Stift Melk

 Entrance to Stift Melk : Melk, AT

After spending a lovely week with my friends Daniella, Christine and Hellmut, and Sonja and their families, it was time to get back on the road and head homeward. We drove up toward but skirted Vienna on our way to Melk. When I was a missionary, I spent my first five months in Linz. One day, my mission president called and said I was transferring to Vienna. I packed my bags, got on the train, and headed eastward. On the way, the train went past the most amazing building I'd ever seen: Stift Melk / Melk Abbey. I swore I'd come back one day and visit this building. And that's what we did. 

Close shot of the Abbey's chapel exterior : Melk, AT

Located on an outcropping above the Danube (Donau) River, Melk is a Benedictine abbey. It was founded in 1089 by Leopold II. A monastic school opened in the 12th century and building of the Baroque abbey structure began in the 18th century. Melk has managed to survive a number of monumental historical events, including the Dissolution Acts during the reign of Josef II, the Napoleonic Wars, the Nazi Anschluss, and World War II. Today, it is a school again attended by around 900 students.

Off in the distance on the right, you can see a sliver of the Danube River. The train tracks in the upper left corner are where I first saw this impressive abbey : Melk, AT

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/2012

Karlskirche Restoration

Up close -- Detail of the frescoes in the dome of Karlskirche : Vienna, AT

Karlskirche was nearing the end of a multi-year, multi-million euro restoration project, so when we visited, there was still scaffolding inside. But, the cool thing was, they'd installed an elevator and you could ride it up to see the dome friezes up close! The church was commissioned by Charles VI, who pledged to build a church in honor of Charles Borromeo -- his patron saint. Borromeo was renowned for being a healer of those suffering from bubonic plague. To see more photos from inside this church, go here.

The dome from the ground level : Karlskirche : Vienna, AT

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 5/2012

Karlskirche and the Secession

Karlskirche : Vienna, AT

When I lived in Austria in the late 1980s/early 1990s, I spent nine months living in Vienna. We used to travel through Karlsplatz at least once a week, but I never made it inside the church. On this trip, I was determined to see things I hadn't seen when I was a missionary (I had three companions while I was in Vienna. The first was often exhausted and slept on our one day off; the second had been to Vienna as an exchange student the previous year and had already seen everything; and the third was from Europe and wanted to stay at home and write letters to her boyfriend. It was maddening.)

Karlsplatz U-bahn Station : Vienna, AT

One of the characteristics of the Karlsplatz area is the architecture style. Known as Vienna Secession and Jugendstil, it was started by artists Gustav Klimt, Max Kurzweil, and Joseph Maria Olbrich, among others. The movement brought French Impressionism to Austria and included recognition of greats, like Beethoven.

The Secession Museum : Vienna, AT

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 5/2012

The Church of Our Lady of Consolation

 Inside il Santuario della Consolata : Turin, IT

Wandering the streets of Turin, we came across this church -- il Santuario della Consolata (Our Lady of Consolation). From the outside, it didn't look like much, but once we stepped inside? Boy, howdy! Baroque, anyone? But not just any Baroque. Piedmontese Baroque. It's not a very big church (despite being called a basilica), but it is quite ornate. Apparently, it's one of the oldest churches in Turin.

The high altar : il Santuario della Consolata : Turin, IT

There weren't a lot of lay people in the church at the time we visited, but we did notice a number of nuns in the sanctuary. Most of them were praying or in deep contemplation.

Entry : il Santuario della Consolata : Turin, IT

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 5/2012

Luzern: Baroque

 The high altar in the Jesuitenkirche : Luzern, CH

One of my favorite paintings in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., is Albert Bierstadt's Lake Lucerne. (See a better shot of it here.) I could stare at that painting for hours (and have!), so I was pretty excited to visit Lucerne (Luzern), Switzerland, recently. We were only there for a couple of hours on our way home from Graubünden, but it was lovely and I hope to go back soon. Lucerne is famous for it's covered walkways. You can see a few pictures from the Old Town and river front areas at my Picasa Web Albums.

Along the river front is a beautiful Baroque church called the Jesuitenkirche (Jesuit Church.) We went in for a few minutes and enjoyed listening to the organist practice. It was lovely. You can also see a few more pictures at my Picasa Web Albums.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 4/10

"If it ain't Baroque, don't fix it."

High Altar : Baroque Church : Annecy, FR

We don't have a lot of Baroque architecture in the U.S., so when I run across the occasional Baroque church in Europe, I snap photos. Not that Baroque is my favorite architectural form, mind you. I find it rather gaudy and overwrought. But the bright colors and carved figures always grab and pull me in. This little church in Annecy was no exception. To see more pictures of Annecy, visit my Picasa Web Album.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 1/10

Note: The title is a quote from the Disney animated film "Beauty and the Beast." 

Bad Säckingen

View from Säckingenbrücke : Swiss-German Border

Took another trip to Basel to visit my friends, Di and Scott. We went to Bad Säckingen in Germany. To get there, we parked in Stein, Switzerland, and then walked across a wooden bridge built in 1272. The bridge is over the Rhine (Rhein) River. About half way across, there's a line painted across the width of the bridge signifying the border.

St. Fridolinsmünster : Bad Säckingen, DE

Bad Säckingen's loveliest feature is its baroque cathedral, St. Fridolinsmünster. Here are just a few pictures from this lovely city on the southernmost edge of the Schwarzwald (Black Forest).

Photo copyright: Janet Kincaid, 07/09