This is the wine metropolis of the Palatinate and we didn't go in search of any! We had parked very close to the Marktplatz so it was a good location from which to start. In the Marktplatz is the gothic Stiftkirche, the town hall and the Scheffelhaus.
Die Stiftskirche is Neustadt's most prominent landmark. The two unequal sandstone towers have overlooked Neustadt for the last 500 years. In the north tower is the world's largest cast-iron church bell the "Kaiserglocke".
The Rathaus is guarded by a bronze statue of a lion, the heraldic emblem of Neustadt.
This sculpture is in the courtyard
I would have sat beside him but the stone was too hot and there was no shade!
Mittelgasse and Hintergasse - these streets are considered romantic witnesses of time gone by. The houses have been restored. A lot have beautiful inner courtyards.
Neustadt's oldest wine tavern.
We finally reached my main goal of the day Der Elwedritschebrunnen - the Elwedritsche Fountain. It is just fantastic! Children love it and so do I!! It is a fountain designed by Professor Gernot Rumpf based on the legendary animals of the Palatinate.
This is the legend: Many centuries ago, while a heavy storm was raging, a handful of chickens, geese and ducks got lost in the Palatinate Forest and never returned. Instead, like goblins, elves and other mythical creatures, they created their own, new family - the Elwedritsche: comical, colourful but above all mysterious, mythical creatures. In the dense undergrowth of inaccessible woodland or on rocks, they make their nests in the Palatinate Forest Nature Park and in the Rhine Valley right up to the Odenwald Forest. They feed prererentially on nuts, herbs, grains and, in the autumn, on the juicy grapes of the vineyards.
Ten water-spouting columns symbolise the city(largest column) and its nine wine villages. Gradefully perched on the highest column is the Mayor.
The members of the opposition are symbolised by the Elwedritsches and wearing a bow tie on the edge of the fountain. They remain outside the main fountain, but punish their tie-wearing colleagues by spitting at them with water.
The essential elements of the popular Elwedritsche Hunt can also be seen - a bag made of jute and a stable lantern.
I reluctantly left the fountain and continued to see what else was to be seen. Aswe went through the shopping streets of Neustadt I was looking for soft toys or finger puppets of Eldwedritsches but in vain! I did, however, discover a bakery which made Eldwedritsches to eat.
This could be an Eldwedritsche that got lost!
This is the St. Marien Parish Church.
Inside Die Stiftskirche where we had been the first day we briefly visited Neustadt. It is very nodern and very nice.
We walked down Metzgergasse (Butchers's Lane) a very narrow street leading from the market square. It contains a number of archways displaying old guild signs.
From there we went on to Kunigundenstrasse whose name can be traced back to the woman who saved Neustadt from the aftermath of the Palatinate War od Succession in in 1689. The daughter of one of Neustadt's noble citizens, Kunigunde Kirchner was able to save the town from destruction by expressing her love for the French General de Werth.
We decided to save ourselves from heat destruction by leaving Alstadt and heading home before it got even hotter!
This is the legend: Many centuries ago, while a heavy storm was raging, a handful of chickens, geese and ducks got lost in the Palatinate Forest and never returned. Instead, like goblins, elves and other mythical creatures, they created their own, new family - the Elwedritsche: comical, colourful but above all mysterious, mythical creatures. In the dense undergrowth of inaccessible woodland or on rocks, they make their nests in the Palatinate Forest Nature Park and in the Rhine Valley right up to the Odenwald Forest. They feed prererentially on nuts, herbs, grains and, in the autumn, on the juicy grapes of the vineyards.
Ten water-spouting columns symbolise the city(largest column) and its nine wine villages. Gradefully perched on the highest column is the Mayor.
The members of the opposition are symbolised by the Elwedritsches and wearing a bow tie on the edge of the fountain. They remain outside the main fountain, but punish their tie-wearing colleagues by spitting at them with water.
The essential elements of the popular Elwedritsche Hunt can also be seen - a bag made of jute and a stable lantern.
I reluctantly left the fountain and continued to see what else was to be seen. Aswe went through the shopping streets of Neustadt I was looking for soft toys or finger puppets of Eldwedritsches but in vain! I did, however, discover a bakery which made Eldwedritsches to eat.
This could be an Eldwedritsche that got lost!
This is the St. Marien Parish Church.
Inside Die Stiftskirche where we had been the first day we briefly visited Neustadt. It is very nodern and very nice.
We walked down Metzgergasse (Butchers's Lane) a very narrow street leading from the market square. It contains a number of archways displaying old guild signs.
From there we went on to Kunigundenstrasse whose name can be traced back to the woman who saved Neustadt from the aftermath of the Palatinate War od Succession in in 1689. The daughter of one of Neustadt's noble citizens, Kunigunde Kirchner was able to save the town from destruction by expressing her love for the French General de Werth.
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