Staffelstein

So I then went to Staffelstein.  Staffelstein is a town of about 10,000 people in northern Bavaria.  The town is known for its beautiful surroundings and the local thermal spa.  Staffelstein also features several historical places, such as the Banz Abbey and the Basilika Vierzehnheiligen.  Over the last ten years it has become increasingly attractive to tourists for its spas and, of course, the rural areas around.

I found that the Kurort is used largely (though not exclusively) for medical purposes.  It is intended to assist with rheumatic diseases and nervous system issues.

There are hiking and biking trails nearby, and beautiful lakes for swimming, sailing and surfing.  Canoeing and fishing is popular there.  Aqua giant water park provides a place for sports, games, and fun.  The forest climbing above the Banz presents children and adults a special experience.



I went to the Basilika Vierzehnheiligen (Basilica of Fourteen Saints).  It was built in the end of the seventeen hundreds in the good German Baroque style.

Last I went to the Braurei-Gasthaus Thomann.  They serve wild game, grilled beef, dark beer, and Weissbier!  My kind of place.  I'll probably spend the rest of trip hanging around places like this!









http://baederkalender.de/kurort.php?id=307&referer=map&map_menu=&bundesland=&heilanzeigen=&sparte=&kurort=&locator=small
http://www.vierzehnheiligen.de/de/gnadenaltar/heilige-margareta.php
http://www.gasthaus-thomann.de/

To Frankfurt

After my tour through Heidelburg, I headed up north to the city of Frankfurt.  Frankfurt is big: it's the fifth-largest city in Germany and Germany's financial center.  I divided my travelling here between walking and taxis since many of the places I visited were quite far apart.  The city is built on both sides of the river Main.




Being a man of means, I naturally checked out the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.  The city has erected statues of a bear and a bull in front of the building!  If the statistics are true, this stock exchange sees 90% of the turnover in the German market.  Moreover, it brings in significant wealth from abroad: about 47% of the market participants are foreign.

Later on I visited the Lessing-Gymnasium of Frankfurt am Main.  It is a late Medieval school, started in 1519 as a "Latin school", and which grew into a university.  It was severely damaged in World War II and the university students moved to other local universities.  It is currently a Gymnasium and it follows a traditional Humanistic curriculum.  The students learn at least two foreign or ancient languages, and the school is known for its strong choral and orchestral music.  Good stuff!

Next I looked up a place to eat.  I found a place called Schwarzer Stern and sat down.  The menu consisted primarily of typical German dishes, such as sausage and potato meals.  I ordered Deftiger Eintopf mit Frankfurter Wurschen, a local stew served with Frankfurter sausage.  Once again, good stuff!

Frankfurt!!!


A few sources:
The latest information
Börse Frankfurt- Aktien Kurse, Charts und Nachrichten
Zum Schwarzer Stern - Willkommen auf der Homepage