Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1906-11-08
A Visit To Wartburg Castle
Germany Ancient and Historic Mountain Stronghold
BY ROBERT KUESTERMANN.

from the history of the first land
graves.
Grander, however. than these pic
lures is the noble panorama that
spreads abroad at your feet when
looking out of the window you gaze
from this giddy height across the
bottomless depth before you, paint
ing SO unique that no artists master
hand will ever be able to reproduce
1t to such perfection.
Adjoining the reception room is
minstrel hall of which 1t is said that n
the year of 1906 there had taken place
the great musical and poetical con-
test in which all the famous minstrels
and bards of the day had participated,
AN event CHOSEN by Richard Wagner
as plot for his well-known opera Tam
hauser. The furnishings are sumptu-
Gus; the ornamentations. foremost
Schwindt's mastery painting of the
musical tournament, magnificent; so
! are the mosaic frieze and the allegori-
! cal statuary, and, last not least, the
minstrel's gallery.
These suggestions of the grand and
brilliant gathering, though it be not
historically substantiated, neverthe-
less throw the spell of the noble and
exalted strife over the beholder.
A corridor leading from minstrel
hall to the chapel bears the name Of
Elizabeth gallery. Here st. Elizabeth
, dropped and tainted overcome by
grief at the news of her husbands
death in the orient The walls are lin
ed with paintings of the life and char
liable work of the excellent princess;
Tor instance st. Elizabeth feeding the
hungry, clothing the naked, comfort
ing and nursing the sick, cheering the
downcast.
| The arched ceiling of the chapel.
supported by one heavy column, is of
a sky-blue color and dotted with a pro-
fusion OF gilded stars. The light pours
In through the stained glass and tinges
the rich concentrations which are
very beautiful.
the ancient castle is the great hall in
the third story, right royal in every
respect in its dimensions and artistic
embellishments. Grand in proportions,
rich and elaborate in finish, and i'm.
posing in its entirety. 1t takes but
little imagination to people the hall
and balconies with fair ladies and
spur-booted knights.
After having inspected other parts
OF minor interest, we left the ancient
structure to return to Eisenach on a
way different from the one over which
we had made the ascent; and in order
TO take in more of the attractive en-
virons, we chose devious route.
A half hours descent brought us to
Annatal, one of the most romantic
valleys in northern Germany. In
some places it narrows into a passage
way just wide enough for one person
to pass, into ravine with rocky
wall rising perpendicularly on each
side; the result of erosion by swift
and rushing water courses into the
mountain. The way leads along and
! over a turbulent streamlet whose an.
CRY splashes are heard even in the over
Drldged stretches when petulantly
flashing the top flags restraining its
sweet Tree will and movement. The
narrowest portion, named Drachen
schlucht, is about 900 feet long. In
zigzag line the pass winds through
the moss-and fern-clad entertainments
whose jutting rocks are SUSPENDED
over ones head in threatening man.
ner. So high and close together are
the abrupt sides that no sunbeam can
steal its way down this mountain
cleft. Out of the gloomy gorge we
passed into cheerful grove verdant
with a carpet OF fresh vegetation aid
alive with the gay song of birds. a
remarkable contrast from the sur.
roundings we just had left. Following
the course of babbling brook we
entered another canon, less grotesaue.
however, than the former. Gradually
the valley expanded, and an ascending
but convenient footpath conducted
us to the Hohe Some, restaurant
on one of the SUBMITS of the noun.
tain range.
The restaurant garden affords a
superb view of Wartburg castle
standing out clear and in all its
majesty above the wooded heights
surrounding it. Seen through a large
circular opening. cut into the high
screen of hedge and shrubs in the
rear of the garden, the sight, equal.
ing a picture set in a mat of rich
emerald, is as unique as 1t is cnarm-
ing.
After having rested, we resumed our
march. On the way steep rocks and
romantic grottoes, silvery rills and
tumbling rapids, did alternate with
verdant glades and sylvan groves
) a scenery so contrasting in its details
yet SO wonderfully harmonious in its
entirety. Towards twilight we reach
ed spot where the valley terminates
into an avenue OF old and branching
trees leading straight back to Else.
al