AIMLESSLY WANDERING ABOUT IN GERMANY - Sightseeing - Medieval Architecture - 2008

On the way back from a visit to my brother, we decided to take a stroll in Zwingenberg. I have always liked Zwingenberg - it's a wonderful place to visit, if you are a foodie like me, with a penchant for wine.

Zwingenberg is a small town about an hour drive from Frankfurt and close to Bensheim, located on the "Bergstrasse". The Bergstrasse - translation: mountain road - is an area of Germany well known for it's wine grown on the hillside and it's mild climate. Everything there blooms a week early and of course the countryside is scenic and picturesque.

I wanted to show Richard the medieval buildings and end our tour with some good wine. So come along, if you are up for one more tour!

The old brewery where we had - what else - a glass of wine:) for me and a local brew for Richard.

An ancient homemade gate around the corner ....

Restaurant - beer garden sign

Zwingenberg is not too old as Germany's villages go - most of these buildings date from around 1750 to 1880

The "Apotheke" - Pharmacy building on the lower right was built in 1765.

We strolled past the old city wall - the buildings are still in use and are attached directly to the wall.

Here is a perfect example - a row of three buildings attached to the city wall - showing how they modernized the same building - wood beam construction, using the old beams and changing-modernizing the facade.

Below: A close up as we enter the inner city - walking past the wall.

Now we are inside of the city walls - housing present day city administration.

Note the building in poor condition in the back, there's a full shot of it in the thumbnails, the white lines are where the wood beams are.

For about a hundred years it was the fashion to hide the wood beam construction and cover the houses up with stucco or other materials.

Outdoor cafes - beer gardens and flowers everywhere.

This one has been around since 1583.....

I had to take a picture of the Rathaus - city hall, because Richard laughed every time we came by a Rat house:)

Thanks for looking in and taking a stroll with us! I hope to find time to put up the Heidelberg pictures, before the promo ends.

Lots more architecture pics in the thumbnails, if you are interested ....

All images taken by Rose H. with an Olympus D-540 digital camera - Aug 2008.

All images copyright 2008 Rose H.