European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 30, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                I / St. Michael s Chapel in Ziedrich. Continued from Page 11. The huge Park features animals from All Over the world and the Public is allowed to feed them. Konigstein does t have the Lively Charm of Kronberg but it boasts a Superior Castle. The mighty Feudal fortress is the second largest Castle Ruih in Germany. It was established to protect the Road from Frankfurt to Cologne and first mentioned in 1225. Climb the keep 154 Steps for a panoramic View of the surrounding Countryside including the Distant Henninger Tower a Frankfurt landmark. The town s old City Hall dates from 1673 and is a half timbered Extension of one of the City Gates. Within is a Heima museum Homeland museum. The simple a Marie Kirche contains a magnificent Middle Rhine Rococo High altar and pulpit. A tour of the Taurus would t be Complete without a visit to its highest Point the 2,887-foot grosser Feldberg. This windswept Hilltop is an important telecommunication Center and bristles with towers and antennae. One Mark and 167 Stair Steps takes you to the top of Belvedere Tower which affords a sweeping View of Frankfurt and the surrounding Countryside. Without the climb there s not much to see. Trees Cut off most of the View. To Hervis however a falconry Center with eagles Falcons owls and vultures. There also is plenty of upper air current to keep kites whirring in the sky above. Besides Kite fanciers the ugly Hilltop draws motorcyclists who find a Challenge in roaring up the slopes. Highway b-8 East leads towards the Unter Taurus lower Taurus Range of the Wiesbaden area and the charming Valley town of Idstein. Here historic houses have been carefully preserved not As a museum but As part of a living City. Idstein dates to at least. 1102 and in the 13th Century was a town of importance that could claim a National ruler. From 1292 to 1298 the emperor of Germany was Adolf von Nassau count of Nassau Idstein. The oldest building is the Helen term witches Tower which dates to 1355 but gained its current appearance during remodelling in 1810. It owes its name to its use As a prison during the Witch Hunts of the 17th Century. When not occupied by Birds it offers a terrific Bird s Eye View of the Countryside. The City closes it to the Public whenever the Falcons Are nesting. Idstein s 1 7th-Century Castle once the Home of the counts and princes of Nassau Idstein has been used As a High school since 1946. The town s most richly carved and painted House is now Home to the City museum and tourist office. Called the Killinger House it s of alsatian origin. In the 1 7th Century Killinger a Man in the service of the local count had it dismantled and transported by Rhine Barge and of cart to Idstein where he had it carefully rebuilt. His Wile a lady of Strasbourg had protested leaving her Lovely Home to move to Idstein. The town s protestant unions Kirche Union Church is. Decorated with paintings from the Rubens school. Visitors can obtain the key at the tourist office or the Grandpierre Bookstore at Ross the Street. The name of the Church dates Germany a aunus a Quot. -.�?o,v 1 a the rim i a the tiny town of Walsdorf overlooks a Spring Field filled with dandelions. Back to the reformation which came late to Idstein. The town was closely tied to catholicism by its counts who were relatives of the Mainz Bishops. In 1817, however Idstein formed a Union with the Nassau protestant Reform movement. The 13th-Century Martins Kirche was renamed Union Church to commemorate the event. Back northward on b-8. It is not far to bad Camberg. Despite the fact that the town has offered the Kneipp cure since 1927, it did not officially earn the name As a Quot bad Quot or spa until 1981. Today it is very much a spa town with both a Sauna and solarium offered in its modern Block style Kuxhaus. There Are a number of old town Points of interest the Anthof 1605the Hohenfeld Chapel circa 1660the 14th-Century upper Gateway Tower and the half timbered arts Apotheker 1492. A unfortunately traffic problems detract from downtown visits. Streets Are congested and there is a Lack of parking. In an attempt to solve the latter problem ugly meters have been sunk into Cement in the Center of the old marketplace. Following b-54 toward bad Schwalbach the traveler comes to the ruin of Bur Schwalbach fortress Schwalbach in the Village of the same name. A a a behind the fortress there is a children s mar Henwald fairy tale Forest a no entry fee a where youngsters can walk among Grimm s fairy tale figures. The fortress itself houses a popular restaurant a Nice place to Stop for lunch. A t a few Miles away is a much More impressive Castle ruin. Burg Hohenstein towers Over the Countryside from a 660-foot-High Rocky Perch. The Well positioned Hilltop was chosen by the counts of Katzen Eltbogen to protect their territory. During the 15th Century the Domain included no less that 225 villages 11 castles and nine a a a cities. V. A the Castle was destroyed during the thirty years War 1618-1648which devastated Germany and divided the holy roman Empire. Bad Schwalbach Swallow Brook also is called Lange Schwalbach Long Swallow Brook. The latter name Marks the Long distance 1,400 Steps from the lower to the upper sections. The Small spa is Rich in Mineral Springs and during it heyday hosted famous guests such As the czarina Maria a of Russia and Empress Elisabeth of Austria. Following. World War ii the City s popularity diminished and Many of the old spa hotels were divided into apartments. Today with modern facilities the City is once again in the health business. The gothic wine town of Ziedrich makes a Nice conclusion to the Unter Taurus tour. This Village of 17th-and 18th Century half timbered buildings abounds in quaint inns and open air courtyards. Ziedrich was an important shrine in the Middle Ages. Today visitors the world Over come Here to St. Valentine s for sunday mass where the Gregorian chant accompanied by Germany s oldest Organ is still Sung. Inside the Church the Lovely Ziedrich Madonna from 1330 should not be missed. 72 stripes Magazine May 30, 1991