Kyffhäuser Cave & Monument

I get early morning lessons in driving a manual transmission as we await family Sittner's arrival. Then we make our way up to the Kyffhäuser Monument. I have read about the legendary King of Germany from the Middle Ages in my German 3 Class so I was curious to see what the monument looked like. There's an interesting legend behind this character. He's quite well known in German history as a great King and leader and fought in the third Crusade in the late 1100's. Beyond that, the myth states that: “He is not dead, but asleep with his knights in a cave in the Kyffhäuser mountain in Thuringia, and that when the ravens cease to fly around the mountain he will awake and restore Germany to its ancient greatness.”

Above: Kaiser Wilhelm

According to the story, his red beard has grown through the table at which he sits. His eyes are half closed in sleep, but now and then he raises his hand and sends a boy out to see if the ravens have stopped flying.” So, as we looked at the monument, I thought of this story. It's crazy to think back that far in history. To be looking at a real person of such fame that he's got his own monument.

Above: Kaiser "Rotbart" Barbarossa

It's in a beautiful area. Kyffhäuser is a mountain range that's on the Southern edge of the Harz mountains. It's nestled right in with patchwork farmland and quaint little villages.

Above: Marcel and his mom Andrea

There was a well outside of the monument. It's one of the deepest in all of Germany. You could purchase a rock to toss down. I wasn't about to, but a little boy wanted to put his rock in...the little shute was jammed. So Marcel and I try to unclog the shute...it kind of works. His rock doesn't fall but another one does and we all jump as the well sprays back in our faces and starts talking to us. We all giggle at the unexpected...soggy in the face!

Little monument Mietz

Lunch time! Thurignian Bratwurst...MMM!

Afterwards we get lunch at restaurant nearby. I take the opportunity to put the rumor to the test and get myself the Thurignian Bratwurst. They claim that they are the best Bratwurst in all of Germany. Ok, so maybe I'm gullible. Dudes sleeping in caves and the best bratwurst EVER...well it certainly lived up to the hype. Not so much with the Kartoffelsalat (German potato salad)...but the Brat, yeah, it passed the test!

We go to another Barbarossa “Red Beard”related spot, a cave called Barbarossahöhle. This place is thought to be where Barbarossa sleeps and awaits his moment to return and restore Germany to it's ancient greatness. Talk about big promises, sounds like a good deal for Germany though. Years and years later, this sleeping guy comes out of nowhere from this cave and saves EVERYONE! Brilliant if you ask me.

In the cave are huge caverns. In one part there's a throne made of stone with a table in front. Oh...and look at that, even a crown sits atop the table!

Königin Madeleine (Queen Madeleine)