Impressions from our long weekend in Frankfurt and Darmstadt (II)

 The Frankfurt Cathedral Museum displays ecclesiastical treasures, a rich collection of medieval chasubles and important exhibits relating to Frankfurt's imperial cathedral, from early medieval excavation to evidence of its historicist redesign in the 19th century.

The museum was opened in 1987 in the cloister of the Frankfurt Imperial Cathedral of St. Bartholomew. The cloister itself dates back to the early 15th century, but destruction and alterations in later centuries have left their mark.

Here I show you some of the exhibits that stand out for me, whether because of their artistry or their age

Cross reliquary, Middle Rhine, 1370

Lamentation of Christ
Winged altar, donated by Johannes Latomus in 1587.
Center: Antwerp, 1550
Wing: Frankfurt, 1570

Mary with child and angels playing music, Cologne, c. 1420

 

Bibel, Johannes Schönsperger d. Ä. (1455-1521), Augsburg, 1490

Doors of a liturgical cabinet from Frankfurt Cathedral (c. 1370-1382), by Master Johann, painter at Babinberg (Bamberg), citizen of Oppenheim

Magnificent monstrance, Augsburg, 1719 (made by Thelott and Lutz)

 

 

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We also visited the so-called Vivarium, a small, fine zoological parc in Darmstadt 

Here I show you a few animals whose photos are particularly successful

 

 Vicuñas eyeing a female peacock...

while the male peacock mates mightily :-)

A tortoise chilling in the sun...

... while some flamingos had a loud, tough discussions.

 

A spacious outdoor area with avocets

In the Reptile House:

Bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps), curiously "smiling" 

 

Spiny-tailed monitor (Varanus acunthurus)

Dyeing Poison frog (Dendrobates pinctorius azureus)

 

Frilled lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii)

 Timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)

 

Desert Iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis)

 

 

Later in the day we discovered the Messel Pit

 From a circular, high lookout we had a good view of the pit, which is still being scientifically explored. The area is generously fenced off and does not allow unauthorized access.

 

 

The Messel Pit is a UN World Heritage Site

 The state of preservation, quantity and variety of fossils found there is unique. The pit documents the history of the earth's development 48 million years ago, when explosive changes in the animal and plant world followed the extinction of the dinosaurs.

 

Many special finds can be seen in a magnificent exhibition. There is also a small movie theater with a film about the protests against the plans to turn the pit into a landfill site. There is also a room where you can virtually sink to a depth of almost 400 meters.

 

 Please enjoy some of the amazing finds:

 

 

Diplocynodon

A Crocodile

 

 

Lizard (Ornathocephalus)

Turtle (Trionyx)

The oldest snake of the world (!) (Messelopython freyi)

Juvenile Crocodile (Diplocynodon)

Darwinius marsillae

IDA

 The female animal was named Ida and was not yet fully grown when it fell into the lake. It is the best-preserved, most complete skeleton of an early primate. The state of preservation of the bones, teeth and stomach contents are of such high quality that it has significantly expanded our insight into the life of the animals. Ida was a vegetarian and had broken her wrist. However, scientists are certain that she is not the so-called "missing link".

 

Garfish (Atracosteus strausi)

 

Eurohippus messelensis

After seven years, another original horse was found. Teeth and bones between the ribcage (not visible here, but on wikipedia) come from the skeleton of an embryo. It was therefore a pregnant mare. The team at the Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt prepared the mare in record time so that it can now be exhibited.

Propalaeutherium voigti

A Stallion, skeleton almost complete, 48 Million years old

found at Messel Pit in 2015

and outside the museum

orchard meadows with various trees named "Tree of the year..."

 

a 2-tons-turning stone ... it wheighs more than my car and I could move it with my fingertips (after i had set the stone in motion)

 

I visited a traditional cole pile

 Yesterday we went to a valley which is famous for walking and hiking, with a small café and a playground and game reserve nearby.

I love spring and it could be seen in every corner of the woods

 

 

 Even almost "dead" branches overgrown with moss explode back to life

An arts and crafts market was held in a large clearing. 

Charcoal burners had also erected and lit a charcoal pile. 

The scent of smoldering wood could be smelled from afar

 

The Coal Pile

 

Charcoal burning is one of the oldest human crafts. It is rare in Europe, but still practised regulary in Romania, Poland, the UK, Slovenia and Switzerland. Other places are the tropical rain forests of South America.

 

The charcoal burners in their traditional working clothes

fill in more split wood. It takes some days before you can harvest the charcoal.

 

If you want to know more 

European Charcole Burner Association 

Wikipedia

!

The charcoal production process has a significant impact on air and soil. 

Approximately one third of the dry weight of wood is emitted into the atmosphere

 in the form of pyrolysis products. Another part of the pyrolysis products, which are 

produced as liquids such as wood tar, is responsible for soil pollution.