Juni 12, 2010 Cruise on the Rhein River

Well, this day takes the cake. We have never been so awe struck at, first the beauty of the countryside along the Rhein and then seeing a real castle inside and out. This is not the Hollywood type of castle it is the real deal. The boat was fairly big and they had dining underneath but we grabbed ourselves two seats and sat on the deck where we could see both sides of the river. The day was beautiful, kind of overcast. They had Italian music playing (Why not German or Austrian music?) I don't know, but we enjoyed it anyway. We drank an applesaft and chatted with the other couple missionaries.

We got on the boat at Rudesheim and proceeded toward St. Goar, where the main castle is. Right off the bat we saw Burg Klapp, R.. Plixholtz, Niederwalddenknfal monument, The Mauseturm which is on a little island out in the middle of the river. R. Ehrenfels, Burg Rheinstein, Burg Niederhheimbach, Burg Hahneck, R. Nolllg, Burg Stafleck, Wernerkabele, Die Pfalz, also in the middle of the River. Burg Gutenfels, Henschhausen, The Loreley statue, Schonberg, St Goarshhausen and Burg Rheinfels in St. Goar our final destination. Now mind you, most of these were castles, some smaller but the one we toured was the biggest and most in tact.

Remember this, Germany has the most castles in the world and I believe it. We saw 18 castles in all. In between these castles were beautiful towns and chapels and the landscape is all forest and vineyards. Wine making is a huge business here sort of compared to Napa, CA only bigger. The pictures I posted say it all, but I have to give you a little history behind the Brug Rheinfels castle which we got to see close up. After taking our picture with the group in front of the Church in Rudesheim, a Senior Elder asked how many wanted to take the tour on foot of the Castle. Only 12 of us decided to do it. What we didn't know is that he was Jack LaLaine incarnate. He forgot some people can't hike all day like he can. He opted for us to walk up to the castle, a grueling hike of 2,000 ft. I had to stop half way and we were the tail end sad to say. I thought I was going to pass out, but my dear husband drug me up the rest of the way

As we were almost to the top, we see a little train coming up the side of us with people going on a tour. Now why did he not tell us about the tour? because it would have cost us 3 euros more. Are you kidding me! Well I can't complain, because it was well worth the effort. I want to give you a little history on this castle. It was built in 1245. It withstood a siege of 28,000 French troops in 1692. It was almost destroyed in 1797 in the French Revolution and what we see today is just a fraction of the size it was originally.

We viewed the courtyard which was encircled by a huge wall. In its day it was self sufficient and ready for a siege with a bakery, pharmacy, herb garden, animals, brewery, a well and livestock. During peace time, 300-600 people lived here but during a siege, there would be as many as 4,500. We saw the actual catapult balls that were used and a stock aid to punish people. We climbed a cobble stone path to the castle's best viewpoint up where the German flag waves. Hope you enjoy the view from on top. Please appreciate the fact that I actually climbed all the way.

This is the only castle that towers over the mountains but all the other castles are below the mountains. That's because they were smaller and wanted to be less noticed by enemy. We went through many dark stairways and the steps were very short and steep. Imagine me walking in the dark traversing these stairs. There were a few mud puddles on the way and we had to have a flashlight with us at all times. There were positions around the castle with holes just big and long enough for soldiers to shoot their arrows through without their being killed. They would lay flat in order to navigate the small openings. They laid on straw but in the winter, I can not imagine.

We saw where they kept the dungeon, We saw where the prisoners came and went through the little square hole in the ceiling. The holes in the walls supported timbers that gave as many as 15 prisoners something to sit on to keep them out of the filthy slop that gathered on the floor. Twice a day, they were given bread and water. Some prisoners actually survived longer than two years in there. Consider this, according to town records, the two men who spent the most time down here, (2 1/2 yrs) died within three weeks of regaining their freedom. Perhaps after a diet of bread and water, feasting on meat and wine was simply too much for them.

Then we saw the slaughterhouse. The cattle that lived within the walls were slaughtered in this room. The mortar for the castle was mixed here by packing all the organic waste from the kitchen into kegs and sealing it. Next through a very dark passage way we came to the Grosser Keller (Big cellar) where most of the wine was kept. The Count who owned this castle also owned the surrounding farmland. Farmers got to keep 20% of their production. Today, the German government gives farmers 60% of what they produce.

Then we found the main dining hall for the soldiers. It was huge with small shafts of light all round the walls. While we were there a teacher brought 20 of his students on a tour and while he was explaining about the room, he pulled out a small wooden flute (appropriate for 1200 AD) and played a tune. We were delighted. It felt like we were living in the castle. Well that was the tour. We are going to bring Mazzy and Jenna on this tour when they come.

After the tour we hiked back down the hill which only took half the effort on my part. We were not the tail end this time, we actually were the first to get down. Back on the cruise boat and back to Rudesheim where we started, but this time we just relaxed and took in all the beautiful countryside. When we got off, one of the couples took us to the most wonderful little street there. I do mean little. It is original, the War did not touch it so we got the full effect. The road was all cobblestone and only 10 feet wide. You could only pull a wagon through there. The stores and restaurants were so cozy. They say this is one place to see at Xmas time. We are definitely going to be busy at Xmas time.

Hope you don't fall asleep before you get to the end of the pictures. Tschuss