Fulda Thunder

At 4 o'clock this morning we were waken by an enormous thunderstorm raging around us! As a German neighbour had said earlier that this type of weather isn't that unusual at this time of the year. But it certainly kept us awake for the next half an hour whilst it moved on to scare the living delights out of the next town!

It rained on into the morning but cleared by the time we wanted to set out to explore Fulda. Fulda was founded in 744 by, you guested it, the Benidictine monks who developed a monastery here, and which gave it a 1000 years of control over the surrounding territory.  

The medieval aspect of the city was given a Baroque makeover in the 1700s making it now a baroque city of charm and elegance. By the number of tourist buses, motorhomes etc visible around the city, it is a very well known tourist centre. For many years Fulda was home to American troops because it was in this area the the east-west border was located. 

Fulda is a very impressive and thriving city. The city was alive with locals and visitors alike. There was plenty to see and photograph!!

Cathedral skyline at Fulda.

The Baroque Cathedral and the 9th St Michael's Church. 

The Prince/Bishop Residence - the power and wealth of the church on display here. Now a pleasant backdrop for weddings. 

The Orangerie 

The baroque garden and the sculpture of  the Flora Vase.

The beautiful Old Town Hall. 

Floral displays around the city with the baroque buildings in the background. 

And, we became reacquainted with Ampel, the little man on the traffic signals!

We couldn't help ourselves and had to taste some of the German cakes.

We chose a maulwurfschnittchen - and it was delicious too.

We returned to the van and soon after got on the road and headed for Eisenbach. A beautiful drive through the Thuringian Forest. It was along this route that the old east-west border was in place. We think there was a sign along the road when we past the mark - but being a little rusty with German we weren't quite sure!!

Part of the Thuringian Forest.

 

The day was bookended with thunder storms - another as we write this blog!