To Oberammergau and the Alps in an Austin Sixteen: Continental Film - Grimsel Pass, Rhine Fall, Freiburg, Frankfurt, Leuven, Ghent, Bruges [Reel 8]

Journey to and from the Oberammergau Passion Play and the Alps by car in 1930.

Final reel (in a series of eight) recording Eustace and Eunice Alliott’s trip to and from the Oberammergau Passion Play in 1930, by way of a motor tour through Belgium, Luxembourg and the Rhine, before travelling further south to northern Italy, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, returning to London via Germany and Belgium. The final reel in this series records details of the Alliotts' return journey from Switzerland through Germany and Belgium to London. Scenes include: unusual sights encountered on the road, records of visits to areas of scenic beauty and sightseeing tours in towns and cities, as well as observations of the activities of local inhabitants. Shots include: an encounter with cattle on the road in Switzerland; waterfalls at the Handegg and Rhine Falls; lumber being moved near Titisee; street scenes at Freiburg, including shots of the market near the cathedral and shots of people wearing traditional clothing; sights in Baden-Baden, Worms, Frankfurt, Louvain and Ghent, including the Luther Memorial, market place in Frankfurt and Van Eyck Monument; observations of activities in Ghent, including a boat being unloaded. The film concludes with a shot of the fountains in Trafalgar Square. Notably, on their return visit to Koblenz the Alliotts' obtain shots of a rehearsal for a visit by Hindenburg, on the Deutches Eck, including a long shot of a small group of national socialists amongst the crowd who perform a salute. Shots also reflect the Alliotts' interest in mechanical engineering (the ferry across the Rhine near Karlsruhe) and dogs (Ghent and Bruges).

Featured Buildings

Martinstor, Freiburg Merchants Hall, Freiburg Freiburg Cathedral Market Day, Freiburg Luther Memorial, Worms Rőmerberg, Frankfurt Courtyard with Hercules fountain inside the Rőmer, Frankfrurt Monument to German Emperor Wilhelm I, Deutches Eck, Koblenz Cloth Hall [university library Louvain], Louvain [Leuven], Belgium Hotel de Ville, Louvain [Leuven], Belgium Hubert and Jan Van Eyck Monument, Ghent St Bravo’s Cathedral, Ghent Trafalgar Square, London

Featured Events

Rehearsal for the greeting for Hindenburg on the Deutches Eck, Koblenz.

Keywords

Inter-war continental tourism; The Rhine; Rhineland; National Socialist Party

Intertitles

Held up on the Grimsel Pass – we found that cows breath might smell of flowers The Handegg Fall The Rhine fall was our last call in Switzerland Here is a Black Forest scene near Titisee Freiburg is the capital of the Black Forest There were busy market scenes round Freiburg cathedral During the war people paid to drive nails into this tree The traditional costume of the Black Forest may still be seen on high days and holidays Here is a mason in full kit on his way home Baden-Baden was charming Crossing the Rhine near Karlsruhe – note the pontoons carrying the ferry cable The Luther Memorial at Worms A delightful market place – the Rőmerberg at Frankfurt In the Rőmer (or old Town Hall of Frankfurt) is a quaint courtyard with a Hercules fountain The Coblenz children were rehearsing a greeting for Hindenburg in honour of freeing the Rhine Hurrying on into Belgium we saw the Cloth Hall, and Hotel de Ville at Louvain There were quaint old buildings and interesting scenes in Ghent Ghent dogs work hard – this one deserved an old age pension We said goodbye to continental friends at Bruges, before setting out for home When all our wanderings were done we found the hub of the universe still kept its old charm The End

Other Places

Grimsel Pass; Handegg Falls; Rhine Falls; near Titisee; Freiburg; Baden-Baden; near Karlsruhe; Worms; Frankfurt; Koblenz; Louvain; Ghent; Bruges; Trafalgar Square, London