Bacharach

Remember when we went on the Rhein River cruise, I mentioned that I really wanted to come and see this town of Bacharach.  This weekend we did, and what a picturesque little town.  Really, I never get tired of these places.

Walking along outside the town wall.

In the town center we first came to the old Posthof, formerly the local seat of the Knights Templar (11th century).

 

Church of St. Peter (around 1100). Has a number of tombs of medieval knights and noble families.

The "Altes Haus" (old house - 1368) in the market square is one of the most famous medieval half-timbered buildings, and has been in many movies. Currently it is a restaurant.  (getting a little TLC right now)

 Right next to it is this beautiful hotel.  Joe and I are thinking we're going to have to come back here for a night away from the kids ;)

Then we had a bit of a climb up the mountain.

 

 

The ruins of Wernerkapelle (Chapel of Werner), 1294. This is what it looked like from the Rhein River.

Named after a local boy who was found murdered.  The Jews were accused of killing the boy and using his blood for the Passover (blood libels, or accusations like this were typical of the times).  The chapel attracted huge number of pilgrims, kind of like a cult to St. Werner, and wasn't stricken from the calendar of saints until the 1960's, I believe. Really pretty though.

Up some more stairs, through a really pretty wooded area, past all the vineyards on the steep slopes (planted in the time of the Romans), and an old watchtower.

Finally to Burg Stahleck (first mentioned in 1135).  This is what it looked like from the Rhein River.

This is now used as a youth hostel, and there were several families staying there.  It looked really nice.  Plus there are some great views from up there.

 

 

At the end of the day we found a few fun souvenir shops, and bought the boys wooden swords with their names burned onto them (Sir Joseph and Ritter, or Knight, Alex).

Madelyn got a smaller dagger with Lady Madelyn

(she also got something for Halloween)

 Cora went with a Fedora, of course ;)

I'll just have to get something next time :)

Burg Eltz

Saturday was a perfect day for a little trip to see Eltz Castle.

 The oldest part of the castle was built in the 9th century, but the main fortress was started around 1157.

 The Eltz family (or branches of the family) have lived in it for 33 generations.

 Under the direction of the king, the family taxed every ship that sailed the nearby river.

 Today the family makes their money through tourism ;)  Okay, I'm just kidding, but seriously though, this place was packed, and more and more people kept coming.

 We took a guided tour inside, through the parts that are open to the public, but we weren't allowed to take pictures.  I took one in the armor room before I knew that.

This is what my family does while I'm walking around taking pictures everywhere.  And they mock me for taking so many pictures.

  We had a nice little lunch at the castle of Brats mit Brotchen, Schnitzel, Falmmkuchen, und Kartoffelsalat.  Mmmmmmm.

 Fun, fun!