It has really been a beautiful April, so we decided on a really pretty, warm, sunny day to head up to Bayreuth and visit the Hermitage. The Hermitage (or Eremitage in German) is the home and seat of the (former) Margrave of Brandenberg-Bayreuth.
I'm sure you're wondering what exactly a Hermitage is because I was wondering the same thing! It's basically a small retreat, typically purchased by and used by the aristocracy. It was a beautiful day - but I think if we could have visited a few weeks later and the greenery and flowers would have been even more beautiful!
Isn't this something????? I just couldn't get over it!
I love catching them in their own little worlds. I could watch him for days.
A nice panorama of the New Palace at The Hermitage. The Orangery and the Sun Temple (in the middle) were severely damaged in April 1945 by American troops. We did not visit the inside of either the Old or the New Palace because the day was too nice and we only had a few hours to explore. We thought we would save the palaces for a cold winter day.
Back in the 1700s when the Hermitage was built, there really weren't any of these types of gardens in Germany. It was one of the first of it's kind in the country (although in the 1700s, Germany wasn't really Germany- it was a bunch of really small territories sitting amid the Holy Roman Empire.)
There was a peaceful man-made waterfall among the trees. When the Hermitage was built by Margrave Georg Wilhelm, it had originally been a zoo owned by his father as far back as the mid 1600s.
Unfortunately, the Lower Grotto was under construction with some renovations going on. It was originally built in the 1740s. The building on the left in the background is actually the real Hermitage of the Margrave Friedrich. He took over the property in the 1730s and really built it up for his wife Wilhelmine. The biggest expansion happened during his reign.
He's a stud, what can I say? I've always enjoyed those biceps! Notice the tree to the left - it looks like it's flexing an arm, so he decided to do the same!
It's a rainbow of fruit flavors, folks.
There's a little restaurant on the grounds and it was lunchtime, so why not? It's also time for beer. Which is pretty much anytime in Germany.
The Water Tower and a pretty flowering tree behind me in the sunshine. Sunshine makes me happy.
After an extensive lunch, we went for a hike in the woods.
The sunshine was warm through not-fully-filled-in leaves.
On our hike, we came across some stinging nettle. Todd was pointing out that it wasn't the leaves that get you, but the thorns beneath the leaves. When you get stung, it feels like an electric shock (or pins and needles) down your arm for hours afterward. He should know. He got into a patch of it in our garden!
It was so quiet and lovely among the trees of the Hermitage.
A lovers walk among the sparse trees of early spring.
The Chinese Tower was built on a little mound. It was originally built in the late 18th century but this one was installed in the 20th century.
You can circle the Chinese Tower as you climb to the top. You can probably guess one half of my offspring complained about this. (But mommy, there are BEES!!!!)
This is the lovely Schloss Monplaisir.
So many shapes and colors!
Triangular trees and flowers in the gardens at Schloss Monplaisir. Interestingly, I think this building might have been offices or something more private because there were jackets hanging in the doorway that we were peering in. It weirded me out as I felt like I was peeping into someone's house! But that's not possible because it's managed by the Bavarian Administration of State Castles, Gardens and Lakes.
I'm sure you're wondering what exactly a Hermitage is because I was wondering the same thing! It's basically a small retreat, typically purchased by and used by the aristocracy. It was a beautiful day - but I think if we could have visited a few weeks later and the greenery and flowers would have been even more beautiful!
There are two main buildings at the Hermitage - the Old Palace and the New Palace. The Old Palace was originally built in 1715 by the Margrave Georg Wilhelm. The New Palace (shown above and below) was built in around 1750. The tile work, which is really more like colored rock work is striking.
Isn't this something????? I just couldn't get over it!
The flowers were in full bloom at the Hermitage!
I love catching them in their own little worlds. I could watch him for days.
Strolling through a trellis without any greenery.
Two sets of glasses twinsies at the Hermitage in Bayreuth. A few weeks later, the fountains would be running!
A nice panorama of the New Palace at The Hermitage. The Orangery and the Sun Temple (in the middle) were severely damaged in April 1945 by American troops. We did not visit the inside of either the Old or the New Palace because the day was too nice and we only had a few hours to explore. We thought we would save the palaces for a cold winter day.
Back in the 1700s when the Hermitage was built, there really weren't any of these types of gardens in Germany. It was one of the first of it's kind in the country (although in the 1700s, Germany wasn't really Germany- it was a bunch of really small territories sitting amid the Holy Roman Empire.)
There was a peaceful man-made waterfall among the trees. When the Hermitage was built by Margrave Georg Wilhelm, it had originally been a zoo owned by his father as far back as the mid 1600s.
Unfortunately, the Lower Grotto was under construction with some renovations going on. It was originally built in the 1740s. The building on the left in the background is actually the real Hermitage of the Margrave Friedrich. He took over the property in the 1730s and really built it up for his wife Wilhelmine. The biggest expansion happened during his reign.
He's a stud, what can I say? I've always enjoyed those biceps! Notice the tree to the left - it looks like it's flexing an arm, so he decided to do the same!
The gardens were in full bloom! Ich liebe Blumen!
It's a rainbow of fruit flavors, folks.
Among the tree hedges in the portico at the Hermitage. I'm not sure what kind of trees these are, but I have one at my house that similarly must be cut WAY back every few years because they overgrow too quickly.
There's a little restaurant on the grounds and it was lunchtime, so why not? It's also time for beer. Which is pretty much anytime in Germany.
The Water Tower and a pretty flowering tree behind me in the sunshine. Sunshine makes me happy.
After an extensive lunch, we went for a hike in the woods.
The sunshine was warm through not-fully-filled-in leaves.
On our hike, we came across some stinging nettle. Todd was pointing out that it wasn't the leaves that get you, but the thorns beneath the leaves. When you get stung, it feels like an electric shock (or pins and needles) down your arm for hours afterward. He should know. He got into a patch of it in our garden!
It was so quiet and lovely among the trees of the Hermitage.
A lovers walk among the sparse trees of early spring.
The Chinese Tower was built on a little mound. It was originally built in the late 18th century but this one was installed in the 20th century.
You can circle the Chinese Tower as you climb to the top. You can probably guess one half of my offspring complained about this. (But mommy, there are BEES!!!!)
This is the lovely Schloss Monplaisir.
So many shapes and colors!
Triangular trees and flowers in the gardens at Schloss Monplaisir. Interestingly, I think this building might have been offices or something more private because there were jackets hanging in the doorway that we were peering in. It weirded me out as I felt like I was peeping into someone's house! But that's not possible because it's managed by the Bavarian Administration of State Castles, Gardens and Lakes.
Auf Wiedersehen, Hermitage! We really enjoyed your gardens! What a great, quick little trip to a neat little palace! Next time, we will definitely check out the inside of both the Old and the New Palaces!
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