The next port of call on our Grand Circle Great Rivers of Europe trip was Wertheim am Main, where the Tauber and Main Rivers meet. Wertheim is a small and picturesque town with many half-timber houses [in German, Fachwerkhäuser], church towers and an old castle overlooking the town.
The Fachwerkhaus below is of special note because of the blue painted beams. Apparently, it was exceedingly expensive and difficult to make blue paint; so, the owner of this house was bragging to the neighbors that (s)he was of substantial means.
As in almost all German towns, there was a Jewish population prior to WW II. Little remains of the synagogues, and the people are certainly long gone. But, their memory is honored in a variety of ways. For example, there are small museums or remnants of the synagogue placed in the original location [see below]
In addition, throughout Germany and other European countries, small brass plates have been placed in the ground in front of the homes of former Jewish residents. I showed examples of them in a previous posting on Berlin. While I did not come across any in Wertheim [not to say that there aren’t any there], I did see a cluster in Heidelberg. I am showing it here because of the coincidence that the family name was Wertheimer. The date of their birth, deportation and execution are given [but, Karl fled to Colombia in 1937].
To end this posting on a lighter note.... Storefronts usually hung signs identifying the nature of their wares available for purchase; and one could create an album of shots dedicated to just that. However, to be more selective, I am showing the one that made me laugh out loud. Bäckerei is a bakery.
Next week we will be in Würzburg, a 'sister city' to my home town, Rochester, NY.
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