Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Diessen

The Mechtihldis stone, used by Mathilde von Diessen (1125 - 1160). Her common name is "Mechthildis" and she is still a of a certain regional cult. Already during her lifetime, that she was a saint. A kind of female Job, she suffered lifelong from all kinds of maladies. She used this stone as a pillow against severe headache - and every day people come here to touch the stone. I was told that this is way better than strong aspirin. The water of a nearby spring helps against eye complaints.

The parish church "Marienmuenster" in Diessen was the church of the abbey, founded already within the 9th. century - refounded by the Duke of Diessen 1150. The abbey was seculalaisized in 1803. Nothing out of the early time has survived, but one stone, that we´ll see later. This church was built 1732 - 1739 in baroque style.

The snow finally melted on a hill overlooking the Ammersee. The town of Diessen is in the foreground. There is the steeple of the church, that belonged to an old abbey, and is now parish church. On the other side of the lake at the horizon, you see the benedictine Andechs abbey, known for it´s brewery and the wonderfull "beer-garden".. The Ammersee was a barrier for all medieval travel as it continues further south into a very swampy area. Ferries were used to cross the lake. One of the pickup points for passengers was the still existing village Wartaweil on the opposite side of the lake. "Wart a Weil" is bavarian language for "Wait A While". - - The snow was back next morning!