How many castles are on the Rhine River in Germany?
There are over 40 castles along the Rhine which are now turned into luxurious hotels, restaurants and museums. Travelers love to cruise the river just to castle watch. This part of Germany is also known for the wonderful wine which has been popular since ancient Roman times.
Where are the most castles on the Rhine?
Castles on the Rhine river Here you can see the most important medieval fortresses, castles and palaces on the Rhine river between Rüdesheim / Bingen and Koblenz. The German Castle Association, located in the Marksburg in Braubach on Rhine, is responsible for the preservation of these monuments.
Who built the castles on the Rhine river?
But, in the 11th century, the pope established his power over the emperor. This allowed the little German princes to go wild and build all these castles. That’s why most of the castles along the Rhine date from this era.
Which is the biggest and mightiest castle on the Rhine?
Rheinfels
My favorite is Rheinfels. While now a gutted shell, this castle offers your single most convenient and evocative hands-on castle experience on the river. Once the biggest and mightiest castle on the Rhine, it withstood a siege of 28,000 French troops in 1692 — but the French finally destroyed it a century later.
Why are there so many castles along the Rhine River?
Many of the castles were “robber-baron” fortresses built by petty princes and two-bit rulers back when there were 350 independent little states in what is today’s Germany. The castle owners raised heavy chains across the river when boats came — and lowered them only when the merchants had paid their duty.
Why were the castles on the Rhine originally built?
Castles on the Rhine were mainly built between the 12th and 14th Centuries as defence strongholds and toll houses – and over 40 punctuate the landscape on just one 65km stretch of the Middle Rhine Valley. However, it was the later Romanticism period that influenced many 19th-Century makeovers.
Why are there so many castles on the Rhine river?
Who owns Katz castle Germany?
It was first built around 1371 by Count William II of Katzenelnbogen. The castle was bombarded in 1806 by Napoleon and rebuilt in the late 19th century, in 1896–98. It is now privately owned, and not open for visitors.
Why is the Rhine River important?
The Rhine is western Europe’s most important waterway. It rises in the Alps, and passes through Switzerland, France, Germany and the Netherlands before flowing into the North sea. The river is 1,320 kilometres long, and, because it is navigable from Basel to Rotterdam, it serves as a highway for Europe’s freight.