Under grey skies.

Although the days have been dreary and dark (the sun sets around 4:15pm during the winter here) we have had no shortage of ideas for outdoor adventures and are beginning to check them off. As a mama who has been suffering from a bit of cabin fever, I insist that we take advantage of papa's free time before the grind of school resumes, grey skies or not! The ITI cars are much more available now as most students are home so we are trying to make the most of drivable outings vs. taking trains. Today we drove to Laxenburg, a nearby town which is home to Schloss Laxenburg, yet another residence of the Hapsburgs, now famous for its park complete with a replica of a medieval castle. We first peeked inside the church.

 It's still Christmas-tide folks, and we're still celebrating!

Come to judgment.

 Then we stopped for a nurse and a change....

...and a meltdown. Uncle Chris, don't you want to travel with us?

 We walked around the outside of the palace quickly, then set off to explore the extensive grounds which were rearranged as an English landscape garden in 1780.

Michael liked the 2 lions that stand guard at the park's entrance.

This is the area that was designed to host medieval tournaments and festivals, and is still used as such every summer.

 After a while, we rounded a bend and found Franzenburg Castle.

Our two little princes. Yes, that is Dominic napping in the bottom seat; we are greatly enjoying this stroller!

 The large pond is home to a myriad of ducks; Michael enjoyed watching them. We will definitely be back to visit this park in the spring and summer - great place to have a picnic! Andrew took some neat pictures of the church before we left.



Outting to Melk.

This past Friday, we booked one of the ITI cars and drove out to Stift Melk about 50 miles west of Vienna on the Danube River. This Benedictine monastery was founded in 1089, and by the 12th century had become renowned for its extensive library/manuscript collection. In the 15th century, this abbey became the center of the Melk Reform movement which reinvigorated the monastic life of Austria and Southern Germany. The current Baroque buildings were constructed in the 1700's. Melk Abbey is still a functional monastery and also houses a preparatory school in which 900 children are currently enrolled. It is so inspiring to be visiting such places where holy men and women prayed, worked and served (and still do!) where the faith has stood the test of time and evil, where saints are still being made - what an example to us!

(Aerial view - obviously not taken by me.)

The grand staircase where such guests as Maria Theresia (the last ruler of the House of Habsburg and only female ruler) were received.

Portraits of Maria Theresia and her husband, Francis I, at the top of the stairs.

Vestments dating back to the era of the monastery; this miter is still worn by the current Abbot on feast days.

 The original altar pieces depicting scenes from the life of Christ which would be closed or opened depending on the feast day with which they corresponded.

The hall which usually served as an entertaining and/or dining area. We were told that this ceiling is constructed from wood and so is actually flat, but painted to create an optical illusion of a curved or domed ceiling.

 Michael was quite good on our tour, but did have to be hushed a few times...

"Oh Mama, I really am being quite good."

We next walked through the library. Pictures are not allowed in here, so I snagged the above 2 photos from the Internet so you can see the abbey library in all its glory! Its ceiling is in fact curved, as it is made of bricks to make the room more fireproof.



The abbey church with its high altar of Saints Peter and Paul.

Michael has learned to look up when we enter new churches and likes to point out angels.

A main side altar contains the tomb of St. Columban of Stockerau, an Irish pilgrim who was mistaken for a spy and hanged in Stockerau near Vienna in the early 11th century. His body was reportedly incorrupt for eighteen years and his burial place was the site of many miracles. 

Another side altar picturing St. Michael the Archangel. Under the side altars lay the remains of members of the House of Babenburg, Austria's ruling dynasty that proceeded the Habsburgs.

It was quite cold, so we didn't explore the grounds, but definitely plan to come back to this little piece of heaven on earth!