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This is the entrance to Burg Wildenstein (a fortified spur castle, around 800 years old, in the south of Germany, the south of the Black Forest, used as a youth hostel today). It’s the only access, more or less even ground with the parking. Innocuous, you might think.

Still fairly harmless from this view. A bridge. The castle is situated on the edge of a steep hillside. So this is really the only access.

This is what it looks from below. And directly below.

It was a unassailable obstacle. The castle walls were never breached.

Except by fair maidens carrying beer.
The Cosmic Photo Challenge: Over the bridge
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Arrow slots or crenels are ususally vertical slits in thick walls in medieval buildings. Archers could shoot on possible attackers through them without exposing themselves unnecessarily. This is Castle Wildenstein, in the southern parts of the Black Forest. They decided to go horizontally if these … Continue reading This One Is Wild
A bee’s eye view of a tulip. But before the flower comes hard garden work. Here are some of my helpers, as seen from another bee. After the flora now the garden fauna viewed from above. Bigger fauna in the water. And now for a … Continue reading From Bee’s Eye View to Bird’s Eye View
“If you stay in an old castle fortress, it’s good to know the layout – lest you fall off the battlements.” FOWC with Fandango: Layout
Burg Wildenstein has some steep stairs with slippery stone steps. If you don’t hold on to the rails you might get to the bottom faster than what you had planned. The stairs leading up to the bell tower of St Bartholomew Cathedral in Teplice have … Continue reading Below the Stairs
Kunibert never dared to approach the open window after his third tankard of brown ale. Ragtag Daily Prompt: Rugged
There is a phenomenon amongst German spinsters called Torschlusspanik, literally “gate closing panic” – it could be figuratively translated as “the fear of being left on the shelf” (and I’m not talking elves, here). Although it is often applied to people who want to get married … Continue reading Hold It For Meeeeeeee…

Castle Wildenstein is a spur castle, i.e. a castle built on a mountain peak as a fortification. It was built in the 13th century in the Swabian Alb, above the young Danube. Access is through a high wooden bridge on some spindly looking pillars.


This fortitude against capture would also be a weakness if the (small) army besieging the castle had enough time on its hand (and no one would come to the aide of the beleaguered castle inhabitants).


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