The Church at Sternberg

A frontal view of this little church.

Richly decorated ceiling of the ante room.

Baptismal fountain

Christin, in the entrance to the church, contemplating
the distant mountains.

Sternberg: some more "HUNGERCLOTHS"

Das Kirchlein von Sternberg, steht hoch auf einem Huegel, auf welchem Ausgrabungen
auf eine Besiedlung um 1,500 Jahre befor Christus schliessen lassen.

The little church of Sternberg sits high atop a hill. Excavations there allow the assumption
of this area having been settled about 1,500 years bC.

As many other churches in Carinthia, so hides the Church of Sternberg
its main altar from the congregation's view by hanging a richly decorated,
so-called "Hunger cloth" in front of the main altar.

A closer view of the "hunger cloth".
To see it properly you really should enlarge this image by clicking on it.

Family Pix

Gerhild, my cousin, once removed, or is it: Second cousin...I never know. In any event:
She is the daughter of the daughter of my mother's sister...does that explain it to your satisfaction? In any event, she's a lovely woman, and she says to me:
"You know Bert, all these pictures of the 'hungercloths', and "snow on the mountains", are lovely to look at. But I am waiting for some more family shots."
Well, here they are:
The people involved are: Kordula, Gerhild, Juergen and finally Christin.

Gerhild, die Tochter von der Tochter von der Schwester meiner Mutter, sagt zu mir:
"Weisst du Egbert, diese Bilder auf deinem Blog von den "Hungertuechern" und "Schnee auf den Bergen' sind ja schoen und recht. Ich moechte aber noch mehr Familienfotos sehen.
Naja, hier sind sie: von l nach r : Kordula, Gerhild, Juergen und Christin.

Visiting in Feistritz on the Drau

This is Kordula, my Cousin, one of the funniest ladies I've ever met.

Meine Cousine, Kordula, ein Witzbold ersten Ranges.

Gerhild, Kordulas daughter and her #1 man, Juergen.

Gerhild, Kordulas Tochter und ihre Nummer Eins, Juergen.

Juergen, Gerhild, Kordula, Christin.

Gerhild's second home in Feistritz. Otherwise she lives in Linz.

Jeffery Broussard & the Creole cowboys

This group from Luisiana plays up a storm of melodies and rhythm
that penetrates your body and forces you to swing along.
Superb musicians, one and all, they present a mixture of R & B together
with a style, all their own, called Zydeco.

from left: Classie Ballou Jr. (bass guitar and background vocals)
Greg Gordons ( drums )
Saanen Kerson, (scrubboard and accordeon)
Jeffery Broussard (accordeons and vocals)
D'Jalma Garnier III, ( guitar )

What a blast....

Jeffery in one of his more contemplative moments.

The Jaun Valley of Carinthia - Das Kaerntner Jauntal-

Snow covered mountains painted on the horizon
lush, fruitful valleys, diligent and friendly people.
This is Carinthia, Austria.

The evening draws nigh

The Hunger Cloths of Stein in the Jaun Valley

A gothic "Easter Lamp" and
a chapel in the Village of Stein in the Jaun Valley of Carinthia.

Ein gotischer "Osterleuchter" und Kapelle in Stein im Jauntal.

Eine Holzschindel bedeckte Kapelle

Covered by wooden roof tiles this Chapel stems from the gothic Area.

Der Hauptaltar in der Kirche zu Stein im Jauntal

The main altar in the church of Stein in the Jaunvalley.

More "Hunger cloths" in Stein in the Jaun valley. .Mehr Hungertuecher in Stein im Jauntal.

Der linke Nebenaltar mit einem Hungertuch verdeckt.
The left Side Altar covered by a "hunger cloth"..

wie oben...

Der rechte Seitenaltar, dessen Hungertuch
die geiselung Christi zeigt.

The right Side altar, whose Hunger Cloth
shows the martyrdom of christ.

Siehe oben..
..as above.

Christin with Pinta and Santa Maria

Christin's best friends of the four legged variety.

Christins beste vierbeinige Freunde

Left: Santa Maria, Right: Pinta

At the start of the Stations of the Cross.

Am Anfang des Kreuzweges.

At an old country church,

with very modern Stations of the Cross

The Hunger cloths - Die Hungertuecher

Um die folgenden Bilder, besonders jene der Hungertuecher, richting zu sehen MUSS man
auf das jeweilige Bild klicken, um es gross zu sehen...

In order to fully appreciate the pictures of the Hunger Cloths, one MUST click on each respective image in order to view it in the large format.

Das "Fastentuch" oder "Hungertuch. / The Hunger cloth...

Das "Fastentuch", auch "Hungertuch" genannt, wird in vielen Roemisch Katholischen Kirchen, besonders in Tirol und Kaernten, waehrend der Fastenzeit, vom Aschermittwoch bis zum Karsamstag, vor dem Hauptaltar befestigt. Viele dieser Tapeten, kunstvoll mit Stickerei oder Malerei verziert, stammen aus dem 13. oder 15. Jahrhundert. Andere sind jedoch aus modernster Zeit. Viele dieser Tuecher bestehen aus mehreren ( bis 90 +) Teilen, welche mit Farbenfreude das Leiden Christi den damaligen Illiteraten erklaerten.

The "Hunger Cloth" is displayed in many Roman Catholic churches mounted in front of the main altar. This custom is particularly ingrained in Carinthia and Tirol, where the Cloth hides the main altar between Ash wednesday and Palm Sunday. Many of these tapestries are beautifully decorated either by painting or by needle work. Some date back to the 13th or15th century, while others are very new. The old ones feature up to 90 panels depicting the suffering of Jesus Christ.

Die Wehrkirche von Diex / The walled church of Diex

Die zweituermige Wehrkirche von Diex in Unterkaernten.

The walled church of Diex in Lower Carinthia

Im Inneren der Wehrmauer.

Inside the defensive wall.

Das Hungertuch von Diex...

The Hunger cloth of Diex...

...verdeckt den Grossteil des Hauptaltares,
und zeigt vier Details aus dem Leiden Christi.

...covers most of the main altar and,
in the 4 corners, shows pictures of Christ's last days.

The "Hungercloth" of Hainburg

Die Kirche von Hainburg mit dem beruehmten, aus dem 15. Jahrhundert stammenden
"Fastentuch" oder auch "Hungertuch" genannt.

The church of Hainburg with the famous "Hunger cloth" from the 15th Century.

Christin im Haupteingang der Kirche.

Christin at the main entrance to the church.

Das Hungertuch verdeckt beinahe den ganzen Hauptaltar.

The Hunger Cloth covers almost all of the main altar.

Details der 36 Abbildungen auf dem Hungertuch.

Details of the 36 pictures of the hunger cloth.