The River Main dominated our way today. After a short walk through the streets from our accommodation in Schweinfurt we were down on the riverfront and we walked alongside it all the way to Wipfeld. The Main is the longest tributary of the Rhine.
We walked our own tracks for most of today's route as the official Via Romea Germanica route left the river and followed along a busy road.
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| Graffiti on an underpass: I see what you don't see. |
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| There were several massive industrial plants on the opposite side. |
There were two large information boards along our path telling of the forced labour camps in Sweinfurt 1940 - 1945.
As more German men were fighting on the different fronts men, women and children from German occupied countries were forced into the the camps which were along the area where we walked today. As many 10,500 people were housed in the camps and were forced to work wherever they were ordered to.
Our walk continues:
We didn't go through any villages, just the very outskirts of one where we found a table and seats - perfect for our lunch break.
Not long after this stopped to take our jackets off and Carla, the German pilgrim we've met a few times, walked up behind us so we walked into Wipfeld, where we're staying tonight, together. We hadn't seen her for 2 or 3 days. Carla was walking on for another 10 kilometres or so today.
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| Our route wasn't exactly a major thoroughfare at times. |
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| And, for a while, we were walking on the top of the stop bank. |
At one point we crossed the river on a traffic bridge to get to a supermarket on the otherside. Now that we're out of former East Germany the supermarkets once again have a café/bakery which we like to take advantage of when we can. It's good to be able to sit for a while and have a hot drink and something to eat, not to forget that we appreciate the toilets they have as well.
Further along the river work was being carried out but we couldn't really see what.
Further along the river work was being carried out but we couldn't really see what.
For at least one kilomtere we walked past row upon row of very tidy garden allotments.
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| Rhubarb was very popular in many of the gardens. |
These hens were hoping we would feed them.
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| The view from our picnic table. |
We are now in Franconian wine country - not that we've seen massive vineyards, just small blocks like these ones:
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| Carla & I walking into Wipfeld. |
We came across a café/beer garden as soon we entered Wipfeld so all three of us stopped for a drink - Carla had a coffee as well as a tea and Jeff and I had a in-house made iced lemon and ginger drink which was very refreshing. Carla and Jeff both bought a piece of a Black Forest gateau. They were massive slices so Carla asked me to share hers. Then, after hugs goodbye, she was on her way.
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| Carla & I in Wipfeld. |
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| Carla on her way again. She is walking for her husband who died quite recently. |
Each table had a empty wine bottle with a saying or quote on them. The bottles are called Bocksbeutel - their shape is described as being a flattened ellipsoid which is common for Franconian wines.
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| 'You have to be able to say WINE sometimes!' |
Wipfeld is a gorgeous village, right on the River Main. Our host for tonight gave us a wee map with a hand drawn route in the village for us to follow. The village is partly on a steep hill.
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| Where we're staying tonight. |
On the top of a steep hill is the Katholische Pfarrkirche St Johannes der Täufer, St Johhn's Catholic Church. Very plain on the outside but very ornate inside.
Coming back down to the village and riverfront:
Wipfeld is a municipality in the Schweinfurt district of Lower Franconia and a member of the Schwanfeld administrative community . The main town of the same name is a wine-growing town in the Franconia region.
Population 1,019.
Source: Wikipedia
