There and Back Again: Day 14 - Ehrenberg Castle

We just saw the most amazing castle ruins! I know, I said that Baden-Baden was the best but I was wrong. Today we took the boys to Austria to hike to the Ehrenberg Castle ruins. James and I ran across this place seven years ago and we loved it and dreamed about bringing our kids one day. And today we did!! On our way in to Ehrenberg we got to cross over a little drawbridge and the boys found this prisoner's cage in the entry way.

Charge!

Will on the drawbridge

Boys locked in a cage

Locking up Mommy

There have been some changes to the area since we first saw it. They now have a museum and a fantastic playground which the boys loved. The playground has an obstacle course made as if you were storming a castle, a high tower, a river bridge and even a dragon. It was hard to drag the boys away!

Jon in the tower

Will on the bridge. He got halfway across
and then decided to swim.

Will in the tower

Jon on the dragon

Boys on the playground

Jon in the tunnel

We finally convinced Will and Jon to come away from the playground and we started up the hill to the castle ruins. There are actually three castles in the area but we didn't have time to do them all so we stuck to the Ehrenberg ruins. It was about a thirty minute walk up a very steep but small mountain. Along the way were signs in German and English telling stories of various monsters and legends. It was a great reason to stop and take a breath. We were tired by the time we got to the top but it was worth it!

Sir William in his Knight pose

The hike to the castle

Almost at the commons gate!

In the ruined commons, down the hill from the castle.

Ehrenberg Castle Ruins

Mommy and sons on the path to the castle

The castle gate

Jon runs to the castle gate

Ehrenberg is my favorite castle by far. The ruins are wild and it feels like there is adventure around every corner. The only caution is that it isn't very safe. The steps are cracked and crumbling and there is a steep drop down the cliff if you aren't careful. To be honest, that is partly why I love it so much, even though it meant we had to keep a very firm grip on our boys. But they are putting in some safety measures so some of the more dangerous drops are blocked by a metal railing. And there was a ladder leading to a high window where we were able to have a snack and enjoy the view.

Jon in the ruins

Will enjoys the view

Mommy's silly boys

climbing up

climbing down

low arch to our snack spot

Our snack time view

Will and Jon investigate

Climbing the castle

Will on the wall

There was so much to explore! Poor Jon wanted to race ahead and see what was around every bend. The castle is crumbling so there were not many defined or recognizable rooms. But our imaginations conjured up lots of knights and dragons. We even saw two dragons (little planes) fly overhead! Luckily they must have just eaten because they did not attack us.

The Ehrenberg museum had put up some informational signs although most of them were in German. We did, however, discover that the original castle was built in the 1290s. (How did they get all that stone up that steep mountain?!?) There was also an audio tour which we neglected to purchase. It wouldn't have helped anyway because we were too busy chasing the boys around the castle!

Jon takes a break on the steps

crumbling walls

Jon looks out over the valley

Exploring the overgrown ruins

Will in the ruins

Daddy, Will and Jon in the ruins

running to the tower

Jon pretends to be camouflaged

Will the giant

After we explored the bulk of the castle we came to a little yard with a great view of the other side of the castle. In one corner the boys found a rock with a sword hilt buried in it. The boys pulled and pulled but the sword was designed so you could only pull it out partway. So Jon took his own sword, stuck it in the hole, pulled it out and proclaimed himself the true king. They had so much fun!

There was also an archway with stone steps leading down to a steep hill. There was a thin little path that took me to a tiny corner of crumbling wall with a view over the valley. This part was pretty dangerous (and steep enough that I had to climb back up with my hands!) so James stayed up in the yard with the boys. It was so nice to be alone in the wild ruin and to have found this little place that was, for that moment, all mine.

Me in my quiet spot

Jon pulling out his sword

Will wants to be King

Who will be the true king?

Ehrenberg castle from the little yard

Mommy's boys

After a couple of hours in the ruins we climbed down and visited the museum. The first room had armor that you could actually try on and this was a great source of amusement for all of us. The rest of the museum was very cool and was well designed for kids. And of course we had to stop at the playground again before heading home.

Jon tries to get his helmet off

Jon in armor

Bethany in armor

Will wears a helmet

Will in armor

Will in chain mail

We ended our last day in Grainau at the pool. And this time I took (blurry) pictures! It is so nice to relax in a warm pool after a day of strenuous hiking. Once again we closed out the pool.