Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1860-05-24
LETTER FROM EUROPE.
NoxvI.
PARIS. Jan. Ist, 1860.

eno A9oiht, sue Hrst pidCe vi iuteItot
that arrests The attention Of the trav.
elsr, is the city Of Heidelberg, beau.
tifully situated in the valley of the
Rhine, on the Banks Of the Necker,
and at the foot Of the mountains. 1t
lis place Of great summer resort,
and has many English and American
residents. 1t possesses beautiful
walks and charming shaded avenues
extending from one end of the town
to the other. The great object of
interest here, is its celebrated castle.
The castle of Heidelberg is, beyond
a doubt, one Of the most magnificent
ruins in the world, and has existed
at least five bundled years. 1t Far
surpasses my expectations Of ruined
castles. The style Of architecture
lis extremely rich, complicated an6
elaborated. Much sculpture and
statuary adorn the walls and battle
ments, and the entire facade is COW
cred with carved tracery of elegant
design. Seated on the terrace over
looking the castle, the view is superb;
the castle in front, the city below.
the mountains above, the Rhine nd
its extended valley presenting a
beautiful perspective; these, with a
clear sky and the softened rays Of
the setting sun, reflected from the
clear waters Of the Necker, present a
view impossible to describe. The
bills on all sides are covered with
vineyards, and were loaded with rich
and tempting clusters. This old
Chateau is the property Of the Grand
Duke of Baden, and is occupied by
persons Hho show it to visitors
There are several rooms in it fitted
up for lodging persons curious
to sleep in apartments where deeds
Iof noble daring, crime and cypress
ion were once enacted. Many things
are shown Of curious interest. Que
that struck me particularly was, the
monster Tun, used centuries ago by
the Grand Dukes to collect and pre-
serve their wine. 1t holds eight
hundred hegsheads. In those times
during the feudal ages, it is well
known that most parts of Europe
were governed by Chiefs, Dukes or
Families, who lorded it over certain
extent Of country, and built castles
for the protection and defence, as
we'll as to awe, Cypress and tyrannize
over their subjects and neighboring
provinces. The ancient Lords Of
this wine producing country, faxed
the people certain portion Of the
wine they made, and ordered these
enormous Tuns for its preservation.
| left the Castle, went to my hotel,
intending to leave town the same
evening, but re-eonsidered and came
to the determination to stay another
| day, and WAS richly rewarded The
moon WAS full. clear and respleEdent.
After tea We FASTENED to enjoy the
view, and fingered long and late
in its Courts, wande ring through ills
pleasure grounds, promenading its
terraces, and listening to the enchan-
ting strains Of a fine band of music.
Never shall | forget the evening in
and around this venerable old pile
I wished | had all my friends
with me 10 enjoy the scene. What
adds greatly to the beauty Of these
ancient ruins is, the rich clustering
ivy. This wonderful plant has for
centuries been climbing up these
walls, and now covers them with the
most beautiful drapefy to their very
SUBMITS.
visited the noted sring place
Baden and Wiesbaden, the most re-
nowned Spas Of Europe. They are
principally celebrated for their ro-
mantle situation, bot springs, pic
turesque castles and gambling bells.
They are the resort Of the aristec-
raey and wealth Of the whole Of
Europe. | visited the Castle, now
the residence Ct the Grand Duke,
of Baden, and was conducted through
the apartments, including the sub.
terranean prisons and dungeons. saw
the chamber Of the secret tribunal.
rack Of torture and the oublietie, where
condemned persons were compelled
to stand on trap door and kiss the
statue Of the Virgin Mary, in which
act they were hurled down a vault
'ne hundred and eighty feet, upon
! revolving cylinder set with razors.
What Imagination can depict the
horrors of soul, the tortures of body 4
md scenes of blood cruelty and muir (
Ter that have taken place within