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Alpsee, Bavaria (Original Post) Old Crank May 19 OP
It was similar all over Europe bucolic_frolic May 19 #1
Thanks Old Crank May 19 #3
Beautiful! Diamond_Dog May 19 #2
One thing that hasn't happened to the extent Old Crank May 19 #4
20 or so years ago, we visited Germany... 3catwoman3 May 19 #5
Wonderful landscapes as well as castles! Thank you for sharing them, my dear Old Crank! CaliforniaPeggy May 19 #6
Thanks Old Crank May 19 #7

bucolic_frolic

(55,987 posts)
1. It was similar all over Europe
Tue May 19, 2026, 12:45 PM
May 19

King, nobleman, or Lord builds a castle, town grows up around it filled with peasants to service the castle. Some castles still privately owned to this day. As populations grew it was a little less haphazard, such as Cardinal Richlieu's seignerie system of peasant plots.

Nice pics btw! Must be nice to soak in the landscape and small the Alpine, in person!

Old Crank

(7,323 posts)
3. Thanks
Tue May 19, 2026, 01:53 PM
May 19

Yes it was. I let my wife and daughter do the castle tour while I struck out alone.

Two good things came from the monarchy/churches domination of the people. Large European parks were the property of the monarchs or churches and we benefit from those holdings now. The other is the proliferation and support of artists.

Was that worth centuries of, in many cases, brutal oppression? Not sure about that.

Old Crank

(7,323 posts)
4. One thing that hasn't happened to the extent
Tue May 19, 2026, 01:56 PM
May 19
that it has in US cities is urban sprawl. Cities and towns are getting bigger but a lot of that in going up.

3catwoman3

(29,874 posts)
5. 20 or so years ago, we visited Germany...
Tue May 19, 2026, 02:38 PM
May 19

...while my husband's son from his first marriage was stationed there in the Air Force.

We went to Burg Eltz, a castle that has been in the same family for 900 years! It was said that they still use it on weekends. To know one's family history that far back just blows my mind, and also makes me wish I could do the same.

https://burg-eltz.de/en/homepage

CaliforniaPeggy

(157,031 posts)
6. Wonderful landscapes as well as castles! Thank you for sharing them, my dear Old Crank!
Tue May 19, 2026, 05:54 PM
May 19

I am always amazed at how lovely the scenery (along with the castles, of course!) is. So beautiful.

Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Photography»Alpsee, Bavaria