The Ruins of Fortress Regenstein in Blankenburg, Kloster St Michael and Bad Harzburg.

The Fortress ruins, hewn out of the stone.

This photo of the ruins of the Fortress at Regenstein in Blankenburg doesn't really give an idea of its splendid, defensive position on top of a craggy hilltop.  It was established in 1167, but was constantly extended and refortified during the past centuries.  Its position, high up in the Harz mountains, gives an amazing view towards the Brocken and  a very distant Braunschweig.  The flag marks the highest point but unfortunately,  the Queen was not at home today!  

I visited with two friends, and the photo below shows me in silhouette in what was a corridor connecting the chapel and various rooms, all hewn from the stone by hand and chisel.  It must have been a very dangerous occupation for the poor souls who did the hard work, particularly for those hanging over a precipice working on the outer walls.   In several rooms were little displays of artifacts found during excavations, including pottery, spurs, swords and decorated tiles.

The lowest photo shows Kloster St Michael, a medieval monestry with some wonderful buildings and fish ponds.  We sat under the parasols, rear right in the photo, and enjoyed a trout salad with buttered toast and a large beer.  It was a wonderful day and we returned via Bad Harzburg, with its many spa clinics and hotels.   There is further information on Wikipedia about these places.   It makes interesting reading with more detail than I can write.  We had a wonderful day, which also included a pleasant walk in the shade of the forest.  The Harz is a National Park.   www.nationalpark-harz.de/en  

Vicki silhouetted in the doorway.

The fish farm at Kloster St Michael.