Day 57 Mittenwald - rest day

Today is a rest day, it's also our last full day in Germany as tomorrow we'll walk into Austria.

We have decided that due to the heat we will need more rest days. When we first started we walked for two weeks without a rest as it was so much cooler but now we need to decide day by day whether we can continue walking. 

Today may have been a rest day but we didn't get a chance to sleep in. We were woken at 6 by big booms and the sounds of a marching band.  

It is a public holiday here in Bavaria, and several other German Federal States, as it's Fronleichnam, the Feast of Corpus Christi, and here in Mittenwald it was given great honour. 

I found that Mass at the church of St Peter und Paul was at 8 am. The church is only 500 metres from where we're staying and as we walked we saw two women in full traditional costume walking towards church. They were just two of many. Almost half of the congregation were in costume - men, women and children, and massive banners were placed by the altar and down the sides of the church. 

Walking towards the church of St Peter und Paul. 

Mass was celebrated by two priests, there were many altar servers, and a fantastic choir was accompanied by a brass band - the band which had paraded through town at 6 am. 

Following Mass there was a large procession through town, lasting at least an hour, and ended with final prayers in the platz. The procession then returned to the church just before 11 am. Some of the young men carrying the heavy banners were struggling with the weight and the heat well before the end, one especially nearly collapsed.

After Mass, before the procession:

The start of the very long procession:

And the gathering in the platz:

A few snaps taken after the procession. Some of those who had taken part simply set off for home, many others made a beeline to Eiscafés for ice creams or restaurants.

The boys were enjoying ice creams.

These women were also enjoying ice creams. 

Just a few of the many who went to restaurants around town. 

Mittenwald is a gorgeous town full of beautiful buildings and surrounded by mountains. 

A few photos taken while walking around:

Jeff is very amused at some of the buildings not having downpipes. The guttering is just extended out from the front of the buildings. 

St Peter und Paul Church:

Some information about the church:

The present church was built between 1734 and 1749 by the Wessobrunn master builder Joseph Schmutzer. The magnificent frescoes are by Matthäus Günther.

Mittenwald's landmark is the church tower, completed in 1746 and painted with the church's patron saints, Peter and Paul .

The parish currently has approximately 4,400 members. Parish life is strongly influenced by local traditions.

Source: St Peter und Paul Church website. 

Out our window tonight: