Saturday 24 December
We started the day with a walk of around 9km partly along city streets but mainly through the Siebentisch Wald, in the northern area of the Augsburg city forest (Augsburg Stadtwald). This is a huge area of 2000 hectares in total, with walking, bike and riding trails and largely unspoilt forest. We saw a few lone joggers (mainly female so it must be considered a safe area), some dog walkers and several groups of walkers but for much of the time it was just us and the trees.
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| Old drinking fountain |
We stopped for a rest on a seat on the edge of the Stempflesee, a small lake which seemed to be home to lots of ducks and one white swan.
We walked back a different way, along the outer wall of the zoo which extended into the park.
After a bit of a rest back home we set out for lunch at Drei Mohren (The Three Moors) restaurant. We had had a lovely meal there last year so Ian had made an online booking for 2pm – a late booking so we could have a rest after the morning walk and also because we intended to attend the 10pm Christmas Eve service and that would be an enjoyable way to spend a large part of the afternoon. Since 2pm was one of the times available on the website, we didn’t realise there would be a problem. However when we turned up at 2pm, we were greeted with great consternation and the news that the kitchen closed at 3pm! Luckily the service at Drei Mohren is smorgasbord so we decided to stay.
The buffet included an interesting range of starters, main courses and desserts, and we worked our way through all three areas within the hour. The time limit was probably a good thing since it prevented us eating too much of the delicious dishes on offer! The highlight for both of us was a dessert: crème brulee von der Valrhona Schokolade – a smooth chocolate custard with a crust of burnt sugar.
After leaving the restaurant we walked into the town centre to visit the Augsburg Catholic cathedral. There was a rehearsal for the nativity play underway as we walked around the cathedral and lots of tourists admiring the artworks in the various chapels.
The cathedral grounds were extensive and included a large building which may have been a monastery.
From there we walked back towards home and called in at St Urich and St Afra’s on the way. This is a combined church which forms the Protestant cathedral. There was a service taking place in St Ulrich’s, including a nativity play performed by the children and watched by a large congregation.
The buffet included an interesting range of starters, main courses and desserts, and we worked our way through all three areas within the hour. The time limit was probably a good thing since it prevented us eating too much of the delicious dishes on offer! The highlight for both of us was a dessert: crème brulee von der Valrhona Schokolade – a smooth chocolate custard with a crust of burnt sugar.
After leaving the restaurant we walked into the town centre to visit the Augsburg Catholic cathedral. There was a rehearsal for the nativity play underway as we walked around the cathedral and lots of tourists admiring the artworks in the various chapels.
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| Statue in front of the cathedral |
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| Chapel of Our Lady |
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| The four Disciples sleeping |
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| A glimpse of Madonna and Child |
From there we walked back towards home and called in at St Urich and St Afra’s on the way. This is a combined church which forms the Protestant cathedral. There was a service taking place in St Ulrich’s, including a nativity play performed by the children and watched by a large congregation.
After a break at home, we returned to St Ulrich’s for the Christmas Eve service at 10pm. The church was beautifully lit by twenty Christmas trees covered in golden lights and the main altar was also spectacularly lit. The service was two hours long, in German and Catholic, but an interesting experience – and certainly worth it for the beautiful décor and the wonderful organ music.
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