16 Oct 2010 Short Jaunt to Friedberg

Today we did a lot of our catch up work around the house and shopping for our weekly lunches. The rest of the day was just driving around. We found a very interesting place called Friedberg. This is the town where we will be having our Stake conference at. The same place by the way where Elvis Presley gave a concert when he was living here between 1958 and 1960. He was drafted into the army and spent two years here. We went to see the monument they have to him as well as the barracks he lived it. They closed down the base in 2007 but we were still able to take pictures through the gate. This is where he met Pricilla while she was living here with her family. Her Father was a Colonel there at the base. That is another long story but a very interesting one.

Friedberg started in 14 AD as a Roman camp and later as a fortress in 100 AD. The Francs used it as a manor house in 800AD but by 1100 Kaiser Friedrick I started major building of the foundation for the castle. The Roman baths are still preserved here. Today, the castle which consists mainly of a tower lies within a walled city. One of Germany's biggest castle grounds. I took pictures of all the buildings within this small city. The parish church and the Judenbad or the Jewish Ritual baths.

As you enter the castle, you go through the stone bridge which was built in 1792 and takes the place of the wooden draw bridge. There was once a high mote where stags were kept for quick hunting if food was needed. In the center of the Courtyard is the fountain of St George killing the dragon. The palace has the gables which is in the German Renaissance style. This Castle and its palace served as the Grand Dukes of Hesse from 1817-1919.

The Tsar of Russia Nicholas and his wife Alexandria spent several weeks as guests of the family who lived here. They were related in some way through Nicholas. The Castle gardens have lots of pictures posted around of the Royal Romanoff family. I found it all very interesting. As we walked through the park there were so many older trees there. You just knew they were there from the beginning. Gene was the only one brave enough to climb up to the tower. The entrance can only be reached by means of a ladder. You can go either up or down. In the floor there is a hole going down to the dark room with an opening only big enough for a man to fit through. This is called the manloche where prisoners were put in the dungeon. Today the tower is a place for people to enjoy the wonderful view across Friedberg and the Tannus Mts.

This was a beautiful crisp autumn day and I really enjoyed taking pictures of all the trees and the vibrant colors they presented. All in all it was a pleasant restful day for us. Tschuss.