A Delightful Family Visit in Germany

We made sure our road trip through the southern half of Germany included a visit with extended family members Katrin, Stanislaus and their son and daughter in the town of Schwäbisch Gmünd, a 45 minute drive east of Stuttgart. Stuttgart, of course, is the city famous for Porsche and Mercedes, but on this journey a drive-by shot of the Mercedes Benz Museum would have to suffice until our return.

Mercedes Benz Museum

Spending time with Katrin and Stanislaus as our informal guides enabled us to enjoy facets of daily life we would otherwise miss. To start with, each morning we counted ourselves lucky waking up to this splendid view of the town.

View of Schwäbisch Gmünd from our bedroom

We slowed our travel pace and did walkabouts. At Katrin's suggestion, one stop was the Ott-Pausersche Fabrik silverware museum, a cultural gem that preserves the history of gold and silver work prevalent since the Middle Ages. The compact factory feels suspended in time, with everything exactly as it was in the mid 19th century as though workers had just left their posts.

Workshop area of the Ott-Pausersche Fabrik silverware museum

Stanislaus is an artist and arts teacher at the prestigious Landesgymnasium für Hochbegabte (State Highschool for Gifted Children). An artistic strain runs wonderfully through everyone in the family, with books, musical instruments and artwork decorating their entire house.

Stanislaus in his studio

By remarkable coincidence, Schwäbisch Gmünd is twinned with Barnsley, England where Lis's brother and his wife lived for a time. A small garden invites visitors to make a photo sitting on the Barnsley lion. (Not in this picture, though).

The Barnsley Garden

Katrin did her shopping while showing us around the weekly farmers market that filters through the streets surrounding the 14th-century Gothic Holy Cross Münster (cathedral). History runs deep in Europe, even in the smallest communities.

The market and Holy Cross Cathedral (Münster)

Back to the present where no stop is complete without cake and coffee, which had Katrin bringing us to one of her favourite haunts: Fresco Bioweine where we indulged in organic goodies before our departure for Lake Constance. This women-owned café makes a point of supporting local businesses, including an impressive collection of over 200 regional and European wines and spirits.

Lis and Katrin enjoying their coffee

Photos and text

© Gary Crallé

2025