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Day trip to castle Sayn
In May 2009 we visited castle Sayn near Bendorf. Located app. 80 miles south of Dusseldorf, this destination was chosen due to many sightseeing highlights within a tight radius - worthwhile despite the car trip distance.
The former climatic spa city of Sayn offers many points of interest which we intended to visit.
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The "Garden of Butterflies" was our first destination. It is located amid the palace garden of castle Sayn, with its coloured meadows, framed by old trees and many little ponds. Soon we were fascinated by the exhibition of butterflies. They have found an ideal living space in the House of butterflies. The exhibition shows caterpillars and cocoons in all stages besides various species of butterflies. Some butterflies eclosed while our visit - a fascinating performance of mother nature. Sightseeing and nature study at a time! Further exotic animals like scorpions, tarantulas and various kinds of locusts could also be observed. Moreover, you find some small ponds with turtles and coi carps. Various kinds of parakeets fly around, as well as 'family quail' - we immediately fell in love with their 'children', no bigger than a walnut. One hour spun away! |   |
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Later this forenoon we walked to castle Sayn which is located app. 20 min by feet above the palace garden. Rather a hulk than a castle, but you have a wonderful view over Sayn and the heights of the Westerwald.
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The Rheinsteig, a walking tour which was inaugurated 2005 (and which we surely will do in the near future) goes right through the inner baily. We jumped at the chance and walked along this path for a while.
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Unfortunately the watch tower is not open to the public. Merely an information panel provides some details about this historic place. After all we had a small picnic, and some 20 minutes later we went on for our next tourist feature.
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The Limes, protection wall of the Roman empire, was built up 2.000 years ago. We crossed the Limes in the footsteps of the roman soldiers on our way to a further highlight – the reconstruction of a historical watch tower. |
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Approximately one hour later we reached on our way through the Westerwald abbey Sayn which is over 800 years old. You can see a well restored cross-coat within its monastery garden (located in the courtyard). You may have a cup of coffee (or two) against some small donation and have a rest offside the profane hectic pace. In the heat of the day we took this opportunity and really fell asleep for half a while in the calmness of this monastery garden. |
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Later that day, back in the locality of Sayn, we visited the castle. The Rhenish Iron-casting museum - located in the rooms of the castle - showed us life in former times. The rooms of the castle itself weren't such a big show, though, but as a scenery for wedding fotos they may serve well. We saw a wedding party which was put in perspective by a professional photographer. Surely a great background for wedding fotos.
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Finally we made a roundwalk through the palace garden. The garden provides a set of rare trees and plants which are located around a big pond (with fountain). The total size of the palace garden may be app. 7 hectares. You will find short-cut lawn beside natural biotope with a species-rich fauna (although we missed elephants and penguins).
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Altogether a very interesting day trip which offered more activities and points of interest than we were able to join on that day. We neither visited the ropes course nor the famous "Sayn hut" nor the city of Sayn itself.
Maybe we will have another day trip here in 5 or 10 years. Then we will surely have a look at everything we missed now. And additionally we will have an extended walk on the Rheinsteig…
