Friday, July 22, 2016

Summer Palace #TWRP Summer Treats & Reads #BlogHop

The Wild Rose Press Authors have joined together to bring you the Summer Treats & Reads Blog Hop! From July 22-30, check out a variety of blogs for summer-themed posts and great prizes! And don't forget to enter the Grand Prize - 
a Kindle Fire donated by The Wild Rose Press! 

For many people, summer is a time for travel! Exotic locations, historical destinations, a relaxing getaway... Summer vacations can be taken anywhere. As for vacation destinations, I highly recommend Europe! Years ago, my husband and I visited friends living in Germany where we spent two wonderful weeks touring the town and countryside. My favorites places were, of course, the castles and palaces!

For this Summer Treat post, let me show you the Summer Home of the Bamberg Prince-Bishops...


Located in Memmelsdorf, the Schloss Seehof was built in 1687 as a hunting lodge and summer residence for Prince-Bishop Marquard Sebastian Schenk von Stauffenberg.

The palace gate.


Beside the Seehof Palace gate is the area which housed the guard's men and stables. It's now converted into a restaurant. My husband and I ate breakfast here. I was grateful for all those German language lessons I took in high school assisting me with ordering our Fruhstuck! 


The Seehof Palace is an enclosed four-wing structure with corner towers giving the impression of a fortress. It's also known as "Marquandsburg" or Marquand's Fortress. 


Perhaps what's best known about this palace is the fountains. 
It's an interesting feature that attracts many visitors.


The baroque-styled water garden fountains are a splendid sight!


The first day we arrived at Seehof Palace, the place was closed to tourists, so we spent some time simply wandering about the area, absorbing the atmosphere and history. We sat on a bench in the inner garden, wondering what life was like living here in a palace that served as a Summer Home.

The next day when we returned, we had the opportunity to take a tour. The guide began the tour speaking German (as expected!) and we were quite happy to listen to as much as we could understand. At the time, I knew more German than my husband, so I tried to translate as much as I could, but back then I was still just a beginner. Just viewing the magnificent beauty of the rooms was enough to leave us in awe. We would've been content with just that much.

However, there was an elderly German couple on the tour along with us and when they heard me whispering my horribly rough translations, they were so generous to ask the tour guide if she could speak English for the rest of the tour. We were so surprised and incredibly grateful, thanking them numerous times for their kindness. The couple explained that they've been on this same tour around five times and it would be nice to brush up on their English. So, the tour was given by both the tour guide and the elderly couple who added exceptional knowledge of the palace's history.

They told us that Schloss Seehof served as the childhood summer vacation home for Marie Antoinette and her family. There's a family portrait of her and her siblings in one of the ornately decorated rooms. As well as portraits of her mother, Marie Theresa of Habsburg, and her father, the Holy Roman Emperor, Francis I. 


  
Along with the tour of the palace and a view of the fountains, we also walked along the walking trails and shrubbery mazes. There were dozens of stone figures to admire and benches placed strategically to relax. 






The extensive grounds are incredibly beautiful. We met many people taking their daily strolls along the paths. And there was much wildlife in the fish ponds along the walking trails.









No flash photography was allowed inside the palace when we visited, so I couldn't take any photos of the inside, but I did find a site where you can go on a virtual tour of the palace so you can experience the incredible beauty of the artwork and architecture. I do remember in the "White Hall" we had to wear slippers so as not to damage the floor with our shoes. The ceiling was breathtakingly gorgeous!

I hope you enjoyed learning about a unique Summer Vacation Home! Now, it's time for the prizes! :)

For this blog hop, I'm giving away a copy of The Witch's Thief. Although the majority of the book takes place in England, the first chapter is set in Bavaria, Germany, so I thought it was an appropriate choice for a prize! :)
 




To save her sister's life, Julia Grey seeks a spell hidden somewhere within Merriweather Manor. Her position as a lady's companion affords her the freedom to search the house. But time is running out. The necromancer she's bargained with is growing impatient. And an unexpected appearance of a man from her past makes matters worse in an already complicated situation.

Basil Merriweather returns to England after ten years abroad to discover his childhood sweetheart living in his home. But, he's no longer the carefree man of his youth and she's hiding something--deadly secrets Basil vows to uncover even as he hides a dark secret of his own.

While neither Basil nor Julia will trust in the other, their hearts speak a truer language. In a grand attempt to save Julia's sister and Basil's life, the two must finally confess sinister truths. Will their admissions help or hinder any future they may have together? Or will the necromancer destroy all in a vile attempt at revenge?






a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to check out the other blogs on this hop 
for chances to win more prizes!

31 comments:

  1. My daughter is a bit of a globe Trotter and is in Germany right now with side trips to Paris and Scotland. Great Pictures and Intriguing books!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wish I was with her! I want to go back. So many more castles to see! :)

      Delete
  2. Wonderful post! My husband and I sailed down the Rhine River on Viking three years ago. Germany was like a fairy tale trip to me and the people are so warm and friendly. The castles were splendid to see. Thanks for bringing back some great memories.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's wonderful! Years and years ago, I used to hear about how the German people were so distant with foreigners which made me a bit nervous traveling with very little grasp of the language. But we didn't experience that at all. Everyone we encountered was friendly, helpful and informative. It was lovely!

      Delete
  3. Beautiful pictures! Thanks so much for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! Btw, I came across Beloved Enemy today. I love the cover!

      Delete
    2. Thanks Tricia - I love the cover too, I was lucky enough to have the two models I wanted and I think Rae Monet did a fantastic job!

      Delete
  4. Fascinating post Tricia. The architecture is SO different. I visited the Rhine castles and Viennese palaces, but none looked like this. Thanks for sharing. M. S.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, I agree! It does look unusual. It's not like the other castles or palaces that we saw in Germany. It's very unique!

      Delete
  5. What gorgeous buildings! Looks like it was a fabulous vacation. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Couldn't you just imagine vacationing in a place like this? Talk about writing inspiration! :)

      Delete
  6. On my bucket list to visit Europe someday! Sue M. Van/Haven Malone

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, if you ever have a chance, go for it! I want to go back!

      Delete
  7. Great post. I love the idea of castles in general. Amazing fodder. Such beautiful pictures too.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Loved your pictures and post, Tricia! My husband has been to Germany and talks fondly of his adventures living there. Perhaps one day I will go there, too. For the moment, I have this love affair with visiting Scotland, Ireland, and back to France. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, I have Scotland on my list of places to visit, too. All of Europe, really. lol

      Delete
  9. So amazing to think that a home Marie Antoinette summered at as a child still stands. Very enjoyable post!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was incredible to stand in the same rooms where she lived. So much history!

      Delete
  10. Very cool post! A little larger than my summer home, lol! Sure wouldn't want to have to dust that place.

    Happy Summer Reading!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If we could afford homes like this, I'd imagine we'd have money for a housekeeper or maid, too! lol

      Delete
  11. Great post about the Summer Vacation Home! Can't wait to read The Witch's Thief. It looks like a book I'll love.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thank you for sharing your memories of the little summer palace in Germany! The pictures are gorgeous, too.
    Your blurb is enticing--I especially lobe the line "their hearts speak a truer language" so beautifully put!
    I'm reading a lot of paranormal book blurbs on this blog hop and it's really getting my appetite for a little magic in my romance.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Kimberly! There are many amazing books on this blog hop! I'm adding to my list, too. :)

      Delete
  13. Beautiful pictures, Tricia! What a wonderful vacation.

    ReplyDelete