European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 14, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                At right a Church in the slow paced town of Mark Heidenfeld. At far right the 12th-Century Burg Rothenfeld a Castie fortress near Mark Heidenfeld. Above a statue of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus on die Corner of a Haff timbered House in Lohr. At left legend says Snow White lived in this Lohr Castle. Continued from Page 5 Stop out his front door to wave to a compatriot sailing past on his Way to some Distant port. This is a slow paced town especially peaceful along the River. In Mark Heidenfeld Millenburg s tourist crush and Wertheim s bustling shopping District Are Only Distant memories. Any visit to Mark Heidenfeld should include a Side trip to nearby Rothenfeld. On leaving town Cross the Bridge and head up the right Bank of the main. In Rothenfeld follow the Switchback Road up the Hillside behind the town to its Well preserved 12th-Century Castie fortress Burg Rothenfeld. Since the end of world War i the Castle has been owned and administered by a private foundation and it operates today As a youth Hostel and conference Center with a capacity of 300 guests. It is not run As a tourist attraction but the administrators do permit sightseeing within the grounds. Whatever Fame Lohr enjoys among americans Likely comes from its association with a fairy tale Snow Vvhs be. According to Werner Loibl director of the City s Spessars museum the High Point of International recognition came in 1 let he when the . Television network Abu sent a i Rew to the City. The connection is tenuous at Best but local historians say the famous children s Story is based on the life of Maria Sophia von Erthal whose father Philipp owned the Castle. As in the fairy tale Maria s Mother died soon after her birth. Her father remarried and while she was still a Young girl he also died around 1720. The talking Mirror advocates say originated from the fact that Lohr had a Mirror factory and the dwarfs who took in Snow White when she fled her wicked Stepmother were the children who worked in the mines of Biebe Grund 20 Miles away. Whether the connection is factual or not the Story has served the City Well As a promotional device. The Castle still stands splendidly refurbished in the City Center. There is even a Snow White hiking Trail that retraces her supposed escape path to Biebe Grund. But Lohr has More than Snow while. This is a prosperous user Friendly City of 17,000 that has preserved much of its architectural past but adopted a dynamic modern Outlook. In addition to the Castle other main landmarks Are St. Michael s Church the onetime Capuchin monastery and the imposing Baye Sturm. Visitors should set aside at least an hour for the Spessars museum. Though the text for the exhibits is in German nearly All Are self explanatory re creations of the Way life was in the Region. Next year the facility plans to begin providing English language brochures and Lour guides. Karlstadt s leading Industry is immediately evident from the Highway coming into town. The Dusty towering Cement Plant is the biggest Structure around. But this jarring modern economic reality is soon left behind when you take the curving Access Road to the old town. Without the signs and other modern fixtures Karlstadt would make an Ideal set for a film about the Middle Ages. Very Little of the City s Basic Structure has changed since its founding More than 675 years ago. Stone towers half timbered houses and the nearly intact defensive Wall All enhance the illusion of a step backward in time. As throughout the Region excellent local Beer and wine Are available in the restaurants and guest houses. Across the Valley the skeletal remains of the Carlsburg the carolingian Castle destroyed in the peasants War of the Early 16th Century loom spectral and abandoned High above the River. From Here the River snakes North and East Back to its source somewhere in the Franzische Schweiz 326 Miles from the Point where it enters the Rhine. There Are fascinating places both upriver and Down a plus More along the Middle main a so Many that it is difficult to see them All. It is an area that can be explored for a Long time. Stripes Magazine november 14, 1991