Holiday 2019, Sept. 9, Kircheim, Burg Herzberg, Alzfeld, Lauterbach, Fulda - Day 5

Day 5 was spent exploring the area around Kircheim. We were in the area to see and experience some of Martin Luthers surroundings and paths.  We were planning on making the trip educational yet interesting and studying some church history in this area.  To come home enriched by history and culture.  Close to where we were staying was part of the Luther Trail, which follows his footsteps thru Germany to get to the different places he had church functions and meetings as well as places he hid. 

First stop was Burg Herzberg, a secluded castle where restorations are on going.  The weather was beautiful and the views from the castle walls were amazing to our prairie eyes. 

Inside the castle there was small chapel which was restored.

We continued on to Alzfeld which is famous for its timber frame housing, which is the architecture from this area. We found some parking and went for a stoll thru the old city, also a part of the Luther Trail.  This area of Germany is also called the land of the brothers Grimm.  The towns are surrounded by deep dark forests, which was inspiration for many fairy tales, included Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel (a few pictures below). 

"Let down your golden hair!!"

There are many small bakeries and butchers throughout the towns and in the countryside. We let all the kids pick a fresh pastry to try some local food and ate it on the sidewalk. That's the way memories are made. 

  

These are the remains of a monastery that ceased to function during the Reformation. Also had significance tied to Martin Luther.

Another small town we stopped at was Lauterbach, similar style. 

This town has a nice little church we could go in.  It was the first of many crucifixes we were about to see. Marla had never seen one before and suddenly we found her crying at the front of the church being comforted by Abby.  After listening in to their conversation we were touched to find out that Marla was crying because the man on the cross must have been in alot of pain. Abby was telling Marla was it was ok, Jesus was not on the cross anymore and that he had done it because he loved us.  From the mouth of babes. 

Last town for the day was Fulda.  This town was built in the baroque style.  It had a cathedral with the tomb of St. Boniface, who is also on the picture below.  St Boniface is of interest because he was martyred in Friesland, in 754 A.D. near Dokum where we had been the first weekend. We had just driven that distance and could hardly imagine that he walked there thru the deep forests and rugged terrain. He was known as the apostle of the Germans, because he organized significant foundations of the church in Germany. 

The kids begged for a few coins for the wishing well.  They were mesmerized by the idea.

Inside the cathedral.