Other notable German castles are Heidel berg, an interesting ruin with rich decorations, the statue of Charlemagne and other sovereigns in particular. Built in the 12th century, it has been added to and improved at various times since, and in it are the remains of the best examples of the different styles of archi tecture through which it has passed. Destroyed by. the French (1689), it has since remained a ruin, but perhaps one of the most picturesque to be found anywhere. The Heidelberg Tun, the castle cellar, is notable for its 800 hogs heads of wine, and its general mediaeval op pearanco. At Nuremberg are two famous castles—Burgrafsburg and Kaiscrburg, both of the 11th century. The former is the oldest building in the town. Its only remains is the Pentagonal Tower, wherein are kept relics of the antiquity of the city and castle. Its moat is still to be seen, as likewise its well, 338 feet deep. Kaiserburg, or the Imperial Castle, was formerly the residence of Fred erick Barharossa, who enlarged it. It has been added to from time to time, and is to-day in a state of splendid preservation, being greatly modernized during the last century. Its fur nishings and decorations are magnificent, and at the same time representative of the age of the castle.
A famous castle in Alsace is the Holz KOnigsburg; it is built upon a ridge mentioned in a document of 774 as the “Stophanberch" (Staufenberg) ; was in the possession of the Hohenstaufen family about 1147 and was later held in fee by the Counts of Werd. In 1462 it was destroyed by the League of Rhenish Towns, but in 1479 it was rebuilt by the Counts of Thierstcin. From 1533 to 1606 it was held in pledge by the Lords of Sickingen, from whom it passed successively into the hands of the Lords of Bollweiler and the Counts Fug .ger (1617). In the Thirty Years' War the cas tle was destroyed by the Swedes (1633). To ward the end of the 17th century it fell again into the hands of the Lords of Sickingen, who sold it in 1770. After various other changes of ownership it was acquired in 1865 by the town of Schlcttstadt, which presented it to Em peror William II in 1899. The Emperor caused it to be rebuilt (1901-08) at the expense of Alsace and the German empire from the plans of Bodo Ebbhardt, who restored it as far as possible to its appearance in the 15th century. Its huge walls and towers of red sandstone, towering above the dark-green chestnut wood, are strikingle. picturesque.
Beyond Colmar (Alsace) above the village Egisheim stands the castle of Hohen-Egisheim or Dreien-Egisheim, with its three towers, viz., the Wahlenburg and Wekinund of the 11th century and Dagsburg of the 12th century, to gether known as the °Drei-Exen.* In F..g.is heim itself is the' recently restored palace (Pfalz" that is said to date back to the 8th century.
Near Strassburg is the ancient Imperial fortress Trifels. It was founded as early as the 10th century, but the present scanty ruins date from about the middle of the 12th century. Tri
fels was not infrequently occupied by the Ger man emperors. Its walls protected the un happy Henry IV, when excommunicated by Pope Gregory VII in 1076 and deserted by his nobles. It was here that Richard Cceur-de-Lion is said to have been confined for more than a year (1193-94) by the Emperor Henry VI, until his liberation was effected by the faithful Blondel. After the Thirty Years' War the cas tle fell to decay. The central tower, 33 feet in height, and the chapel have recently been re stored. In cleaninakthe castle-well, the spring, cut in the rock, was discovered at a depth of 270 feet.
The Castle of Coburg (16th century) is a late-Gothic structure used as a fortress and later as an arsenal. At present it is a museum. Its collections of arms and armor, woodcuts (200,000), paintings relating to German his tory and natural history are notable. It was here that Martin Luther resided for a time (1530) and translated the Prophets and Psalms. In connection with Luther, the picturesque Castle of Wartburg (12th century) at Eisen bach is of interest. This castle was the centre of German letters and art for many genera tions, and in early days it was the scene of contests in minstrelsy for all Germany. Here Luther sought asylum and found refuge when he translated the greater part of the Bible. At Munich is the Schloss, a large group of buildings (1663-1728). It is in reality a palace, with beautiful grounds, conserva tones, cascades, etc., and its decorations are of the best of the rococo period. It is the residence of the king, and its-fittings arc in regal magnificence; as an instance, the curtains of the Bedchamber are of gold brocade valued at $400,000. Here also is the "Schatzkammer," or Treasure Chamber, containing the crown jewels and other priceless objects of historic interest.
At Wiirzburg is the old Castle of Marien berg (12th century), formerly the residence of the prince-bishops. It is a magnificent structure containing 285 apartments. Besides its Echter-Tor (1606) and Neu-Tor (1657), it has another tower, the "Alarm-Batteri0 commanding the city. Especially notable is its chapel, richly decorated in the florid, style of Louis XIV. A later Schloss, or Royal Palace, built 1720-44, is one of the finest specimens of 18th century construction to be found, an ex ample of the baroque style from designs by Neumann. Its size is 550 by 290 feet, and it contains 312 rooms, a chapel and a theatre, all uniformly decorated in keeping .with the general purpose of the structure. In connec tion with the palace is an orangery of great beauty. At Schwerin, the Palace (1845-57) has been built on the site of a 12th century castle of the Princes of Mecklenburg, parts of the original structure, as rebuilt in the 15th and 16th century, being incorporated into the present building. It is an extensive structure with lofty towers, enclosing a pentagonal court. Of its rooms, the Waffenhalle, Thronsalle and Gothic Chapel (1560-63) are especially notable.