E31: Nordlingen 10th May

Parked up in the Stellplazte we were thinking how fortunate we were on a Saturday afternoon to be in a nice quiet medieval town, until shortly after arrival the Stellplatze and car park were packed to bursting and people were pouring out in Lederhausen and traditional costume….

then we discovered that just behind the trees on the left of the photo was the Nordlingen Beer Festival!….

They certainly do like a beer or two and a raucous sing along with a very loud oompah band (until the early hours!) ….

Anyway, the real reason we came here was to visit the charming medieval town of Nordlingen, a 14th century walled town that lies near the epicentre of a 15 million year old 25km wide meteor crater! (another stolen photo here, so you can see how almost perfectly circular the town is)….

It is possible to circumnavigate the entire town along the old sentry walk (we did!) ….

from the walls you get a birds eye view of the old cobbled backstreets…. 

 

However the best view of the town can be had from the top of the 90 metre tall Daniel tower which dominates the heart of the town….

Once you have managed the scramble up the 350 steps you will be treated to panoramic views of the town….

if any of these views appear familiar….

and if you have ever watched the 1970’s version of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (and are an avid fan like our daughter Olivia!), then you have already seen these views from the great glass elevator!

Back on terra firm the old town is a delight, many of the tiered town houses were originally built with only 2 levels and then ‘grew upwards' with the increasing affluence of the occupant as can be seen on these ‘stepped’ levels….

lastly, Kate is convinced that the chap with the pipe on this fresco looks just like our friend in Weston Super Mare (he knows who we mean hehe)….