Most of the riverside castles along the Rhine are now in ruins or exist as modern reconstructions. The impressive
Marksburg Castle, a medieval fortress on a hill, is unique amongst its neighbours as the only medieval stronghold to have survived intact. Tours of this castle offer visitors a rare glimpse into a well-preserved, if not long-forgotten, period of history.
Marksburg Castle (via Tobi 87, Wikimedia Commons)
The castle can only be visited by a
guided tour of about an hour. Tours are given in German; however, easy to follow guidebooks are available in multiple languages. They also offer specific guided tours in English, French, Italian, Spanish, and Japanese for international groups. Regular guided tours in English for individual visitors start every day at 13.00 and 16.00 during the summer season.
View of the Rhine from the Castle Battlements
Castle Keep
The tour begins in the rocky, cave-like castle keep - the oldest part of the castle, which dates to the 12th century. After the keep, the tour progresses through the kitchens and dining area, battlements overlooking the Rhine, chapel (with well-preserved medieval wall paintings), bedrooms, wine cellar, and 'torture room' (which is actually the former castle stables).
Medieval Painting, Chapel
Medieval Painting, Kitchen
Our guide suggested that
historical evidence shows that the castle changed hands peacefully between ruling powers, thus its long survival, and there is no record of torture ever being used in the castle (though it was briefly used by Napoleon as a prison).
Village of Braubach
Translation: Come all you dear goblets, refresh yourselves with wine. And with every new goblet, more sorrows will have passed
The castle restaurant
Marksburgschänke has a panorama terrace overlooking the Rhine valley or there are many cafes and authentic German restaurants in the surrounding village of
Braubach.
