I went with a few ladies from the Out and About group to Alsfeld and the Christmas market there. This little town, founded in the 8th or 9th century, looks like it's straight out of a fairytale.
The first picture is the town center, with the Town Hall (1512) in the middle, the Wine House (1538) on the left, and the Apothecary on the right. Down every narrow and twisting street there are a wealth of amazing half-timbered buildings that Germany is famous for, some of them leaning out over the streets or against each other.
The town is passionate about preserving their architectural heritage. There is beautiful wood work on many of the buildings
On some of the buildings you see words or characters carved - these are meant as protections to ward off curses and other bad things.
We saw several houses that were using chairs as a part of their décor.
This is Walpurgis Church.
And this is the Church of the Holy Trinity with an attached former Augustine Monastery.
This monastery is where Martin Luther's friend lived and worked, and Martin Luther's entourage actually spent a night in Alsfeld on their way to Worms in 1521.
Below is a picture of the Pranger (pillory) on the left corner of the Wine House. This is where offenders were publicly humiliated (the metal collar would be secured around their neck, and they just had to stand there).
At one time Alsfeld was completely surrounded by an oval shaped city wall. This is all that is left.
One of the things that Alsfeld is best know for is that this is the town where the Grimm brother are thought to have written Rotkappchen (Little Red Riding Hood). If you have a large enough group, you can even have Red Riding Hood herself give you a personalized tour of Alsfeld :)
Alsfeld has this Fairy Tale House, with each of the rooms decorated to illustrate the Grimm's fairy tales. It wasn't open when we were there, but I'd love to take my kids back.
Out in front of the Fairy Tale House is an old city well that was recently discovered. The frog prince sits atop, and I had to give him a kiss, even though I already have my own prince - remember
this poem I wrote him back in the day? (and check out how red my hair looks in the sunlight!)
This is another well in town with the Goose Girl on top.
Now, the best part of the Christmas market in Alsfeld was this booth.
This lady comes every year to sell these fairytale dolls, and I HAD to get the Little Red Riding Hood one. At first glance it doesn't seem all that special.
But look closer....and turn the doll upsidedown/insideout
There's Grandma!
But wait, there's more!
Turn Grandma's cap over, and there's the wolf, disguised as Grandma!
Is that the coolest thing or what?! All of the dolls are like this, and she has dolls for EVERY fairytale. I haven't even shown the kids the doll yet, because I want to take them back next Christmas and have them experience the booth firsthand like I did. But I'd also love to go back when it's warm, and I can wander the whole city for a few hours ;)
I'm realizing that I am taking a LOT of pictures of places/buildings, but not very many of people/family, so I need to work on that. People. People are good.
