Page 188 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL EATING IBERIA

Hohentübingen Castle’s importance as the resi-
dence of the Dukes of Württemberg began to diminish
inthe16thcentury.Beginninginthemid-18thcentury,
the university acquired its first rooms in the castle and
in 1816 the King of Württemberg, Wilhelm I, trans-
ferred its ownership. The academic library of nearly
60,000 bands was temporarily housed in the hall of
knights, a chemistry laboratory was set up in the
kitchen, and an astronomical observatory was housed
in the northeast tower.
Today,SchlossHohentübingenisoneofthelargest
university museums in the world featuring important
finds from the Ice Age and ancient Egypt as well as col-
lections of the history and ethnology departments. Of
particular importance are the tiny figurines of mam-
moth ivory displayed behind glass in a darkened room.
“Our most famous piece is the wild horse,” said guide
Kristina Häfele. “The figures were created some
40,000 years ago and are the oldest known works of
art.”Theexhibitionsincludingsarcophagi,Greekvases,
and bronze statues were fascinating and I stayed until
the closing time.
Back through the royal courtyard, over the moat
and a few steps downhill on the Burgsteige, and I
dropped into the Mauganetschle Restaurant for a din-
ner of Maultaschen. The place proved so popular that
I had been turned away the evening before so to say

Right: Martin Eberle punts a Stocherkahn.
Bottom: Main entrance to Castle
Hohentübingen.

188 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE 2020