Passing through the pretty provincial town of Memmingen in southern Bavaria on overcast, rainy days of early autumn
... in search of a place for dinner, of which there were plenty to choose from.
I passed on the bratwurst and Knödel (dumplings) but did sample some good local Bayerische beer.
I passed on the bratwurst and Knödel (dumplings) but did sample some good local Bayerische beer.
A perfect rainbow over the central town square
In nearby Ottobeuren the next morning, the landscape was typical of towns in this prosperous region, A-framed houses and well-kept farmlands
In nearby Ottobeuren the next morning, the landscape was typical of towns in this prosperous region, A-framed houses and well-kept farmlands
the main attraction being the grand Benedictine abbey of Ottobeuren
founded in 764 by the sweetly-named Blessed Toto, but rebuilt in its current form by Bavaria's King Ludwig I in the 1800s
whose extraordinary interior could be described as baroque-over-the-top
whose extraordinary interior could be described as baroque-over-the-top
with no fewer than three grand organs (one below).
All was empty, quiet and clean and neat as a pin. You had the clear impression that every ornate rococo curlicue, taper, garland and petal is kept minutely cleaned and the chairs lined up with a ruler.
All was empty, quiet and clean and neat as a pin. You had the clear impression that every ornate rococo curlicue, taper, garland and petal is kept minutely cleaned and the chairs lined up with a ruler.
If all was serious here, it was about to get a little crazy. We were headed further south to this Ludwig's much quirkier grandson's place in the mountains ...
Bavaria September 2015
Bavaria September 2015