Koerich

Koerich

The mysterious CHEST in Koerich

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My brother Emil and I are sitting on a bench outside Koerich Castle. The path in front of us leads into the castle. There used to be a trench here, but today there’s tall grass growing all around the castle. I reach inside my rucksack for the piece of paper Grandma Tilly gave us this morning. 

“In case you feel like solving a few riddles in Koerich,” she replied.

I read aloud the first task: “What is the number on top of the archway?”

Emil runs across the bridge and looks for a date. 

“I’ve got the answer!” he suddenly shouts. I run over to him. 

“Come on, there are more riddles to solve,” I say excitedly. But suddenly in the courtyard we stop still in our tracks. A young girl is squatting on the ground. 

“Hello! What are you doing?” Emil asks curiously. 

“I’m weeding,” the shy girl explains. “Afterwards, I’ve got to hurry over to the kKnights’ hHall. I have to scrub the floor.” 

Emil and I don’t really understand what she means. 

“You’ve got to scrub the Knights’ Hall?” I ask cautiously. 

“Of course I do!” she says, “like any child in the Middle Ages. Feed the animals, fetch water from the well, wash clothes and look after my younger brothers and sisters… Don’t you have to do this as well?”

Emil and I look at one another. Then I reply: “No, the most we have to do is make our bed and help with the washing-up.” 

“Then you’re lucky,” the girl sighs. “And what are you doing here in Koerich?” 

“We’re looking for the key to a mysterious chest! And to do this, we have to solve riddles. We’ll find the answers in the castle,” Emil explains excitedly and shows the girl the piece of paper. She is called Anna. 

“That’s great! I know the castle really well. Is it okay if I help?” 

“Of course!” we say with delight.

We walk around the castle together and solve one question after another. We take a seat in the guard house, walk across high, iron footbridges and up staircases, we peer from above down into the gloomy depths of the Witches’ Tower and visit the dark, cool cellars. After all that, we’re hungry. We sit down together on the same bench outside the castle and eat our picnic. 

There’s a beautiful church standing behind the castle on a hill. The church bell rings out. Emil and I turn round to listen. 

“Thank you very much for helping us and for your explanations,” we say to thank Anna. But when we turn round again, Anna has disappeared.

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INFOS & EXTRAS

Gréiweschlass 

The Koerich Gréiweschlass (Count’s Castle) is known as the gateway to the Valley of the Seven Castles. Explore every inch of the ruins. Awaiting your visit are half-ruined buildings, dark cellars and the Witches’ Tower

Roman Villa in Goeblange 

Visit the villa rustica  Miecher in Goeblange. Here, in the 1st century AD, a land-owning Roman nobleman built a luxurious manor house, small temple, slaughterhouse and brewery. Towards the end of the 4th century, the manor house was abandoned and over time it fell into disrepair.  

Koerich castle

Guttland © Jeannot Weber
Koerich Castle - Gréiweschlass
Koerich Castle - Gréiweschlass
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© Visit Guttland
Roman villa Miecher
The villa rustica of Goeblingen- "Miecher" is a Gallo-Roman agricultural estate of significant size in the area once occupied by the Treveri.
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