Jan 21 2009
Geez! A Castle and a Show?
As long as I’m strolling down memory lane I might as well clue you in on a great tourist attraction that I had the pleasure of visiting whilst stationed in Germany towards the end of the Cold War. Rosenburg Castle overlooking the town of Riedenburg was where I saw my first ever falconry flight demonstration. According to Riedenburg’s Tourist Bureau the show is still in town - twice a day from March to October.
If you’ve been to Renaissance Faires or even Medieval Times here in the States you just might be shaking your head right now and thinking that you’ve been there and done that. All I can tell you is that anything you’ve seen of falconry in those venues is a pale shadow of what Riedenburg has to offer.
First, although Renaissance Faires and Medieval Times go all out to get the feel of those savage days of yesteryear they just can’t pull it off the same way an authentic German castle does. They can’t because they’re fake and Reidenburg is real.
Second, the location on that hilltop in Germany is breathtaking. You can’t beat Riedenburg for atmosphere. On a clear day with sunshine and blue skies you’ll feel like you’re next door to heaven. On days when the black thunder clouds come rolling in the experience is awesome…even though they cut the show short. I’ve been through both situations. The video clip below shows Prunn Castle which is 5 miles to the east of Rosenberg. Check out the hills and the river valley. This is where Medieval Times really happened. Sure as heck beats a field in Wisconsin.
Third, the falconry demonstrations I’ve seen since my days in Germany have been good. The falconers have put in a lot of work with their raptors. The birds are well trained, and they’re a wonder to see. In the States you’ll see Peregrine Falcons, Harris Hawks, and Kestrels, but at Rosenberg Castle you’ll see these raptors and more. They have the big birds of prey there - Condors, Golden Eagles and Buzzards. I think there was a even vulture up there as well.
When we were visiting, people could walk right up to the birds on their perches and get a real good look at them before the demonstation. That vulture type bird even hopped around in the court yard and chased the kids around until a handler stepped in to save the day.
The next clip is not from Riedenburg, but it captures the feel and atmosphere you’ll find there.
The falconers at Riedenburg put on a show I know I’ll never forget. They started out with smallest raptors and worked they’re way up to the largest. Once a bird was done with its routine the handlers just let it fly around the hilltop. By the time the show was over, the sky surrounding the castle was filled with these airborne hunters. Picture the flying monkey scene from the Wizard of Oz.
So don’t think you’ve seen it all. If you’re ever in Bavaria and have a chance to take in the falconry show at Riedenburg, jump on it. It’ll be well worth doing.
