Xanten

Here is a significant thought about devotion and love for God by David who wrote many of the Psalms.

‘ I will never forget Your guiding principles/ commandments intended to govern personal conduct and action. For with them you have made me alive. I am Yours, save me, for I have made an active effort to find your guiding principles.’

Precepts: guiding principles to govern personal conduct.

Sought: make an active effort to achieve a goal.

Xanten is a town in the state of North Rhinr – Westphalia , Germany.

This post will have two sections a part about the church and windmill in the town with some planting I found interesting, then a Roman area which was once COLONIA ULPIA TRAIANA (CUT)

Let us enter Xanten through Cleves Gate. It is impressive with its three-storey section rebuilt after the war. It is the only gate of five original city-gates from 1393.

Another view of Xanten is from between these pillars in CUT. Why? The view shows the two steeples of Xanten Cathedral and a windmill.

Let’s start with the large pillars that belong to a Roman temple that stood high above the walls of the then Roman town. It is from here, this ancient town, that much of the stone right up to the 19th century was sourced for the medieval town especially for the cathedral in the distance.

This view also shows hedges and trees. They are all carefully placed. The hedge is the outer court of the temple, where the altar of sacrifice was placed, the trees are where there were roads in this ground monument. This whole Roman town is being excavated slowly and is totally protected. It is one of the largest archaeological open air museums in the world.

Let us go back into the Cathedral it is peaceful and a couple of ladies are arranging flowers.

We are still. The cornerstone was laid in 1263 and construction lasted 281 years, until 1544.

The Xanten Cathedral is known as St. Victor’s Cathedral. Victor of Xanten was a member of the Theban Legion who was said to be executed in the 4th century in the amphitheater of Castra Vetera for refusing to sacrifice to the Roman gods.

There is in CUT an excavated theater for us to experience where ghastly fights took place. For example people who were not wanted were trained to fight and if they died it was fine. These were gladiators. They were so mixed, some wanted to have the glory but had to be humble to get it others had to stay alive.

Back to the medieval town and the Kriemhild’s Mill. Xanten’s city defensive circuit was built at the end of the 14th century. The windmill was later erected on one of the watch and defence towers. Today there is a little shop selling organic farmers’ products and of course good bread.

The shop…

The windmill at the end of the street. Fine brick work on the walls,road and building.

I then took time to look at some planting in a large area. The plants each had their own space: Aliums, bouncing Bess, Peonies etc. There was ground between for a gardener to walk and take care of each plant. I appreciated this informal pleasant planting.

This was near a bus stop and will soon be in summer flowering with some water. It is very hot.

Back to CUT.

A garden of herbs, dies and medicine. Plants the Romans used in daily life.

Here are some reconstructed homely rooms from this museum of archeology.

Bedroom/lounge.

Kitchen.

Their very important god one of many.

There is also the Roman Museum where finds are placed. I was most fascinated by a hanging barge. The Rhine where we were camping was busy with barges.

Here it hangs a fine example of what carried the goods to build the city.

The ongoing covered areas where buildings have been excavated are high and easily viewed from above or walked through. A thoroughly modern and well cared for place. A pleasure to see how a sight, we were lucky enough to find, unbuilt over for all these hundreds of years can now be known. COLONIA ULIPIA TRAIANA. A Roman town in Germany.

A find! A tree!

Sandy 🙂