Saarburg, part 2

Saarburg

The engraving on the front of the bell foundry museum in Saarburg had bells, cannons and the date 1770 ( significant year for Australia). The foundry, now the Museum Glockengießerei Mabilon, closed in 2002 and when it closed everything was left intact -  the tools, the machinery, old bells and bell-dongers (what is the technical term?) are all preserved in their original place.

Museum of Bell Foundry Mabilon, Saarburg

Some of the bell-making ovens and equipment looks like it's been there since the bginning, some are obviously from more recent times. It was fascinating to see how the bells were cast and the old buildings as well. The foundry is on a street next to the river and on one wall there was a chart of flood levels this century. Several floods, particularly the 1947 flood, must have been a real nuisance.

When a bell was about to be cast in the mold the priest and other dignitaries gathered for the solemn occasion. Candles were lit in this little niche high above the ovens.

Insect hotel. One wall had several 'insect and bee hotels'. There has been a growing interest in making these for Australian native bees that nest in little burrows. I've seen a few of these on our travels and the designs are very creative.

Quite a few houses and business have signs like this. It's called 'chalking the door' and is a Christian house blessing. The letters C, M, B have two meanings: They are the initials of the traditional names of the three magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. They also abbreviate the Latin words Christus mansionem benedicat, “May Christ bless the house.”

Old castle (burg) at Saarburg