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Home from Home: Castles

November 30, 2018 By Susanne Bacon

Let’s face it: We are all more or less fascinated with castles. In Europe we almost take them for granted. Our ancestors have been exploited during their built. And though the US have managed to break away from aristocracy long before Europeans, there are still quite a few architectural structures that imitate the grandeur of castles, palaces, halls, and aristocratic mansions over here.

My German hometown, Stuttgart, boasts two castles from different eras – both have been in constant use to this day.

One of the most imitated European castles is what so many call Disney castle – probably because “Neuschwanstein” is so hard to pronounce. Actually, it’s not. Just try it: Noy-‘shvuhn-shtine. There you go! Maybe it’s because of its turrets and its (not so unique) location on a rock that people love it so. Also, it looks as if it were from the Middle Ages. It is not. Because, let’s face it, most of those medieval structures have been razed by hostile forces in their times. Basically, Neuschwanstein is pretty fake in comparison to other German castles and palaces – and as insignificant. A creation of a 19th century slightly unbalanced Bavarian king with minor historical importance, who used to roam his palaces in solitude.

Other touristy castles are Heidelberg, of course, and Sanssouci in Potsdam. Both played their roles in German history, for sure. And if any of you ever took a cruise on the River Rhine, you will have encountered the numerous castles and ruins on top of the cliffs overlooking the Rhine gorge.

My hometown, Stuttgart, boasts two castles smack-dab in its center. The older one was built in 1292 as a water fortress, and today it is used as the state’s museum. And there is a so-called New Castle, built in baroque style, just kitty corner from the old one on the central Schlossplatz (pronounce ‘shloss-pluts), i.e. Castle Square. This one is very much in use for official purposes of all kinds, and European royalty has set their foot into it quite regularly. As a “normal” citizen you usually get to see only very few rooms of the new castle. Which is why nearby Ludwigsburg Castle gets all the tourism – but we have to be fair: The Ludwigsburg’s baroque park is as astonishing as the castle’s interior. And a further attraction is the fairytale theme park within its boundaries.

This 20th century Tudor gothic castle is an intriguing destination not just for Hollywood: Thornewood Castle in Lakewood, WA. (Photo: www.thornewoodcastle.com/)

Yes, Germany is peppered with the ruins of old fortresses, with old castles, palaces, and mansions. If you’d like to get an impression of what you miss out on while you are still contemplating “Disney Castle” for your next trip, just check out Lakewood author Ed Kane’s beautiful book “Roads to Ruins” (www.roadstoruins.com). Maybe you will reconsider your traveling route.

Apropos: Lakewood has its own very beautiful castle, built in Tudor gothic style (though obviously with state-of-the-art sanitary engineering) – Thornewood Castle. It even comes with presidential history. Hollywood used the location for a number of series and movies, amongst them “There Will be Blood” with Daniel Day Lewis. Built as the gift for a bride shortly after 1907, the building and grounds contain ancient elements sold off by British castles and might make you reconsider about going to the trouble of traveling to Europe at all, as you can even book a stay there. I have a feeling even the British might be fooled by this fine piece of historical castle architecture.

Whichever – European castles are a bit like our archetypical princess dream, I think. For a moment we step into a world that is unreal. We breathe history. And then we return to enjoy our modern creature comforts.

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About Susanne Bacon

German-American journalist Susanne Bacon is also the author of the Wycliff novel series (available in local bookstores or on Amazon). The latest, published in 2020, is Suddenly Snow. Her Suburban Times column “Home from Home” is also available as a book now. Its German title is “In der Fremde daheim". She lives with her husband in Lakewood, Washington. You can contact her at Facebook. If you are interested in an express delivery of Susanne's columns, subscribe to her Bacon's Bits email, delivery free to your inbox. Click here to sign up.

Comments

  1. Diane says

    December 1, 2018 at 6:21 am

    This reminded me of moments in my childhood when we were stationed in Germany. We were in Bad Kissingen at the Army base. I remember going on field trips in school and touring various castles. Being a 4th and 5th grader at the time, it was all very fascinating to view various items of “Castle living”. Thank you for the pleasant flashback to the 60’s.

  2. Susanne Bacon says

    December 1, 2018 at 8:44 am

    Hello Diane,
    I’m so pleased that this gave you a walk down memory lane. I still try to imagine living in a castle and have actually had the pleasure of staying overnight in some – it was a little drafty sometimes, but always a real adventure.

  3. Dieter says

    December 1, 2018 at 11:42 am

    Yeah, and then King Ludwig was in it for all of 99 days, as a guide told us. So what, it’s just money…good grief.
    Dieter

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