Last weekend I've been to the picturesque upper Bavarian town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, attending a beautiful and happy wedding. The town is located between forested hills, rolling green meadows and has stunning mountain backdrops. It's houses are picture book pretty, and most of them are decorated with amazing fresco paintings, called Lüftlmalerei.
The day after the wedding, I spent hours wondering around town, admiring the stunning trompe d'oeil effects, and wonderful creativity and craftsmenship of the fine Lüftlmalerei artists.
The day after the wedding, I spent hours wondering around town, admiring the stunning trompe d'oeil effects, and wonderful creativity and craftsmenship of the fine Lüftlmalerei artists.
In Bavaria, the tradition of decorating houses with murals goes back to
the 18th century, the colorful frescos were meant to show the status of
wealthy merchants, farmers and craftsmen. The paintings often
incorporate existing architectural structures or depict fairy tales,
biblical or pastoral scenes.
The most famous Lüftl painter was Franz Seraph Zwink (1748-1792). He lived in a house called ‘Zum Lüftl' which might be where the word lüftl derives from. Others argue the origin of the word comes from the word lüftig (fast) or luft (air) - as the murals are painted in the open air.
The weather was sunny and beautiful, and the wedding was absolutely lovely.
It has been a long time since I saw the mountains in Spring/Summer. The last time was, when I was a little girl, holidaying with my family in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. What a coincidence to came back to the exact same town almost 40 years later! So here is Little MaiTai, pictured with the sweet and kind dog I befriended during my stay.