Schloss Rheinfels at St. Goar

Thursday, May 1st, was holiday in Germany; therefore Jer was off work and Shane was off of school. We also had guests - our friends Doyle and Susie Beltman and their kids Jonathan, Hannah, and Joshua - were visiting from The Netherlands.

We headed to the Rhine River Valley and took in a gorgeous drive with several castles along the route. We stopped off at St. Goar's Rheinfels Castle for a tour. Rheinfels castle was once the biggest castle on the Rhine. It was built back in 1245. Today -while it's still a great complex of ruins it's only a fraction of the size it once was. This particular castle is also known for its covered defense galleries and tunnels which you can venture through. The tour guides recommend taking a flashlight - so we came prepared!

The crew! The Van Essen family ready for the self guided tour - a few of part of the castle.

Susie overlooking the Rhine River. Jer and Silas. The kids on catapult balls!


Venturing through the tunnels and defense galleries...coming up from below! It may not seem that scarey to you - however at moments Sydney and Shaylee were quite scared (and maybe mommy was a bit worried too). There was one tunnel of which upon entering we turned around because we were crawling on the ground and not sure we would ever come out! The guys decided they were not going to be beaten and so formed a plan (see picture below) and then ventured again into the deep dark tunnel! They returned victorious! (see additional picture with raised flashlights!)


As we continued on our tour (I was reading from the Rick Steve's tour guide book) we came to a section where I read "Thoop....your dead!" Ahead is a smartly placed crossbow slit. Susie is aiming her arrow - and shooting! Look out Jer and Silas - your hit!

Quite good reinactment - can you tell we have a great time with the Beltman family!!!!

And last - but not least - the guillotine awaiting the men in the WC - YIKES!

We continued our drive along the Rhine - we went up to Koblenz and then back down the other side. We had 2 vehicles and programmed our navigation systems the same - but at times we were wondering where eachother were going?? We both did get a kick out of our navigation systems as they kept leading us "turn right - and board the ferry!" neither of us wanted to do that - but after 3 tries maybe we should have since this section of the Rhine doesn't have any bridges and so it took us awhile to finally get home. Oh well - live and learn! It was a beautiful drive! Gute Fahrt!