schwanthaler’s castle or SCHWANECK..
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most important room in the castle. A long, heavy oaken
table, running across the ball, supports a row of goblets,
fantastic enough for an enchanted palace; the walls of the
room are papered, up to a certain height, with a dull
crimson paper stamped with the same heraldic swan.
This paper suggests the idea of tapestry hangings ; above
the paper, and upon the white-washed walls are arranged
coats of mail, shields, swords, and escutcheons ; the rafters
of the roof are gay with heraldic colours and shields, pro-
ducing a fine barbaric effect. On one side of the hall,
revealed by half-drawn curtains of crimson and gold-
coloured stuffs, standing in a recess, you see a large, old,
gilded shrine. The other sides of the room are rich in
windows commanding a variety of views.
“ How beautiful!” we all exclaimed, on stepping towards
one particular window. Far below us rolled the river, its
murmur pleasantly ascending to us; right opposite gleamed
forth the snowy Alps, a vast plain, extending from the pre-
cipitous Isar bank to their very feet; a plain, as I have so
often said, of some fifty or sixty miles. And, far as
the eye could reach towards the right, wound, in bold
curves, the wild banks of the river, rocky and woody;
here crowned with a castle; there, in the far distance, a
patch of pine-forest. The effect of the whole scene was
heightened for us by an approaching thunder-storm, which
cast dark shadows over the horizon.
Of course we ascended to the top of the little watch-
tower, which runs up one side of the castle; but, though
more extensive, I question whether the view, on the whole,
is so striking and effective as seen through the windows of
the banqueting-room, or from the balcony overlooking the
ruins.
Our survey of Schwaneck was soon at an end, but not
so soon our delight. I cannot describe, in words, the
31
most important room in the castle. A long, heavy oaken
table, running across the ball, supports a row of goblets,
fantastic enough for an enchanted palace; the walls of the
room are papered, up to a certain height, with a dull
crimson paper stamped with the same heraldic swan.
This paper suggests the idea of tapestry hangings ; above
the paper, and upon the white-washed walls are arranged
coats of mail, shields, swords, and escutcheons ; the rafters
of the roof are gay with heraldic colours and shields, pro-
ducing a fine barbaric effect. On one side of the hall,
revealed by half-drawn curtains of crimson and gold-
coloured stuffs, standing in a recess, you see a large, old,
gilded shrine. The other sides of the room are rich in
windows commanding a variety of views.
“ How beautiful!” we all exclaimed, on stepping towards
one particular window. Far below us rolled the river, its
murmur pleasantly ascending to us; right opposite gleamed
forth the snowy Alps, a vast plain, extending from the pre-
cipitous Isar bank to their very feet; a plain, as I have so
often said, of some fifty or sixty miles. And, far as
the eye could reach towards the right, wound, in bold
curves, the wild banks of the river, rocky and woody;
here crowned with a castle; there, in the far distance, a
patch of pine-forest. The effect of the whole scene was
heightened for us by an approaching thunder-storm, which
cast dark shadows over the horizon.
Of course we ascended to the top of the little watch-
tower, which runs up one side of the castle; but, though
more extensive, I question whether the view, on the whole,
is so striking and effective as seen through the windows of
the banqueting-room, or from the balcony overlooking the
ruins.
Our survey of Schwaneck was soon at an end, but not
so soon our delight. I cannot describe, in words, the