Trip to Bayreuth, The Hermitage - Part 1

Summer, and SUNSHINE!, have finally come to Bavaria!!! After endless months of typical "spring" weather - cloudy, rainy, windy, temps no higher than the 50's - it was time to break out the summer clothes and sunscreen. Let me tell you, I have never in my life been so pasty-white! But it's OK, because everyone else is too, lol! We knew we wanted to go somewhere, but hadn't really planned ahead, so we decided to stick closer to home. Luckily, we live in an amazing area, with so much to do and see close by! We've been to Bayreuth several times (28 km from our house!), but hadn't checked out the Opera House in the city, or the Hermitage just outside the city. With it being a glorious day, we opted for the latter, and lots of walking in the gardens. Let me tell you, it was gorgeous!!!!! Lots of shade too, which was wonderful, but everywhere you looked was nature in all it's splendor. For more info, you can check out this site HERE.

We parked the truck, in the shade!, and set off to explore!

There had to have been miles and miles of these "avenues" to walk through! We didn't really know where we were going, or where we'd end up....but it didn't matter! :D

Bella was in heaven!

There were side gardens, many with fountains, all over!

Nearing the Hermitage, and the Temple of the Sun

Bella standing in front of the center

Temple of the Sun

View from the left

View from the right

The entire outer facade had embedded stones and minerals! It was soooo gorgeous, but think how long and what painstaking work it must have been. The colors were so vivid too!

Thomas was a happy camper!

We walked through to the other side and saw the cafe.

Very pretty flowers, but not "fancy" flowers, or organized beds like you see in some other palaces. This was a summer retreat home and meant to be more "natural".

Main pool with fountains; sadly not on while we were there.

All along the edge of the fountain were white benches, 

and Bella struck a pose!

Gorgeous statues everywhere!

The full view!

The Sun Temple

So many flowers, so little time to capture them all!

When we first got there we spotted this bride having her photo taken. They were STILL at it over three hours later as we were walking to the car! Let me tell you, it was a HOT day and I can't imagine being in a fluffy wedding gown all day there! I think they were having their reception near where the cafe was because it was being set up while we took a break. Bella, naturally, was enchanted!

Gorgeous curving steps

This is the main palace, viewed from the side.

Gazebo seen from a distance

This tower is actually a sort of 18th century water park/shower room!

(More later on this!)

Bella & Thomas

Views while sitting down at the cafe.

Bella was so good and not whiny all day! We had sodas and some Bavarian apple cake for a snack. We left around lunch time thinking we'd eat there, but it was just cakes and ice cream. I meant to take a photo because they were so yummy looking, but we were starving and dug right in! Luckily we brought some snacks with us too to hold us over.

We walked up here to see the little museum shop and buy our tour tickets.

Entrance into the shower room, and beginning of our tour.

Kind of creepy faces coming out of the wall!

Can you spot them here???

Bella said she "claimed" this rock, lol!

Statue of Socrates

Beginning of our tour:

We had to stay along the outer edges to stay dry. I wish I could have had more time to get better photos!!

The entire surface was covered in colored rocks, minerals and shells!!! It was AMAZING! There were different jets the guide turned on at different times, and they made different water patterns. Pretty amazing for 1735!!

More to come on Part 2!