Cologne, Germany
From Belgium I moved on to Germany to visit friends in Cologne and Nuremberg.
While staying in Krakow I also had a chance to visit other cities in Germany.
The Kolner Dom towering over the train station was the tallest building on earth when it was finished in 1880. Construction started in 1248 but was halted in 1560 due to a lack of funds. Then in 1820 the original plans were found and the Dom was finally finished in 1880.
View from one of the towers.
Inside the cathedral is full of valuable artwork.
Including the famous Gero Cross dating back to 971 AD.
Just next to the Dom is the Romanisches-Germanisches Museum. The Roman Museum was built around the 2nd century Roman floor mosaics found in 1941 during the construction of air raid shelters.
This Cathedral is a modern miracle not merely due to it's size and beauty but because it was just about the only structure left standing after
WWII bombing.
The photo on this postcard shows the Dom during the war.
Paola Saenz from Ecuador, whom I met on the train to Koln.
Bamberg, Germany
Bamberg is a gem of a city which was virtually untouched by WWII.
The Altes Rathaus uber den Fluss.
The Dom, construction started in 1237
The judgment Portal of the cathedral
The judgment Portal up close shows the redeemed souls on the left and the damned on the right, with Christ in the middle.
The cathedral was begun in late Romanesque as seen here,
And finished in early Gothic as above
The famous Bamberger Reiter 1230
I believe this is a Veit Stoss original but don't quote me on that, I couldn't find my notes.
The next two photos are merely my idea of artistic photography. I like this one because it's kind of an optical illusion. You're looking at one door through the arch of another doorway.
I'm not a fan of Baroque but this church impressed me.
Nurnberg, Germany
The city of Nuremberg is historically one of Germany's most important. The city is still surrounded by it's medieval walls though they along with much of the rest of the city was destroyed by WWII bombing. In fact the American army in WWII were the first invaders to ever breach the defensive walls.
This postcard shows the extent of the destruction of Nurnberg. The first Photo is just after the war, 1945 and the second is the city as it appears now. There is a book available if you ever make it to Nurnberg which shows much of the city after the war, during reconstruction and now by the same title, "Nurnberg, Einst und Jetzt".
St. Lorenz Kirche and the Schoner Brunnen in the market square. The near complete destruction of Nuremberg is easily overlooked when walking around the restored city. The most important buildings were meticulously rebuilt to the original specs using the original stones. The city's churches are full of priceless artwork which was saved when it was moved to city bomb shelters during the war.
The Schoner Brunnen 1400 shown here is actually a duplicate the, original (which was saved by a bomb shelter built in place around the well) is now being preserved in a museum, but I'm not sure which, has anyone seen my notes?
Frauen Kirche, rebuilding this masterpiece was slow and painstaking but worth it!!
A closer look at the clock on the Frauen Kirche.
St. Lorenz Kirche
Crucifixion Group by Veit Stoss
Segments of the castle and defensive walls.
Joseph and Angelica Lassner, friends whom I met in Yosemite in 1997. I've been to Nurnberg three times and each time they were my hosts who showed my friends and I around and gave us a nice place to lay our heads.
Regensberg
Regensberg is another Bavarian gem undisturbed by WWII. The Dom St Peter's circa 14th century as seen from accross the Donau Fluss.
The 14th century stained glass windows in St Peter's are fantastic.
The Steinerene Brucke was the first bridge to cross the Danube in Germany 1141.
Munich
Munich which was heavily damaged in WWII, has been restored to it's prewar glory and is now a tourist mecca in Germany.
My buddy Ashley from Georgia whom I worked with in Yosemite. We had no plans to meet it just heppened on the streets of Munich.
