I first saw the library featured in a coffee table book called The Most Beautiful Libraries in the World. Not only was there a chapter on the Metten library, but it was beautiful enough to warrant the picture on the back cover.
But what really captured my fancy was that the Metten library is part of the same "Kloster" that houses the school several of my cousins attended. My paternal grandfather grew up in Bavaria, in a tiny village near the little village of Metten, both outside the small city of Deggendorf. That corner of Bavaria is thick with cousins of varying degree.
When I went to one cousin's graduation in 2002, I was disappointed that the Bibliothek was not open for some reason. I was determined to see it when I was in Bavaria last week. It took a couple of tries, due to my inadequate German and the Kloster's inadequate signage, but Hubby and I made it to the tour Saturday morning.
Wow!
Really, wow!
Don't turn me in to the elderly woman who lead our tour, but I surreptitiously took some forbidden photos. No flash -- I'm not a total scofflaw. But I was not going to pass up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
WOW! Those pictures are amazing. Thank you so much for sharing the photos, even if you did have to be sneaky to take them.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome. I was really amazed by how beautiful it was. No electricity -- the only light comes in the windows, which made it even more beautiful.
ReplyDeleteSo breathtakingly beautiful, I'm really glad you sneaked some photos because we never would have seen this. (And you a lawyer - shame, shame. :D ) No wonder you persisted in taking the tour.
ReplyDeleteBarbara: I know! I am an officer of the court! But I am glad I did it, because I have only seen limited photos of the place and they tend to be washed out.
ReplyDeleteThere were a couple of old German guys doing the same thing and, as one of them told me, "It would be stupid to come here and not take pictures." OK.
Wow, unbelievably gorgeous! I'm in awe.
ReplyDeleteWow, unbelievable and amazing. I guess no children in that library :)
ReplyDeleteKathy: It was more beautiful that I thought it would be. What is really amazing, if I understood the German guide correctly, is that it hasn't been renovated in its whole 300 years.
ReplyDeleteMan of la Book: No kidding! No sticky fingers allowed. Verboten!
I'm in awe. We don't have that kind of libraries where I live :(
ReplyDelete