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Germany: Around Mackenbach and Landstuhl

Sonya and Graham were our hosts in Mackenbach. We met back in 2011 on a CouchSurfing event called 3rd Germany Invasion, an event for motorbikers, that was organized by our friend Rudi in Frankenthal - 11782, 11783, 11784. We spent the night in our van, just outside of their house and in the morning, Bronco and me did a nice walk in the nearby forest. Then we drove to the Landstuhl, where we explored the Heidenfelsen, also known as the "Heathen Rocks" and then we met with Sonya and Graham on Nanstein Castle, where an event called Castle Adventure Days took place. We ended the day back in Mackenbach with some beers and great stories.

Previous days of our road trip to Bayern - Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Netherlands, Belgium, Hauts-de-France, Normandie - Normandy, Bretagne - Brittany, Pays de la Loire, Centre-Val de Loire, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Grand Est and Rhineland-Palatinate: Day 15 - 16059, Day 14 - 16058, Day 13 - 16057, Day 12 - 16056, Day 11 - 16055, Day 10 - 16054, Day 9 - 16053, Day 8 - 16052, Day 7 - 16051, Day 6 - 16050, Day 5 - 16049, Day 4 - 16048, Day 3 - 16047, Day 2 - 16046, Day 1 - 16045.

Bronco on his morning walk.

Seewoog.

We did almost 6 km for good morning - Garmin Connect.

 

The Heidenfelsen is believed to date back to the Celtic period, around the 1st century BC. It consists of a series of rock carvings and inscriptions made by the Celtic inhabitants of the region.

We spotted some fish in nearby pond.

Posers.

 

Next time, we will come here for some rock climbing.

Landstuhl or officially the Sickingen Town of Landstuhl (German: Sickingenstadt Landstuhl).

The bell.

Finding a way towards the castle.

We took the long way.

 

We attended the Landstuhl Castle Games.

 

Nanstein Castle was first mentioned in a document in 1253. In the 13th to 15th centuries it was an imperial castle, which in the 14th and 15th centuries in particular was owned by a castle community with numberous commoners and multiple changes of ownership.

One of the most notable historical figures associated with Burg Nanstein is Franz von Sickingen, a knight and leader of the German Knights' Revolt.

One of the inhabitants.

 

 The castle's design includes robust medieval fortifications such as thick walls, a keep, and battlements.

 

The castle is mostly built with red sandstone.

On the wall.

The castle's elevated position on a hill offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.

We walked on many floors.

Nada, Tuši and Bronco.

Cooling down on soft grass.

 

Exploring the dungeons.

 

Red sandstone.

 

We spent almost 3 hours on the castle.

 

Studying architecture.

 

I think we explored all the rooms, so it was time for a beer.

Castle people.

Graham, Sonya and me with the memories of the German Invasion 2011.

Day 16, 45 km: Mackenbach and Landstuhl.

Geocaches found (all received a visit by trackable items "MissJenn’s 5 Cents", TB9K7R9, "Sukerbiet 1", TB9VDJJ, "Schwarzer Delfin mit Anker", TB9YMGV and "Geo virus", TB45ZBF):

- I'm Stumped, GC29MZ4

- Memory - Geocaching Edition, Mystery, GC86J3J, where I dropped off trackable item "Geo virus", TB45ZBF

#hiking #CatahoulaLeopardDog #vacation #VanTrip #Europe #geocaching