European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 18, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Weilburg s neat Mark Platz features a Fountain topped by Neptune and the attractive old City Hall. A to the imposing Schaumburg Castle is mysteriously closed to visitors continued on Page 7 realized that he and his wife could never have children. That he decided to atone for his misdeeds. In 1129 he turned the House into a cloister. Naming himself As its. Head he forced his wife to withdraw to  s cell there is another gentler version of the cloister s beginnings. It credits a wandering priest Gottfried von. A Selich for founding a Chapel at the site. A. No matter,.today, other than the gothic East Chancel and romanesque West Chancel Little physically remains As a reminder of the  Holzappel a Detour will take Yog to the massive Schaumburg Castle. First constructed in the 12th Century it was turned into a dream of a Neo gothic Castle in the 1800s by an austrian Duke. From the outside with its Many Crenell ated towers it s certainly impressive. A couple of Cerman hikers informed us however that the inside would probably remain a mystery. Quot we be tried every Entrance Quot said one. Quot it is completely . He was right so we hiked up the Hill to the main Entrance. No one was around. Next to a worn poster giving opening hours and admission prices was another crude sign stating Quot no entry allowed Quot underlining that warning was a notice proclaiming that the grounds were patrolled by. A vicious a watchdog. A a. A. A in the Village below we asked a shopkeeper the reason behind the eerie Castle abandonment. A Quot we wish we knew Quot she said. Quot it has been closed to the Public for about three years. It is said that a wealthy american or japanese has purchased it but no one will a confirm the rumours we  -. A a. The Castle reported to have been u Lucky for a t number of its owners is now proving the same for the surrounding villages the tourism was important to. Us Quot the shopkeeper added. After Schaumburg the River cuts through diez an old Castle Garrison town before winding on to Limburg. Limburg is Worth a Stop. It has an interesting old town. And Well planned pedestrian area. Its seven towered Cathedral  Germany s 1,000 Mark Bills. Limburg was the subject of a stripes Magazine \ feature Story in March / next comes 15th-Century Runkel. This Village topped by a 12th-Century Castle. Is credited with having one of. The most picturesque settings in the Valley inside Burg Runkel is a collection of knights arms and Armor. The Turret offers a panoramic View of the Taurus and Westerwald. A Ita there Are at least two versions of How Burg Runkel. Came into being one says it was built in 778 on the Gray rocks by a Knight who wished to commemorate the Battle against  in the pyrenees. Another Story traces the name to t he Middle Ages and the celtic word run lit meaning Mountain rocks. A. A it is Only a comparatively Short distance now to the final two stops on the journey a journey that proves that Best things often do come last a. A a a the old town of Wei i Burg lies like an Island on a High Cliff of a semicircular Loop of the Lahn. You can Park your Carat the Mark Platz near the Neptune Fountain an walk to the Castle. A a. A the City profile is dominated by the Versailles style. Castle grounds Laid out in three stepped terraces. The. Castle was the residence of counts and princes of Nassau Wei Burg until 1816, the Complex consists of a four. Winged Castle in Northern Renaissance style and a Row of imposing baroque buildings a guided tour gives information about the. City and Nassau holdings. Across from the Castle Entrance is the he mat and Bergbaum Seum Homeland and mining museum. A. \ v the Lahn Dill area was an important Iron mining Region for More than a Century. Until 1919, the mines supplied close to 21 percent of the production for the. A German Reich. A the he mat museum there is a replica of one of the original mines. Quot we need 10 people to take a tour Down the shall said the Young German military Man at the museum. Office. But if tourists Are willing to wait a bit and drive a Little farther there is another Chance to visit a mine Shaft he said. The Fortuna mine at Solms Ober Beil near Wetzlar the last Shaft to close in 1983is now open to tourists. A a instead Vve sought the Entrance of the Tunnel waterway beneath the City. The Tunnel now under government Protection was drilled through More than 600 feet of 8 stripes Magazine april 18, 1991