Usually I’m all gung-ho about the spa treatments that can be found in a spa town — whoo hoo, let’s hit up the spa. Not this time. Sorry, between the wine, the history, and the wine (ha-ha) in the town of Traben-Trarbach, they were just… well, they just were.
So that means you need to put aside thoughts of facials and saunas, and head over to see the ruins of the Grevenburg. You know why it’s in ruins? The French blew this mid-14th century castle up back in 1734.
Pardon moi, why would anyone blow up a perfectly good castle? :-(
Grevenburg isn’t the only castle in town. Or would that be castle ruin in town? Anyway, amidst all the overgrown brush and trees lies the remnants of the Festung Mont Royal’s stone walls.
This fortress (that runs along the loop of the Moselle River) was quite impressive for its day, housing almost 10,000 soldiers.
FYI, the Starkenburg is another castle ruin, but its beginnings go back further than the 14th century. This strategic location was once teeming with Romans and Franks. And the Mittelmoselmuseum (Middle Moselle Museum) explains nicely about the region and what went on here.
Even with all this “military” stuff, it’s easy to see how the countryside has inspired authors, professors, theologians, and even a Renaissance sculptor (Johann von Trarbach). I guess there’s something in the water over here in Traben-Trarbach.
Ah, not the water — the wine. I just don’t think Traben-Trarbach had their Mosel-Wein-Nachts-Markt back then. You got plenty of time to enjoy it, however, it goes on from the end of November until the start of the new year.
Any other time of year consider taking a wine tasting tour, guided tours of the vineyards, or even a boat trip along the river that overlook the slopes filled with grapes.
Hey, now you know why both me and Charlemagne liked the place.
