The Danube

Its history, scenery and topography,

splendily illustrated

from sketches taken on the spot by Abresch, and drawn by

By William Henry Bartlett, esquire

engraved by

J. Cousen, J.C. Bentley, R. Brandard, and other eminent artists

Edited by William Beattie, M.D.

London, George Virtue,

London, Joseph Rickerby, Printer

1844

Extrait (pages 133-134, sur Graffenstein)

(Gravure de Greiffenstein, W.H. Bartlett delineat, H. Adlard sculpsit)

Greiffenstein, another of those castles which overlook the Danube, in a state of similar dilapidation, has long disputed with Dürrenstein the honour of having been the prison of our English Richard. But to this distinction it has no just claim, as it has now been finally ascertained from historical documents, that the castle of Dürrenstein and Trifels are the only fortresses in Austria, to which was entrusted the safe custody of the chivalrous Plantagenet. Here, nevertheless, the ciceroné has been long accustomed to show to visitors a wooden-cage, in which they are told Richard Coeur de Lion was confined like a wild beast, and small pieces of which are sold to the credulous as precious relics. It is probable that this cage, according to the usage of feudal despots, was employed for securing criminals, prisoners of war, or other offenders against the will and pleasure of the lords of Greiffenstein (1). The view from the massive square tower of Greiffenstein, commanding a magnificent panorama of mountains, forests, cultivated plains, interspersed with towns and villages, with the isle-bestudded Danube flowing in tranquil majesty under the windows, is one of the finest in Germany ; and during the summer attracts numerous visitors from the capital. The castle is the property of Prince Lichtenstein, who, by his taste and liberality, has arrested the wasting hand of time, restored to it much of its ancient character, and thereby increased the attraction presented by its truly rornantic position on one of the spurs, or out-posts of the Wienerwald. The origin of the name is said to be derived from the rock on which the castle is built having been the haunt of a griffin, the impression of whose talons is stiil pointed out on the rock as an argument every way calculated to put incredulity to the blush (2).

(1) For an interesting tradition concerning this castle, we refer our readers to Planché’s Danube, where the story of Sir Richard and his daughter Evelina is beautifully told.

(2) The following is the account given by a German writer : « Ob die sage ächt sei welche von der Entstehung des Namens Greifenstein erzählt wird, wollen wir nicht verbürgen ; wir theilen sie jedoch hier mit. Der Burgherr kam nach langer Abwesenheit von der Kreuzfahrt heim ; im Schönste Festsmucke, das üppege Haar in lange Flechten gebunden, eilte ihm seine Gattin freudig entgegen. Wie er sie so ihm Glanze ihrer Schönheit und ihres Putzes sah, erwachte ihm Eifersucht im Herzen und er hielt sich für überzeugt, dass nicht er, der Unerwartete, es gewesen, für den sie sich so festlich geschmückt. Ohne Verzug rief er den Burgpfaffen herbei, befragte ihn und da er keine genügende Auskunft erhielt, liess er ihn in die Tiefe des Turmes werfen, der Gattin aber schnilt er die schönen langen Flechten ab, und als sie um Gnade für den unschuldig Gefangenen flehte, schwur er, nicht eher wolle er denselben 1osgeben, als bis der Stein and der Treppe von den Berührungen der Auf-und Niedersteigenden so tief Gehöhlt sei, dass er die Flechten in die Höhlung Stecken könne. Da soll nun das Gesinde Jedem, der die Burg betrat, mitleidig zugerufen haben : Greif-an-den-Stein ! der Burgherr aber in der Folge die Treppe herabgestürzt sein und den Hals gebrochen haben, sein ruheloser Geist noch im schlosse wandeln. Etc ».