5/21/2016
One of the things everyone should really do while in Germany is spend a little time exploring castles. I got a small taste of that at Heidelberg, but even though we spent all day there, we really only saw one castle in the end. Going around with a big tour group also made for a somewhat different experience than if I’d been there on my own, or with only a couple of friends. So, today, that’s just what we decided to do—my friends and I packed some lunch and got on a bus heading south!
Destination: Dilsberg!
After a few transfers and some slow morning conversation, we were dropped off in Dilsberg, a tiny “Dorf” or village up in the Odenwald mountains. It’s about 15 Kilometers from Heidelberg, and was founded by Romans, like, before the 1200s.
We spent the morning in the castle ruins, staring out over green country and red roofs under the blue skies.
After a short hike, we also got to explore a tunnel leading through the mountain to the well under the castle, which was once a cistern, but was expanded when Dilsberg came under siege. According to a tour guide, Mark Twain was inspired by the well, and the story he told then inspired someone in his audience to come hide treasure in a gap in the wall. Not sure I caught every word, though, so don’t quote me on it.
Anyway, the well was definitely loved by Mark Twain!
A little further down the mountain, we found a door leading back the way we’d come…
And we got to stand INSIDE the well!!
In the town across the Rhine, we ate a lot of pizza and then resumed our hike.
All in all, the day was gorgeous, and it was nice getting out to explore. We were all wiped out by the time we got home…
But everyone was really glad we went!!
Xoxo,
Susan
The Thumbprint Traveler 