Schloss Weikersheim

We visited our first German castle last week.  Oma and Opa invited us to accompany them to a city only a few minutes away where we were able to take a formal tour of the preserved 1500 era castle, Schloss Weikersheim.
http://www.schloss-weikersheim.de/en/

As it turns out, Landon is not fond of castle tours per se and he and JB ended up making a hasty exit to a local playground.  The rest of us soaked in the amazing splendor of what is thought to be one of the most beautiful castles in the region.   

It was especially wonderful to see Emma walk through her first real-life castle.  She loved the ballroom most of all and kept whispering to me, "Mom, I am imagining that I am princess in a gown walking through here."

She also loved the garden where Sam and Anneke discovered the koi pond.  The next water display was equally as exciting as it was full of salamanders.  Sam busied himself seeking salamanders and Anneke played as a 3 year old princess would, hopping about on steps, while Emma regally posed as her queenly name requires...  Such a crew!  (Meanwhile Landon was next door discovering his first playground zipline)

I must note however, that after walking through a garden modeled after Versailles and seeing tapestry made of gold thread and almost one of a kind table services.... I listened as Emma and Sam chatted to each other about how much better they liked their own farm than this grand castle.  Smile.