Haut Koenigsbourg - Big Castle, Small Steps

Today we visited Haut Koenigsbourg, a castle near us in France. First discovered in the 12th century, the castle has now been restored to the way it appeared in the 1400s as a museum of the Middle Ages. There is structural restoration going on right now to help keep the castle within the requirements for safe tourism.

We loved the castle and everything about it but reflected that what we see on TV isn't always an accurate depiction of the real thing. Castles in real life are massive and drafty.  The stone steps are narrow and often curving in tight spirals of pie shaped slabs of stone. None of this wide, sweeping, marble staircase business!  Dressed in many layers and tightly bound corsets, it would have been a challenge to navigate this enormous castle. The hike up to the castle itself was long and sloping - one we couldn't fathom carrying groceries up, let alone moving a piece of furniture or cannon while wearing a chain-mail suit of armor.  Life must have been very hard then, even for the wealthy and powerful.

You must park quite a distance away and walk up the one way mountain road to the castle entry. The climb up to the castle is a daunting feat for many but the view from the top is stunning and is most certainly worth the journey. The view of the Alsatian countryside is unmatched from this perspective.  Widespread deep green forests and fields of wheat and grape vines, dotted with tiny towns of cobbled streets and stone buildings with terracotta tiled roofs.  Beautiful...

Dear France,
Thank you for another breathtakingly amazing day.
Sincerely,
The Sisterhood