Many of the VHS-classes engage in some sort of social activity during the semester. In our case having dinner together (like many other classes do) is not an option, since class ends at 11:45 and most of us have to get home rightaway. Therefore we have decided to go on an excursion to Schweinfurt to see the Carl Spitzweg exhibition at the Georg Schäfer museum. We decided to go there by train. Since some of us live closer to Nuremberg than others, we decide to meet at the subway-station "Herrnhütte" at 9:30.

Wednesday, July 17th, (almost) everybody was at the agreed meeting-point at 9:30. The only one missing was yours truly. Considering they were on a pretty tight schedule and the subway runs every 9 minutes, the rest of the group decided to go ahead without me. They figured I would be able to get to the railway station on my own. Luckily (for me) they were right.
The first stage to get to Schweinfurt was to take the train from the main railway station in Nuremberg to Bamberg, switch trains there for the final stage to Schweinfurt.

 

On the way to Bamberg I decide to take everybodies picture. Marie-Luise decides that she looks better without her glasses.

 

Ingrid is apparently too shy to look into the camera, Holly doesn't have any problem with that.

 

 

 

 

 

Helmut, who was responsible for most of our day, had bought tickets for all of us (train & museum).

 

Since he is no philanthropist, now is the time for all of us to pay him back.

 

Around 11:55 we arrive at the train station of Schweinfurt, which is clearly marked as a station where you can't change trains.

 

     

In the "Museum Georg Schäfer", Helmut distributes the admission tickets.

 

Allthough the Georg Schäfer collection consists of paintings and drawings of several German artists of the 19th century, at the moment the museum is focused on the work of Carl Spitzweg.

Before we start the tour of the museum, Mrs. Colleen Reuß (our guide) tells us a little bit more about the museum building. It was built especially for the exhibiton of the Georg Schäfer collection. It is a new building that was opened on September 23rd 2000, which happened to be the exact same day that Carl Spitzweg died.

For a short biograpy of Carl Spitzweg click here

 Holly gives us a special assignment: We have to figure out what Mrs. Reuß's mothers tongue is.
 

Mrs. Reuß tells us that there is a permanent exposition on the second floor (480 paintings) and that there is a rotating exposition on the first floor (140 paintings and 40 drawings by Carl Spitzweg). Earlier this week it was announced that the Carl Spitzweg exposition was prolongued until November 6th.
 

Using several paintings as an example, Mrs. Reuß tells us something about the composition, the use of light and the (usually very small) side-issues of the Spitzweg paintings.

 

She also shows us the difference between his first and his later work and tells us that Spitzweg would make several versions of the same painting if it had a theme that sold very well.

 

A photograph of Carl Spitzweg.

 

 

     

On the left and right photographs of Carl Spitzweg at different ages. In the middle a selfportrait, which clearly shows that he was not all too happy with his appearance and felt the need for some beautification.
 

Allthough it is not allowed (a black line marks the area you're not supposed to cross and an alarm sounds if you do), you have to get close to the paintings to see all the details.
 

As a coincidence I photographed the painting that's also on the admission tickets.

 

A few more Spitzweg paintings.

 

After we finished lunch (which to our astonishment was not included), we went on our way to the next part of our excursion.
 

Some of our ladies really love to be photographed.

 

Holly decides to take a group picture.

 

 

As we reach our goal, the "Schrotturm", we are already awaited by the leader of the public university in Schweinfurt. She is going to tell us a bit about Schweinfurt and about the "Schrotturm" in particular.
 

The outside of the "Schrotturm" (grape-shot tower). This tower was used to produce grape-shot. Melted lead was poured down from the top of the tower (150 feet high) and cought in a bath of water.
 

A plaque on the outside of the "Schrotturm" tells us that the tower and its adjacent buildings were originally built as a 'normal' house by Balthasar Rüffer III. The tower was only four storeys high at that time.
 

Mrs. Sünkel explains a little bit before we climb the tower.
 

Yes, finally a picture with me in it. Courtesy of Angelika.
 

On the fourth floor Mrs. Sünkel tells us that this is the original height of the well of a staircase. There was one more floor (the Belvedere), but that could only be reached from the outside (suspectedly with a wooden ladder).
 

From the highest floor, which can only be reached by climbing the ever more narrow wooden stairs, Mrs. Sünkel shows us the sights of Schweinfurt.

 

The inside of the cone-shaped roof. Originally it was a triple dome (a so called Welsh roof), which at the time was a symbol of the protestant religion. Probably shortly after 1800 the tower got its current cone-shaped roof.
 

Holly doesn't seem to be too interested in the explanation. Could it be that she is trying to figure out a way to turn this tour into an assignment (like the one we had in the museum)?

 

A view over Schweinfurt from the top of the "Schrotturm" in the direction of the river Main.

 

Another view of Schweinfurt in the direction of the city center.

For more information on Schweinfurt and the "Schrotturm" click here.
 

A view down the spiral stairs, which - as a courtesy to the people who are afraid of heigths - doesn't have banisters.

 

This looks like a watchman's hut, but only short watchmen will fit under here.

 

It has taken a while, but finally Holly has reached ground level.
 

These ladies are either discussing the newly acquired information, or congratulating one another on getting down safely.
 

After the tour we are invited for coffee and cake in the senior citizens club.
 

Mrs. Sünkel introduces the manager of the senior citizens club.
 

As a token of our appreciation, Holly hands over a gift for Mrs. Sünkel.
 

After we have finished coffee and said good-bye to Mrs. Sünkel we head for the railway station.
 

By now it has started to rain.
 

Luckily, most of us brought umbrellas.
 

Karin is still trying to figure out how to use her umbrella. Hint: Try keeping it over your head...
 

The umbrellas make this look like a closed meeting.

 

While we are waiting for the train to draw into the station there is still plenty to talk about.
 

Now isn't that a face to fall in love with? Can you tell how much she enjoys having her picture taken?
 

Mary and Ellen have a little one-on-one.
 

Even the rain couldn't spoil the good mood.
 

As it turned out, the train was a little delayed which kept us in suspense whether or not we were going to make it in time for the connection in Bamberg. It was a close call, but that was mainly caused by a bunch of people who weren'r really paying attention and wanted to move to the wrong platform.
Around 19:00 hrs we were back at Nuremberg's main railway station and after a quick glance of the interior of the "Blaue Adler" we took the subway back to "Herrnhütte", where we arrived around 19:30 hrs. After saying goodbye to everyone we went our separate ways.