Last Friday, I joined eighteen members of Feierabend to go by bus from Freiburg to Constance. We were scheduled to visit the exhibition commemorating the Church Council of Constance that opened six hundred years ago on November 4 in the small city on the Lake* and closed four years later, ending the Western Schism.
*sometimes affectionately called the Swabian Sea
Since the authorization of scheduled bus services over long distances in Germany, many companies offer connections between cities, particularly those poorly connected by train service. To travel by train from Freiburg to Munich will take - in going to Mannheim first and change train - 4 hours and 30 minutes for a minimum of 75 euros in second class. The long-distance bus (several companies are operating from Freiburg) will take you to Munich in 4 hours and 45 minutes for just 14 euros.
In the case of Constance, transport by bus is way ahead in all aspects. It will take two and a half hours from Freiburg to Constance changing trains twice, and the fare is 47 euros. The direct bus with one stop at Singen covers the distance between the two cities in a mere one hour and 45 minutes and will cost between 8 and 11 euros.
In the present gold-rush mood, there is fierce competition between various bus companies serving Freiburg. Actually, experts are waiting for the first carrier to throw the towel due to the low fares.
The bus ride to Constance was on schedule and smooth. Our group arrived in a small but beautiful city compared to other German cities. It is nicely situated, as Dietrich von Nieheim attending the Church Council, wrote in 1414.
The Council under the spell of Imperia (Statue at the entrance of Constance harbor)(©Fn78 Wikipedia) |
Three popes at a Constance fountain. Who carries the best-polished tiara? (©Anmargi Feierabend) |
Burning Hus alive at the stake on July 6, 1415 |
As the outcome of the Council, the exhibition in Constance was unsatisfying. The first part was just a collection of 15th-century church treasures from all over Europe with explanations too small to read. The second part was better at leading the visitor through the time sequence of the Council, with columns standing for milestones showing dates and documents.
A Luther citation closes the exhibition: In Constance, they roasted a goose (Hus means goose in Czech), but one hundred years from now, they will listen to a swan singing, where Brother Martin clearly meant himself.
*
No comments:
Post a Comment