Odenwald: A Visit To Bronnbach Monastery

Gallery27. April 20224. May 2022 hikeminded4 Comments

Beautifully situated in the Taubertal is the Monastery of Bronnbach a former Cistercian Abbey founded in the 12th century. The surroundings are great for hiking, the Nibelungensteig and one of the German Saint James Ways lead right past the forest just next to the Monastery. It’s a wonderful complex of buildings, above all if it’s the first days of spring.

Odenwald: Engelberg Monastery and Miltenberg

22. December 2019 hikeminded4 Comments

Gottersdorf

Engelberg Monastery

Miltenberg

Armenia: Otherworldy Chants At Geghard Monastery

Image24. October 20186. February 2019 hikeminded7 Comments

Geghardavank (meaning: the monastery of the spear) was founded in the fourth century by Saint Gregory. It’s principal chapel was build in the 13th century. The name comes from the monasteries most relevant relic: The spear with which Jesus was wounded during crucification. Today it is displayed in Echmiadzin, currently on loan to a New […]

Armenia: Saghmosavank Monastery And The Myth Of The Bearded Virgins

Image19. October 2018 hikeminded1 Comment

The Monastery was build in 13th century and is picturesquely located next to the gorge of Kasagh river. One peculiarity of this Monastery is the tympanum of the “Bearded Virgins” which are obviously also depicted in Hovanavank Monastery. There is the myth that there are five wise virgins and five stupid virgins with beards and Jesus […]

Armenia: Mystical Sanahin Monastery

Image18. October 201822. October 2018 hikemindedLeave a comment

Sanahin Monastery (meaning: This one is older than that one – referring to Haghpat Monastery) was clearly one of my favorite Monasteries from the felt 200 Monasteries we have seen during our stay in Armenia. It was build in the 10th century. It is more chaotic and full of hidden symbols than other monasteries I […]

Armenia: Haghpat Monastery In The Morning Mist

Image15. October 201818. October 2018 hikeminded3 Comments

Haghpat Monastery was build in the 10th century and was listed – together with Sanahin Monastery – as Unesco World Heritage Site.

Transcaucasian Trail Matosavank Monastery

Armenia: A Hike With Piggies From Dilijan To Matosavank Monastery Along The Transcaucasian Trail

Gallery12. October 201812. October 2018 hikemindedLeave a comment

Gukhtak Churches Matosavank Monastery I saw a sign for the Transcaucasian Trail on the way and was surprised because I always thought the trail to be located in the upper Caucasus in Georgia. I looked for a map and the only thing I found was a map from a planned […]

Armenia: Goshavank Monastery

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Goshavank Monastery (meaning: the Monastery of Gosh) is from the 12th or 13th century. It’s recent renovation was payed by an islamic person from the United Arabic Emirates out of unknown reasons. Rosas Haiku: Wasser Mehl und Salz Der Tonir hütet die Glut Das Brot häutet sich

Armenia: Saint Hripsime, A Martyr In The Name Of Female Autonomy

Image3. October 20184. October 2018 hikeminded2 Comments

Hripsime was a VIP from an imperial roman family in third century. She was very beautiful and so Emperor Diocletian felt entitled to marry her. But she wanted to be a nun and fled – together with 70 other virgins – to Jerusalem and later to Armenia. When they arrived in Armenia King Trdat III […]

Tatev Monastery Wings of Tatev Tramway cable Car

Armenia: A Ride With The Worlds Longest Reversible Aerial Tramway To Tatev Monastery

Image1. October 20181. October 2018 hikemindedLeave a comment

Tatev Monastery is the most famous Monastery in Armenia. Maybe it is due to its history as a significant cultural, spiritual, political and economic center, maybe because of its picturesque location on the edge of a cliff to the Vorotan Gorge or maybe because of the newly buildt “Wings of Tatev” an arial tramway, 5,7 […]