001 My little tour through downtown Esslingen starts at the old Staufer gate called Wolfstor. It got built around 1220, and is the oldest remaining gate.

http://www.safaribears.de/shared/favicon.jpg 001 My little tour through downtown Esslingen starts at the old Staufer gate called Wolfstor. It got built around 1220, and is the oldest remaining gate. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=1 002 This is the Wolfstor as seen from inside the city walls. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=2 003 This is the picturesque Küferstraße, leading from the Wolfstor towards the centre. Küfer means cooper, so I guess the cooper guild was located there one time. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=3 004 Here we are looking at one of the nicely refurbished houses at the Hafenmarkt. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=4 005 Also this house is located at the Hafenmarkt. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=5 006 This house is between the Hafenmarkt and the Old City Hall. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=6 007 The next five pictures show a neat corner right behind the Old City Hall. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=7 008 This is the Ratskeller. Almost all cities in Germany have a Ratskeller located next to, or in the cellars of the Old City Halls. Usually the Ratskeller is one of the better addresses for dining out. It got built in the 14th century and expanded in the 16th century. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=8 009 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=9 010 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=10 011 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=11 012 Here you can see the back side of the Old City Hall to the right. We are getting there next. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=12 013 This is the side of the Old City Hall. Isn't that splendid? They were just done with renovation. The Old City Hall started out as a market hall, purely half-timbered, in 1420. It got its Renaissance style front and the carillon in 1586-89 and the astronomical clock in 1592. In the 20th century the eagle (it can flap its wings) and all the other moving parts (the figurines of the carillon) got added. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=13 014 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=14 015 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=15 016 The front of the Old City Hall. With a normal and an astronomical clock, a carillon and the imperial eagle. The movable parts (the eagle and some other parts) were added in the 20th century. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=16 017 This is the eagle that crowns the fountain in front of the Old City Hall. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=17 018 The black eagle will flap its wings when the carillon plays. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=18 019 The two clockworks. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=19 020 Carinne and Lisa http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=20 021 This is the New City Hall, opposing its predecessor. It got built in 1748-51 by Baron von Palm, was owned by Count Alexander von Württemberg 1831-1840 and serves as the city hall since 1841. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=21 022 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=22 023 The market place of Esslingen, surrounded by beautiful half-timbered houses on one side and the Stadtkirche on the other side. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=23 024 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=24 025 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=25 026 This wonderful house is the 'Alfred-Kielmeyer-Haus', right on the market place. Today it houses the City Information. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=26 027 This is the Postmichelbrunnen. There is a story behind this fountain, if I recall it correctly it's about a post rider that got falsely accused and convicted of murder and got hanged right there at the place of the fountain, and the last thing he said was that he would come back here every year to haunt the place until the real murderer gets found. And the story goes that one could hear his horn every year until the actual murderer confessed. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=27 028 This is seen from the city park. That elevated street is called the 'Innere Brücke' (inner bridge) and it's a nice shopping street with lots of old half-timbered houses. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=28 029 And also this is seen from the city park. One can see one of the two canals that border the park and the back of the local court. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=29 030 Here the front of the local court. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=30 031 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=31 032 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=32 033 A little bit more down the shopping street we pass an old building. In 1531 the famous medicus Paracelsus was living here. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=33 034 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=34 035 The shopping street of Esslingen, forbidden for cars. It's so empty on those pictures because I took them on a Sunday, and in Germany shops are forbidden to open on Sundays. Isn't that dumb? http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=35 036 What a cute mannequin! http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=36 037 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=37 038 At the end of that shopping street you find another old gate, the Pliensauturm, the only remaining of three towers that were guarding the Pliensaubücke (the bridge over the river Neckar). Part of the wall around the Pliensauvorstadt, a small town outside of Esslingen. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=38 039 The other side of the Pliensauturm. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=39 040 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=40 041 And Carinne and Lisa again. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=41 042 Walking back from the Pliensauturm towards the two city halls, one comes across the Schelztor, the north eastern gate of the Pliensauvorstadt. It got build in 1286. Refurbished in 1993. Today it houses the best ice cream parlour north of Italy ;-) http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=42 043 Lisa and me enjoying our ice-cream cones. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=43 044 Another well refurbished house. It's right between the Schelztor and the city church, located on the Marktplatz. On the other end of the Marktplatz lies the Rathausplatz with the two City Halls. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=44 045 This school yard belongs to the Waisenhofschule, where I spent my first years of school http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=45 046 This is in another church on the Marktplatz, right next to the Waisenhofschule. It's the church St. Paul of the former dominican monastery . Construction started in 1233 and it got sanctified by Albertus Magnus in 1268. It's the oldest still existing dominican church in Germany. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=46 047 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=47 048 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=48 049 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=49 050 This is the Stadtkirche, the city church. It got build with two towers, but they started to separate from each other and they had to add the little bridge between them to give stability. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=50 051 The Stadtkirche got build as the third church on the place of two previous simple churches, from the 8th and 9th century. Construction on the church St. Dionys started in the 12th century and was completed in the first half of the 14th century. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=51 052 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=52 053 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=53 054 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=54 055 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=55 056 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=56 057 Going inside. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=57 058 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=58 059 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=59 060 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=60 061 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=61 062 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=62 063 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=63 064 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=64 065 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=65 066 This is a bit hard to explain. Standing at the altar, looking upwards to the high ceiling, one can see there's a balcony up there. Who would go up there to look down, and why I do not know. I have been in that church maybe 20 times and have only spotted this last time! http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=66 067 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=67 068 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=68 069 One of the many fine pieces of masonry in the church. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=69 070 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=70 071 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=71 072 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=72 073 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=73 074 Part of the furniture of the choir, from 1514-1518. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=74 075 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=75 076 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=76 077 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=77 078 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=78 079 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=79 080 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=80 081 Looking from the altar towards the main entrance. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=81 082 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=82 083 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=83 084 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=84 085 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=85 086 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=86 087 Last view of the Stadtkirche. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=87 088 The main building of the champagne producer Kessler Sekt, the oldest sparkling wine cellars in Germany. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=88 089 Kessler Sekt almost went down in 2004/2005. But thank god there were some private investors from Esslingen and Switzerland saving the company. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=89 090 Another beautiful scene. It shows the point where they two canals bordering the city park meet, and in the background is the Stadtkirche. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=90 091 Here we come to the Frauenkirche, that name has the same meaning as 'Notre Dame'. Construction started in 1321 and was finished in 1516. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=91 092 Sorry, I don't have a full view picture of this church, but they're still renovating. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=92 093 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=93 094 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=94 095 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=95 096 Some gargoyles. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=96 097 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=97 098 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=98 099 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=99 100 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=100 101 Here we are in the Frauenkirche. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=101 102 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=102 103 A last glance from the Frauenkirche towards the Stadtkirche St. Dionys. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=103 104 Early December we went to the Christmas Market in Esslingen http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=104 105 A huge version of a typical Christmas item here in Germany, a Weihnachtspyramide. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=105 106 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=106 107 Carinne looking for caps http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=107 108 and holding our mulled wine http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=108 109 There were plenty of stands selling stuff made out of Hanf - hemp. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=109 110 The old city hall http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=110 111 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=111 112 and some more old houses made up for Christmas. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=112 113 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=113 114 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=114 115 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=115 116 Me eating 'Dampfnudel' with vanilla sauce (sweet yeast dumpling). http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=116 117 The next three pictures were taken from the 'Burg' looking down on the market and city hall place. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=117 118 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=118 119 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=119 120 Now we will go to the 'Burg', which means castle, but actually it's just a reinforced city wall, first mentioned in 1314. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=120 121 This and the next picture I took from a hill called Zollberg, on the other side of Esslingen, looking over the beautiful old city of Esslingen towards the 'Burg'. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=121 122 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=122 123 This tower was once used to watch over the city and warn of fire. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=123 124 In 1527 they build this tower to strengthen the walls, first without the roof we see nowadays crowning the tower. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=124 125 The roof got added in 1887, copying the famous looks of the castle in Nürnberg. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=125 126 Nowadays there's a restaurant inside, and I am sure it gives a nice view over the old town. Have never been there, though, so can't comment on the quality of the food. Maybe I should try out :-) http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=126 127 This is the view coming from the parking lot outside of the city walls towards the Burg. This is the outer defence wall. To the right one can see a restaurant with beer garden. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=127 128 Certainly one cannot just pass a beer garden without having a beer, right? http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=128 129 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=129 130 This is the park inside of the Burg. On top of that wall one has the best view down on the old town. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=130 131 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=131 132 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=132 133 Here's the promised view down on Esslingen. This view point is a must for every tourist. http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=133 134 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=134 135 http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=135 136 There's a Greek orthodox church in Esslingen, too. For some reason it's not allowed to get any closer to it. How unfriendly! http://www.safaribears.de/content.php?page=SlideshowEsslingen&image=136