SCHLOSS HOHENTUEBINGEN - CASTLE HOHENTUEBINGEN

As you climb up the Burgsteige, you are immediately struck by the imposing castle gate. On the pediment, a lansquenet armed with a rifle and a soldier with a sword stand guard. The inner courtyard dates from the 16th century. All the ramparts and turrets are a beautiful place to walk. Several university departments now have their headquarters inside the fortress.

The site, set up like an eagle's nest at the top of Tubbingen, offers a superb panoramic view of the city below. The castle houses the Museum Schloss Hohentubingen (Museum of Ancient Civilizations), which is well worth a visit because it has very rich collections. This ethnographic and archaeological museum brings together departments specialising in protohistory, i. e. from the Neolithic, Classical Antiquity, Ancient Egypt and the Near East. The visit, well organized, within the castle, is very pleasant, and the setting highlights the works presented particularly well. His jewel? In a room dedicated to figurative art, a small horse, carved in mammoth ivory, was found in the Vogelherd cave. Superbly carved, this small wonder dates back to less than 40,000 years before our era. It is an exceptional work of art. Other superb pieces dating back to prehistoric times are very well displayed. We can admire jewellery and small flutes also carved in ivory, and other fascinating animal figures. These pieces reflect the dexterity of contemporary artists of the time. These works originate from caves discovered in the Swabian Alps in Bavaria. The complex is now classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The department dedicated to Ancient Egypt highlights the restored mastaba (burial ground) of Sheshemufer III, decorated with superb bas-reliefs, which is worth a look. In the section dedicated to the civilizations of Mesopotamia are displayed beautiful stelae and tablets engraved with Summer's cuneiform writing, dated 3000 BC. A really interesting museum.