Marksburg

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Situated above Braubach, Marksburg is the only intact medieval Rhine castle. It was first mentioned in 1231. Originally known as Burg Braubach, it was property of the Lords of Eppstein, who assumed the local silver mines. In 1283, it became the property of the Count Eberhard II of Katzenelnbogen, whose family added the gothic aspects of the castle. From 1479 to 1803, it was ruled by the Landgraves of Hesse. In the seventeenth century, it was turned into a hill fortress with artillery batteries and ramparts. During the first half of the nineteenth century, it belonged to the Duchy of Nassau, and was used as both a jail and disabled soldiers’ home. In 1866, Marksburg and Braubach passed to Prussia. In 1900, Marksburg was purchased by the Association for the Preservation of German Castles, and was restored by court architect, Bodo Ebhardt, as a typical late medieval fortress.

Legend relates that Elizabeth, daughter to Count von Eppstein, fell in love with a knight named Siegbert von Lahnstein, who was called to go to war against Bohemia. A young monk called Brother Mark, who was named after St. Mark, decided to help Elizabeth through her period of difficulty. A year later, a young gentleman in black armour, named Rochus von Andechs, who claimed to be a cousin of Siegbert, appeared at Burg Lahneck, and stated that Siegbert had died at the Battle of Marchfeld. Rochus quickly claimed Burg Lahneck, and asked for Elizabeth's hand. Elizabeth confided to Brother Mark that something about Rochus was not right, but father was set on her marrying Rochus. While praying one night, St. Mark appeared before his namesake, Brother Mark, and informed the monk that Rochus was a minion of the devil. St. Mark gave Brother Mark a Holy Cross, which Brother Mark pushed to Rochus’ chest. Rochus was swallowed by the earth.

Schloss Stolzenfels

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Schloss Stolzenfels is one of the best-known castles on the Rhine. In the mid-thirteenth century, Arnold II of Isenburg, Archbishop of Trier, built a small fortress to collect shipping tolls from Rhine traffic, and in the late fourteenth century, the Archbishops of Trier made Stolzenfels their home. In 1632, it was occupied by Sweden. It was held by the French for several years during the Thirty Years War. In 1689, it was destroyed by the French during the Nine Years War. Kronprinz Friedrich Wilhelm was given the castle in 1815, and it was restored by Prussian architect, Karl Friedrich Schinkel, who designed a new structure around the medieval core. It is approached by a meandering path which passes aqueducts, crosses bridges and moves through gardens and ravines.

The medieval gatehouse opens on to an Italianate courtyard. The castle is painted yellow ochre. After his ascension to the throne in 1842, Friedrich Wilhelm used Stolzenfels as his summer residence. A collection of weapons and early German ceramics is located in the former Knights Hall.

A story tells that Conrad of Isenburg, Elector of Treves, added a toll house to his castle at Stolzenfels, and directed his steward, Gerhard Frundsberg, to collect the tolls. Gerhard undertook to steal a portion of the toll money from his master. He also raised the tolls to an exorbitant level, and taxed the Jews double the already inflated amount. An alchemist named Lionardo learned of Gerhard’s avariciousness, and gained Gehard’s trust by promising to use his powers to increase Gerhard’s wealth to an even greater degree. While Gerhard continued top amass riches, Lionardo was, in turn, stealing from Gerhard.

Gerhard learned that Conrad of Isenburg was about to travel to Stolzenfels to collect his tolls. He was fearful that his thefts would be discovered and that he would be ruined. Gerhard’s daughter, Gertraud,, beseeched Lionardo to save her father, and Lionardo responded that only the death of a pure virgin could add enough force to his powers to enable her father to be spared.

Gertraud readied herself for death in a remote tower in the castle. As Lionardo raised his knife to kill her, Reinhard von Westerburg, captain of Conrad’s troops, intervened. He drove Lionardo away, and sought Gertraud’s hand in marriage. Gerhard, who had found out he had been robbed by Lionardo, protested that he lacked sufficient monies for a dowry. Reinhard then produced the stolen money, and the wedding took place.