This morning, Dave and LaDonna joined us in the short drive to downtown Frankenmuth, a classy tourist town whose architecture has been strongly influenced by a Franconian-style and feature stylistic interpretations of the timber-framed buildings found in the Franconia region of Germany; marked by the use of timbers in “square” and “X” patterns on the outside of buildings, as well as the use of “X” patterns on windows, doors, and other building features.
More noticeably are the absolutely gorgeous floral and other plantings which line both sides of the town’s main commercial district.
Several fountains,
waterfalls,
a covered bridge spanning the Cass River,
and numerous building murals
add to the community’s charm.
We enjoyed a great lunch at
where we were serenaded by German music.
From there we visited the town’s most well-known tourist destination, Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland
where one can shop for more than 6000 styles of Christmas ornaments, 400 styles of Nativity scenes, miles of Christmas lights, and artificial Christmas trees of all shapes and sizes.
On part of the property, is a replica of the original Silent Night Memorial Chapel which is located in the town Upper Village in the Austrian province of Salzburg and is the memory of the Christmas carol Holy Night and his librettist, Joseph Mohr and composer, Franz Xaver Gruber. It stands in place of the former St. Nicholas Church in 24 December 1818. The Christmas carol was performed for the first time.
Both inside and outside, it’s always the people’ looks and actions (or inactions) who make traveling so interesting.
This evening we returned to Frankenmuth for dinner at Zehnder’s
A family-style restaurant with seating for up to 1,500 and in 2006 recognized as having served more people and any non-chain restaurant in the United States.