A Georgia Girl in Germany

After visiting Mainau Island on the 4th of July, we headed to the village of Meersburg, also on the Bodensee (Lake Constance). We started our tour at the Altes Schloß (old castle), which is true to its name since it’s the oldest castle in Germany -- built in the 7th century, including four towers dating to before the 1500s. This is a view of the drawbridge entrance to the castle from the building beside it. Below is the drawbridge entrance looking from above.


I love this half-timbered house with the paddle-wheel. It’s such a quaint sight from the Altes Schloß drawbridge. Below are leather water buckets used for firefighting and a crucifixion group from the 15th century that greet visitors at the entrance.



Above is the oldest chamber in the interior of the castle -- dating to the 7th century. The walls in this room are three meters thick, and the windows could only be closed with shutters from the outside. You can easily see one window directly ahead, and part of another to the right. The room was heated by an open fire, with the smoke escaping through an outlet. Later, the room was used as a guard room by hired soldiers.

Below is the 15th century Gothic chamber. Benjamin liked climbing in the windows, which weren’t nearly as thick as in the earlier room.


To the left is the Renaissance room of the castle, from about 1620. The "Cupboard of Ulm" was very beautifully carved.

Below is the castle’s kitchen. The built-in sink below the window (next to Benjamin) was pretty interesting, as was the rest of the kitchen equipment on display.

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The kids enjoyed trying to see to the bottom of the castle’s well. It was dug out in 1334 and reaches 27 meters down to the Bodensee.
MacKenzie couldn’t resist posing next to these flowers in the garden. The view from the garden was amazing -- over the Bodensee and across to the Swiss Alps.

The armory contains spears, battle-axes, clubs and cannons dating to 1700. The armory was more like a fortified passageway, with windows opposite these weapons from which to throw stones, boiling water and burning pitch onto assailants. They definitely had the high ground here!


This is the armorer’s workshop with fire tongs and other tools as well as the anvil, forge and bellows.

The 13th century Hall of Knights is a rather simple and primitive room that really shows how hard life was in those days. The walls are decorated with deer hides, antlers and hunting weapons. The elk foot on the table was used as a drinking cup. (The cleaning lady is a modern addition.)

The castle even had its own chapel (below), built in a recess in the wall. It has a Gothic altar and a 15th century wood carving. Again, very simple, but serene.


This is the Hall of Princes, with carved Renaissance furniture from around 1600. Off to the side of this room was the entrance to the castle’s dungeon. The kids were intrigued with the view down the nine-meter “hole of fear,” from where prisoners were lowered by rope.

I thought it was interesting that two rare 12th century targets for tournament training were hanging in the Tower Room (below) -- currently in use as the gift shop. On either side of this one are original coats of arms from the 16th and 18th centuries.


After our tour of the castle, we headed back outside, and into a rainstorm. The wind was pretty fierce blowing from over the lake, as is evident from the state of my umbrella. Zachary battled the same phenomenon with his umbrella, too.

I liked the baroque New Castle (built between 1712 and 1760) and garden above the Altes Schloß, as well as the view from the garden overlooking the Bodensee.


After the storm blew over, it was bright and sunny again. Perfect weather for an ice cream break.

MacKenzie and Benjamin both enjoyed their ice cream so much it adorned their noses.

Of course, Zachary couldn’t be outdone, so he created a similar spot on his nose.


One final look over the Bodensee before heading back to our bus. The skies were clear, but the wind was still pretty strong.

Labels: Benjamin, Germany, MacKenzie, Travel, Zachary