteworthy is the 24-meter-high brick wall made of brick. In 1480 construction of the court arbor and the Ratsstube above it were completed. This building contains gothic and Romanesque structural elements that appear on the exterior of the building.

Some of the more prominent features of the town hall are its high gables. On the façade are three staggered gables, with one central gable extending above the peak height of the roofline. These gables are a feature of brick architecture during this period. Adorning each gable are miniature spires, evocative of high gothic architecture popularized on cathedral exteriors. Each gable contains one large central circular window with two smaller ones below it, all with highly decorative tracery. These central circular windows are reminiscent of the grandiose rose windows that appear on the west façade of many gothic cathedrals.

Tangermünde Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus)

The Tangermünde Old Town Hall is a late medieval building constructed in the 1430's

Tangemünde streets of cobblestone and traditional construction. This medieval City was not destroyed in the war, some are marked with historical markers to preserve the houses. There are homes here that have not been fixed at all post war. The City was preserved but for the bridge over the Elbe.

Dutch Church and New City Wall, Gate and Tower

Tangermünde is one of the few cities in northern Germany, where the City Walls, still today, almost completely surround the old town. The first wall ring of foundlings was probably built in 1300. There are only a few remnants of this. The substructure of the city wall, which still exists today, dates mostly from the 14th century. The upper part is younger.

Extensive renovation work was carried out in the second half of the 18th century, especially on the water side. At this time, large parts of the wall, which included a wooden battlement, were broken. The reconstruction served the purpose of counteracting smuggling, having goods traffic pass through the city gates. On the water side, the height of the city wall is 10 meters to 12 meters.

St. Nikolai Church with its tower connects directly to the gate. Today, there is a rustic restaurant in the church. Ducth Church on left foreground, Neustädter Tor was originally a double gate. The shorter rectangular tower of the Neustädter Tor was built around 1300 and had a crenellated platform, which was replaced by a hipped roof in the 16th century. The higher round tower and the covered walkway between the towers was built around 1450.

The painted coats of arms over the gate passage were brought up only 1897. In addition to the Prussian golden eagle, they also show the Tangermuende and the Brandenburger Adler as well as the imperial eagle of the Bismarck kingdom of 1871 and the eagle of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. St. Nikolai Church with its tower connects directly to the gate. Today, there is a rustic restaurant in the church.

St. Nikolai Church

The oldest parish church Tangermünde was built in the course of the adoration of the city in 1250 by Dutch colonists. She was consecrated to the patron saint of merchants and sailors, the Saint Nicholas. The late Gothic slate-covered church tower, articulated, with corner lutes and plaster bands, was built about 1460/1470. He stands in the place of an older tower. Already since the end of the 16th century, no services were held there.

In the course of the past centuries, the building, which was erected as a church, also served as a military hospital, as a guard and detention center for the former Tangermünde garrison and as a police prison. The former choir room was rebuilt in 1856 to a spray house of the fire department. (Taken from the plaque on the building)

Old Town Hall

Grete Minde

The novella Grete Minde by Theodor Fontane is about a young woman who ignites the old town of Tangermünde on the Elbe out of hatred and disappointment and buries many people in the flames and under the rubble. Grete Minde plays at the beginning of the 17th century - the novella ends in 1617 with the fire of the city. Fontane wrote it in 1879. At the beginning of the novella, Grete Minde is a 13-year-old orphan, unloved by her sister-in-law Trud Minde and her spouse, Grete's half-brother Gerdt. Grete's mother was a Catholic Spaniard. Her father dies shortly after her confirmation. The only one who understands her is her neighbor and best friend Valtin, who already adored and loved her as a child. Trud Minde, however, sees the childish games of Valtin and Grete with envious eyes, since she was denied such "luck". She wants to forbid them dealing with each other. Also she sees "something bad in her". The novella is based on true events that Fontane researched in Tangermünde in 1878. A Grete Minde actually lived there, there was also an inheritance process, and in 1617 there was a major fire in the city. It also burned large parts of the local St. Stephen's Church . In the museum inside the historical city hall of the city some documents are issued.

In contrast to Fontane 's novella, in which Grete Minde becomes an arsonist in revenge for her rejected legacy, the true Grete Minde is now considered innocent and much more a victim of intrigue and hasty justice, sentenced to death and slander on the Pyre sentenced. On March 22, 1619 Grete Minde was painfully executed.

Medieval home with Denkmal plaque marker for buildings in various states, incorporating the symbol of the Hague Convention of 1954. Protecting heritage site homes with a listing in a regional Denkmalschutz list is not always appreciated by everyone, since such a listing may come with legal historic preservation obligations.

St. Stephen's Church, Kirchestrasse

On the site of today's church stood as a predecessor a Romanesque brick basilica with nave and transept, a choir, a Hauptapsis and two Nebenapsiden. This building existed before 1188. Parts of this building have been included in the new building of St. Stephen. The transept of this church determined the width of the nave of today's church. Thus, on the northern side of the nave, there are two Romanesque windows, and parts of the masonry of the previous building can be seen.

Often Emperor Charles IV, who resided in Tangermünde between 1373 and 1378, is mentioned as a client for the church. He founded an Augustinian choir manor at the castle and this the parish church of St. Stephen transferred as a source of income.

In the late Middle Ages, the construction of today's three-aisled Gothic hall church took place in several stages. After 1350, the northern nave wall and the south wall with niches first emerged. Around 1405, the roof truss was erected and the ribbed vault lowered.

In a major fire in 1617, the church was damaged. The top of the north tower crashed down. It was only in 1714 that the northern tower was given its current Baroque-style dome.

Orators pulpit (Kanzel) ornately carved stone and plaster work from 1619 by Magedeburg sculptor Christopher Dehne. It is late Renaissance and Mannerism.

Close-up of the pulpit, depicts Moses as the pulpit bearer looking at the tablets of law. The plaster work shows the apostles and reliefs from themes found in the Bible.

Longhouse of St. Stephen's Church

A very large, baroque high altar retable unique in these dimensions in the Altmark was erected in 1705. The three-storey wooden construction has doors for the sacrament procession. The main floor shows Moses and John the Baptist flanking a crucifixion. Peter and Paul accompany Christ, who is depicted here as a lion from the tribe of Judah.

In the late Middle Ages, the construction of today's three-aisled Gothic hall church took place in several stages. After 1350, the northern nave wall and the south wall with niches first emerged.Around 1405, the roof truss was erected and the ribbed vault lowered.

Unusual are the octagonal profiled pillars. The south tower remained unfinished until today. Around 1450, the construction of the new choir began. Initially, the new outer walls of the choir and the wings of the transept were created. Only then was the old choir removed. The pillars between inland choir and handling are powerful round columns with four blinded services, which carry the strongly profiled vault. The choir roof was covered around 1475.

In a major fire in 1617, the church was damaged. The top of the north tower crashed down. It was only in 1714 that the northern tower was given its current Baroque style dome.

Choir

Emperor Charles IV would have been here during Mass

Prison tower and Castle Gate (Gefängnisturm und Schlosstor)

The gate, originally the only access to the castle, has undergone structural changes and extensions over the centuries. The still visible gate in the Mouerflucht was built in the second half of the 14th century. The former drawbridge in front of the gate is no longer recognizable.

The expansion of the square floor plan to the city side was under Elector Frederick II in the 15th Century This part of the gate was originally two-story unroofed.

The Brandenburg eagle can be recognized on a sandstone slab above the outer archway.

Schloss Tangermünde (now Hotel Schloss Tangermünde)

We were looking forward to a lovely lunch in the former Schloss while overlooking the Havel River and the panoramic scenery below. We went inside the restaurant, which was quiet, walked in and took seats by the window as the waiter, Felix walked in. Lunch was over but he could provide coffee and cake. We decided to stay for the offering.

Alte Kanzler Tanzhaus Kaiser Karl IV

The "Old Chancellery" on the Tangermünde castle hill, the dance house of Emperor Charles IV

View Rivers Elber and Havel from Schlosshotel Tangemünde from our table

View of Elber River from Schloss Tangermünde

Keith sitting at the restaurant waiting for Kaffee und Kuchen (Coffee and Cake)

View from our table

Old Chancellory and Stephankirche steeple

Guard tower on the City wall, Rolf and Keith keeping a lookout

Stephankirche and Prison Tower

Schloss Gate and City wall, Rolf and Wayne

Hünerdorfer Strasse

Hünderdorfer Strasse, Stephankirche and Owl Tower (Eulenturm)

The Eulenturm is a fortified tower in Tangermünde, which belongs to the historic town fortifications. The 24 meter high tower belonged to the no longer existing double gate Hünerdorfer Tor . The square base was built around 1300 and contained a dungeon . Around 1460/70, the upper octagonal part of the tower was built, in which the watchtower was located. The oriels on the tower served to allow the guards to look in all directions. On the tower is a platform provided with a crenellated wreath. The drainage takes place via four gargoyles . The owl tower was at the inner gate. A little further north, just before the castle was turned into the castle, was the Vortor. Both gates were connected by kennel walls. At the southwestern corner of the tower is still the approach to the interior archway to see. Over this archway led a battlement in the tower. This entry was later walled up. In 1871 the Vortor was demolished. End of the 1880s was followed by the demolition of the north adjoining the tower city wall. The former connection of the city wall to the tower can still be seen today. Since then, the tower is free.

Hünderdorfer Strasse medieval homes that were not fixed during the days post World War II and before unification. Some of these homes are beautiful old construction from the 16 and 17th centuries.

Wayne started the drive back home. Keith took over driving after we stopped for a break, since the GPS had us go backwards on a detour losing 21 miles while Wayne was driveing. We stopped at the grocery store in Hannover then Rolf Drive the rest of the way home.

Tuesday, 23 October was a down day for all of us to do laundry and we met an old colleague of Keith’s for lunch. We walked from the house through the forest, on a bone chilling cold and windy day, which blocked the wind and some drizzle.

The Eilenriede is Europe's largest city forest in the heart of Hanover. The forest is around 640 hectares (1,600 acres) recreational area for walking, running and bicycling. With a convenient web of pathways and hundreds of benches for resting, with lakes, lawns for sunbathing, children's playgrounds and forest inns, the Eilenriede fulfils many needs of citizens seeking recreation.

We had a nice lunch and walked to and from the restaurant then relaxed with Rolf.

We drove on Thursday 25 October to Bremerhaven to the German Immigration Museum that was fascinating, intriguing with the data and presentation of the information. Afterwards we checked into the Atlantic Sail Hotel, went to the spa, used the dry sauna for two session treatments then went to dinner.

Bremerhaven was one of the main transit points for Europeans to the Americas and Australia from the early 1800's to the 1950's. You are provided a boarding pass with an electronic card that allows you to listen in at the various stops throughout the exhibits. You key is coded to your native language. This is one of the best experiences we have had and actually felt as if we were part of the crossing.

Deutsches Auswandererhaus (German Emigration Center)

Inside the Deutsches Auswandererhaus (German Emigration Center) in the Third Class passenger sleeping area. (Keith, Rolf and Reinhart)

Keith, Rolf and Wayne in 3rd Class for the journey to the US

Dining Hall, water in the portholes moved and the lights flickered. You had the sense you were in the steamliner crossing the Ocean to Ellis Island, NY, USA

Arrival to Grand Central Station, an immigrant asks the Red Hat Custodian for assistance

We spent 3-4 hours touring this museum, starting with the passport we were each given for a particular person immigrating to the US and then emigration with another person into Germany. Fascinating way to have you completely immersed into the procedure then a scavenger hunt style search for information on the person coming into Germany.

Atlantic Hotel Sail City

After breakfast on Friday, 26 October, we drove to Cuxhaven and went to the sea then walked into the mud flats of Wadden Sea (UNESCO). It was a lot of fun to walk in the mud flats but it was windy and cold. This is a place to visit in the late Spring or Summer. You can walk for miles.

UNESCO - The Wadden Sea is the largest unbroken system of intertidal sand and mud flats in the world. The site covers the Dutch Wadden Sea Conservation Area, the German Wadden Sea National Parks of Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein, and most of the Danish Wadden Sea maritime conservation area. It is a large, temperate, relatively flat coastal wetland environment, formed by the intricate interactions between physical and biological factors that have given rise to a multitude of transitional habitats with tidal channels, sandy shoals, sea-grass meadows, mussel beds, sandbars, mudflats, salt marshes, estuaries, beaches and dunes. The area is home to numerous plant and animal species, including marine mammals such as the harbour seal, grey seal and harbour porpoise. Wadden Sea is one of the last remaining large-scale, intertidal ecosystems where natural processes continue to function largely undisturbed.

Keith at Wadden Sea

Wayne at Wadden Sea

Wadden Sea, Rolf and Reinhart on the beach

Barges leaving Hamburg

We drove to Hamburg afterwards and were caught in very heavy traffic. Rolf wanted us to experience a fantastic restaurant in an old warehouse. No frills tip restaurant but it took us so long to get their the kitchen was closed when we arrived. We had another option to go to a mall, for dinner. This restaurant was nothing like US mall style restaurant.

Went to dinner at Hummerstand in Hamburg. Fresh delicious grilled shrimp with grilled vegetables. The food was really good.

We walked to the Rathaus and went inside then out the side door to the fountain. It started raining as we walked around but the rain was coming down too hard to walk. We only had a tease of what Hamburg has to offer, we need at least a week here to immerse ourselves into the City.

Pouring rain, could not keep us from seeing Rathausplatz (view of St. Petri Kirche)

Rathaus (Town Hall)

On the outside the architectural style is neo-renaissance, which is abandoned inside for several historical elements. It is one of the few completely preserved historic buildings of Hamburg.

Built in a period of wealth and prosperity, in which the Kingdom of Prussia and its confederates defeated France in the Franco-German War and the German Empire was formed, the look of the new Hamburg Rathaus was intended to express this wealth and also the independence of the State of Hamburg and Hamburg's republican traditions. The city hall has a total area of 17,000 m2 (182,986 sq ft), not including the restaurant Ratsweinkeller, now called Parliament, of 2,900 m2 (31,215 sq ft). The tower is 112 metres (367 ft) high with 436 steps. It is a common misconception that Hamburg Rathaus has more rooms than Buckingham Palace (647 vs. 775), on a building area of 5,400 m2 (58,125 sq ft).

The balcony is surmounted by a mosaic of Hamburg's patron goddess Hammonia, the city's coat of arms and an inscription of the city's motto in Latin:

"Libertatem quam peperere maiores digne studeat servare posteritas." (in English: The freedom won by our elders, may posterity strive to preserve it in dignity.)

Town Hall balcony, Neo-renaissance style and Hamburg coat of arms

Canal off Rathausplatz

Hygeia Fountain and Courtyard

Hygieia as the goddess of health and hygiene in Greek mythology and its surrounding figures represents the power and pureness of the water. It was built in remembrance of the cholera epidemic in 1892.

To give you an idea how large this fountain is, we stood beside it for this photo

Faun with Shell

Interior of City Hall

The lobby is a public area used for concerts and exhibitions. It is open to the public. The emperor's hall in the first floor is the second-largest representation hall, named after Wilhelm II and functions as a room for official presentations.

With the torrents of heavy rain we got in the car and traveled back to Hannover. Another amazing day with Rolf and Reinhart sightseeing with them.

Sunday, 28 October, Keith woke early and ran out to get bread and croissants for breakfast on this 0c day (32F). We decided to go to Celle, 40km from Hannover. We toured Schloss Celle. Residence to the House of Hanover’s Sofia Dorothea. We walked around the historic village that was not damaged in WWII. Oldest building we noted was 1532. Walked back to the car as it started to rain but warmed up to 5C.

Celle is of interest because of the vast amount of timber frame houses and the connection to the House of Hannover and the royals of Britain through Duke George William. Celle is a quaint and quiet City of old, dating back to 933.

The rule of Duke George William in the second half of the 17th century saw a cultural renaissance as the castle was turned into a Schloss or palace, ornate gardens took the place of fortifications and the baroque theatre was created. When the last Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg died in 1705, Celle passed to the prince-electors of Hanover. Although no longer a ducal residence, the town grew in stature as an administrative and judicial centre for the region. When George, Elector of Hanover, ascended to the British throne as George I, Celle became a possession of the British Hanoverian line.

Celle Schloss (photo from Wikipedia), The castle was undergoing repairs to the façade when we were there.

Kitchen Residenzmuseum im Celle Schloss

Chapel at Schloss Celle

The chapel was founded in the 15th century, and soon after the Reformation – some time between 1565 and 1576 – it was entirely refurbished by Duke William the Younger. Celle court chapel is the only surviving virtually complete ecclesiastical building in Germany from the early Protestant period. None of its equipment and furnishings were removed over the centuries and only a few changes have been made

The distinctive character of the building is due in part to its unique expression of Protestant piety and the princely desire to create a building of prestige. Furthermore, the paintings in the chapel are unique in their quality and scale: large parts of the cycle were painted by the most influential Antwerp painter of the time. Marten de Vos (1532 to 1603) and his workshop created a sequence of pictures for the Celle Residence which has no contemporary equal in terms of skill and scope.

The Chapel is the most outstanding artistically designed private chapel we have ever seen.

In 1524 the Reformation was introduced into Celle. In 1570 Duke William the Younger built the castle chapel which was consecrated in 1585. From 1665 to 1705 Celle experienced a cultural boom as a Residenz under Duke George William. This has been particularly put down to his French wife, Eleonore d'Olbreuse, who brought fellow Huguenot Christians and Italian architects to Celle. During this time the French and Italian Gardens were laid out and the baroque castle theatre built.

Bomann Museum

Stechbahn- Originally was where the joisting took place in the middle ages

St Marien City Church

Early Gothic church was remodeled in Baroque style between 1676 and 1698.

Altes Rathaus

It was built in 1292, when Duke Otto the austerity built the city according to his plans and is until today an impressive testimony of the Dukes of Celle.

It is located on the market, where every year in the historic half-timbered Celles also the famous Christmas market takes place.

The Celler Town Hall, one of the oldest buildings in the city, consists of two parts. The older part rises above the Ratskeller with its gothic ribbed vault.

In the 16th century, the older part of the building was also modernized and equipped with the elaborate façade painting, which was only rediscovered and reconstructed in 1985.

The northern gable, a masterpiece of the Weser Renaissance, also dates back to time.

Traditional timber-frame construction from 1540

Strolling through Celle on a cool day

Hoppener House, Celle, Germany. 1532: Built on behalf of Duke Ernst the Confessor for Rentmeister Simon Hoppener. 1725-1759: Property of the court physician Dr. Johann Daniel Taube. 1932: Partially destroyed by fire.

Ate lunch at Bähre Gasthaus & Hotel, we had wild Boar (Wildschweinschnitzle). Delicious with prunes and spatzle. We relaxed and watched a movie.

Bähre Gasthaus & Hotel

We decided to take a couple of days for some down time, we have been on the run almost daily. Following the Full Moon Fall has come with colder weather and clouds. It is cold and rainy today in Hannover, temperature this morning was 5C and by noon it was windy and 7. We took the Mercedes out of the garage, but air in the tires and filled the tank before putting her back.

Wayne made eggplant Parmesan for dinner. Christian joined us for dinner and conversation at Rolf's. We talked about travel and where we go next, we may see Christian and his boyfriend, Oliver in Düsseldorf.

Keith and Wayne walked around downtown on Tuesday while Rolf had appointments then we had lunch at the Market Hall, Christian joined us. After going to the Opera house we headed home. We had tea and cake at the flat. We had an early dinner then played UNO. We watched Babylon Berlin then went to bed.

The Marstall Gate in Hanover is the entrance to the former riding school on the Neuer Marstall , built in 1714 and built in 1712 by Louis Remy de la Fosse. Detail of the upper part with the coat of arms of George I. , held by a lion and a horse under the crown. The riding arena was destroyed by the air raids during World War II.

River Leine along the walls of the Schloss

Schloss, Leine River and Neue Town Hall

Keith on one of the bridges to the Schloss

Beautiful freise on the exterior of Market Church

Opera House

Part of the Berlin Wall, West German side

Berlin Wall, East German side

Today, 31 October was a holiday for Reformation, many people were on holiday and shops were closed. We went to Goslar today, Reinhard joined us. We toured Goslar and took the City Train. We had a coffee at Market Place. After touring the City we went to a restaurant in the Harz Mountains called Maltermeister Turm after the tower built 1543.

Goslar is a historic town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the administrative centre of the district of Goslar and located on the northwestern slopes of the Harz mountain range. The Old Town of Goslar and the Mines of Rammelsberg are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Half Timber framed architecture

Goslar emerged from one of the Roman settlements on the northern edge of the Harz Mountains, founded in AD 922 in the reign of Henry I of East Francia (Henry the Fowler), according to Saxon tradition. The first written record, for Otto II, does not appear until 979. In 934, it is likely that a royal castle was built on the hill of the Georgenberg and, from 968, the mining industry at Rammelsberg was developed. The mineworkers need for this industry lived in Bergedorf around the church of St. John. The embossed silver Otto Adelheid pennies made of Goslar silver are the first tangible evidence of the mining industry. The onset of metallurgy around 990 required professional tradesmen who were distinguished from the native Saxons as "Franks" and settle on the so-called Frankenberg. Goslar was an important settlement resulting from mining along the Rammelsberg Mountains to protect the silver ore.

Tower and Goslar City wall

Goslar Marketplace (Marktplatz)

Hotel Kaiserwerth

Marktplatz Goslar Fountain

Market fountain at first appears to be a coherent artwork, in reality it is a complicated puzzle: the lower fountain basin (12th century) is the largest bronze casting of Romanesque times. Approximately 100 years its junior is the upper basin, which was formerly an independent fountain itself. Even the eagle consists of pieces from different epochs: while the body originates from the 13th century, the crown dates from the 18th century.

Hotel Kaiserwerth, built in 1494, has statues of Kings

Schiefer Hotel

The Brusttuch

Market Church St. Cosmas and Damian

Market church is first mentioned in 1151, was built as a smaller copy of the Imperial Church. The Imperial Church no longer exists.

Schiefer Hotel, the bells start ringing and the doors open to show the history of mining for silver ore. 'Guten Auf'

Miner with torch leads the way into the mine

Garden replaced the building, fire struck Goslar in 1800

Tower of the Breiten Tor built around 1500, second wall fortification of the City

Entrance into Goslar

Werderhof - former barracks of the outer ward

Jewish Cemetery sits between the earthen mound and first city wall, formerly the moat

River Liene

The Lohmühle mill

Market Church, Wesser Renaissance architectural design

Great Holy Cross Hospital

Formerly a Catholic Church, then founded as a hospital since the Reformation penned by Martin Luther.

Interior of the Great Holy Cross Hospital

Statue from the Middle Ages in the niche

Goslar Cathedral north porch

The church known as Goslar Cathedral (Goslarer Dom) was a collegiate church dedicated to St. Simon and St. Jude in the town of Goslar, Germany. It was built between 1040 and 1050 as part of the Imperial Palace district. The church building was demolished in 1819–1822; today, only the porch of the north portal is preserved. It was a church of Benedictine canons. The northern porch, now the only surviving part of the building, was added around 1200 and the main entrance re-located here. In the Gothic period the church was further extended to the north with a fourth nave and the chancel was altered.

Porch interior with Imperial Throne

Imperial Palace

Goslar from Maltermeister Turm

Rolf and Wayne at Maltermeister Turm

Wayne at Maltermeister Turm

Maltermeister Turm

We had a wonderful visit with Rolf in Hannover. He was a wonderful host. We met his close friends and enjoyed his and their company. We had an opportunity to tour with Yents, his knowledge of Hannover and the House of Hannover is fantastic, he took us to places and had so much local knowledge. Reinhart joined use on a couple of trips, we enjoyed his company. We look forward to coming back to Hannover one day to see Rolf, Yents, Christian and Reinhart.

Untethered

Saturday, November 17, 2018

Home Free Global Nomads Seven: 1Nov to 3Nov 2018 The Netherlands

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Home Free Global Nomads Edition Six: 16Oct to 31Oct 2018 Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, and Bremen, Germany

Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen

Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen