Castles

I've said this before, but one of my favourite parts of being in Europe is the fact that in comparison to North America, everything is steeped in history. I say this not to diminish North America's own rich and expansive past, but the art and architecture in Europe reaches so far back that it has the effect of igniting the imagination.  The prime example of this? Castles. Medieval strongholds, impressive in their construction, but also brought to life by the romance that is inherent to such buildings. It's impossible to think of castles without an association to classic fairy tales or stories of heroic kings and knights. Even the less appealing aspects of the times (serfdom, medieval torture, horrifying medical procedures, lack of sanitation) elicit a kind of fascination. So, needless to say, during our whirlwind tour of Germany, we stopped in at a few castles along the way.

The Kaiserburg sits above the city of Nurnberg, and was one of the official residences of the Holy Roman Emporers between 1050 and 1571. One of my favourite features of this castle is the fact that it's built on sandstone, so at points it looks as if it grows organically out of the rock. Walking through its courtyards, what stands out are the details that are scattered throughout; the intricate family crests, delicate tree growing in the centre of the inner courtyard, and the huge, sturdy padlocks that fortify the castle's gates. From over the Kaiserburg's walls, there is a stunning view of the red tiled, pitched roofs of the city's houses.

Outer courtyard of the Kaiserburg (Photo: Morgan Edwards)

Family Crests (Photo: Morgan Edwards)

Heidelberg's Heidelberger Schloss, mostly in ruins but partially restored, felt warm and welcoming compared to the Kaiserburg. The earliest date of construction dates back to around 1200, but the building suffered a number of destructive events (lightning bolts, fires, wars) and was never entirely rebuilt. Despite this, the initial walk up leads you into the castle gardens, which are impressive on their own. Large expanses of orderly grasses, shrubs, and a beautiful view of the city make it a worthwhile climb to the top. Inside the castle ruins are the remains of would have once been a bustling castle courtyard. 

Heidelberger Schloss

Castle wall

Everybody loves unicorns!

Last but not least, Neuschwanstein Castle, perched at the foot of the German Alps. This one is impressive for a number of reasons. First,  its location on top of a small mountain is precarious, and it was clearly no small feat to drag all of those materials to the top of its mountain perch. Secondly, when you see Neuschwanstein, the image that immediately comes to mind is that of the famous Disney Castle. This is completely justified, as Neuschwanstein was one of the many castles after which the Disney Castle was modeled. And thirdly, once you've taken a tour, and learned more about the history of the castle, you'll come to realize that King Ludwig II, the person who built Neuschwanstein, was likely insane and living in a fantasy world of his own. Which, of course, makes the castle that much more intriguing.  Neuschwanstein is much newer compared to the previous two castles that were mentioned; its construction started in 1868, and was one of many extravagant castles and homesteads that King Ludwig II commissioned. The interior is extremely ornate, featuring representations of Germanic and Nordic sagas throughout.  The castle was never completed, as Ludwig II went bankrupt, was declared insane, and died a mysterious death. Ah, the romance and mystery of castles!

Neuschwanstein sitting pretty in the snow (Photo: Morgan Edwards)