GERMANY - Best of Europe 2014 - page 559

builtthiscomplexoffortressesandcastles.Beginninginthe14thcentury,thefortcontrolled
traffic and levied tolls on all who passed. Today, these scant remains hold a museum and a
theater with a multimedia show.
While there are noreal artifacts here (other than the swordusedin A.D. 2008tomake me
the honorary First Knight of Ehrenberg), the clever, kid-friendly museum takes one 14th-
century decade (1360-1370) and attempts to bring it to life. It's a hands-on experience, well-
describedinEnglish.Youcantryonasetofarmor(andthenweighyourself),seethelimited
vision knights had to put up with when wearing their helmet, empathize with victims of the
plague, and join a Crusade.
The multimedia show takes you on a 30-minute spin through the 2,000-year history of
this valley's fortresses, with images projected on the old stone walls and modern screens
(50-minute English version runs Mon-Fri at 13:00 with a minimum of 5 people, or some-
times by request).
Cost and Hours: €7.50, €3 more to include multimedia show, €17.80 family pass
(€20.80 with multimedia show) for 2 adults and any number of kids, daily 10:00-17:00,
closed Nov-mid-Dec, tel. [phone], www.ehrenberg.at .
Eating: Next to the museum, the Landgasthof Klause serves typical Tirolean meals
(€9-15 main courses, officially Tue-Sun 10:00-20:00 but likely longer hours in summer,
closedMon,closedNovandJan-Feb,tel.[phone]).Theyalsorentafewroomsifyou'd
like to stay right at Ehrenberg (see here ).
▲▲▲ Ehrenberg Ruins
Ehrenberg,a13th-century rockpile, providesasuperopportunity tolet yourimagination off
its leash. Hike up 30 minutes from the parking lot of the Klause Valley Fort Museum for a
greatviewfromyourownprivateruins.Ehrenberg(whichmeans“MountainofHonor”)was
the first castle here, built in 1296. Thirteenth-century castles were designed to stand boast-
fully tall. With the advent of gunpowder, castles dug in. (Notice the 18th-century ramparts
around you.)
Approaching EhrenbergCastle, look forthe small door to the left. It'sthe night entrance
(tight and awkward, and therefore safer against a surprise attack). Entering this castle, you
go through two doors. Castles allowed step-by-step retreat, giving defenders time to regroup
and fight back against invading forces.
Before climbing to the top of the castle, follow the path around to the right to a big,
grassy courtyard with commanding views and a fat, restored turret. This stored gunpowder
and held a big cannon that enjoyed a clear view of the valley below. In medieval times, all
the trees approaching the castle were cleared to keep an unobstructed view.
Look out over the valley. The pointy spire marks Breitenwang, which was a stop on the
ancientViaClaudia.In A.D. 46,therewasaRomancampthere.In1489,afterReutte'sbridge