Boppard

My Images of Boppard on Imagekind
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Bad Salzig

Boppard is located in the Rhein-Hunsrück district of the Rhineland-Palatinate. It was founded by the Romans, and became a royal residence during the Merovingian dynasty. During the middle ages, it was an important centre for commerce and shipping. It became an imperial free city during the rein of the Hohenstaufen emperors. In 1283, Ludwig, the Count Palatine, mortgaged his customs duties to Count Eberhard of Katzenelnbogen.

In 1312, Emperor Henry VII pledged Boppard to his brother, Baldwin, Archbishop Elector of Trier, and it remained under Trier influence until it was absorbed into Revolutionary France. At the Congress of Vienna, 1815, Boppard came under Prussian rule. It still maintains its walls and is a popular tourist centre. It is also home to much light industry including machinery and pharmaceuticals. The Church of St. Severus, the Carmelite Church and the archbishop's castle date to the middle ages. The castle serves as the city museum. Like a number of other Rhine communities, Boppard is a noted spa. Kurtrierische Burg, the former electoral castle, was established by Baldwin of Trier in 1327. Boppard also contains an archeological park that focuses on life in Roman times.

Bad Salzig in the Rhineland-Palatinate is incorporated into the City of Boppard. It is a spa town with slightly salty water.

According to legend, Sir Conrad Bayer, a noble knight who lived in Boppard, professed that he refused to go on crusade because he wanted to protect his property from the Rhine robber barons; but in reality, he was courting a maiden named Maria who lived in a neighbouring castle. She fell in love with him, but his passion cooled, and he readied to go on crusade. She pleaded against his leaving, but he said he no longer loved her. Maria was devastated and desired revenge. As he was leaving his castle for Palestine, Conrad was confronted by an armoured youth claiming to be Maria’s brother, who challenged Conrad to a fight. After Conrad won the battle, he removed the youth’s helmet, and discovered that the youth was actually Maria, who died shortly afterward. Harbouring a sense of guilt, Conrad built the convent of Marienburg on top of a nearby hill as a remembrance to Maria. He then became a Knight Templar, and died at the siege of Acre.