We’ve decided to take a couple of rest days here in Koblenz. We need break from riding. Mila is sore and Jette has saddle sores. I’d like to get a replacement bellcrank for my bike if the bike shops here have one. Today is Sunday, so all the shops are closed. But the castle is open!

After breakfast at the hotel we caught a bus to Stolzenfels Castle in a slow, steady rain.

Breakfast

A little work

On the bus to the castle

At the castle, we climbed 101 stairs and walked up a winding road to the castle complex.

101 stairs

Dance break on the hill

The original castle dates to the 12th century, but was in ruins by the 1800’s. In 1823 the city gave the castle to the Prussian crown prince Friedrich Wilhelm. Over the next 40 years he restored and constructed “the most beautiful and most important architectural complex of Prussian Rhine Romanticism.”

Slippers inside the castle

Inside Stolenfels

I had only snapped a couple of photos inside the castle when they told me that photography was not permitted. It’s too bad as the interior was pretty amazing. Beautiful wood floors, paneled walls, ornate ceilings, furniture, frescoes, stained glass, paintings…

In one area they had crafts for kids. Jette made a bottle cap fridge magnet.

Fridge magnet

Around the castle grounds, they had little food stands set up offering bratwurst and various sweets, which of course we had to sample.

All these dudes in armor are short! Lance and shield?!  Check out these guns!

After the castle, we took the bus back to town and found a dinner of thai food for Mila and me and avocado “sushi” for Jette – something she had been craving for a long time.

Wishes do come true

Smiles in the rain

Another sidewalk playground