TWO CASTLES

VIANDEN CASTLE

FIRST STOP WAS A 2 1/2 HOUR DRIVE TO VIANDEN, LUXEMBOURG.  ONCE WE GOT TO THE ARDENNES WE GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY AND TOOK WINDY BACK ROADS THROUGH SMALL VILLAGES AND TOWNS.   LUXEMBOURG  IS A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE COUNTRY WITH ROLLING HILLS, WHEATFIELDS & CORNFIELDS AND FARMS WITH BIG PASTURES OF GRAZING ANIMALS.  

BIKE MUCH?

WE WANTED TO SEE THE VIANDEN CASTLE.  IT'S ONE OF THE LARGEST FORTIFIED CASTLES WEST OF THE RHINE.  IT'S CONSTRUCTION WAS STARTED IN THE 11TH CENTURY AND WASN'T FINISHED UNTIL THE 14TH CENTURY.  IT'S A HUNDRED METERS ABOVE THE RIVER OUR.

IN 1820 KING WILLIAM I SOLD THE CASTLE TO WENZEL COSTER, AN ALDERMAN.   HE IN TURN STARTED TO SELL OF PARTS OF THE CASTLE - TILES FROM THE ROOF, WOODEN PANELING AND MORE.   SOON THE CASTLE WAS IN RUIN AND THEN PRETTY MUCH IGNORED FOR THE NEXT 175 YEARS.  RESTORATION WORK BEGAN IN 1978 AND CONTINUED UNTIL 1982.   AFTER 1982 THE MAJOR EFFORT WAS TO FURNISH THE CASTLE WITH AS MANY PERIOD PIECES AS POSSIBLE.   THIS WENT ON UNTIL 1990.  WHILE WALKING THROUGH THE CASTLE YOU CAN SEE IT'S HELD TOGETHER WITH MODERN TECHNOLOGY BUT THEY DID A GREAT JOB BRINGING IT BACK TO LIFE.

DUCK!!

FOUNDATIONS

I NEVER REALIZED HOW EACH LITTLE LOOP IN CHAIN MAIL ARMOUR HAS IT'S OWN RIVET.  VERY COMPLICATED.   MUST HAVE TAKEN A LONG TIME TO MAKE

I THOUGHT THIS WAS FUNNY - THERE WAS A NEST IN THE RAFTER SO THEY PUT THIS PIECE OF CARDBOARD DOWN ON THE FLOOR TO CATCH THE DROPPINGS.  THEY PROBABLY AREN'T ALLOWED TO DISTURB THE NEST.

THE RIVER OUR

CASTLE WELL

LA ROCHE EN ARDENNES;   LE CHATEAU FEUDAL

BUILT IN THE 9TH CENTURY IT STOOD FOR MANY CENTURIES UNTIL IT FELL INTO DISREPAIR AND WAS PILLAGED FOR THE BUILDING SUPPLIES BY TOWNS PEOPLE.   

HOWEVER, BACK IN IT'S HEYDAY THE LORD LA ROCHE HAD A DAUGHTER WHOM HE WISHED TO BE MARRIED.   IN TYPICAL MID-EVIL FASHION HE HAD A CONTEST TO WIN THE HAND OF HIS DAUGHTER, BERTHE.   A VERY LARGE AND SUCCESSFUL KNIGHT CAME TO THE CASTLE.  IT WAS THE COUNT DE MONTAIGU.  HE WANTED TO MARRY THE LORD'S DAUGHTER EVEN THOUGH HE WAS ALREADY SPOKEN FOR BY THE COUNTESS ALIX DE SALM.   HE HAD NEVER BEEN UNHORSED BEFORE AND NO ONE DARED COMPETE AGAINST HIM....EXCEPT ONE.    THE ONE WHO DARED TO COME FORWARD WAS VERY SMALL, ALMOST CHILDLIKE.   BUT AFTER SOME TRICKY HORSEWORK THE COUNT WAS UNHORSED.  THE KNIGHT FINISHED HIM OFF AND THE KNIGHT AND BERTHE WERE MARRIED RIGHT AWAY.   THE NEXT DAY BERTHE'S FATHER WAITED FOR THE NEWLYWEDS TO COME TO HIM.  HE WAITED A LONG TIME AND FINALLY WENT TO THE ROOM WHERE THEY SLEPT AND FOUND THEM MISSING.  HE RAN TO A WINDOW AND FOUND THAT THEY WERE BOTH DEAD,  FAR BELOW AT THE BANK OF THE RIVER.  IT TURNS OUT THAT THE PUNY KNIGHT WAS IN FACT THE COUNTESS ALIX DE SELM.    APPARENTLY THE GHOST OF BERTHE STILL CAN BE SEEN IN THE CASTLE AT THE PLACE WHERE SHE TOOK  HER LAST BREATH.   (PLEASE NOTE:   THE WEBSITE SAYS THAT BERTHE DOES NOT HAUNT THE CASTLE WHEN IT RAINS)!!