Since we were in the area on our medical appointment weekend, we decided to take a little drive to Darmstadt in search of the Frankenstein Castle!
Now, Burg Frankenstein wasn't exactly where the movie/book character Frankenstein lived, but some would like to think that much is true.
One of the past residents of Burg Frankenstein was a man who is often referred to as 'Dippel'. Johann Conrad Dippel von Frankenstein was a scientist who liked to experiment on creatures, and play with human body parts. Yeah. He (Dippel) was real, but there isn't solid proof that he was as mad of a scientist as the town's folk believed. It is rumored that Mary Shelley borrowed history from the area for her famous novel, but this has never been confirmed. Hmmm.
Anyway, we picked a terrible weekend to visit, but I assumed that before hand. The city hosts a Halloween Haunted 'Castle' at Burg Frankenstein every year, and because of this, there was a construction crew out working on the interior courtyard of the castle. The path to the inside (past the tower) was blocked off. I was a little sad, but I got an idea of what it would look like past the tower gate based on photos I have seen. We ended up poking our heads into the little chapel, and then started wandering the surrounding woods.
I cannot say a lot for Darmstadt, nor it's surrounding areas. I didn't see much except the castle while visiting. The weather on this particular morning was frosty and foggy, but the elements set a tone for where we were headed: Burg Frankenstein.
Now, Burg Frankenstein wasn't exactly where the movie/book character Frankenstein lived, but some would like to think that much is true.
One of the past residents of Burg Frankenstein was a man who is often referred to as 'Dippel'. Johann Conrad Dippel von Frankenstein was a scientist who liked to experiment on creatures, and play with human body parts. Yeah. He (Dippel) was real, but there isn't solid proof that he was as mad of a scientist as the town's folk believed. It is rumored that Mary Shelley borrowed history from the area for her famous novel, but this has never been confirmed. Hmmm.
Anyway, we picked a terrible weekend to visit, but I assumed that before hand. The city hosts a Halloween Haunted 'Castle' at Burg Frankenstein every year, and because of this, there was a construction crew out working on the interior courtyard of the castle. The path to the inside (past the tower) was blocked off. I was a little sad, but I got an idea of what it would look like past the tower gate based on photos I have seen. We ended up poking our heads into the little chapel, and then started wandering the surrounding woods.
Interesting info: Halloween isn't widely celebrated in the typical American way throughout Germany. So if you already knew this, you might wonder why the Germans host a haunted castle event around Halloween here at Burg Frankenstein. The answer is simple: Because of Americans.
Awhile back, there was an American military installation in the area. Supposedly the barracks would get rowdy, and the police would come tell them to shut up, for lack of a better term. After they continued being loud, and police continued to come out because of their noise, the military personnel asked if there was a place where they could party and not disrupt the peace. The nice folks who operated a hotel out of Burg frankenstein, at the time, obliged to let soldiers party here. Thus, Halloween celebrations became a 'thing' at the Burg. After the installation closed near by, the Germans continued to carry on tradition with the haunted castle every fall since. It's actually quite a popular event that is advertised throughout the country!
It is rumored that the woods surrounding Burg Frankenstein are Odin's Woods. Odin is the mythological Norse God. It is obviously not confirmed that these are Odin's Woods, but I'll go ahead and believe it. There was something ominous, yet enchanting about these woods. It is also believed that the fountain of youth is within them, but I didn't find it. I guess I'll continue to use my Lancome ageless serum.
I definitely plan to return at a better time of year when a holiday event isn't about to unfold. Maybe on the way to Cologne some day?!
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