Piešťany to Lichtenfels: The green curtain
Monday July 8, 2013
We now found ourselves heading home. We had already gathered many impressions and felt we were reaching the saturation point. So instead of visiting the Czech Republic, originally on our tentative itinerary, or eastern Germany, we chose a route through a part of Austria that we had both never visited, the Waldviertel (Forest Quarter), a region in the Austrian state Lower Austria.
On small roads through a beautiful countryside with expansive views of cultivated fields, forests and distant mountains we set our sights on the Austrian border, formerly part of the Iron Curtain. It is now a green curtain, as the vegetation flourished especially well in the "death strip", the mined area where no one dared tread for so many years. Officially, it is now called the Green Belt. Although you cross into Austria and there is no sign of a border crossing, the difference in the economies of the two countries is enough evidence that you are now in the "West".
We now found ourselves heading home. We had already gathered many impressions and felt we were reaching the saturation point. So instead of visiting the Czech Republic, originally on our tentative itinerary, or eastern Germany, we chose a route through a part of Austria that we had both never visited, the Waldviertel (Forest Quarter), a region in the Austrian state Lower Austria.
On small roads through a beautiful countryside with expansive views of cultivated fields, forests and distant mountains we set our sights on the Austrian border, formerly part of the Iron Curtain. It is now a green curtain, as the vegetation flourished especially well in the "death strip", the mined area where no one dared tread for so many years. Officially, it is now called the Green Belt. Although you cross into Austria and there is no sign of a border crossing, the difference in the economies of the two countries is enough evidence that you are now in the "West".
A cloudy day with occasional showers, not good for picture taking but good for driving
Still in Slovakia, we were attracted by the church towers in Šaštín, where the monastery and church of the Virgin Mary of Seven Grievances is located, the patron saint of Slovakia. This pilgrim site was empty today but there were many benches in the square facing the church to accommodate the crowds that come on special days.
Monastery and Church of the Virgin Mary of Seven Grievances at Šaštín
Closer view
Marian column and church tower
Local store, perhaps a little drearier here than in other parts of the country due to the depressed economy of areas near the border
In the later afternoon we drove by a sign for Kloster Altenburg, which we had never heard of. We decided to stop and see what there was to see. We are always amazed at how many things there are, not too far away, that we have never even heard of, but are certainly well-known. The Benedictine monastery at Altenburg is said to be one of the loveliest in the whole of Austria. The Baroque abbey was built on the remains of former Romaneque and Gothic buildings, its highlight is the library. The abbey church itself is rich in Baroque ornamentation.
We had just parked, when a few drops of rain convinced us to take our umbrellas with us, just in case. We had barely reached the church when we witnessed a torrential downpour with lightning and mighty claps of thunder. It took quite a while before the storm subsided and we weren't able to visit the monastery gardens. Next time.
We had just parked, when a few drops of rain convinced us to take our umbrellas with us, just in case. We had barely reached the church when we witnessed a torrential downpour with lightning and mighty claps of thunder. It took quite a while before the storm subsided and we weren't able to visit the monastery gardens. Next time.
Altenburg Abbey
The scent of the lavender was overwhelming.
Church at Altenburg
Altogether, the drive through Austria's Waldviertel was beautiful. There were many spots where we could imagine it would be nice to ride our bikes. It's on our list of places we would like to see again.