Mittenwald Old Town, Germany

After lunch and with a small window of clear skies, we drove into town for a wander around the pretty streets. Chartered in 1307, Mittenwald was an important trading centre in the 15th and 16th centuries. The village has been famous since the 17th century for the manufacture of violins, violas and cellos, and it is believed the personal violin of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was crafted in Mittenwald.

It is also known for its colorful painted houses adorned with Lüftlmalerei, a mural art unique to southern Germany and Austria. Alongside the cobbled stone lanes and the gorgeous mountains as the backdrop, these artsy houses are striking and it feels like we are in a storybook.

On the main street of Mittenwald Old Town (Obermarkt) are most of the Lüftlmalerei, some dating back 250 years ago. Commonly, the images portrayed in the murals are the favorite saints of the house owner, their profession, and their daily lives in Mittenwald back in the day. They are so colourful, detailed and interesting and it was hard to control myself with my camera.Read more