Braunfels and Castle Philippstein

On Saturday morning, I got to go to the Flea Market with Brother Dearing before we took off for Braunfels. It was cold and misting again, so I mostly stayed under a tent looking through a table of sweaters. I came home with seven new sweaters for 12 Euro. This has made a significant improvement in my wardrobe. Kate was absolutely right when she said, "Don't take anything but the necessities to Germany. They have everything you need there."

Then we headed off to Braunfels to see Castle Philippstein, built in the late 1300's, that has a fairy tale feel about it. The castle is still owned by the family, who still occupy most of the 400 rooms. Interestingly the property was passed down not to their daughter, but to their daughter's husband. There were only three couples on the tour and so the guide spoke first in German and then in English. We went through twelve rooms and were amazed at the magnificent collection of art work, furnishings, and armor dating through the 13th to the 18th centuries.

The family had their crest laid in cobblestone in the courtyard:

We had lunch in a very quaint tea parlor. We had hot chocolate and French Onion Soup.