Germany UNESCO World Heritage Sites

24T77 Maulbronn monastery, UNESCO World Heritage Site

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In 1993, UNESCO recognized the cultural and historical significance of the 12th-century Maulbronn monastery complex with inscription as World Heritage Site.

*Monastery church, first began c. 1147.*

*Late 14th-century Madonna made of oak.*

*Back of the cross: “1473” (first row).*

*Madonna, c. 1300 CE, by Kölner Werkstätte.*

*Former dining hall for monks, c. 1225 CE.*

*Keystone/capstone (Schlußstein) from the cloister (Kreuzgang), northeast wing, c. 1300 CE. At centre is a 1-Euro coin for comparison.*

*Keystone/capstone (Schlußstein) from the cloister (Kreuzgang), east wing, c. 1300 CE. At centre is a 1-Euro coin for comparison.*

*In 1993, UNESCO inscribed the 12th-century Maulbronn monastery onto the list of World Heritage Sites.*

From Karlsruhe or Stuttgart, it’s a little tricky to reach Maulbronn with public transport. With my base moved to Karlsruhe, it’s first an RE or S4 train to Bretten, before hopping onto VPE bus 700 to stop “Alte Post” in Maulbronn. Finally, there’s about 600 metres remaining on foot to the ticket office on the monastery grounds.

I made all photos above with an iPhone15 on 23 Jul 2024. I received no support from an external organization. This post composed with Jetpack for iOS appears on Fotoeins Fotografie at fotoeins DOT com.

24T34 Bamberg Old Town, world heritage

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In Bavaria’s Upper Franconia, the city of Bamberg is described as “a central European town with a medieval plan and with a number of surviving secular and ecclesiastical buildings from the medieval and baroque periods.” For its architectural, cultural, and historical character, UNESCO inscribed the city’s Old Town as World Heritage Site in 1993.

This is my 2nd time in Bamberg, after my 1st visit 14 years ago on this very same month.

*From Geyerswörthbrücke: Old Town Hall, perched on top of the Regnitz.*

*World Heritage Centre: modest visitor centre with displays about the city’s heritage landmarks and the road to inscription.*

*Rose garden inside New Residence; the 2 steeples from St. Michael’s appear at left.*

*“Gruß aus Bayern” (Greetings from Bavaria).*

*View from Michelsberg towards the New Residence and the Cathedral.*

*Outdoors terrace café at Michelsberg, with a cold Rauchbier (smoked beer) on tap.*

*Back to the “beginning”: the old town hall, with late-afternoon illumination on the west side.*

*This west side of Old Town Hall is lit up in the afternoon.*

*Stadtwappen (city’s coat of arms), between clockface and balcony.*

I made all images above with an iPhone15 on 10 Jun 2024. This post composed with Jetpack for iOS appears on Fotoeins Fotografie at fotoeins DOT com.

24T33 Bayreuth’s Margravial Opera House

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The Margravial Opera House in Bavaria’s Bayreuth is a fine surviving example of Baroque theatre architecture. Completed in 1748, the building was initiated by Margravine Wilhelmine and her husband Margrave Friedrich III of Brandenburg-Bayreuth for their daughter’s wedding. For its unique architectural, cultural, and historical character, UNESCO inscribed the building as World Heritage Site in 2012.

*Not bad at all from the outside (0.8x)* …

*… but inside, the auditorium is much better.*

*Left side tiers of loges, facing the stage.*

*Right side tiers of loges, facing the stage.*

*“Pro Frederico et Sophia – Josephus Gallus Bibiena fecit – Anno Domini MDCCXLVIII.” (Built for Friedrich & Wilhelmine-Sophie, by Giuseppe Galli Bibiena, in 1748 A.D.)*

*Back of the auditorium, and up to the ceiling with god Apollo surrounded by arts and muses (0.5x).*

*On the stage proper (guided tour), facing out to the back.*

Markgräfin (Margravine) Wilhelmine of Bayreuth: portrait by Antoine Pesne, in 1738-1740. Multilingual and trained in both arts and literature, Wilhelmine was daughter of Prussian king Friedrich Wilhelm I, and sister to Friedrich the Great.

*Wilhelmine memorial bust, on Schlossberglein, opposite the opera house.*

*Afternoon illumination, from Schlossberglein and above the Wittelsbacher fountain. The opera house is at centre.*

*The Margravial Opera House, in Bayreuth.*

This visit to Bayreuth completes my 8th new German UNESCO WHS over the last 33 days. My total tally is now up to 42 (of 52).

I made all images above with an iPhone15 on 9 Jun 2024. I received neither sponsor nor support from any organization. This post composed with Jetpack for iOS appears on Fotoeins Fotografie at fotoeins DOT com.

24T24 Stralsund in Germany’s northeast corner

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Stralsund has existed as a city with its first charter assigned in 1234 CE. The name of the settlement is taken from the narrow water channel, Strelasund, a sound separating the mainland (on which the town resides) and the neighbouring island of Rügen.

I arrive at the hotel in late-afternoon, and get myself out the door for a couple of hours as “visual appetizer” for tomorrow’s full day (under forecast sun). Prominent are the “big 3 churches” in the city’s Old Town whose area is designated UNESCO world heritage site.

*Except for the building with Nicolai Cafe, every other structure seen in this southeast corner of Alter Markt Plaza is under local/regional monument protection.*

*Town Hall with Gothic facade at right; Nikolaikirche (St. Nicholas) in background*

*St.-Marien-Kirche (St. Mary’s), from hotel room: not bad.*

*Afternoon light in the Old Town: west on Fährstrasse.*

I made all images above with an iPhone15 on 31 May 2024. This post composed with Jetpack for iOS appears on Fotoeins Fotografie at fotoeins DOT com.

24T11 Trier: imperial relic, world heritage

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(The Moselle is running high in Trier, but it’s not much compared to the flood damage in many low-lying parts of Rheinland-Pfalz and Saarland. Plus side, there are lots of visitors here this Pentecost holiday long-weekend.)

Built around 310 CE, the Aula Palatina (Palatinate Hall) functioned as the throne-space for Roman Emperor Constantine the Great: the building was a single-room palace basilica. The measurements are impressive not only to list, but also by sight: length 67 metres (220 feet), width 27 m (88 ft), height 33 m (108 ft). The building is the largest single-room Roman structure still in existence, and is the largest intact Roman structure outside of Rome. In 1986, the Aula Palatina was included with the set of historically important buildings in Trier inscribed as World Heritage Site. Today, the structure is in full use as Protestant church.