From Battlements to Books: Crafting Fantasy Along the Rhine

Most of the time where authors write is just the place where they write. Sure, we try to dress it up with little things we hope will spur our muses on, but familiarity tends to dull the excitement after a while.

Sometimes, an author is lucky enough to write somewhere special. On rare occasion, we have the opportunity to write in a setting that kicks our Muses in the backside and makes them pay attention. I have just returned from one of those experiences.

I was fortunate enough to embark on a river cruise along the Rhine and Moselle. These two rivers are known for two things: vineyards and castles. The castles date back to Medieval times. Some of the vineyards are even older – the Romans introduced wine making to this part of Europe.

The sheer number of castles on the Rhine is astounding. Along a stretch of river less than a hundred kilometres long, there are about forty castles. Many of them are in ruins, many were restored in the nineteenth century, all of them are stunning. This is the same stretch of river where you find Loreley’s rock. Loreley is a figure from German folklore – a sweet-voiced mermaid who lures sailors to their deaths with her song.

Currently, I am working on an urban fantasy novel partially set in a realm full of magic, castles and dragons. I mapped out all the key scenes and started on the storyline while drinking in the sight of actual castles. I wish I could say I planned it that way, but it was all a happy coincidence.

I did have time for sightseeing. Quite a lot of it, actually. Did you ever wonder why some castles have square towers and some have round towers? Earlier castles were built with square towers. Eventually, someone figured out that round towers are better at deflecting projectiles, so the nobility switched to round towers. I pay attention during guided tours because I never know what facts I might need to incorporate into my writing. Or where my next story idea might come from.