Northern Beauties

[selenak]

This week I'm on the road again, but in the German North and East, not Italy, and the weather is somewhat on the stormy side. However, there has been the occasional non rainy and even sunny moment, plus all the timber and red brick stone give the northern city their own stern beauty. Have a quick look at Neubrandenburg and Salzwedel!





That was one of the city gates of Neubrandenburg, where I am today. Here's the Marienkirche:





And another gate:





They were creative with their city gates, weren't they?





On to Salzwedel, where I was yesterday. Salzwedel is a Hanse town celebrating its 900th anniversary today.  And naturally, it, too, welcomes you through old gates:






There is an old tower, in which according to local legend the pre-Hanse Earl invited the leaders of the unconverted Wenden for a supposed peaceful meal and had them all assassinated, with their blood colouring the tower red.



The city hall, less burdened by legend, also boasts of this colour.



But really, Salzwedel's most attractive feature is that it has to many Fachwerk or timber houses. I mean:











This is where the Dean used to live:





Which brings us to some of the local churches:











And the local canals:



One last look at Salzwedel: