Travelog for: beck the lion

We went into the center today. There were lots of people and tents everywhere. They were all eating because it was the end of 'Essen genießt' where gourmet and specialty restaurants have stand in the city for people to try plus it was very good weather. Unfortunately that made it very hard to see anything more fo the town or to even stopp due to the press fo epople everywhere. I too refuge in the cathedral. You can see the bishop's seat here.

The oldest parts of the minster church are from the 10th century, the rest from the 11th. It became the cathedral in 1958 when a the Ruhrarea got its own bishop.

It was built and used for most of its time by a religious female community. Bishop Altfrid of Hildesheim founded it in 850 as a counterpart to the (monk's) monastery in Werden (now another part of Essen) for girls and women of the Saxon nobility who were to pray for the souls of the dead. It was always very to extremely exclusive and in the 15th century only women of the highest nobility were allowed to join the 'Stift'. They didn't become nuns or live monasterial life but had a duty of daily prayers in memoriam and lived in different monasterial buildings or castles and reigned over their lands (including the city).  The women could leave the Stift at any time to return to their families of to get married.

The 'Fürstliche Stift Essen' became one of the most powerful and influential religious institutions in Europe in the early and high middleages and it's leaders became some of the most powerful women of that time. Examples are the abesses Mathilde (971–1011), Sophia (1012-1039) and Theophanu (1039–1058) who were closely related to the reigning kings and emperors. The 'Stift' was given rich lands, treasures and privileges. The treasury can be visited. The central piece is the oldest known golden madonna that's displayed in on of the side chapels. The picture isn't that good because of the difficult and light the way the gold reflects. You can see and learn more here: http://www.dom-essen.de/

On the way back we found this fountain near the old synagogue.

Here beck is in Kaster with a 'Kamel'. It's made of one piece of clay and very heavy!


Alt-Kaster actually now a part of the city of Bedburg but was originally a town belonging to a castle directly behind the town, on the other side of the river Erft.

It was first mentioned in official certificates of 1148.

The castle was fought over between the Archbishops of Cologne and the Dukes of Jülich, it was often destroyed and reconstructed until it finally fell in 1648. Only a ruin is left today.

The town however survived all of this and retained its medieval structure.

We entered through this gate.

You can see the river Mosel below. Look at the storm-look of beck's mane. It was made by the wind this time.

Beck asked about the vines that are produced here in Germany. To try one he had to ask Sebastiaan for help, because neither he, nor Little Tex could open the bottle with their paws.

..........It's time. After visiting 2 different continents I am now readying my envelope to go to the postoffice tomorrow and catch a plane back to Taiwan. Goodbye everybody! See you soon with new stories of my journey.

new plan~
October  with  Fleurdunord in France

Beck is going Bali with mom for 5 days~

Beck 's new traveling plan~

October  with  Fleurdunord in France
November  with  Lizette in Africa

Beck is traveling in Bali~