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Entrance Way 2011-06-20 Continuing from yesterday's Burg Forchtenstein shot, we did indeed go on a tour inside. This is the renovated ceiling of the entrance way. It had been covered with white a century ago. The walls are 7 meters thick. In 1706, the Esterhazy owner saw a stuffed Nile crocodile on a trip to Amsterdam and decided that the castle needed a dragon - so he hung it in the entranceway to protect the building. Many thanks for yesterday's comments. Yes, indeed the bus was moving, but not very quickly since it was winding along narrow uphill curves. There was a one hour tour for us 'elders'. The Esterhazy family was a nobile Hungarian family since the middle ages, and are still one of the large land (and castle) owners in eastern Austria. They keep their castles active and well cared for. They are also fussy record keepers, which is how they know such things as the dragon purchase in 1706.
Burg Forchtenstein 2011-06-19 Started in the 1300s and strengthened in the 1600s, this is one of the first castles one sees when coming west from the Hungarian plains. It has been owned by the Esterhazy family since the 17th century and withstood both Ottoman invasions (1593 & 1683). It has been nicely renovated. This shot was taken from the bus as we wound our way uphill. And many thanks for the comments on the latest dragonfly picture. Practice, Practice.
Burg Kreuzenstein on a hillside near Vienna, Austria, there has been a castle here since the middle ages. However, the current "castle" is a collection of castle rooms and towers collected in the late 19th century from all over Europe.. It houses large collections of furniture and furnishings. Visiting Kreuzenstein is like getting a quick dip into architecture, wealth, and art throughout medieval Europe.
Gargoyles Perhaps not strictly 'gargoyles' since they are not fantastic demonic shapes, but rather normal. These are waterspouts on the north face of the Grafenegg Castle, about an hour up the Danube from Vienna. These are almost certainly recreations from the restoration in the 1990s, based on the 19th century designs. Of course, they are all horizontal, with the waterspout pointing down - but I thought they looked better somewhat vertical.
At the sign of the Monkey Art above the entrance to the rooms at Schloss Grafenegg. I believe the 19th century symbolism was 'fun' or 'frivolity' - and here obviously associated with food.
Graf August Ferdinand Breuner-Enckevoirt Statute of the owner (19th century) over the main entrance portal He and his son made the current castle.
Schloss Grafenegg in Lower Austria, first built in the 17th century, then expanded in the 19th century, then damaged during the Soviet occupation, and restored starting about 1990. The castle has several figures as water drains and just as decoration. This one shows a caricature of the construction master, Leopold Ernst (master of construction for St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna in the 2nd half of the 19th century).
St. Maria de Castro Chapel on the grounds of Dover Castle "heavily updated" Anglo-Saxon architecture
Dover Castle Festival Practicing while awaiting the arrival of King Henry Dover, UK
Burg Forchtenstein
2011-06-19 Started in the 1300s and strengthened in the 1600s, this is one of the first castles one sees when coming west from the Hungarian plains. It has been owned by the Esterhazy family since the 17th century and withstood both Ottoman invasions (1593 & 1683). It has been nicely renovated. This shot was taken from the bus as we wound our way uphill.

And many thanks for the comments on the latest dragonfly picture. Practice, Practice.
Burg Forchtenstein 2011-06-19 Started in the 1300s and strengthened in the 1600s, this is one of the first castles one sees when coming west from the Hungarian plains. It has been owned by the Esterhazy family since the 17th century and withstood both Ottoman invasions (1593 & 1683). It has been nicely renovated. This shot was taken from the bus as we wound our way uphill. And many thanks for the comments on the latest dragonfly picture. Practice, Practice.
Burg Forchtenstein
2011-06-19 Started in the 1300s and strengthened in the 1600s, this is one of the first castles one sees when coming west from the Hungarian plains. It has been owned by the Esterhazy family since the 17th century and withstood both Ottoman invasions (1593 & 1683). It has been nicely renovated. This shot was taken from the bus as we wound our way uphill.

And many thanks for the comments on the latest dragonfly picture. Practice, Practice.
See photo in original gallery.
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