Exploring the Charming Towns of Villingen and Schwenningen in Germany

1. This was our 1st view of Switzerland. Because it was rainy and foggy, this was our only view of Switzerland.

2. The town of Villingen as seen from the hill right above the house. Note the church steeples and towers surrounding the original village. The population is about 40,000.

3. This is just to the east. We’ll see more of this later.

4. Monday we went down to the village. Parking is very scarce inside and only allowed at all on a few streets so we parked just outside.

5. The post you see with the blue & white sign is where you purchase a parking permit. It’s coin operated. You get a ticket which is then placed on the dashboard of the car. I didn’t see very many parking meters.

6. Here we’re about the enter the village. You can see one of the towers that provide an entrance and some of the attached stone wall

7. This is some more of the wall. Note the modern structure just inside. That’s Uschi & Kathy walking.

8. Here you can see some of the fortification with slots for firing weapons.

9. Inside, this is one of the streets that obviously does allow parking and limited traffic.

10. I saw the TOTO sign and thought I was back in Kansas. That’s some kind of lottery game.

11. This is one of the side streets or back alleys. These are homes intermixed with businesses.

12. Notice the cars parked up on the sidewalk because of the narrow streets. This is common all over Germany.

13. Here are some of the stores with residences above them. The inside of the stores are very modern, but the outside façade has to remain original.

14. Looking down an alley. You can see one of the towers at the end.

15. This building caught my eye because of the protruding balconies on the front.

16. These large evergreen trees are brought down from the forest and placed into holes in the street. They are held up by driving wooden wedges all around the base.

17. Here’s one of the towers. Notice that the clock face is green colored.

18. And here is a red one.

19. Here is the blue one. If you get lost all you have to do is remember the color of the clock where you came in.

20. Here’s the girls waiting on me, as usual.

21. We had cappuccino in this beautiful building. They also serve pastries and ice cream. Uschi’s dog just laid under the table. He went into every store with us…no problem.

22. This is the cathedral tower that can be seen from the house. Here is where Uschi’s daughter, Steffi, was married.

23. Here’s one side of the church. Notice the large courtyard surrounding it. This is where the market is held.

24. Here’s the other side of the courtyard. This is also where the Renaissance Festival was held during Steffi’s wedding.

25. And looking the other direction.

26. One of the statues in the courtyard.

27. Originally there was a monastery attached to each tower. This is the courtyard of one of them.

28. You can see the old monastery along the side of this tower.

29. This is the entrance to the courtyard of this particular monastery. Oddly, or maybe not, they were all different orders of monks.

30. These are steps leading up to the tower, built in 1260. Well worn after centuries of use.

31. Uschi and Kathy preparing to leave through the tower walkway.

32. Tuesday we went to Schwenningen. The two towns are about 3 miles apart, in different counties, under one local government. Villingen was predominately Catholic. During the 30-year war in the early 1600’s, a group of protestants attacked Villingen but were repulsed so they formed Schwenningen. The good folks of Villingen then attacked them and burned it down.

33. Later a toll booth was built and a fee was charged to pass from Schwenningen to Villingen.

35. On our way home we stopped at a cemetery. Because of the lack of space, bodies are now cremated and placed on this wall.

36. In the cemetery is a chapel. This tower can be seen from Uschi’s house. It’s just a few blocks away.

37. This structure was built in the 1100’s.

38. Horst, Kathy & Lyle standing beside this ancient monument.

39. Wednesday morning was bright & clear. Kathy is taking a walk on the path just above the house.

40. Lyle on the same path. This is where we will watch the fireworks on New Year’s Eve.

41. On the way to Freiburg we passed the remains of an old fort. Not much left now.

42. One of the beautiful scenes along the road to Freiburg.

43. A typical farm house along the road.

44. These are actually house, barn & hay loft all in one building.

45. This is what’s known as an onion spire or steeple because of its unique shape. We saw many of this style throughout Germany.

46. More scenery on the way to Freiburg.

47. This is one of many Guest Houses we saw. This one is called “The Cold House”. Supposedly some guest actually froze to death while staying here.

48. This was taken at a pull-over along the road.

49. Notice how steep the slope down is.

50. Uschi and Kathy in the Black Forest (Schwarzwald)