Early Hohenzollern

Hohenzollern Castle in Hechingen is the ancestral home of the kings of Prussia. It sits high above the plains-like surrounding area on a jutting pointy bulge of a hill - the only one around. Because of this, the site is perfect for a fortified castle, since the line of sight in all directions extends for many many miles. The first Zoller Burgrave of Nürnberg, Friedrich I, was the first known occupant in the 12th century. The first castle (maybe even the first few castles) on this foreboding location is long gone (though the foundation remains), and the current rendition was refurbished from an earlier version during the period 1840-1867. On October 3, 1867 the dedication ceremony took place.

Situated just a 45 minute drive south of Stuttgart, Hohenzollern castle was one of our favorite stopping places with visitors. It is a true German castle, relatively easy to get to, and they gave tours! The tours were a lot of fun, even though they were given in German, because everyone has to wear felt slippers over their shoes to keep the floors from getting scratched, and the temptation to skate around on those felt pads was always too great!

One of our traditions was to have all our visitors pose peering out one particular rampart on the outer wall of the castle. Taken together, they make an interesting study. There are six of them in this group.

These photos were taken during several visits during our first year in Germany. Click on any thumbnail view to see a larger photo . . . . .

Thumbnail	Size	Date	Description
	118kb JPEG	10/01/91	Megan, Audrey, and Lynn at the drawbridge entrance to the castle.
	114kb JPEG	10/01/91	The inner ring walkway, as seen from inside a rampart guard tower.
	82kb JPEG	10/01/91	Megan, Lynn, and Audrey looking out into the mist along the rampart wall.
	96kb JPEG	10/01/91	Lynn peeking out from inside a rampart guard tower along the wall of the castle.
	107kb JPEG	01/06/92	The Emperor's Hall, and the bin where we got our slippers from as we came in.
	45kb JPEG	01/06/92	The main tower of the castle, framed by a window in one of the corridors of the castle.
	87kb JPEG	01/06/92	The armor and weapons in the Anteroom to the Treasury Room.
	88kb JPEG	01/06/92	Saint George slaying the dragon, in the Catholic Chapel at the castle.
	80kb JPEG	01/06/92	Gram peeking out from a rampart on the outer wall of the castle.
	38kb JPEG	01/06/92	A stone sentry at the entrance to the Castle guarding the golden sunset.
	63kb JPEG	09/24/92	Jo in the famous lookout pose at the ramparts of the castle.
	50kb JPEG	09/24/92	Dave in the famous lookout pose at the ramparts of the castle.
	78kb JPEG	10/22/92	Sara in the rampart of the Hohenzollern castle.
	88kb JPEG	10/22/92	Robert in the rampart of the Hohenzollern castle.