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So, some of you will remember that I used to do a #SaintoftheDay feature? Well, today, while out rambling, I came across one of the most sad and bizarre of them all - poor little St Regiswindis... /1 
Today I caught a train from Stuttgart up to Lauffen Am Neckar on the, well, River Neckar. It has a castle and a church, so I figured it was worth a visit.
It used to be the only secure river crossing for miles, hence the castle, held by the Counts of Lauffen. /2
It used to be the only secure river crossing for miles, hence the castle, held by the Counts of Lauffen. /2
If you head inside the church, named for Regiswindis, you can find a (reproduced) painting showing the King of the Franks, Ludwig the Pious, handing out a title to Ernst, his sidekick, who later made Lauffen his home. There he had three kids, including little Regiswindis. /3
Things were rosy in mid 9th century Lauffen, with Ernst and his family providing a little stability to the region.
That was, until Ernst demanded his servant was flogged for a minor transgression. /4
That was, until Ernst demanded his servant was flogged for a minor transgression. /4
In revenge for the servant's flogging, his sister, nurse to Regiswindis, strangled her charge & threw her into the Neckar. She was about to throw herself in, but she was caught & held back.
3 days later, Regiswindis was found adopting a cross-like pose
A bit full-on, yeah? /5
3 days later, Regiswindis was found adopting a cross-like pose
A bit full-on, yeah? /5
History does not record what happened to the nurse, or the servant, for that matter. It was undoubtedly awful, though.
A cult arose around Regiswindis, and when she was canonised by the Bishop of Würzbufg in 1227, the site of her bones became a site of pilgrimage. /6
A cult arose around Regiswindis, and when she was canonised by the Bishop of Würzbufg in 1227, the site of her bones became a site of pilgrimage. /6
Visitors used to come from miles around, and successive churches have been built on the spot. This one is from the 16th century.
Fun Fact: The successive churches left crypts, that were built over and joined together by tunnels. For centuries, bones were kept there. /7
Fun Fact: The successive churches left crypts, that were built over and joined together by tunnels. For centuries, bones were kept there. /7
There's also an air raid shelter and a tiny little chapel in and under that church - guess I'll have to make friends with a local who can help me get into the tunnels within the outcrop. /8
Anyhow, nice place, sad story, time to start doing threads again. Hope you enjoyed that. /FIN
