Mörike kept a "house book" with his personal notes.
The Romantic poet and writer was an artist with many gifts. He wrote down his impressions in a "house book" that he decorated with little drawings. One of the most famous depicts a rather strange creative pastime. Mörike wrote that he had "allowed himself the fun of having his drawings and words engraved on the potter's work." He gave these ceramics decorated with his verses to his friends and family. Today, the "house book" is protected at the German Literature Archive in Marbach.
In the 19th century, Lorch and its monastery attracted many travelers. With the opening of the Remsbahn railroad, more and more tourists came to improve their health and spend their summer at a resort, providing a source of income for the citizens of Lorch. Beginning in 1871, an beautification club maintained hiking paths and park benches, created a swimming area on the Rems river, and improved the appearance of the streets. Up to the 1930s, advertisements for Lorch as a health resort focused on the good air and climate, the lovely landscape, and the local sights.
