Ronneburg
13th Century castle in the heart of Hessen, beautifully intact, having survived wars and catastrophes. It is a wonderful destination for people that are curious about what medieval life was like. The castle has a falconry, visitors can climb up to the observation tower for gorgeous views of the peaceful countryside, see a pedal powered well, torture devices, smithy, dining halls, private rooms, armory, kitchens, as well as medieval warcraft outside its walls. These are battering rams and devices used for slinging boulders and artilleries of pitch and fire.
Caretakers and employees of the castle are decked out in medieval clothing, tours are given throughout the day. There is a restaurant located here which serves local fare, such as wild goulash, but it is not open every day of the week.
Visit the collection of knight's armor, portable toilets, cooking utensils from the servant's kitchen, torture devices, armoires, trunks, pottery, writing tables, and weapons over the centuries.
Treading up the worn stairs, ducking through the small and narrow doorways, and spying the falcons flying from the watchtower is magical. The castle is surrounded by trees, beyond fields of yellow and green, and the small town with its quaint houses lies nestled inbetween.
Although I was here in September, I read that this castle offers a wonderful medieval christmas market for three weekends in December. The entire town is dressed in medieval clothing and armour, and the smell of mead and roasting chestnuts wafts in the air.
