Report: Castle of Hohenzollern

After a lazy Sunday morning, we all meet up in the afternoon for our excursion to Hohenzollern. After a short bus ride the jagged edges of the castle appeared on the horizon and every camera tried to get a good picture. The height to which we have to climb was a bit daunting and there was some begging to make use of the shuttle service. But where is the fun in that? So we climbed. It was very steep and it soon become apparent that no one in his right mind would send soldiers storming up that hill to attack. They would be heard miles away by their wheezing, as was the case with our group! By the time we got up to the castle entrance we were freezing, but the beauty of the fairytale landscape beneath us and the majestic caste made this a minor issue. Cameras were working overtime until we were able to go in. From here on we were not aloud to take pictures and we had to wear protective slippers to protect the floors and some of the even wore little red robes fit for pretend royalty. It later proved useful to those who wore them because we soon discovered how cold a castle can be for there are no functioning fireplaces or  the central heating that we have become accustomed to over our stay in Germany.

The interior with its intricate design fascinated all. Even the high ceilings were beautifully decorated. We learned that the big hall is sometimes still used for functions and that the owner prince sometimes still stays at the castle. We were happily skating along in our oversized slippers and steeling glances through stained glass windows. Through the king’s study and bedroom we went and quite a stir was caused among the group when we were taught that the king and queen had separate bedrooms and that the king was allowed to have several mistresses. All were impressed by the Queens sanctuary, the Blue Lounge, were she entertained her guests.

After our tour we went into the dungeon, which was a little to claustrophobic for my liking. By this time it was dusk and the horizon was beautifully coloured and it was more than freezing cold. We all had Rudolph the Reindeer noses and went in search of someplace warm. Here we had cookies and gathered our gear to head back down. Outside again we tried to light our torches, but the wind kept blowing them out. Eventually everybody had a light and down the hill we went. Looking up, the castle looked even more majestic all lit up on a dark hill, it almost seem to be floating. As we arrived at our bus, our journey through times gone by, was over.

Svelka Hoebel