Europe 2012: Worms and Heidelberg

Worms, Germany is the city where Martin Luther made his famous "Here I stand" declaration, and on Wednesday, May 2nd we set out to complete the three major Luther sites, the other two being Wittenberg and Wartburg.

The drive from Haiger to Worms was, as everything in Germany seems to be, scenic and picturesque. While on this day trip we observed our new Volvo's odometer turn over 2,000 miles.

The Cathedral of St. Peter in Worms, Germany, was an old structure when Luther first saw it in the early 1500s. A bronze figure outside the church, identified as Burchard, served as Bishop from 1000 to 1025 AD, during which time it was built.

The bell tower of St. Peter's Church. For scale, note the tiny human figure at the base of the tower.

Only the priests were allowed in this end of the church.

The other end of the church was accessible to parishioners.

The wing extending from the main church structure was where the trial of Martin Luther took place. It no longer exists.

However, there is a stone marking the spot where Martin Luther delivered his refusal to recant and changed the face of Christendom.

Standing in Luther's place.

The Luther Monument in Worms is the largest Reformation monument in the world and contains statues of the most important figures in the German Reformation.

Just another German Church, this one almost in the shadow of St. Peter's.

We enjoyed some mid-afternoon refreshments in Worms before heading to Heidelberg.

And in Heidelberg, Germany is the ... Heidelberg castle!

Father Rhine (or Rhein, as you may choose)

Heidelberg Castle

Tower blown apart by black powder stored there.

There were carved stone figures at intervals on each floor, each part of the owner's family tree.

World's largest wine barrel. Possessing one was a status symbol in those days, and several existed. Only this one remains. It was kept filled by the wine tithes of the local peasants. That's me at 6:00.