Büdingen

-

 

Büdingen is a town in the Wetteraukreis, in Hesse, Germany. It is mainly known for its exceptionally well-preserved old town with an impressive castle and half-timbered houses. Büdingen is an absolute original as it was never bombed and burned down. 

 

First monument extending welcome to us is an old guard tower and house, with a bridge over the Seemenbach in Büdingen, Germany. The mighty tower with the stone house are a popular spot for photo shooting.

Going a bit further stands the Schlaghaus. It is a massive late medieval (beginning of the 14th century) gatehouse as a part of the historic town fortifications. Butchers moved their business here in 1777. From then on, the Schlaghaus was also known as the slaughterhouse (Schlachthaus). It now houses the Butchers’ Museum. Open on weekends, it features two rooms displaying what a butcher’s shop once looked like and the tools used in the job.

 

Walking through a few winding streets clustered with timber-framed houses, the Büdingen Castle was finally in front of us.  It was built in the 12th century as a small castle belonging to the Lords of Büdingen. The Castle is one of the best-preserved Staufer fortifications in Germany. Büdingen Castle began as a Romanesque moated castle constructed on an oak pile with a thirteen-agon defensive wall to protect the surrounding judicial districts and trade routes.  


Through marriage and inheritance, the Lords of Ysenburg (a Rhenish noble family) took over and expanded and shaped the castle to a significant residence and fortress in the 14th century. Late Gothic chapel, hall building and kitchen building were added in the 15th century. Then Count Johann remodeled it into a Renaissance-style residence in the 16th century. 

Büdingen Castle remains in the hands of the Princely Family of Ysenburg for over 700 years. In 1943, it was restored and parts of the castle opened for tours and guests. Their chapel is a popular wedding venue. The rest is private residence. On the day of our visit, the café was reserved for a wedding party. So, no chance to see the interior of the castle. 

  

It was not possible to miss the ubiquitous frogs. They crawl on the walls of the castle and residential houses, sit on top of fountains and occupy all racks of souvenir shops. Curious? 

A popular folktale dates back to the marriage of Count of the Büdingen and Elizabeth of Wied. Deafening sounds of croaking frogs made the new Countess sleepless. She demanded the Count to remove all frogs or forget the marriage. To save the marriage, the Count rallied the citizens to get rid of the frogs in the night. Thereafter, frogs became a symbol of resilience and community spirit in the town. It hosts its annual Frog Parade along with a gardeners' market and children’s festival in late April. This page tells the story in a funny way. 


Location: 63654 Büdingen, Germany

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kleinmarkthalle (Small Market Hall)

-
Image
  I undertook a quick research for what to see in Frankfurt. The big spots are Römer , New Old Town , Cathedral , River Main , Museumsurfer , Sachsenhausen , etc. Bingo! My ex-colleagues, Jörg and Sabrina, brought me to all the popular spots (without prior discussion) and perhaps only locals know it best – Kleinmarkthalle .   Located in the heart of the city, Kleinmarkthalle offers over 1,500 square meters of space with more than 60 stalls selling fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, cheese, baked goods, and international gourmet foods.   I don't understand how the part of name 'klein' (small) comes from. It is big indeed! Vibrance, colours, fantastic smell, crowds, top-tier gastronomy, tradition and modern are my impressions of the Kleinmarkthalle . It has been opened since 1954. Yes, over 70 years. And, it doesn’t stay in the past but evolves and diversifies, from traditional market food stalls to regional and international products and delicacies. One can choose to buy the...
Read more

Cape D'Aguilar 鶴咀

-
Image
  My best friend and I visited Cape D’Aguilar / Hok Tsui 鶴咀 on a weekday in June. I heard about the place a few times and was stunned when I was there in person. It is not like a place in Hong Kong, but a rough coast somewhere in the world.  Cape D’Aguilar is a peninsula south of Shek O , on the southeast side of the Hong Kong Island. The coastal trail is easy. It leads to some of the most beautiful and breathtaking spots. Spectacular caves, rock formations, a lighthouse and marine reserve will delight you for sure. The day trip was incredible.  Cape D’Aguilar can be easily reached by Bus 9 departing from Shau Kei Wan , served by underground. The normal bus route passes Cape D’Aguilar. But some buses skip it. Be sure that you will get on the right one.  Once you have got off the bus, simply walk down along Cape D’Aguilar Road. It is a paved street with some traffic. So, beware of it and keep safe. Along the path, one can see the scenic coastal views of Stanle...
Read more

Kbal Spean

-
Image
Kbal Spean is a unique archaeological site situated 50km from the Siem Reap .   Religious stone cravings sit on the river banks and bed, 150m stretch of the Stung Kbal Spean River .     Kbal Spean is commonly known as the "Valley of a 1000 Lingas " or "The River of a Thousand Lingas". Lingas are phallic representations sacred to Brahmanism .   It is a symbol of fertility.   Hundreds of them are carved into the rock of the river.   Other carvings include gods such as Vishnu , Shiva , Brahma and animals. To appreciate the beautiful carvings in the nature, one has to climb a trek for around 30 minutes.   Exhausted but worthwhile. Reclining Vishnu is often the theme of carvings.   Others include Shiva and Uma mounted on the bull, Brahma on a lotus petal and still others which I can't figure out exactly. Animals, lingas, yoni dot here and there.            Downdr...
Read more