Germany: Herborn and Greifenstein Castle

Herborn

In March of 2017, I got the chance to join Herb on a business trip to Germany, and we stayed a couple nights at the Schloss Hotel in Herborn. A quaint little town with historical landscapes, half-timbered houses, and authentic culture was a joy to experience. I was so awestruck to be able to walk through years of history and mingle with the local crowd in this small old town.

Sitting on the Dill, this colorful, trading town dates back to the year 1048. After a sweet cup of coffee at our hotel, I relished making my way through narrow alleyways and down cobblestone streets to the town square. Friendly locals wishing me ‘Guten Morgen’ as I walked by, I felt a sense of belonging. Small family, retail shops lined my pathway as I watched the owners setup their store fronts and put out their signs to welcome the day. I smiled at locals as they exchanged the morning news, and I could hear church bells ringing from behind the buildings every 15 minutes. The smell of baked pastries, fresh coffee, and smoked sausage filled the streets from the cafes and bakeries as smiling local patrons took their seats in the tables and chairs provided just outside the door fronts. I truly felt like I was transformed and I had gone back in time.

Greifenstein Castle

With more than 25,000 castles, Germany is a true modern-day fairytale. During the Middle Ages, Germany was divided into many small, competitive and feudal states which encouraged the construction of secure and fortified castles all across Germany. While some are in ruins, others have been restored and transformed into museums, restaurants, shopping malls, and hotels. Herb and I were able to tour the Greifenstein Castle just outside of Herborn.

Dating back to the 12th century, the Greifenstein Castle is one of Germany’s oldest fortresses and is protected as a national landmark. The property was rebuilt during the 17th century but has original pieces from a previous church and horse stable on the grounds dating back to 1298. Sitting on a hilltop in the Dill Valley, its twin towers can be seen for miles around keeping watch over the forestland below. Included in the horse stable is a German Bell Museum which houses more than 50 different bells with various sizes, styles, and sounds dating back to the 14th century.