Photo: Hostel at Riegersberg Castle, Austria
May 19, 1979 The breakfast of rye bread, butter, jam, meat, and coffee was one of the best I ever had. She must have known it was my birthday.
I then toured the castle. A series of gateways led up to it and the castle itself was surrounded by a double moat. The well within the courtyard had much decorative ironwork. Great views of the valley below. The doors between rooms had really fine handcarved woodwork. I also saw weapons, bedrooms, many ceiling paintings (in one room Russian soldiers had shot up some art in WW II), punishment devices, and an old time organ operated by bellows on top.
I then started walking to Furstenfeld, but kept getting lost and had to ask directions. Eventually I ended up walking through private fields. After about 15 miles I hitched a ride into Furstenfeld. I found the hostel, but was told it was full, but there was another hostel in town. Little English was spoken, but a young man on a motorcycle led me to a retirement home. It was very modern and they did have a separate wing for Jugend Herberge (youth hostel). I was the only person in the youth hostel wing.
Photo: Riegersberg church steeple
Photo: Family in country
Photo: Typical colorful Furstenfeld buildings
Map of Map of Austria & Germany
