Jim, thank you for your nice comment. I'm soon to be 83 and understand your condition.

Longshadow, thanks for coming! I appreciate your comment.

Ourspolair, I'm pleased that you liked it. Thank you.

Melk, Austria in 2010 – the Benedictine Abbey – Part 2, the Abbey Church

In 2010 I took a 15-day cruise of European rivers, and one stop on the Danube River was Melk, Austria. On a hill above the town is a large Benedictine Abbey, and a tour of that facility was part of our stop. The Abbey was founded in 1089 when Leopold II, Margrave of Austria gave one of his castles to Benedictine monks from Lambach Abbey. In the fifteenth century the abbey became the center of the Melk Reform movement which reinvigorated the monastic life of Austria and Southern Germany. Today's Baroque abbey was built between 1702 and 1736 to designs by Jakob Prandtauer. Particularly noteworthy are the abbey church with frescos by Johann Michael Rottmayr and the library with countless medieval manuscripts. Over the centuries it has been the victim of several fires, and it underwent significant restoration between 1978 and 1995. The Abbey is a World Heritage Site and receives many visitors each year.

There are too many pictures for a single set. This set is of the Abbey Church; Part 1 is of the Abbey other than the church.

https://live.staticflickr.com/4090/5030532179_0b97037cc2_z.jpg
DSC_4862 by David Casteel, on Flickr (long view toward the Altar)

https://live.staticflickr.com/4133/5031151364_a57c158273_z.jpg
DSC_4866 by David Casteel, on Flickr (the Chancel and Altar)

https://live.staticflickr.com/4154/5030544745_a94fa8a981_z.jpg
DSC_4880 by David Casteel, on Flickr (detail of the Altar)

https://live.staticflickr.com/4113/5031149224_e50053a3e8_z.jpg
DSC_4863 by David Casteel, on Flickr (one of the Nave walls)

https://live.staticflickr.com/4088/5030533891_a4f3f7a125_z.jpg
DSC_4865 by David Casteel, on Flickr (the Pulpit)

https://live.staticflickr.com/4108/5030536403_e3622ebaf7_z.jpg
DSC_4868 by David Casteel, on Flickr (one of the side Altars)

https://live.staticflickr.com/4145/5030540785_17766b3008_z.jpg
DSC_4875 by David Casteel, on Flickr (the dome)

https://live.staticflickr.com/4130/5030542341_5377d23a77_z.jpg
DSC_4877 by David Casteel, on Flickr (the ceiling)

https://live.staticflickr.com/4151/5030543117_8db2dbf142_z.jpg
DSC_4878 by David Casteel, on Flickr (looking up at the Organ)

https://live.staticflickr.com/4103/5031155262_ddf8f49472_z.jpg
DSC_4872 by David Casteel, on Flickr (full view of the Organ)

Link to Part 1: https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-674692-1.html#11759252

Melk, Austria in 2010 – the Benedictine Abbey – Part 1

In 2010 I took a 15-day cruise of European rivers, and one stop on the Danube River was Melk, Austria. On a hill above the town is a large Benedictine Abbey, and a tour of that facility was part of our stop. The Abbey was founded in 1089 when Leopold II, Margrave of Austria gave one of his castles to Benedictine monks from Lambach Abbey. In the fifteenth century the abbey became the center of the Melk Reform movement which reinvigorated the monastic life of Austria and Southern Germany. Today's Baroque abbey was built between 1702 and 1736 to designs by Jakob Prandtauer. Particularly noteworthy are the abbey church with frescos by Johann Michael Rottmayr and the library with countless medieval manuscripts. Over the centuries it has been the victim of several fires, and it underwent significant restoration between 1978 and 1995. The Abbey is a World Heritage Site and receives many visitors each year.

There are too many pictures for a single set. This set is of the Abbey other than the church; Part 2 is of the Abbey Church.

Exterior views
https://live.staticflickr.com/4105/5031120492_ab30b2e0ea_z.jpg
DSC_4797 by David Casteel, on Flickr (the Abbey from the Danube River)

https://live.staticflickr.com/4091/5030550661_8ca0b2ece7_z.jpg
DSC_4891 by David Casteel, on Flickr (twin towers and dome)

https://live.staticflickr.com/4147/5030505077_3c4b922e45_z.jpg
DSC_4801 by David Casteel, on Flickr (the courtyard)

https://live.staticflickr.com/4146/5030524591_53c6d6e813_z.jpg
DSC_4845 by David Casteel, on Flickr (front of the Abbey church)

https://live.staticflickr.com/4129/5030547085_686b0dc084_z.jpg
DSC_4883 by David Casteel, on Flickr (statue in the Garden)

Interior views
https://live.staticflickr.com/4129/5030526675_670a75bc59_z.jpg
DSC_4850 by David Casteel, on Flickr (the Library, over 100,000 books)

https://live.staticflickr.com/4089/5030527009_4e14547021_z.jpg
DSC_4851 by David Casteel, on Flickr (part of the Library ceiling)

https://live.staticflickr.com/4085/5030531449_f1781b705d_z.jpg
DSC_4861 by David Casteel, on Flickr (a spiral staircase)

https://live.staticflickr.com/4091/5031162934_1d33ca1e91_z.jpg
DSC_4882 by David Casteel, on Flickr (looking down the spiral staircase)

https://live.staticflickr.com/4154/5030547337_b05da44065_z.jpg
DSC_4884 by David Casteel, on Flickr (a big wooden clock)

https://live.staticflickr.com/4086/5030510631_7a84976f2e_z.jpg
DSC_4812 by David Casteel, on Flickr (paintings in the Emperor’s Gallery)

Link to Part 2: https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-674693-1.html#11759253

Hello, srfmhg, nice to see you. Thanks for the nice comment.

crafter, also glad to see you. I appreciate your approval.

Doug, yes, there was. Thanks for coming.

Bubalola, I’m happy to have provided that experience for you. You’re welcome.

My first digital camera was a Kodak DX7630 PaS. It took pretty good photos, but the capture delay and poor low-light performance caused me to look for a better tool very soon. With a recommendation from a BFF who was a USAF photographer, I bought a Nikon D50 (at the time (2005) a hot item and what he was using). The improvement in my indoor pictures was significant. Some years later I moved on to a D7000 to get better low-light functionality. And when salt air destroyed it I got a D7100. I have found no need to upgrade beyond that point. I use it and an 18-200VR2 zoom for all my photography, and am quite satisfied with it. Professional I'm not, but I'm not ashamed of my pictures. (I post a lot of them here, even the older, poorer, ones.)

Thank you, and you're welcome. Didn't do the torture museum.

More catching up on responses.

Jay, always nice to have you come. Thanks.

Steve, thank you for the nice comment, and you’re welcome. I’ve been to Rothenburg 4 times, but never while I was assigned to Germany (Ramstein AB, 1977-1980—I actually retired there and stayed in-country for a few months, sightseeing, before returning to the States). I’m sure your wife will be delighted with a visit there. (I have responded to your PM, also.)

Hi, blacks2! It’s good to see you. Thanks for the nice words.

yssirk123, thank you very much.

Hereford, I appreciate your comment very much. I didn’t think they were all that great, but they were what I had.

phlash46, I’m pleased you liked my small set. Thanks a lot.

Hi, Earnest! Thank you very much.

More catching up on responses.

Thank you, just.a.guy. I’m glad my set stimulated memories.

merrytexan, I’m pleased you liked it. Thanks.

Hereford, the city deserves multiple visits. I’m glad you liked my pictures.

Rick, thanks for your nice comment.

Bubalola, I combined photos from several visits. There’s a lot to see there.

Vienna, thanks for your input. I did not know the name of the carver.

John, thank you for your nice note.

Joe, so nice to see you again! Thanks.

Doug, thank you very much.

Nice! I visited the Abbey in 2010 from a river cruise.

Fran and Hal, thanks so much for your very nice comments. I'm glad you liked the set.

Hello, joehel2! I think these sets of Rothenburg are the first I've seen you. So glad you came and that you liked them. Thanks.

Joe, always happy to see you. Thanks for the nice words. I will run out of material some day, but not for a while. I enjoy your travelogues, too.

Now catching up on responses.

Hi, yssirk123, so nice to see you. Thanks a lot.

Thank you so much, joehel2—I’m glad you liked it.

blacks2, thank you very much, and for the 6 thumbs up.

phlash46, happy you came. Thanks for the nice comment.

Hi, jay! Thanks. I’m happy you enjoyed it.

Mike, always glad to have your comments. Thank you very much.

Marg, thanks a lot. I think I had to read a few articles on the web before I found the 12th Apostle.

Earnest, I’m glad you liked it. Thanks.

Hi, Mike. Thanks for coming.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany – The Franciscan Friary

In 2010 I took a cruise of European Rivers – the Danube, Main, and Rhine. One of the cities visited was Rothenburg ob der Tauber. I have been to Rothenburg several times, but on this visit I took a few photos of the Franciscan Friary located there. Also known as the Franciscan Church, it was originally a Franciscan friary dedicated to the Virgin Mary, but got involved with the Reformation in 1548. Eventually, after a number of non-liturgical uses, it ended up as an Evangelical Lutheran Church. It is the oldest church in Rothenburg, and was built in the early Gothic style. I regret that I only have a few photographs of this interesting church.

https://live.staticflickr.com/5249/5279053193_b4253d1eb4_z.jpg
DSC_5501 by David Casteel, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/5290/5279652028_f44e94c80b_z.jpg
DSC_5488 by David Casteel, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/5161/5279053629_f905d36822_z.jpg
DSC_5490ax by David Casteel, on Flickr (note the Rood Screen, Crucifix, and Pulpit)

https://live.staticflickr.com/5164/5279656868_42c22e03a6_z.jpg
DSC_5491x by David Casteel, on Flickr (the main Organ)

Thank you. I didn't want to crash your post. Perhaps I will select a few to post some time later. I like Flickr because I don't have to limit what I post.