A Gem Called Wernigerode Part 2

We completed all our grocery shopping, managed to pick-up a dozen fresh rolls at the bakery and as well as having the time for coffee and apple cake loaded with freshly whipped cream.  With my caffeine and sugar levels topped up it was time to head back to the apartment.  I noticed that we could take a shortcut home so we decided to take it.  As it turned out, the shortcut cost us more time than taking our original route because we came upon this very old church.  This building was very different than the churches that we had seen earlier in Amsterdam or Münster.  St Johannis Church (15 on the map) was constructed out of  wood and stone. Its rounded arches above the doors and windows showed signs of being constructed in the Romanesque period.  There also was a beautiful sounding organ playing as we were passing, enticing us to stop and peer in.

Part of an old wall around the church, the entrance begging us to peer inside. 

Once inside this very lovely stone nave and tower greeted us. The square tower with its rounded windows are in the Romanesque style.  It and the transept were built in 1279.  By 1497 the nave was reconstructed into a three-aisled hall. The final major change was completed by 1885 when a restoration of the church in a neo-Gothic style took place. 

The reconstruction in 1885 did not remove all the Romanesque features of St Johannis.

The exterior and much of the interior were updated to a neo-Gothic style in 1885 but many elements remained reflecting many time periods of this church.  The pews are from the Baroque period, the  gothic altar dates back to 1415, the statue on the right from 1500, the baptismal font from 1569, the beautifully carved pulpit is from the early 1600s and finally the statute and the two plagues on the far left, are from 

1986.

It was hard to take photos inside the church as there was a function in progress when we dropped in. We had planned to return later in the weekend but it was not to be.  Just inside the side entrance pictured in the second photo was a small cenotaph.  It was very simple yet powerful, I was not able to take a photo but the image of it will always be etched in my mind.

We did finally made it back to the apartment and put all the food away. We were too tired or maybe just plain lazy to cook diner. We thought that it would be better idea to sight-see some more and then find a nice place to dine.

The east end of our street intersected with Breite Straße (wide street). which was the main business section of the historical part of town. (starts at 14 to 18 on the map) The central part of town was closed to all motorized traffic from mid-morning until late into the evening.  Lots of interesting shops, restaurants and sites all along the way, with the Rathaus being the highlight. 

Looking back at an entrance to Breite Straße, early from late night to mid-morning the posts sink into the ground so deliveries and service vehicles can gain access to the street.     

Breite Straße

Marktplatz is surrounded by great cafés; which one to choose is the really difficult part.  

The entrance to Breite Straße from the west end was through the Western Gate or the Westerntorturm.  It was one of 4 square gates and 30 other half-round towers that at one time encircled this medieval town. The wall is gone from this part of the town however portions still can be seen in the eastern section of the city. 

This is Hinterstraße in the Heide Quarter on the city.  Formerly this was the working class section of town.  The original well and the home date back to 1546.

"I may not know how to speak the language but I can find a sale anywhere!" said Kathleen.

Good thing this store was closed or else Kathleen and I may have come out of it looking like Hansel and Gretel.

Sadly this store had just closed for the day also.  It is a bookstore with many rare prints, engravings and of course books.  The business is over 100 years old but I would have liked to know if the Jüttner family still owns it.  Their son Bruno who was born in 1880 did not stay with the family business but went on to became a popular landscape painter.

The Harz countryside painting by Bruno Jüttner.

The day came to an end, the shopping was done, the wine bought so now it was time to eat.  We ate at a nice Italian restaurant, as we figured there would be more than enough opportunities to eat German food.  After a short walk we were home. We had seen so much and we knew that there was much more to see so we retired early, looking forward to what tomorrow would bring. 

Marktplatz is a great place for a wedding.

The Rathaus was once a playhouse and reconstructed as the new town hall after the first burnt in the fire of 1528.