| Monday, September 11, 2006 |
| Monks are just the coolest ever, dontcha think? |
As promised, here are some pictures of our trip last weekend to the monastery in Maulbronn! Founded in 1147, it is said to be the best preserved medieval monastery north of the Alps. There are many fascinating architextural details to be seen, from the Romanic main church building (see a panorama of the carved choir stalls here) to the early Gothic architecture of the dining hall. I was expecially found of the arches, like the ones here near the entrance. 
These have only a four part vault, but there were also many six part vaults, often with intricate headstones, like the one here:
I couldn't stop looking at these, and the detailing on the columns. Each headstone and column has a different motif. It was the intention of the monks to imitate the variety of God's creation. Another highlight was the net ceiling of the Parlatorium, which is decorated with a multitude of botanical designs which can still be vividly seen in the original paint from 1493.
It's a bit awesome to think that this hall was reserved for the hour in which the monks were permitted to speak each day. Before its being built, however, they had been granted no such reprieve from their vow of silence. Luckily, they were in no danger of losing their voices, as there was prayer during mass which was held eight times a day, according to Psalm 119 (which I ahve discovered is slightly different in German) which says Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws. to which the German adds and I wake in the night to thank you. Singing was also an important component of the mass, and I can't remember the number of hymns our guide said they went through in a week, but you can be darn-tootin sure, them there monks did a whole lotta singing.
Ok, that's all fer now, stay tuned tomorrow to hear about what a big fat crafting cheater I am ;)
  Labels: Germany |
posted by tatjana @ 7:42 p.m.   |
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| 5 Comments: |
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Those pictures are really cool. Pretty amazing, really. Old architecture rocks.
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These are great pics! I've never seen something with such history in person before.
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What a special place! So much inspiration for differente projects with so much detail to look at.
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beautiful! Have you read Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth? Very interesting and well researched book on how all those amazing vaulted cathedrals were built in the days before modern engineering and power tools. What a great source for inspiration
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My GOD, it's beautiful! What a treat to see something like that in person. :)
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Those pictures are really cool. Pretty amazing, really. Old architecture rocks.
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