So I saw this other castle looking ruin thing on the top of a hill and figured it might be the "Bismarck Tower", as I remember seeing that on a map online earlier. Being a sucker for anything looking like an old castle, I decided to go find it too. I drove up this street, following the signs, and ended up at the entrance to the Landstudl Medical Center. It looks like a secret government center though with all the security there!
The trail to the tower was off to the side up a little dirt road, with no real markings, and no people. So, looked safe enough!! I parked the car on the side of the road, and started hiking. It was a short hike thru a dense forest, but with a clear pathway. I didn't see any others on my way up, which made me think I wasn't going to the right spot, and just wandering thru the forest instead. Eventually, the trail opened up and I happened upon the tower! Amazing views (even from the bottom of it), but the metal gates were open and it looked like there was a stairway to the top. Going in, it was fairly dark, cobwebs everywhere, and pretty nasty/dingy looking. Stairs looked solid though so I made my way up! I was not disappointed! The views were spectacular! I could see all the way onto Ramstein Air Base as well as all the surrounding towns. I could even see Burg Nanstein, a castle in the neighboring town (which was on my list to visit while I was there too!)
It was getting later in the afternoon so figured I better start making my way back to the hotel to meet up with Vince. As I made it down from the tower and started walking thru the forest back to the car, I started having Criminal Minds flashbacks of people vanishing in woods & hiking trails just like this. Having a slight internal panic attack, I sped up my walk back to the car! Luckily I saw a runner (Who was very obviously a fit American military guy), which somehow made me feel better. Finally made it back to the car, and headed back to the hotel!
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| Views from the bottom |
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| Yikes - dirty and cobwebby |
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| Views from the top!! |
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| If I am kidnapped and my phone is found, these pics will help provide proof of where I was. |
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| Waiting for someone to jump out of these rocks |
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| Ramstein Air Base |
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| View of Burg Nanstein from the top of the Tower |
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