Burg Lichtenberg

We've seen a lot of castles in the seven months that we've lived in Germany. All of them are beautiful...unique in their own way. Some of them, like Hohenecken Castle, are smaller and a bit understated... then there's Heidelberg which is amazing and of course Neuschwanstein which was unbelievable. I think I have a new favorite...at least until I see something else and that one becomes my favorite. (That's the way these things work for me.) It wasn't grand and breathtaking the way Neuschwanstein is...but it was pretty amazing in its own right.

This was actually the last photo we took, but it's a good one of the whole castle. Now I'll back up and start at the beginning.

Lichtenberg Castle is located near the village of Thallichtenberg in the district of Kusel. Kusel is the town in which my cousin Brooke and her family lived for several years while her husband was stationed here in Germany. It's about 30 minutes away from our house and it was a beautiful place. 

Burg Lichtenberg overlooking the town of Kusel

We ventured to the castle in the early evening after one of the warmest days yet this summer. It turned out to be the perfect time of the day to go.

Burg Lichtenberg was built in 1200 and was never captured or destroyed by force. In 1795, Kusel was burned by French revolution troops and the castle was plundered many times. It was the castle's own inhabitants that destroyed a good portion of the structure when they set fire to it, (purposefully or accidentally is not clear) in 1799. It was placed under historical national monument protection in 1895, and in 1971, restoration on Burg Lichtenberg began.

Scott was stooping to get out the shot here.
This is not his impression of a frog.

To the right is a large garden.
Scott, apparently, is king of the tower!

The University of Kaiserslautern has used the horseshoe tower, (pictures coming soon in this post) as a meeting place since 1987 and there is a restaurant here at the castle as well. Also on the grounds is a youth hostel.

The three of us stuck in a hole

 

This church conducts services for the parish of Thallichtenberg

 

The town of Kusel is behind and below the kids in this shot. 

The Burg Restaurant is on the right.
There were many people enjoying a late dinner
while we were there.
A good portion of these pictures were taken
at about 9:00 at night.
It stays light here during the summer
until almost 11:00 pm

inside the tower...on our way up

An itty bitty teeny tiny Scooter as seen from up in the tower

There's the horseshoe tower where the University of Kaiserslautern holds their meetings. 

I believe the youth hostel is the building on the right.
The church is in the middle.
I love this shot.

On top of the tower.
See Steven's silhouette?

Taken while looking up into a turret...

...and this was taken while walking through the turret

This turret, in fact. :)

 

We aren't exactly sure what this was used for...
but Scott thought it was kind of cool

A caretaker's cottage was here on the right
with some of the castle's ruins on one side,
and the church steeple on the other.

 

We're pretty sure Germans used to be shorter than they are now....

It's shots like these that let you know
whether it's me who had possession of the camera
or if Steven did.
Who do you suppose?

 

We all really enjoyed our trip to Burg Lichtenburg. It gets an enthusiastic thumbs up!