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[Travel] Anyone been on a tour of Colditz?



Garage_Doors

Garage_Doors

Originally the Swankers
Jun 28, 2008
11,789
Brighton
I would like to go and have a look but is it worth the single trip on its own,
or is it something that needs to be incorporated with other places to visit?
 




B

Brovion

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 6, 2003
19,370
I've been. As to whether it's 'worth it' depends on how interested you are in it. I absolutely loved the TV series when I was a boy and I read both the Pat Reid books, but in the 1970s Colditz itself was a locked and closed castle in forbidden East Germany and I thought I'd never get the chance to go, so when I did get the chance I jumped at it.

I went on my own (it was 1998, I was touring Germany with Attila, we were playing nearby, we had a day off and the others didn't want to go) and I got there about ten in the morning. It was closed, but I banged on all the doors I could find, and yes the irony of someone trying to get IN to Colditz wasn't lost on me! Eventually someone in something like a gift shop told me to come back at four o'clock. I guess they thought I'd not bother, but I hung around and went back at four. They still said no one was around, but I pleaded, in fact I all but lied outright and said my Dad had been imprisoned here, and eventually a bloke appeared and offered to take me round.

It was brilliant. Everything was locked so he had to open every door and escort me through, and lock it behind us. The clanging of doors and clanking of locks made it very realistic! He showed me everything except the attic where the glider was built as he said that was unsafe. If you've ever seen the TV series it's amazing how much you 'recognise' especially the courtyard, but it's on a bigger scale.

So IMO it's definitely, 100% worth it if you have an interest. Probably just a boring schloss if you haven't.


DISCLAIMER: Obviously my visit was nearly 20 years ago, so I don't know what the current 'experience' is like.
 




Klaas

Klaas

I've changed this
Nov 1, 2017
2,564
No I haven't but that documentary they made about 20 years ago, when they tested if the glider would fly at the end, was amazing.
 


Herr Tubthumper

Herr Tubthumper

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 11, 2003
59,563
The Fatherland
Wouldn’t happen in Germany.
 




S

Stainsey

Member
Mar 25, 2009
37
I went about a year ago before driving up to Berlin. The part that the German officers stayed in is now a youth hostel, and the rooms are equipped to a very high standard. Even if not part of the YHA, the rates are very good. Make sure if you go out in the evening that you follow instructions from the receptionist, as me and my mates had to try to break in, and finding that impossible, luckily had their phone number still on my mobile, and was told that after 10pm, you have to go around the back. Colditz town is very quiet with only a couple of bars (and one shut at 9pm), and relatively few restaurants. The receptionist told us that very few Germans have even heard of it, and that most people who visit are Brits, Yanks, and Aussie/New Zealanders. They even closed the railway station as it was not used enough. The part that was a POW camp is accessed from the main courtyard, and it is like going back in a timewarp, as it looks unchanged from 1945. If you watched the TV series in the 70's, then you will really appreciate the feel. The museum opens at 10am from memory, and the kiosk person turned up in a Trabant ! Although the museum is relatively small, it is full of fascinating artifacts showing tunnelling equipment, fake German uniforms, radios, and even the board game that I had as a kid in the 70's. If you have even a passing interest in the Second World War, then I would say visit it.
 


swindonseagull

swindonseagull

Well-known member
Aug 6, 2003
9,272
Swindon, but used to be Manila
Was stationed in Germany at the time the wall came down. we went to Colditz, Leipzig and Dresden within a few weeks of being allowed into the East.
Colditz was not a big tourist site and was a bit run down, but the village had a nice museum, getting into Colditz Castle before the tourists took over was brilliant, they even boasted a window that was allegedly broken by Douglas Bader playing cricket in the courtyard.
Many tunnels were also available to see first hand.

What its like now I have no idea..
 






M

METALMICKY

Well-known member
Jan 30, 2004
6,073
Going off at a bit of a tangent does anyone remember the excellent Colditz board game that was available in the 70s?
 


H

Hereford Gull

Active member
Jan 21, 2004
100
Margaret River WA
Was there about 2 months ago, thought it was great, but do the longer guided tour, only 4 of us plus guide and you visit more than the standard tour. Best to stay in or near Colditz town unless you've got a car as public transport to get there is not great.
 








kevo

kevo

Well-known member
Mar 8, 2008
9,102
I met Pat Reid a couple of times. He lived in Uckfield when I was growing up. We used to joke at school that he'd tunnelled his way out of Colditz but couldn't escape from Uckfield...
 


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