Kitzigen & Dracula's Grave

We had the awesome opportunity to hook up with our friend Michael who was stationed with us in Giebelstadt.  He retired in from the Army in Germany and he and his lovely family have been hosting us for the past few days. 

Michael was kind enough to be our tour guide and companion as we went for a stroll down memory lane.  We hit Wurzburg (which was the "big" town near where we were stationed), Kitzigen (one of the neighboring towns where there was another Army post) and Giebelstadt.  We went on lots of country roads and buzz through so many little villages it made my heart sing!

View from Dracula's Grave

This is the tower in Kitzigen.  Accordinng to Lore (whether it's G.I. Lore or a German story I have no idea), when the tower was being built, there was a stortage of water to mix the mortar.  They used wine (or beer) instead for the mortar and for the men.  Then the story takes a bit of a turn... Either the men had their fill of wine and that's why the tower's tilted OR when the mortar set, the alcohol made the tower slant due to the uneven drying of the mortar.  Either way, HUNDREDS of years later it tilts.

This is the mural on the ceiling of Dracula's Grave.  it shows angels breathing fire, parts of bodies mixed in with skeletons and death all around.

On top of the tower there's a gold ball.  The tower slants toward an old cemetary located in the heart of the town.  When you go into the cememtary it's a beautifully manicured and landscaped area with georgeous trees and headstones dating back to the 1700's.  Then there's Dracula's Grave.  According to yet another tale of the area, when the tower finally falls, the golden ball will land on Dracula's Grave and wake him from his restful sleep.  This will signify the end of the world.   

Dracula's Grave

Michael, Dennis & Matthew looking into Dracula's Grave