The Last Knight of Altenahr
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_From: Legends of the Rhine by Wilheml Ruland._
Only a few mouldering ruins now show where one of the proudest strongholds
of the Rhine country, Castle Altenahr, once stood. A legend relates the
mournful story of the last of the race which had lived there for centuries.
This man was a very stubborn knight, and he would not bow down to or even
acknowledge the all-powerful archbishop, whom His Majesty the Emperor had
sent into the Rhine country as protector of the church.
Unfortunately the bishop was also of a proud and unyielding character, and
he nursed resentment in his heart against this spurner of his authority.
It was not long before his smouldering rancour blazed into an open feud, and
the mighty bishop, accompanied by a large band of followers, appeared before
the proud castle of Altenahr. A ring of iron was formed round the offending
vassal's hold.
But its owner was not disturbed by this formidable array, and only laughed
sneeringly at the besiegers' useless trouble, knowing well that they would
never be able to storm his rocky stronghold.
The war-like priest saw many of his little army bleeding to death in vain.
He was very wrathful, but nevertheless undismayed.
He had sworn a great oath that he would enter this invincible hold as a
conqueror, even if the fight were to last till the Judgment Day; the lord of
Altenahr had sworn a similar oath, and these two powerful foes were well
matched.
Thus the siege continued for some months. The besieger's anger grew hotter,
for every attack cost him the lives of numbers of his followers, and all his
efforts seemed useless.
Already there was an outburst of discontent in his camp; many servants and
vassals deserted from such a dangerous venture. Revolt and disobedience
seemed on one occasion to threaten a complete dissolution of the besieging
army, as a desperate attack had been again repulsed by the hidden
inhabitants of the fort.
The bishop's allies urged the unrelenting man to desist from his merciless
purpose, but he received their protests with a sneer: "When you leave me, my
greater ally, hunger, will draw near. It will come, that I am sure of." Then
followed an uproar of confused voices; mutinous troopers, now become bold by
the wine they had taken, fell to brawling with their leader. The bishop's
grim smile died away.
"Wait my men, just wait for one more attack," he cried in a powerful voice,
"it will be the fiercest and the last," and with a dark face he turned and
strode away.
Dawn was creeping over the valley of the Ahr. There was a great stir in the
camp on the side of the mountain, and up above, in the castle of Altenahr,
silence reigned round hazy pinnacles. Suddenly a flourish of trumpets was
heard, and the drawbridge having been let down, the lord of the castle
galloped forth on a milk-white charger, his tall figure towering over the
animal, the feather of his helmet waving above his grey hair, and the first
rays of the rising sun irradiating his steel armour.
Holding his steed with a firm grip, he raised his right hand to the shouting
besiegers, signifying that he wished to speak. His Voice sounded far and
wide.
"See here the last man and the last charger of all those who lived in my
tower. Hunger has snatched them all from me, wife, child, comrades. They all
preferred death to slavery. I follow them, unvanquished and free to the
last."
The noble animal reared up at the spur of its rider ..... a great spring,
followed by a thundering crash, then the Ahr closed her foaming waters over
man and steed.
A shudder seized those who were looking on. The dark countenance of their
leader became pale as death, and he rode off without a moment's delay,
followed by the curses of his mutinous troops.
Since that time the castle of Altenahr has remained deserted; no one dared
to enter the chambers hallowed by the memory of this heroic defence. Thus it
was avoided by mankind, till time gnawed at its walls and destroyed its
battlements.
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Ahr - The red wine paradise [1]
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The red wine-region Ahr is one of the smallest of Germany's wine-growing
regions, with vineyards extending along the steep hillsides that line the
Ahr River as it flows into the Rhine south of Bonn.
Most of the vineyards grow red grapes - Spätburgunder (Pinot noir) and
Portugieser - producing red wines of light charm and racy fruitiness.
Lively, fresh Riesling and Müller-Thurgau are the white wines grown here.
Nearly all of the region's wine is consumed locally.
Wine: velvety to fiery Spätburgunder; light, pleasant Portugieser; fresh
white wines.
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1: http://www.germanwine.de/english/d_reg/r_ahr.htm