Will the Real Frankenstein Please Stand Up?

Just as the creations of great literature has inspired me to wander about the globe in search of learning more about the people and places written about, the travels of numerous distinguished authors have influenced their writing.  Did a castle in Germany motivate Mary Shelley to construct the classic work of Frankenstein?

Tradition has it that while the young, scholarly, Mary Shelley and her beau Percy Bysshe Shelley were traveling through the Swiss Alps with poet Lord Byron and his doctor they became trapped in their quarters due to treacherous rainstorms. As a way to refute boredom the group read ghost stories. Poet Lord Byron urged the group to construct their own ghost stories. The young girl stole the prize for a story so eerie that it became a classic best seller and movie that remains alive today. In search for a link between the name Frankenstein and an actual location the assumption is that Mary and Percy may have traveled to one of two castles on their journey back to England.  The debate continues debate continues was Mary Shelley’s work inspired by Burg Frankenstein in Darmstadt, Germany or the Frankenstein Castle in the Village of Frankenstein.  Shelley’s novel makes little mention of a castle; however, Universal Studios version of Frankenstein does incorporate a castle as the setting for the film.

Burg Frankenstein is the more recognized of the two castles, and draws most of its visitors for the Halloween festivities because legend has it that the castle is haunted.   The castle is believed to be haunted because rumors have it that while the castle was functioning as a prison, a murderous physician tried to raise the dead by experimenting with human corpses to create potion of eternal life from human blood and body fluids. It was later forgotten and has been a ruin since. The ruin itself is relatively minute with a few walls, a dismantled tower and a small chapel.  It is also the home of a restaurant (open year round) picturesque view and outdoor seating. There are many options to include a visit to the castle with another short trip. For example, Frankfurt is a less than thirty minutes drive and the town of Darmstadt host many cultural activities and a charming shopping experience.

The castle overlooking Frankenstein Village rests high up on a hill while the rail in Kaiserslaughtern runs through the ruins creating a visual of the days gone by. Access to the ruins can be accomplished by a short hike up a steep hill, it is moderately strenuous.  I was feeling like Mary Shelly with my beau by my side and feeling satisfied we had set out on this adventure. The final reward was stopping for a drink at Landgasthof Schlossberg restaurant and hotel. It was the perfect end to a terrific day. They a petite bar creating a sweet coziness, which was well needed since I hadn’t seen my honey honey in several months (due to my deployment).

 

The mystery still remains and was never proven that Mary Shelley ever set foot on either castle.   You are the judge of that, but you can’t go wrong visiting either one that both make for a pleasant trip.