European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 17, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tuesday april 17 2007 stars and stripes Page 19 in Wei German town comes Complete with Palace Park and a Cave by Michael Abrams stars and stripes surrounded on three sides by Germany Lahn River the town of Weilburg sits on a Palace capped Promontory High above the Valley first mentioned in 906 much of the towns history runs parallel to the Palace and the counts of Nassau who owned it first a fortress stood on the Hill later a four Wing Renaissance Palace was built and finally baroque buildings a Church and Palace gardens were added although no longer a walled City one of the Gates the Gate still stands and motorists pass through it to enter Weilburg behind it is the Stadt term the Only medieval guard Tower still standing the Palace takes up much of Weil burgs old town the inner courtyard is a Beautiful example of Northern european Renaissance architecture with its half timbered beams Arches and the Stadt Pfeiffer Tower the palaces baroque extensions have been turned into a hotel and a civic Hall if you like Flowers fountains statues Trees and benches to sit on the Palace gardens will please the two orangerie Are still in use the upper one is used for exhibits and concerts while the lower modelled after the one in Versailles features a cafe and still houses the Gar Dens Citrus Trees in the Winter outside the Palace Gates is the Berg Bau und stad museum or mining and City museum its main attraction is the Tiefer stollen a full size replica of a local Iron Ore mine photos by Michael and stripes the Neptune Fountain graces Weilburg Market Square in front of the Palace Church the 18thcentury Church is a wonderful example of a protestant baroque Church the Weilburg ship Tunnel opened in 1847 shortened boat trips along the Lahn bypassing the Rivers rapids attached to the Palace but facing the Market place is the Early 18thcentury Schloss Kirche or Palace Church one of the Best examples of a protestant baroque Church in Hesse in front of it is the Neptune Fountain topped by a statue of the roman sea god a walk through the old town is Short with Many half timbered houses and for a town its size a lot of cafes if you walk the streets Down to the River youll come to the Stein erne Brucke the old Stone Bridge across the Lahn from Here there is a great View of the Palace towering Over the River walk along the River crossing the Busy Highway and you come to the Weisburg ship Tunnel opened in 1847 this 645footlong Tunnel shortened boat trips along the Lahn bypassing the Loop around the town and the Rivers rapids its economic feasibility ended a Mere 15 years later when the Railroad connected Giessen and Koblenz curtailing much of the commercial transportation on the River two Sites outside of the City Are Worth seeing the Kubacher Kristal Hohle and the tie Garten Weilburg the Kristal Hohle or Crystal Cave is a 350millionyearold Cavern with a 90foothigh Hall discovered in 1974 it is Germany Only Cave with Calcite crystals Only a Small part of the Cavern has been explored there is also a Cave museum and an open air Rock exhibit the tie Garten is an animal Park on the site of the counts Hunting enclosure a 6foothigh Stone Wall from the 17th Century still surrounds the 227acre Park Deer Moose wolves otters horses and wild cats Are among the animals living in the tie Garten even if the animals Are sleeping or hiding the Park provides a peaceful place to stroll email Michael Abrams at Peter and stripes on the it directions Weilburg is in Central Germany be tween Limburg and Giessen from Gies sen take Highway b49 West until you see signs for the town from Hanau take autobahn 45 to the Wetzl Arost exit and head toward Limburg from Wiesbaden take a3 toward Cologne exit at Limburg and take b49 East to Weilburg the tier Garten and Kristal Hohle Are just off b456 heading toward bad Homburg times the Palace is open 10 am to 5 pm tuesday through sunday from March to october and until 4 pm from november to february the mining and City museum is open from april to october from 10 am to noon and 25 pm tuesday to Friday and 10 am to 5 pm saturday and sunday from november to March it is open 10 am to noon and 25 pm Mon Day to Friday the tie Garten is open daily 9 am to 7 pm in the summer otherwise it closes at dusk the Kuhbacher Kristal Hohle is open pm monday to Friday and 10 am to 5 pm saturday and sunday from March 31 to nov 4 costs Entrance to the Palace is 350 euros for adults and 250 euros for children the gardens and courtyard Are free the mining and City museum is 3 euros for adults 2 euros for children 7 euros for a family ticket the tie Garten is 4 euros for adults and 2 euros for children while the Krista Hohle is 350 euros for adults 250 euros for children 5 and older and 50 euro cents for Ages 35 there Are restaurants and cafes in town in All Price classes there Are restaurants at the tie Garten closed mondays and at Krista Hohle information there Are German Only web Sites for the town at  and the Cave at  Michael Abrams