The wind howled behind us as the th

The wind howled behind us as the three of us advanced through the dining hall of the old castle. Shivering, we rushed past the ancient windows as arrows of rain lashed the metre thick walls.

Manoeuvring past the sword-wielding sentries, we made it past the oubliette; the pit from where no man returns. The rain needled our faces as we ran down the ancient flagged stairs only to find ourselves in the romantic teashop on the terrace.

The teashop of the Altes Schloss Meersburg was closed that day but thankfully not the rest of the castle. Altes Schloss or Old Castle Meersburg eponymously dominates the town of Meersburg, a medieval German village of 5,500 situated on the northern shore of the Bodensee in the state of Baden-Württemberg; a short ferry ride from where Germany and Switzerland hold hands in Konstanz.

Meersburg is picturesquely situated on a steeply sloping hillside, with an upper town and a lower town. With its paint box colours and winding lanes Meersburg is a gem of medieval architecture.

While medieval in appearance, Meersburg has the air of a seaside town. An abundance of small hotels and restaurants line the Seepromenade, Meersburg's own little stretch of the Bodensee. Tethered yachts jostle in the waters known alternately as Lake Constance. Switzerland is clearly seen just 5km away.

Less than an hour earlier my husband George, my then 9-year-old Noah and I madly dashed to catch the bus departing hourly from the train station of nearby Friedrichshafen. Sitting cheek by jowl with a busload of gum-cracking German students I hadn't much hope for Meersburg.

The milk-run took a somewhat suburban route. But the 14th century lay just beyond the clock tower where the bus ambled to a halt. Despite the stinging rain and increasing wind, our spirits were buoyed by at the sight of the pretty town revealed within.

Resolving to shoehorn as much as we could into the allotted afternoon we headed across the drawbridge to the castle.

Schloss Meersburg known also as Burg Meersburg is Germany's oldest inhabited castle, founded in 628 by King Dagobert, the king of the Franks. With guide in hand we navigated chronologically through the thirty furnished rooms that gave us a taste of castle life from the 7th to the 19th century.

Once over the drawbridge and under the castle's yawning portcullis we weaved throughout the five towers of the ancient bastion like Dumas' Musketeers or Robin Hood's Merry Men. The spear-wielding sentinels are silent but the relics of a bloodier age are here, armour, helmets, axes and clubs. Piles of large stones are roughly stacked inside the windows, a reminder of when the enemy could have been brained by a well-aimed rock.

Moving cautiously amid the heavy timberwork we found the castle's kitchen with its fireplace big enough to sleep four. Of interest to Mum was the kitchen's stone sink that drained out a window about 25m above the ground.

The three of us peered down into the goose-bump inducing depths of well-like pit where prisoners were left to die. Noah surmised that there must have been a trapdoor for food. I don't think it was a consideration.

The more ancient of the castle's chambers were rudimentarily furnished with a smattering of rough-hewn benches and refectory tables. Deer pelts placed on the deep windowsills were the only attempt at providing warmth. More sumptuous were the rooms once occupied by the 17th century Prince Bishops and by the resident poet who lived and died here in the 19th century.

During her visits to Meersburg, revered German poet Annette von Droste-Hülshoff stayed in the Old Castle, which in the 1840's belonged to her brother-in-law. In the Altes Schloss Meersburg Droste-Hülshoff's study and the room she in which she died are open to visitors.

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The wind howled behind us as the three of us advanced through the dining hall of the Old Castle.Shivering, we rushed past the ancient Windows as arrows of rain lashed the metre thick walls.

Manoeuvring past the sword-wielding sentries, we made it past the oubliette; where no man returns from the pit.rain The needled our faces as we ran down the ancient flagged stairs only to find ourselves in the teashop on the romantic terrace.

of the teashop The Altes Schloss Meersburg was closed that day but thankfully not the rest of the castle. Altes Schloss or Old Castle Meersburg eponymously dominates the town of Meersburg, a medieval village of German 5,500 situated on the northern shore of the Bodensee in the state of Baden - Wu rttemberg; a short ferry ride from where Germany Switzerland and hold hands in Konstanz.

Meersburg is picturesquely situated on a steeply sloping hillside, with an upper and a lower town town.its With colours paint box and winding lanes Meersburg is a medieval gem of architecture.

While medieval in appearance,Meersburg has the air of a seaside town. An abundance of small hotels and restaurants line the Seepromenade, Meersburg's own little stretch of the Bodensee.Tethered yachts jostle in the waters known as alternately Lake Constance.Switzerland is clearly seen just 5 km away.

an hour earlier than my husband Less George,My then 9-year-old Noah I and dashed madly to catch the bus from the train station of departing hourly nearby Friedrichshafen.Sitting cheek by jowl with a busload of gum-cracking German I students hadn 't much hope for Meersburg.

The milk-run took a somewhat suburban route. But lay just beyond the 14 th century the Clock Tower where the bus ambled to a halt.The Despite stinging rain and increasing wind, our spirits were buoyed by the sight of the pretty town at revealed within.

Resolving to shoehorn as much as we could into the allotted afternoon we headed across the drawbridge to the castle.

also known as Schloss Meersburg Burg Meersburg Germany' is s oldest inhabited Castle, founded in 628 by King Dagobert, the king of the Franks.With guide in hand we navigated chronologically through the thirty furnished rooms that gave us a taste of Castle life from the 7 th to the 19 th century.

Once over the drawbridge and portcullis under the Castle's yawning we weaved throughout the five towers of the ancient bastion like Dumas Robin Hood' or 'Musketeers Merry Men s.The spear-wielding sentinels are silent but the relics of a bloodier age are here, armour, helmets, axes and clubs. Piles of large stones are roughly stacked inside the windows, a reminder of when the enemy could have been brained by a well-aimed rock.

Moving cautiously amid the heavy timberwork we found the Castle's kitchen with its fireplace big enough to sleep four.The kitchen was to interest Of Mum' s stone sink that drained out a window about 25 m above the ground.

The three of us peered down into the goose-bump inducing depths of well-like pit where prisoners were left to die. Noah surmised that there must have been a trapdoor for food. I don' T think it was a consideration.

The more of the ancient castle's chambers were rudimentarily furnished with a smattering of rough-hewn benches and tables refectory. placed on the pelts Deer deep windowsills were the only attempt at providing warmth. More the sumptuous rooms were once occupied by the 17 th century Prince Bishops and by the resident poet who lived and died here in the 19 th century.

her visits to During Meersburg, revered poet German Annette von Droste - Hu lshoff stayed in the Old Castle, which in the 1840 '. s belonged to her brother-in-law. The In Altes Schloss Meersburg Droste - Hu lshoff's study and the room in which she died she are open to visitors.