It’s true, if you stop learning something new every day you might as well just hang it all up. Sometimes it’s something major, like Algebra. Often it’s something small like a new word.
Today, Folks, I’m going to tell you what I learned in the town of Nossen in Saxony, not too far from the Ore Mountains.
Konversenhaus.
What’s that, you ask?
A Konverse was an entryway into a Kloster (a monastery) for lay people (non monk & nun folk) to enter the monastery to work—the layperson who lived here to help the monks lived in the Konversenhaus. Point being, you’ll actually see one at the Kloster Atzella.
That’s about all that remains of this 12th century monastery, which was used until around 1540. It is still the site of a Corpus Christi Procession (about 50 days after Easter) and as Cistercian Order history museum (open only in the summer, BTW).
If you can’t get in, just stop long enough to take a picture of the Romanesque entryway; it’s an amazing piece of medieval architecture.
What other pieces of architecture can I tell you about in Nossen? Oh yeah, along the Marktplatz there are a number of houses that are around 200 years old. The Drugstore is one of the oldest, built in 1809. But, the Pöppelmann Bridge is older, and still romantic after more than two hundred years.
I learned something else in Nossen (oh, a twofer!). Did you know that the City Church (you’ll find it along the Marktplatz) kept a Sea Monster rib? This huge animal bone was on display at the 13th century church for the longest time, and was considered a relic at the monastery.
Not cool enough for you? How about a castle then? Schloss Nossen might have been a mighty castle in the 12th century when it was built, but today it’s a history and toy museum. Who cares that Napoleon stayed here, the library has over 6,000 books.
All the better to learn something new today, isn’t it? ;-)
