I don’t know about you, but I really like the Middle Ages. I like stories about the Romans too; so I’m thinking that sorta makes me a history buff. And a good fairytale of sorts is just the sort of thing to take the mind off a hard day behind the computer.
Luckily I found just the thing in Großmehring in Upper Bavaria.
Just east of Ingolstadt on the Danube, Großmehring’s five villages are perfect for anyone looking to trek in the footsteps of the Romans, hear about the tale of the Nibelungenlied, or visit a medieval monastery.
Three for the price of one. Efficient, perfect for the German in all of us. We could go in order of history (again, for the German part of me) visiting the Bronze Age graves, then the two Roman graves that were found in the villages of Demling and Theißing.
It’s a long while before the Middle Ages came into being, but that’s when the nearby Benedictine Order Monastery St. Waldburg was built. It houses the relics of the 8th century St. Waldburga. Its Abbey Church is famous for its marble and gold interior, all decorated with angels.
Look around, you’ll see everything from its Romanesque origin to its Baroque finishings — but don’t miss its crypt since that’s where its relics are housed.
The monastery is more than just its church as it has a quiet garden and a guesthouse for anyone needing accommodation.
While not quite as big, Großmehring has a number of other churches that you can see. They’ve got everything from small chapels in the villages of Großmehring Proper and Theißring; followed by a 12th century one in Tholbath; one built in 1200 in Straßhausen; Pettling’s didn’t come along until 1590; St. Catherine’s on the Katharinenberg is from 1447 (ah, that was outta order); Demling’s Baroque church from 1650; and the last one, known as Neue Kirche St. Wolfgang from 1973.
A visitor doesn’t live by churches alone, so go see Großmehring’s Erlachhof — a farm that’s been around since the 13th century; and its Nibelungenbrunnen (Nibelung Fountain) that’s located at its Rathaus (Town Hall).
The Nibelungenlied holds a special theme here, as its culture center is known as the Nibelungenhalle.
Ponder the Nibelungenlied’s tale about a Duchess’ love for her husband, and exacting revenge on his killers over a beer at Großmehring’s Father’s Day Festival in May, or its Summer Night Festival (June 16th), or along one its Guided Bike Tours.
Sorry, that’s too much thinking for even me during Großmehring’s Wine Festival in October. Ah, I might be a serious history buff — I’m also a wine lover, so wonderful that I found everything right here.
