Medieval Holy Monday

Set off to Mindelheim to get the metal fly screen net I couldn't get on Saturday. Chose Mindelheim as there is a slightly different DIY store that was sure to have it and indeed it did.

It was grey and drizzling and I didn't feel like wandering around the town to Blip one of the many lovely churches but did drive through the main street. The town is getting polished up for the "Frundsberg Festival" which starts on 26th June. One of the largest town festivals in Germany, it is held every three years and lasts 10 days. Celebrates the medieval knight Georg von Frundsberg (1473-1528) with some 2500 locals dressing up in costume and taking part in parades and camps.

We headed for the castle above the town, the Mindelburg which a few years ago I visited with Bliper PurbeckDave and wife. The castle was owned from 1705 to1714 byJohn Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough.

We didn't visit the castle but set off over fields for our walk. With the drizzle and not expecting any churches to be seen, left the camera in the car. How wrong I was. The area was buzzing with holy things. Three chapels, numerous shrines! Oh well, have to go here more often.

The Blip is of the Katharinen Chapel donated by Maria Fugger in 1606, renovated 1647 and interior done 1750. The Fuggers, a local family were the richest family in Europe in their day having taken over from the de Medici's. They financed every single good war worth its salt in Europe during their time and had every European King in their pockets.

The walk turned out to be very interesting and have to repeat it. I didn't think we would be going anywhere near houses but again wrong and the area had a very English, tidy garden atmosphere. I was very surprised.

Back home tried fitting the metal aluminium screen. Oh joy, the plastic strip clips that hold it in place are so tight they cut the metal right through. Will now fit the fibreglass screen supplied with the door and see if it stands up to dog noses and cats claws. The cat flap is next to the door but on the other side of the house with an existing metal screen, the cats are past masters at opening it with their claws.