I dashed over to Germany to help deliver a glider for maintenance near the town of Wetzlar in the valley of the Lahn river. Arriving after dark and leaving early (which seemed like before dawn) left little time to explore.

Only the small Christmas Market was in full swing, most of the old town had shut up shop hours earlier, but it was lovely to wander around the narrow cobbled streets of the old town / Eisenmarkt which dates back to medieval times.

The town is on the German Half-Timbered Houses Route, as well it should with its many timber-framed houses and majestic baroque buildings – unfortunately it was too dark to get any decent photographs, perhaps on the return trip.

The Cathedral is probably the town’s most prominent landmark (though the factories of Leica and Zeiss probably dominate during the day). The sandstone cathedral (dedicated to St. Mary) dates from the 12th century as a Romanesque building. In the later Middle Ages the construction was continued under a masterplan in Gothic style. The church was never finished, as one steeple still is uncompleted. The cathedral suffered heavy damage in the Second World War by aerial bombing, but was restored in the 1950s. It looked wonderful all lit up, even if the lights did not fully clothe the Christmas tree.