Even though we are spending time in and around Schwäbisch Gmünd, there is still so much to explore.
We began our day today going back to Ludwig Tomas Strasse to Felix and Steph's former home. We can help out doing a few chores that will give them more time on the weekend. While Michael spakfilla's the holes left by nails and screws, I give the house a good sweep out. Its dusty more than anything, and the three rooms in the basement have plenty of evidence of previous spidery residents - although there is only one still there. I guess without the human presence, the eight legged variety lose interest!
Thought to take this photo as we left - the garage is the iron door and you are looking from the front door through to the back year.
Once done, we went back to Xavier Bader Strasse and the new house - which is really only about 4 blocks away to get changed and go into Schwäbisch Gmünd to have a look at the church being renovated and to have some lunch.
We lunched at Mauritius, which Steph later tells us is a chain restaurant. We were thrilled to find that they make a fresh lemonade, but with limes, so it doesn't quite have the tang of those we had in Romania.
The St Johannis Kirche was just closing when we came in on Monday, but a quick look inside and we knew we had to come back to have a proper look. Turns out that this former church has a tower and for the princely sum of 2 euros, Michael can climb it. This is all the more special as the tower at the Schwäbisch Gmünd Minster has collapsed and no longer exists.
The tower exists over 5 levels and climbs to a base height of 30.36 m - high enough to get those really interesting shots of the rooftops and the layout of the old centre as well as some close-ups looking down on the Munster and the nearby 'Mouse Tower' as well as the surrounding area.
There has been a recorded church on this site since 1210 AD. The current form of the former church dates predominantly to the 15th century when in 1429 the high altar was added to complete the church. In 1706 significant changes saw the church take on a more baroque form and from 1842 it was re-reromanised. It fell into disrepair and has been almost constantly under repair since 2008.
The bell tower dates from the early 13th century and was the first free-standing and tallest structure in the city.
Found under the chancel in 1972 is the 12th century Romanesque Pomeranian, also called Staufische Madonna. This is considered the most important sculpture in the City. The amazing wall and ceiling paintings were re-created in the 1870s and re-make the original. Today, these are all under constant restoration.
The side ships of the church store the collection of carvings and statuary from this church and the Minster.They include saintly bodies, characters that would adorn the roof-lines known as grotesques and even the odd green man.
While looking at these, and during his climb into the heavens, Michael managed to identify three mason marks - they have not stood the weathering of time too well unfortunately.
Surrounding the church and framing Johannisplatz - the square outside the church are some really well maintained examples of early architecture dating back to the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries. These buildings have each been restored over the past century. This square was once a cemetery site, and later was paved as a parade ground for the barracks that were converted from the former preacher's convent.
We finished off our visit back into the City with coffee at Cafe Margrit - too bad we sat in the plaza - Steph tells us that they have the best cakes in Schwäbisch Gmünd - in cases inside!
Still, didn't matter - it meant that we were ready to eat grilled steak with herbed potatoes, mushrooms and salad that I cooked for dinner tonight. We ate in the balmy night outside and chatted until it was time for Steph to head for bed. Felix had caught up with an old friend in Schorndorf tonight and comes in after 10. We chat very briefly before he heads to bed with us not too far behind him.
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