2026-05-16 Good-byes & Mulhouse

 Saturday, May 16, 2026

Dan and Paulette left for Brussels early this morning (at least early for us). Their visit was too short, but in the time we had, we traded stories of kids, travel, the "good old days" and life in general. We had a great time adventuring together. 

Luckily, Judy is still here, so the adventures will continue. Today, Judy and Dave decided to visit Mulhouse to look at art galleries. It's still cold and threatening rain so I stayed behind to catch up on writing this blog and I took a much needed nap. Below is their report: 

Place de Réunion, taken from the steps of the church

As you can see, Mulhouse is also cold and cloudy, although Judy and Dave missed the rain while visiting an art gallery. While looking at buildings on the Place de Réunion, they noticed something a bit strange on the side of the Hotel de Ville (City Hall). 

One end of the Hotel de ville - the painting below is between the windows on the first floor

This is what's painted on the town hall - see translation below

The  Klapperstein - "gossip stone"

Apparently, until 1798, if you were judged a gossip or liar, you were sentenced to wear this Klapperstein - a heavy carved stone - around the neck as you rode backwards on a donkey through the town. Painted above the gruesome head is this poem: 

« Zum Klapperstein bin ich gennant,

Den bößen Mäulern wohl bekannt ;

Wer Lust zu Zank und Hader hat,

Der muß mich tragen durch die Stadt. »

Translation: 

• I'm known as the Klapperstein (gossip stone)
• Well known by evil tongues
• Whoever takes pleasure in arguing and quarreling
• Will carry me around the town

The church, Temple St. Etienne (St Stephen) was open today. Dave and Judy spent time looking at the stained glass windows. They were able to go up to the clerestory level  to look at them "up close and personal."  Dave was very impressed. 

The organ is not in the back of the church, nor is there a rose window.

The windows on either side of the central window are modern, made to replace the windows damaged in WWII

Close up of one of the new windows in the west end of the church

The organ is behind the altar

Panorama looking down from the clerestory. The windows in the clerestory of the nave are 14th century, saved from a previous church and built into this one.

One of the clerestory windows

They also found something  we missed last time: trompe l'oeil paintings on buildings. These are paintings that look real, but, in fact, are only two dimensional. Very cool.

Dave & Judy were looking for  a WC (public toilet)in the old town when they stumbled across these trompe l'oeil houses. Look closely - these are not real people in the windows and there are not any windows on this side of the house.

This trompe l'oeil is actually one house that is flat.