Wandering Retirees

This was a day of rest and a wee bit of sightseeing. Our destination was the beautiful city of Hall-in-Tirol, about 10 miles east on the Inn River in Austria. The Inn continues to flow mostly eastward until it joins the beautiful Danube River at Passau, Germany.

Hall, as it’s called, became an important city in the 13th century because of the salt mines close by. Salt was long a precious and strategic commodity throughout Europe and remained so for centuries. (Kind of like oil is now.) Salt was often used as a form of currency and generated a lot of wealth for those who supplied it. Hall supplied salt to Switzerland, and much of the lower Rhine valley and the Black Forest in western Germany. So Hall and much of the region became prosperous and vibrant. That meant great buildings including churches, financial and trade houses, and so forth. Which helps explain the impressive historic city we visited today.

We took a local bus this morning and arrived in Hall around noon. Nearly all businesses are closed on Sunday, so there was very little traffic and no crowds to speak of. Of course the museums and most historic buildings were also closed. But the churches and many gardens were open. There are flowers everywhere in well tended gardens and window boxes galore.

We visited the Parish Church of St Niklaus, first built in the early 1200’s we think. It has survived many wars and renovations and is a now a beautiful – and maybe a little overwhelming – Baroque church. Connie has some wonderful pics of the church and it’s environs. One note – there’s a medieval chapel on the church grounds. This Chapel of Ste. Mary Magdalene is austere by comparison to the cathedral, but dignified and respectful. There is now a commemorative stone fixture set into the front facade dedicated to the many men of Hall who were killed in the First and Second World Wars. It reminded us of markers dedicated to lost soldiers in towns across America. Another reminder of war’s horrible cost.

On our way back, we stopped for a coffee (of course!) and rested our feet while a procession of marathoners ran/trotted/stumbled by. Judging by their expressions, I’m not sure they were really having a good time but we enjoyed it.

Back at our apartment we’ve just finished supper and are enjoying some more quiet time. Later this week, it will be time to ride!