For forty-five years the residents of the town of Waldmünchen were separated from their neighbors by the dreaded Iron Curtain. In August of 1990 the Cold War was over, and again everyone was free to move across the Bavarian border to the neighboring Czech Republic.
In honor of the two countries, Waldmünchen and the Czech Republic work in conjunction with the local museums. Waldmünchen’s contribution is its Feuerwehrmuseum or Fire Department Museum (which is kinda self-explanatory) and the Holzhauermuseum — sort of a local history museum showcasing historic craftsmanship.
I have to say the nearby Museumsbrauerei (Brewery Museum) in Herzogau is one of the best — too bad they stopped brewing beer.
Don’t get all excited, there are plenty of opportunities to drink, eat, and be merry. Every July there’s a Town Festival & the MundArt Festival. On the third week of Lent is a huge Fair, and on the second Saturday of Advent is Waldmünchen’s Christmas Market.
Yikes, I forgot some… on the last Sunday of September is another Fair (please, there are sixty-two (!) villages that make up Waldmünchen so there’s got to be something going on), and then there is the annual Spring Festival.
There are also two Weekly Markets, held on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
For some quieter pursuit, might I entice you with a visit to the 13th century Gothic Parish & Shrine of Our Lady? Who knew that it would become a pilgrimage church after a countess said she saw the face of the Madonna. Every September the church does a pilgrimage to the Church of St. Stephen in town.
It’s also a quiet activity to try winter hiking, as well as snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. If the weather’s not too bad, you can get yourself a guide. No guide necessary for downhill skiing — but no one said you didn’t need a snowbunny or a cute ski instructor. ;-)
I better be quiet myself, or I’m gonna get in trouble writing comments like that. Better go get lost in the Upper Bavarian Forest Nature Park (alone) instead. ;-)
