Germany - Day 12 Part III - Horbach and the Horbacher Mariengrotten Memorial

After visiting Lohr am Main, we drove to Horbach. Waltraut lived in this area years ago. Just outside the city, we walked to the Horbacher Mariengrotten memorial. Waltraut often walked to the memorial when she was living here so this was a nostalgic visit for her.

The memorial was built immediately after the end of World War II and is meant to give thanks for the fact that the area was spared damage from the war and to celebrate the return of the soldiers. Since then, many people have left notes and signs giving thanks for other events in their lives, so the memorial has grown in meaning and is referred to by some as the "Thank You Grotto". The memorial was constructed by the hands of the locals without the benefit of tools other than shovels and buckets. The materials all come from the surrounding area. Here is a photo of the original construction.

Waltraut pays her respects while Eckhart look on.

Sigrid straightened up the grotto and lit her own candle.

We took a nice walk through the woods.

Another part of the park area.

The tad poles darted around near the bank of the pond.

Later, we met with Waltraut's daughters for a nice dinner at a local restaurant.

Next up is Wachtersbach.

Germany - Day 12 - Part II - Lohr am Main

Lohr am Main is just a short distance from Gemunden am Main. Both are on the Main River which is what the "am Main" is telling you. Lohr is another tourist town with loads of shops and cafes. All the old buildings have been nicely restored. There does seem to be more German tourists than international so the town may be more of a local draw.

A bakery shop.

You see the religious artworks on the corners of buildings fairly often in the older parts of towns.

A tower on the old city wall. All the old cities were protected by walls in medieval times.

We can't pass up an old church.

Our next stop is in Horbach.

Germany - Day 12 - Part I - Gemunden Monastery

After the Confirmation events concluded, we left with Sigrid's brother and wife, Eckhart & Waltraut, to spend a few days with them at their home in Wachtersbach. Day 11 was a day of rest and a chance to visit.

On May 17th, Day 12, we hopped in the car for some sight seeing. Our first stop was Gemunden am Main. This is the location of the Schonau Abby which is a Friar Minor Monastery. The Abby was first built and named the Immaculate Conception Monastery in 1189. As is always the case, there is loads of history you can Google if you are interested.

Figures of two Roman soldier martyrs (Victor & Antonin) stand guard at the entrance.

Another very pretty old church.

When we first entered the church, there were two monks reciting prayers so we held off on touring until they were done.

Glass enclosed cases on both sides of the alter contain relics of Victor and Antonin. I still don't know exactly what is meant by "relics". There were certainly suits of armor but I don't know if there were any actual remains enclosed.

July 7th Update.....I finally got around to Googling "historic relics" and found that they do include the bodies or whatever parts of bodies are available.

Confessionals.

We are now off to Lohr am Main.