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Walking in Franconia

Posted by barry on 2012-10-30 13:12:23

I don't think thse crosses are a holdover from pagan/heathen times, in fact, quite the opposite, unless you have a particularly unusual view of the catholic church! As I'm sure you are aware from your residence if nothing else, for most part, Bavaria is a very catholic region. In fact, it feels more deeply religious than Ireland, where the church was so part of the fabric of the country that it tended to go unnoticed. The crosses usually commemorate a particular event and are often at the edges of fields (there's one just off the road on a field edge on a road leading north out of Eschawo - thought I had a photo but seems not). In towns and cities, crosses are erected to mark the route of walks held at religious festival times. There are quite a few dotted around Bamberg and also, again, in Eschawo. I think also the country crosses can mark 'lyke wake walks', as they are called in Britain. These are the funeral routes from the church to a graveyard but I'm not sure whether this applies in Germany. Be interested in any information from Bayern residents. Juergen?

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Walking in Franconia by Nick B. on  2012-10-31 01:22:28