Here it is yet another week ending, and I’m excited to tell you all about the Bavarian town of Monheim, located just 27km from the diamond dazzling town of Nördlingen, and a mere 15km from Donauwörth. Then again, I could be in the middle-of-nowhere Bavaria, and I’d be happy. ;-)
Luckily I’m not in the middle of nowhere, it’s the Bavarian Swabia region. And one thing I can say for sure, you’ll never (ever, ever) be without something to do. You can totally entertain yourself just staring at the very pretty half-timbered buildings surrounding the Marktplatz — which really fascinates me when modern day cars are parked along side these centuries old buildings.
It’s even better around here when there’s a festival or some other cultural event going on. Throughout the Spring and Summer there’s the Cultural Summer Program going on, but there’s also such events like the Wine Festival in October, the Sommernachtsfest at the end of August, the Pfarrfest (Parish Festival) in September, and the obligatory Christmas Market in December.
The biggest event in town doesn’t even take place every year — I guess they need to do every other year since the Historische Stadtfest is one big doozy of a party. Just remember it’s held on odd-numbered years in July, so you know when to come.
Sweet Mary Sunshine, that all sounds like fun, doesn’t it?
Inasmuch as Monheim can heap on the fun, it’s also a place with some great architectural wonders. Throughout Monheim’s nine villages you’ll find just about that many old churches — and I usually can find a favorite, but this time I seemed to have liked them all.
The Stadtpfarrkirche, dedicated to St. Walburga, is an oldie from around the year 1500. And there’s the Catholic Parish Church with its Romanesque tower, even though it did see a renovation a few centuries later. St. Michael’s Church in Itzing is a relative newbie, built in 1748, and the Church of St. Apollinia in Kölburg is just a few decades younger.
Never being one to spend every minute indoors when the Bavarian air is calling, it’s time to venture out into the Nature Park Altmühltal. You can do what you want (cycle, hike, whatever), I’m happy and content to just sit down in the grass for a spell. What can I say, it’s been a rough week, and there’s nothing more relaxing than relaxing in the Monheimer Alb.
You try it, then let me know if I’m right. Until then, that’s where you’ll find me — until next week that is. ;-)
