Praise God the sun is shining...well for a few hours anyway, but we'll take what we can get!
First stop today was YES another cathedral...this one called Theatine Church. Construction began in 1662 by King Ferdinand and his wife Queen Henriette to honor the birth of their long awaited (10 years!) son, Crown Prince Maximilian II Emanuel. During WWII Allied bombs targeted the church on 4 different occasions. The huge mural above the high altar burned down as did the altar and tabernacle. The restoration took over 10 years. What struck me as especially wonderful about this church - unlike the others we have visited - was the completely bright white interior. For 2 Euros we went down-down-down the winding stairs and walked around the crypt. It was a spooky experience and one I don't want to repeat!
Outside the church's entrance the street was closed off, and a fenced in soccer field had been set up. There were many booths serving food, and a big crowd of people sitting in stands cheering the players. I asked someone what was going on, if it was a school tournament or something, and they explained that it was a festival for homeless people. I said, "Oh, a fundraiser to help homeless people move off the streets?" and the lady said, "Oh no. This isn't about money. This is a festival promoting inclusion of homeless people into our society, so they are not shunted to the side. It is about awareness and acceptance. The soccer team is Munich's homeless team and they are playing another homeless team from a neighboring city. The people in the stands are homeless people cheering on their friends."
Seeing as we just can't get enough castles, we headed out to visit Schloss (Castle) Nymphenburg which is located in the center of Munich. But suddenly I shouted "Stop the Car...It's a Yarn Bomb!" The driver was understandably alarmed and screeched to a halt. Bill and Willie were like, "What in God's name is she up to?" until they saw what I had seen:
The men were getting restless, so I cut my visit short and hopped back into the van to head over to Nymphenburg Castle. Like Theatine Church mentioned earlier, this enormous palace was also commissioned by King Ferdinand and Queen Henriette after the long awaited birth of their son and heir to the throne, Maximilian II Emanuel. Construction began in 1664 and took nearly 15 years to complete.
This castle elicits a big "WOW" as you approach. It is really big!!!
When you enter the castle you pass straight through a gift shop (of course!) and then out the "back door" where you experience another "WOW" moment as before you is an enormous 490 acre garden as far as the eyes can see filled with stone paths that are flanked by statues, lined with flowers, ponds erupting with water features, and after a good hike, a lake and other small buildings.
View looking towards the back side of the castle...
Below is one of many fellas you will encounter as you meander along your way...
All I can say is, I'm glad I'm not married to the guy with the pitchfork
(or the other guy for that matter).
We were ready to head on back to the hotel but our driver and now good friend Eric said we must go visit the Marstallmuseum. This building - a wing that is attached to the left side of the castle - houses the historic state and gala coaches, sleighs, and riding equipment of that time. Among the highlights were the "pompous gala coaches and sleighs" of King Ludwig II. Here is Willie on his way to the nearby Marstallmuseum. Indeed it was another "WOW" moment. My photos will not do the beauty of these carriages justice.
This is how they clean the carriages...
A quick walk upstairs reveals the exquisite Baumi collection of Nymphenburg porcelain which The Nymphenburg Porcelain Factory has been making since 1747. The factory is located in the long building that stretches out of the right wing of the castle.
Tomorrow to Salzburg!
Stay tuned...we are having a great time, and if I'm doing my job right you are too! xoxo
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