Do you know the difference between a Castle and a Palace?

In 61 years I have never had the occasion to ask my self this question. What is the difference between a Castle and a Palace? It's quite simple actually. A Castle is built to be a fortress and a Palace is built to be a showcase. Buckingham Palace vs Edinburgh Castle.

It is a cold drizzly day and we walk across the Rhein to Mannheim and its Palace which you can barely see from Lisa's balcony. She has some lovely Cherry trees just outside that have already started blooming.

There are a series of bridges about 200 yards from her apartment that will take cars, Trains, Trams, and other people across the Rhein river. Its a little bit longer as their is no direct route to the bridge but it is picturesque and will be lovely as soon as we another sunny day....... hopefully soon.

And there it is the castle.... er Palace. It is expansive. It was designed to impress and does.

Lieselotte had arranged for us to have an English speaking guide who took us on a journey through time back to the 1700 and 1800's. The first room as explained was all about show. It is where guests arrived and the peasants got a glimpse of power and fortune. It was amazing and as we were there several Brides and Grooms were having wedding pictures taken against this backdrop.

Once upstairs you crossed the greeting hall to the Knights hall which is where all the pomp and circumstance took place along with wedding dinners for your 500 closest, classic balls with orchestras, and anything where you wanted to impress the dignitaries.

The wood floors throughout this Palace were exquisite.

It was designed specifically to impress such that all the doors would align such that a guest would be overwhelmed by the immensity of the building.

Servants staircase. Imagine bringing hot water from down below for the guests or the food.

One of the interesting musical facts of Mannheim is it where the evolution of Baroque and Renaissance took place through sponsorship of composers. Bach and Handel as well as Mozart and Beethoven performed their works here.

One of the Fredrick's. Very popular name in Germany for heads of state.

Outside in the distance of the courtyard a youth choir was singing as we exited. Back across the Rhein we walk and we see where the Cruise ships stop as they pass down the Rhein.