Friday, November 13, 2009

Photo of the Week - Heidelberg Castle (Germany)


As a child, I recall reading Mark Twain's wry and witty account of travelling through Germany, Switzerland and Italy in A Tramp Abroad. It was one of the books that captured my interest in travelling the world. Twain spent three months in Heidelberg mystified by the world's largest wine barrel and including a wondrous description of the semi-ruinous castle and its stunning location overlooking the Neckar River and the city itself. It goes as follows:

A ruin must be rightly situated, to be effective. This one could not have been better placed. It stands upon a commanding elevation, it is buried in green woods, there is no level ground about it, but, on the contrary, there are wooded terraces upon terraces, and one looks down through shining leaves into profound chasms and abysses where twilight reigns and the sun cannot intrude. Nature knows how to garnish a ruin to get the best effect. One of these old towers is split down the middle, and one half has tumbled aside. It tumbled in such a way as to establish itself in a picturesque attitude. Then all it lacked was a fitting drapery, and Nature has furnished that; she has robed the rugged mass in flowers and verdure, and made it a charm to the eye. The standing half exposes its arched and cavernous rooms to you, like open, toothless mouths; there, too, the vines and flowers have done their work of grace. The rear portion of the tower has not been neglected, either, but is clothed with a clinging garment of polished ivy which hides the wounds and stains of time. Even the top is not left bare, but is crowned with a flourishing group of trees & shrubs. Misfortune has done for this old tower what it has done for the human character sometimes improved it.

9 comments:

Vera Marie Badertscher said...

I'm glad you mentioned Mark Twain. I think he is overlooked as a great travel writer. (Nice picture, too!)

Vacation Deals said...

wow!
great traveler..
very amazing post..
love the pictures too..

Sherry Ott said...

I LOVE the last line - so very true. Great to bring out some classic novels as part of travel - bravo!

Mark H said...

@vera: A superb travel writer probably overlooked bcause of other more famous books

@vacation deals: Thank you

@sherry: It is a great line.

Donna Hull said...

Thanks for the reminder that Mark Twain was also an excellent travel writer. I'll remember this when I finally visit Heidelberg Castle.

Laurel said...

I had no idea that Mark Twain had been to Heidelberg. Love the last line of the post as well as its so true.

Mark H said...

@laurel: It is a great old line. Twain was a great commentator on human qualities.

Italian Notes said...

I really love the old novelists doing travel writing. Such great reads;) Mette

Mark H said...

@italian notes: I love to contrast the images of their times and their expectations of travel to today. Twain's description of Heidelberg Castle is something special.

 
Related Posts with Thumbnails