Hello, everyone, friends.
I love places that have a deep history. If I am offered a choice between visiting some ultra-modern museum or event, or walking around an old city with museums and ancient architecture, I will choose the second option. After all, houses, interior items, dishes, clothes, in general, everything that has existed for decades or even centuries has its own special, incomparable charm, dusted with historical wisdom and elegant old age.
There is a special, incomparable feeling that comes from touching what our ancestors used many years ago. And if all these things could tell us everything they saw and heard during their existence, we would learn a lot of new things that are still unknown to historians, philosophers, and archaeologists.
I have always dreamed of visiting a medieval castle. No, not a palace with all its luxury and decoration, but a harsh, even gloomy castle. And dreams, if they are not detached from reality, can come true.
I was recently in Frankfurt. On my way home, I decided to stop by a picturesque town nearby, nestled between the mountains. As I drove in, I immediately saw the ancient walls of a stone fortress. It is located on a hill, so you can see it from different angles. Of course, I headed there.
The information board at the entrance told me that the fortress was built in the 12th century to protect an important industrial road. Its name is Königstein im Towns. Then the fortress was completed and a kitchen, a church, and castle chambers with towers appeared. This castle was owned by noble German families. It suffered the greatest destruction from the French in the 18th century. At that time, a significant part of the castle was destroyed. Although I wonder how this could have been done, because the walls, location and defensive equipment seem completely impregnable.
Now it is a picturesque ruin. The defensive tower is quite well preserved. I climbed the steep wooden stairs to the very top, but I didn't have the courage to go to the very peak.
I looked at the old stones, listened to the sounds of dripping water and imagined knights and ladies walking between these walls, riders on horseback leaving through the central gate.
The cellars are still in fairly good condition. I think they served as the first level of defence. Small openings were created there for viewing and for cannon muzzles. One of the old cannons has been preserved and is located near the fortress walls.
Every year, the largest knightly concert of Königsstein takes place here. Also, one of the best preserved cellars can be rented for private parties. I can only imagine how spectacular such parties are. There is also an interesting structure on the castle grounds that looks like a gazebo. But I think it is the remains of some kind of defensive post at the entrance. At that time, a significant part of the castle was destroyed. Although I wonder how this could have been done, because the walls, location and defensive equipment seem completely impregnable.
Despite the rain that was falling all the time, I had an incredible time visiting the Königstein im Towns fortress.