Martin M. Miles' photos

Shopping centers with large parking lots and long opening hours plus Amazon and Co. have closed down this shop.

Near Pass Thurn.

Early morning in Zell am See.

Maria Hilf Assumptio, the parish church of Malta (pop. 2000), was erected 13th - 15th century. It seems, that the building was started in Romanesque, but completed in Gothic style. Like many churches in the alpine area, there is a large fresco outside, depicting Saint Christopher, patron saint for travellers. As Saint Christopher was a giant, most frescoes are large, this one is 7,50 m high. It was created around 1300 and uncovered and restored in 2002. Like anywhere else there are mythic creatures (eg mermaids) around Saint Christpher´s feet, but here this (exstinct!) "Malta-Mouse" looks pretty much like Disney´s "Micky Mouse". I remember having seen another "Malta Mouse" in Saint-Sauvant (France).

Maria Hilf Assumptio, the parish church of Malta (pop. 2000), was erected 13th - 15th century. It seems, that the building was started in Romanesque, but completed in Gothic style. Like many churches in the alpine area, there is a large fresco outside, depicting Saint Christopher, patron saint for travellers. As Saint Christopher was a giant, most frescoes are large, this one is 7,50 m high. It was created around 1300 and uncovered and restored in 2002. Like anywhere else there are mythic creatures (eg mermaids) around Saint Christpher´s feet, but here was a creature was found, that made it into the news.

Maria Hilf Assumptio, the parish church of Malta (pop. 2000), was erected 13th - 15th century. It seems, that the building was started in Romanesque, but completed in Gothic style. This frescoe, depicting the Magi arriving in Bethlehem, was created end of the 15th century.

Maria Hilf Assumptio, the parish church of Malta (pop. 2000), was erected 13th - 15th century. It seems, that the building was started in Romanesque, but completed in Gothic style. The golden altars and the pulpit are Baroque.

The Karner is dated to the 12th century - and so is older than the neighbouring parish church. Some of the frecoes, that since the 14th century beautify the walls survived the centuries. Seen here is a Psychostasia, the "Weighing of the Souls".

The Karner is dated to the 12th century - and so is older than the neighbouring parish church. The niche over the altar is a Baroque addition. Some of the frecoes, that since the 14th century beautify the walls survived the centuries.

The Karner, neighbouring Maria Hilf Assumptio, the parish church of Malta is dated to the 12th century - and older than the church.

The Gothic parish church of Malta (pop. 2000) was erected 13th - 15th century. It replaced a church here, that was mentioned the first time 1006. The Karner is dated to the 12th century.

Gmünd claims to be "The Artists Town Gmünd". There are museums and galleries here and different workshops and courses are offered. There is even studio for an "artist in residence", who gets invited to live and work in Gmünd for a certain time. One of the many artists in Gmünd created this cat. www.maltatal.com/en/highlights-in-malta-en/family/water-g...

The ruins of the Burg Gmünd (Castle Gmuend) tower over the town. For seven years the castle was held by troops of Hungarian King Matthias Corvinus during the Austrian-Hungarian War. The infamous troops looted and plundered the area and were dubbed "Renner und Brenner" locally. During the Carinthian Peasant Revolt in 1478, the castle was besieged, though not captured. It got restored and enlarged but devastated by a fire in 1886.

The Karner, neighbouring the Gothic parish church auf "Gmünd in Kärnten" - and the town wall, was erected in the second half of the 12th century.

Archeologists excavated the foundations of the oldest known monastery in Carinthia around and below the parish church of Molzbichl. This monastery, founded 770/780 during the Christianisation of the area, existed for nearly two centuries. Some of the foundations can be found in this garden, where as well the nice "Museum Carantana" was erected, to display the many artefacts that were unearthed here. Unfortunately the museum is only open from mid May to mid October. I reached Molzbichl about a week too late, so I could only peek through the windows.

Archeologists excavated the foundations of the oldest known monastery in Carinthia around and below the parish church of Molzbichl. This monastery, founded 770/780 during the Christianisation of the area, existed for nearly two centuries. The church of the convent was really large, measuring impressive 24m x 8m. The graveslab of a deacon named Nonnosus is part of the altar. Following the information it reads: Hic re(quies)ci(t) servus Χϱ(ιστου) Nonnosus diac(onus) qui vixit annos p(lus) m(inus) CIII obiit IIII Non(as) Septemb(res) et deposit(us) est in hunc loco XIII Kal(endas) Aug(ustas) indict(ione) XI tertio (anno) post cons(ulatum) Lampadi et Ores/tis v(irorum) c(larissimorum) Here rests the servant of Christ, Nonnosus, deacon, who lived more or less for 103 years. He died on September 2 at this place died on July 20...three years after the consulate of the illustrious men Lampadius and Orestes. (= 533) The plate may have been brought to Molzbichl from the nearby ancient city of Teurnia (today St. Peter in Holz), where Nonnosus could have served as a deacon. The area of Teurnia was under the jurisdiction of the bishops of Freising - and a grave of "Saint Nonnosus" can be found in the crypt of the Freising Cathedral. Nonnosus´ cult was strong in Bavaria. He was prayed to by sufferers from diseases of the kidneys. At Freising, these sufferers performed a ritual, called "Durchschluepf". It involved crawling three times around Nonnosus' sarcophagus on all fours.

Archeologists excavated the foundations of the oldest known monastery in Carinthia around and below the parish church of Molzbichl. This monastery, founded 770/780 during the Christianisation of the area, existed for nearly two centuries. The church of the convent was really large, measuring impressive 24m x 8m. The nave of today´s church, dedicated to Saint Tiburtius, was erected in the early 19th century, after the predecessing church was destroyed by fire. The graveslab of a deacon named Nonnosus, who died at the age of 103 (!), is part of the altar.

Stift Millstatt ("Millstatt Abbey") was founded by the Aribo II and Boto, members of Aribonids, a noble, Bavarian family, around 1070. Run by Benedictine monks and protected by Papal deeds Stift Millstatt prospered in the early years and a nunnery was added. Within the 13th century, the decay began. As the abbey had secular Church Vogts, it suffered strongly under the political powergames of that timne and finaly ended 1456 under the House of Habsburg. At that time only 10 monks still lived here. Emperor Frederick III reached a papal bull in 1469, so that the military order of the Knights of Saint George took over Stift Millstatt in order to fight the invading troops of the Ottoman Empire. The order now had to cope with the debts left by the Benedictines and the redevelopment of the neglected premises. While the knights were engaged with the fortification of the monastery, they failed to protect the region. Millstatt was heavily devastated by the Turks in 1478, followed by Hungarian troops in 1487. As the power of the knightly order declined, unrests and revolts arose among the peasants. As the new Protestant belief spread in the area the monastery vested the Society of Jesus ("Jesuits") in 1598 to support the Counter-Reformation. The monks were disliked by the population for their stern measures. In 1737 the displeasure culminated in open revolt, when peasants ganged up and stormed the monastery. The rule of the Jesuits ended, when the order was suppressed by Pope Clement XIV in 1773. The monks had to leave Millstatt. Today the former abbey-church serves the parish, while the other buildings belong to the Austrian state and host the "Österreichische Bundesforste" (Austrian State Forestry Commission). The church underwent numerous alterations over the centuries. It did not only suffer from fires, but as well from earthquakes. A strong quake in 1690 heavily damaged the western facade. The side portal of the former abby church is in the northeastern corner of the cloister. This is from where the monks entered the church. The portal was "remodeled" around 1500, using Romanesque sculptures, that probably were created 1150-1200 for different places. On both sides of the portal are very similar sculptures. Properly dressed ladies hold ugly men. Here the (crowned) lady holds a cross - and has grabbed the thug by his moustache.