Miltenberg

10th September

Miltenberg is another city which couldn't afford to replace its old medieval heart with its half timbered houses so it's stuck in time and straight out of a fairly tale. It is situated at an important trade and smuggling route and controlling the entrance to the Main Valley, and the traffic on the river was Miltenburg's biggest asset.

Entering the old town of Miltenberg.

The brewery is still in operation but the beer is pumped out in modern trucks.

This is the town residence of the ladies from 

the castle. When living in the castle they were safe, but bored as the gossip and stories were to be 

found at the town square. The men folk would not hear of such nonsense, until the ladies withdrew all privileges! The ladies won, of course, but to keep them safe a tunnel was built from the castle to the town.

A lovely pub.

The greenish building in the background is a 

pub that many (historically) famous people stayed in. In front of the building, they used to publicly shame those who had transgressed. We went inside the entrance to the hotel part and the ceiling was painted in sections with many shields. Antique furniture decorated the room and it smelt like a musty crypt!

 

Looking back the other way, we can see the castle on the hill. Notice that the house built for the ladies is decorated in the same style.

 This is inside the hotel. The lady dressed in 

green is our guide. She wears the leather pants and boiled woollen jacket of the area.

 The ceiling, showing the shields.

Our new friend, Helen, waves to us as we start the climb 

up to the castle.

Note the thickness of the walls.

I am level with the top of the castle walls here and am 

about to enter the small door and climb to the top of the tower.

Peter, on the a part. In the background you can see our ship.

A nice view, both in the foreground and in the background!

Another highlight today was a visit to the ship by a glass blower, Hans Ittig. His family have been blowing glass for generations and originally made thermometers and scientific instruments. As times changed, the demand for these instruments dropped off and the younger members of the family needed to innovate and rescue the business. They now make many beautiful bowls and ornaments, as well as Galileo thermometers. He was very interesting to listen to and highly entertaining.