Drachenburg Castle
Drachenburg Castle
Looking downriver from the summit of the Drachenfels, one sees the other castle that appears in the first image, above. This is no ruin, but a Neo-Gothic masterpiece called Schloß Drachenburg ("dragon's castle"), built in the nineteenth century by a patriotic German baron who grew up loving the Siegfried myth. Drachenburg Castle 1
Drachenburg Castle
Looking downriver from the summit of the Drachenfels, one sees the other castle that appears in the first image, above. This is no ruin, but a Neo-Gothic masterpiece called Schloß Drachenburg ("dragon's castle"), built in the nineteenth century by a patriotic German baron who grew up loving the Siegfried myth. Drachenburg Castle 1
Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
Drachenburg Castle 2
Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
Drachenburg Castle 3
Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
Drachenburg Castle 4
Drachenburg Castle
Train to castle and ruin. Drachenburg Castle 5
Drachenburg Castle
Train to castle and ruin. Drachenburg Castle 5
Drachenburg Castle
The mean gate. Drachenburg Castle 6
Drachenburg Castle
The mean gate. Drachenburg Castle 6
Drachenburg Castle
The mean gate. Drachenburg Castle 7
Drachenburg Castle
The mean gate. Drachenburg Castle 7
Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
Drachenburg Castle 8
Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
Drachenburg Castle 9
Drachenburg Castle
Entrance. Drachenburg Castle 10
Drachenburg Castle
Entrance. Drachenburg Castle 10
Drachenburg Castle
Main tower of the castle dragon (Hauptturm der Drachenburg). Drachenburg Castle 11
Drachenburg Castle
Main tower of the castle dragon (Hauptturm der Drachenburg). Drachenburg Castle 11
Drachenburg Castle
Main tower of the castle dragon (Hauptturm der Drachenburg). Drachenburg Castle 12
Drachenburg Castle
Main tower of the castle dragon (Hauptturm der Drachenburg). Drachenburg Castle 12
Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
Drachenburg Castle 13
Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
The castle was horribly damaged by the barbarism of the Allies in World War Two, to the point that it nearly resembled the crumbling shell of Schloß Drachenfels towering above it. But the Germans have been slowly, painstakingly restoring it for the last 65 years, and reconstruction was only finally completed late last year. (The final touches of refurbishment were still under way when we toured it in 2009.). Drachenburg Castle 15
Drachenburg Castle
The castle was horribly damaged by the barbarism of the Allies in World War Two, to the point that it nearly resembled the crumbling shell of Schloß Drachenfels towering above it. But the Germans have been slowly, painstakingly restoring it for the last 65 years, and reconstruction was only finally completed late last year. (The final touches of refurbishment were still under way when we toured it in 2009.). Drachenburg Castle 15
Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
Entrance. Drachenburg Castle 18
Drachenburg Castle
Entrance. Drachenburg Castle 18
Drachenburg Castle
Main Staircase (Haupttreppenhaus). Drachenburg Castle 19
Drachenburg Castle
Main Staircase (Haupttreppenhaus). Drachenburg Castle 19
Drachenburg Castle
Main Staircase (Haupttreppenhaus). Drachenburg Castle 20
Drachenburg Castle
Main Staircase (Haupttreppenhaus). Drachenburg Castle 20
Drachenburg Castle
Murals of Main Staircase. Drachenburg Castle 21
Drachenburg Castle
Murals of Main Staircase. Drachenburg Castle 21
Drachenburg Castle
Murals of Main Staircase. Drachenburg Castle 22
Drachenburg Castle
Murals of Main Staircase. Drachenburg Castle 22
Drachenburg Castle
Murals of Main Staircase. Drachenburg Castle 23
Drachenburg Castle
Murals of Main Staircase. Drachenburg Castle 23
Drachenburg Castle
Murals of Main Staircase. Drachenburg Castle 24
Drachenburg Castle
Murals of Main Staircase. Drachenburg Castle 24
Drachenburg Castle
Music Hall (Musiksaal). Drachenburg Castle 25
Drachenburg Castle
Music Hall (Musiksaal). Drachenburg Castle 25
Drachenburg Castle
Music Hall (Musiksaal). Drachenburg Castle 26
Drachenburg Castle
Music Hall (Musiksaal). Drachenburg Castle 26
Drachenburg Castle
Music Hall (Musiksaal). Drachenburg Castle 27
Drachenburg Castle
Music Hall (Musiksaal). Drachenburg Castle 27
Drachenburg Castle
Dining room (Speisezimmer). Drachenburg Castle 28
Drachenburg Castle
Dining room (Speisezimmer). Drachenburg Castle 28
Drachenburg Castle
Dining room (Speisezimmer). Drachenburg Castle 29
Drachenburg Castle
Dining room (Speisezimmer). Drachenburg Castle 29
Drachenburg Castle
Dining room (Speisezimmer). Drachenburg Castle 30
Drachenburg Castle
Dining room (Speisezimmer). Drachenburg Castle 30
Drachenburg Castle
Dining room (Speisezimmer). Drachenburg Castle 31
Drachenburg Castle
Dining room (Speisezimmer). Drachenburg Castle 31
Drachenburg Castle
Dining room (Speisezimmer). Drachenburg Castle 32
Drachenburg Castle
Dining room (Speisezimmer). Drachenburg Castle 32
Drachenburg Castle
Kneip room (Kneipzimmer). Drachenburg Castle 33
Drachenburg Castle
Kneip room (Kneipzimmer). Drachenburg Castle 33
Drachenburg Castle
Kneip room (Kneipzimmer). CDrachenburg Castle 34
Drachenburg Castle
Kneip room (Kneipzimmer). CDrachenburg Castle 34
Drachenburg Castle
Kneip room (Kneipzimmer). CDrachenburg Castle 35
Drachenburg Castle
Kneip room (Kneipzimmer). CDrachenburg Castle 35
Drachenburg Castle
Kneip room (Kneipzimmer). CDrachenburg Castle 36
Drachenburg Castle
Kneip room (Kneipzimmer). CDrachenburg Castle 36
Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
Drachenburg Castle 37
Drachenburg Castle
Hunting and billiard room (Jagd- und Billardzimmer). Drachenburg Castle 38
Drachenburg Castle
Hunting and billiard room (Jagd- und Billardzimmer). Drachenburg Castle 38
Drachenburg Castle
Honorary strangers apartment (Ehrenfremden-Appartement). Drachenburg Castle 39
Drachenburg Castle
Honorary strangers apartment (Ehrenfremden-Appartement). Drachenburg Castle 39
Drachenburg Castle
Just down the hall from the master bedroom, one finds the sleeping chamber for the lady of the castle. A quintessentially feminine aesthetic complement to the masculinity of the master bedroom, it is appointed in light colours rather than dark, in citrus hues rather than forest green, with a pair of white beds rather than a dark oaken bed. Drachenburg Castle 40
Drachenburg Castle
Just down the hall from the master bedroom, one finds the sleeping chamber for the lady of the castle. A quintessentially feminine aesthetic complement to the masculinity of the master bedroom, it is appointed in light colours rather than dark, in citrus hues rather than forest green, with a pair of white beds rather than a dark oaken bed. Drachenburg Castle 40
Drachenburg Castle
Yes, just as the darker bed suited the male proprietor of the castle, while the white beds beseemed his lady, so does the black rug in the master bedroom find a white bearskin complement in the lady's bedchamber. We immediately thought of this item when we first saw the Zay Clothing image of Valerie lounging on her white-fur bedcover. One can easily imagine seeing a golden-haired, curvaceous princess languidly stretched out on this bearskin carpet, just as Valerie reposes in the Zay image, inviting her admirer's worship. But for our purposes, the most notable item is the floor covering. Drachenburg Castle 41
Drachenburg Castle
Yes, just as the darker bed suited the male proprietor of the castle, while the white beds beseemed his lady, so does the black rug in the master bedroom find a white bearskin complement in the lady's bedchamber. We immediately thought of this item when we first saw the Zay Clothing image of Valerie lounging on her white-fur bedcover. One can easily imagine seeing a golden-haired, curvaceous princess languidly stretched out on this bearskin carpet, just as Valerie reposes in the Zay image, inviting her admirer's worship. But for our purposes, the most notable item is the floor covering. Drachenburg Castle 41
Drachenburg Castle
Tourist bedrooms (North Tower) / Fremden-Schlafzimmer (Nordturm). Drachenburg Castle 42
Drachenburg Castle
Tourist bedrooms (North Tower) / Fremden-Schlafzimmer (Nordturm). Drachenburg Castle 42
Drachenburg Castle
Privatebene. Drachenburg Castle 43
Drachenburg Castle
Privatebene. Drachenburg Castle 43
Drachenburg Castle
Library (Bibliothek). Drachenburg Castle 44
Drachenburg Castle
Library (Bibliothek). Drachenburg Castle 44
Drachenburg Castle
Library (Bibliothek). Drachenburg Castle 45
Drachenburg Castle
Library (Bibliothek). Drachenburg Castle 45
Drachenburg Castle
Nibelungen room (Nibelungenzimmer). Drachenburg Castle 46
Drachenburg Castle
Nibelungen room (Nibelungenzimmer). Drachenburg Castle 46
Drachenburg Castle
Kunsthalle (Art Hall). Drachenburg Castle 47
Drachenburg Castle
Kunsthalle (Art Hall). Drachenburg Castle 47
Drachenburg Castle
Kunsthalle (Art Hall). Drachenburg Castle 48
Drachenburg Castle
Kunsthalle (Art Hall). Drachenburg Castle 48
Drachenburg Castle
Kunsthalle (Art Hall). Drachenburg Castle 49
Drachenburg Castle
Kunsthalle (Art Hall). Drachenburg Castle 49
Drachenburg Castle
Kunsthalle (Art Hall). Drachenburg Castle 50
Drachenburg Castle
Kunsthalle (Art Hall). Drachenburg Castle 50
Drachenburg Castle
Rosette. Drachenburg Castle 51
Drachenburg Castle
Rosette. Drachenburg Castle 51
Drachenburg Castle
Main tower of the castle dragon (Hauptturm der Drachenburg). Drachenburg Castle 52
Drachenburg Castle
Main tower of the castle dragon (Hauptturm der Drachenburg). Drachenburg Castle 52
Drachenburg Castle
Main tower of the castle dragon (Hauptturm der Drachenburg). Drachenburg Castle 53
Drachenburg Castle
Main tower of the castle dragon (Hauptturm der Drachenburg). Drachenburg Castle 53
Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
Drachenstatue. Drachenburg Castle 62
Drachenburg Castle
Drachenstatue. Drachenburg Castle 62
Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
Luftbild Schloss Drachenburg. Drachenburg Castle 67
Drachenburg Castle
Luftbild Schloss Drachenburg. Drachenburg Castle 67
Drachenburg Castle
Luftbild Schloss Drachenburg. Drachenburg Castle 68
Drachenburg Castle
Luftbild Schloss Drachenburg. Drachenburg Castle 68
Drachenburg Castle
Luftbild Schloss Drachenburg. Drachenburg Castle 69
Drachenburg Castle
Luftbild Schloss Drachenburg. Drachenburg Castle 69
Drachenburg Castle
Luftbild Schloss Drachenburg. Drachenburg Castle 70
Drachenburg Castle
Luftbild Schloss Drachenburg. Drachenburg Castle 70
Drachenburg Castle
Further down the slope from the Drachenburg, as one approaches the underlying town of Königswinter, one finds the Nibelungenhalle. Built a century ago in a consciously archaic style, right down to the runic lettering, the building houses a cycle of paintings by Herman Hendrich illustrating Wagner's epic operatic tetralogy, Der Ring des Nibelungen, which gives the legend of Siegfriend the dragonslayer its definitive artistic expression. Drachenburg Castle 71
Drachenburg Castle
Further down the slope from the Drachenburg, as one approaches the underlying town of Königswinter, one finds the Nibelungenhalle. Built a century ago in a consciously archaic style, right down to the runic lettering, the building houses a cycle of paintings by Herman Hendrich illustrating Wagner's epic operatic tetralogy, Der Ring des Nibelungen, which gives the legend of Siegfriend the dragonslayer its definitive artistic expression. Drachenburg Castle 71
Drachenburg Castle
This chamber inside the edifice shows a triptych illustrating Siegfried, the third installment of the four-part Ring cycle, and the opera in which Siegfried actually forges his sword and slays the dragon, Fafner. The paintings are difficult to see in the photograph, but before them stands an anvil into which a sword is embedded. Drachenburg Castle 72
Drachenburg Castle
This chamber inside the edifice shows a triptych illustrating Siegfried, the third installment of the four-part Ring cycle, and the opera in which Siegfried actually forges his sword and slays the dragon, Fafner. The paintings are difficult to see in the photograph, but before them stands an anvil into which a sword is embedded. Drachenburg Castle 72
Drachenburg Castle
This object recalls the most famous scene in the opera, in which Siegfried, having forged his invincible sword, takes it and strikes the anvil itself, cleaving the anvil in twain. Drachenburg Castle 73
Drachenburg Castle
This object recalls the most famous scene in the opera, in which Siegfried, having forged his invincible sword, takes it and strikes the anvil itself, cleaving the anvil in twain. Drachenburg Castle 73
Drachenburg Castle
This is the famous Drachenloch, or 'dragon's cave,' the crevice in which, according to myth, the dragon Fafner lay slumbering until the fearless Siegfried entered, sword in hand, and slew the ferocious beast, then drank deeply of its blood. Drachenburg Castle 74
Drachenburg Castle
This is the famous Drachenloch, or 'dragon's cave,' the crevice in which, according to myth, the dragon Fafner lay slumbering until the fearless Siegfried entered, sword in hand, and slew the ferocious beast, then drank deeply of its blood. Drachenburg Castle 74
Drachenburg Castle
That ruin is the last remaining fragment of Schloß Drachenfels (Castle Drachenfels), whose noble stones still tower above the forest and offer a commanding view of the Rhine. Drachenburg Castle 75
Drachenburg Castle
That ruin is the last remaining fragment of Schloß Drachenfels (Castle Drachenfels), whose noble stones still tower above the forest and offer a commanding view of the Rhine. Drachenburg Castle 75
Drachenburg Castle
The Drachenfels is the taller mountain at the left of the frame, crowned by an ancient ruin. Drachenburg Castle 76
Drachenburg Castle
The Drachenfels is the taller mountain at the left of the frame, crowned by an ancient ruin. Drachenburg Castle 76
Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
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Drachenburg Castle
Luftbild Schloss Drachenburg und Rhein. Drachenburg Castle 78
Drachenburg Castle
Luftbild Schloss Drachenburg und Rhein. Drachenburg Castle 78
