The One with Ingolstadt, Germany

Again, plans changed, and after we realized everything of interest is closed in Karlovy Vary on Mondays, we came up with an alternate plan: Ingolstadt! Chris has been wanting to go to the Audi museum ever since we moved here and an indoor activity sounded mighty nice to escape the cold. But then we started looking at all the things there are to see in Ingolstadt, including a walk through the city, we decided to make a day out of it. We left the house around 8:30am and got to a parking garage just before 10am. Fox is such a good brother and was holding Jane while we set the stroller up so she wouldn't get hit by a car. I think this is the first time he's hugged her of his own free will! And I caught it on camera!

A little bit about Ingolstadt: it's is a city in the Free State of Bavaria, in the Federal Republic of Germany. It is located along the banks of the River Danube, in the center of Bavaria. As of March 31st 2011 Ingolstadt had 125,407 citizens. It is part of the Munich Metropolitan Area which has a total population of more than 5 million. The Illuminati, a Bavarian secret society, was founded in Ingolstadt in the late 18th century. Ingolstadt is a setting in the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, where the scientist Victor Frankenstein creates his monster. It is the site of the headquarters of the German automobile manufacturer Audi, defense aircraft manufacturer Cassidian Air Systems (formerly EADS DS), and electronic stores Media Markt and Saturn. Ingolstadt Central Station has been connected to Nuremberg by a high-speed rail link since May 2006. Covering an urban area of 51.49 square miles Ingolstadt is geographically Bavaria's fourth-largest city after Munich, Nuremberg, and Augsburg. Ingolstadt was first mentioned in a document of Charlemagne on 6 February 806 as "Ingoldes stat", the place of Ingold. Circa 1250, Ingolstadt was granted city status. Originally a fortress city, Ingolstadt is enclosed by a medieval defensive wall. The Bavarian Fortress (1537–1930) now holds the Museum of the Bavarian Army.

Our walk started at the Old Town Hall which was rebuilt in its present form of Neo-Renaissance style by Gabriel von Seidel in 1882. It now serves as the seat of the Lord Mayor.

Right next to the Old Town Hall is the New Town Hall which is very modern. Quite the stark contrast of buildings right next to each other!

We walked around the New Town Hall and found a mini replica of the city. On the way back to the car we passed this again and enjoyed pointing out things we saw. 

This is the Viktualienmark. Every Wednesday and Saturday the Ingolstadt market takes place here, offering a wide range of regional produce.

We walked along the path and under the bridge to the Danube River.

Across the river we could see the impressive fortifications built by Leo von Klenze in the classical style.

We walked to the bridge.

Then we walked over the bridge. Locks, locks, everywhere!

Not the prettiest of days (think cold, rain, wind), but I sure do love how the fog photographs!

The Bavarian Police Museum. Closed on Mondays dadgum.

This is the Reduit Tilly. I've done some searches and still don't quite grasp the purpose, but here's what I found: the central building of the fortifications in the 19th Century were built on the right bank of the Danube. It served to protect the bridgehead (?). It's now an open-air theater where hundreds of teens flock to during the summer months. Aerial(ish) view of the Reduit Tilly:

Lovely gardens outside the Reduit Tilly.

I wanted to walk inside and get more pictures but it was closed and the construction dudes photobombed my pic.

Modern Art. Chris wanted to stand in it like the Vitruvian Man, but he couldn't catch his balance! And then I framed the New Castle with the ring.

So many cool things we did see but I don't know what they are - even if there were signs they were in German. I guess this isn't the biggest of tourist town. But still wicked cool.

I spy the New Castle!

We walked back over the bridge across the Danube to the New Castle. We let the kids run amok in the castle courtyard. Today the castle houses the Bavarian Army Museum with a wide range of historic weapons, armory, tin soldiers, and other important exhibits of military history. Closed on Mondays. For some reason I just really love these elaborately decorated cannons!

I love the color, all the details, and the fact that it's the head of a lion so the bomb comes out of its mouth, etc.

Front and back sides of the Baroque clock tower. Looking up as we passed through the clock tower. Ornate!

The old moat. These things existed! Seems like they're only in fairytales :)

On the outside walls of the New Castle we entered modern civilization again and stopped to get some snacks and Fox found a dinosaur for a euro.

The Paradeplatz with a fountain statue of Ludwig the Bavarian. | The granite column of artist Rückriem.

The Carraraplatz - the square named after Ingolstadt's Italian twintown.

Look at the angels decorating this building - neat! Janey found a stick and was running through the trees with it.

The Old Castle - the former castle from the 13th century is the oldest secular building in the town and now houses the public library.

We passed a brat stand and couldn't pass up the opportunity to get some lunch!

Jane loved her schnitzel.

We walked along Ludwigstrasse. My favorite street in town because of all the colored buildings!

We found the Ickstatt House - the residential home of the professor and reformer Johann Adam Baron von Ickstatt (1702-1776). It has the tallest Baroque facade in southern Germany. 

Then we walked down the street to the Cathedral to Our Dear and Beautiful Lady or Cathedral of Notre Dame. Not to be confused with the Notre Dame in Paris :)

Beautiful inside and out.

Pretty tree.

More angels decorating this building called the Tilly House where the General of the Catholic League, Count von Tilly, died from his wounds in 1632.

We passed by the Church of Maria de Victoria and desperately wanted to go in, but it's closed on Mondays wahhhh.

A pic from the internet of the innards:

Then we walked to the medieval Cross Gate - Ingolstadt's best known landmark. The name comes from the leper house with its chapel "to St. Cross" that used to be here outside the town.

We walked through the Cross Gate and then through the Taschenturm Tower (used to be one of the minor gates in the Town Wall) and back into town.

Marvelous view of the city! Looks so medieval!

We wanted to go in the City Museum, but alas, closed on Mondays gosh dern it! The backside of the museum.

The front side of the museum from the internet:

We passed the old University which has something to do with Frankenstein but Chris will have to come in and edit cuz I can't remember.

Our walk finished where we started at the Old Town Hall.

We meandered back to our car, pausing again to admire all of the gelato colored buildings.

Ingolstadt - we have to come back to you on any day but Monday when things are open!
Next: the Audi Museum!