Burg Maus

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Burg Maus is located on the east side of the Rhine near St. Goarshausen. Constructed by Archbishop-Elector, Bohemond II of Trier in the mid-fourteenth century, it served to enforce his toll rights and to secure borders against the counts of Katzenelnbogen, who allegedly gave the castle its name. Punning on their own name, the Katzenelnbogens joked that it was the job of the “Katz” to keep the mouse (maus) in check. This name stuck, even though the castle was also referred to as Burg Peterseck, Thurnberg (Thurmberg) and Deuernburg. Burg Maus was never destroyed, but fell into a state of disrepair during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Between 1900 and 1906, it was restored, with great attention to historical accuracy, by architect Wilhelm Gärtner. During World War II, the castle received shell damage. It now houses an aviary for falcons, owls and eagles.

Kamp-Bornhofen

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Kamp-Bornhofen is a noted spa, St. Mary’s Abbey is a renowned pilgrimage centre. St. Mary’s was consecrated in 1435, and its medieval image of the Virgin Mary is reported to work miracles. Kamp-Bornhofen is closely linked to Burgs Sterrenberg and Liebenstein, also known as the 'Hostile Brothers'. Sterrenberg was built in the eleventh century, and Liebenstein was built between 1284 and 1290. A 2.5 metre thick curtain wall was built around Sterrenberg in reaction the construction of Liebenstein. It was named the 'wall of discord', and the myth of the 'Hostile Brothers' was born.

At the start of the 20th century, St Mary’s became too small to hold the pilgrims, so the Franciscan friars established a square on the northern side in 1912. Approximately two hundred thousand pilgrims admire the portrait and the marble eighteenth century pulpit each year

The story of the hostile brothers tells of an old knight who lived at Sterrenberg with his two sons. His wife was long dead, and the castle was in a constant state of sadness. The knight’s distant cousin died, leaving his beautiful little daughter, Angela, in the knight’s care. Eventually, both boys fell in love with her. The old knight wished his oldest son-and-heir, Henry, to marry the girl, but Angela loved the younger son, Conrad. Both sons decided to go on crusade, but after pleadings from the old knight, Henry decided to remain at home. Even though Angela begged Conrad not to go, he remained determined to leave. Conrad planted a laurel sprig for Angela to tend. He promised that when he returned, he would make a laurel wreath for her.

After a lengthy time, Angela began to look upon Henry with tenderness, and stated that her love for Conrad had been a youthful passion. But Henry refused to betray his brother. The old knight decided to build a new castle, which he called Liebenstein, for his second son to rule upon his return. Shortly after completing the castle’s construction, the old knight died.

Retuning knights told Angela and Henry that, on his way back from the Holy Land, Conrad had married a Grecian princess with whom he was returning home. Henry was furious that his brother would betray Angela in such a manner. He met Conrad on Sterrenberg’s bridge, and the two men commenced fighting. After much bloodshed, Angela stepped between the two, and announced that she would enter a nunnery. Conrad was grieved at what he had done, and took up residence in Liebenstein, where his new wife soon ran off with another knight. Angela retired to the monastery, and she and Henry both died on the same day. When Conrad heard of the deaths, he threw himself off Liebenstein’s ramparts. Both strongholds then fell into the hands of the Knight Brömser of Rüdesheim

Boppard

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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.

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.

Oberlahnstein

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Oberlahnstein is situated at the confluence of River Lahn and the Rhine, and retains part of its walls and towers. The town is noted for its lead and silver mines. Schloss Martinsburg, which is located in the town, was the residence of the electors of Mainz.
In 1292, King Adolf of Nassau gave permission for the Archbishopric of Mainz to collect customs duties, and in 1298 the archbishopric built Burg Lahneck to act as a collection centre. In 1324, Holy Roman Emperor, Louis the Bavarian, presented the town charter and approved the building of fortifications. In 1400, at the Marienkapelle of Schloss Martinsburg, King Wenceslaus was deposed for failing to maintain the public peace. He was replaced by Rupert, Count of the Rhine Palatinate. Between 1632 and 1646 the town was occupied at various times by the Swedish, Imperial, Hessian and French troops.

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.

Niederlahnstein

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Niederlahnstein, at the confluence of Rivers Lahn and Rhine, is noted for its machinery manufacture and shipbuilding. Earliest mention occurs in 1018, when it was part of the Archbishopric of Trier. It received its city charter in 1332, and was assigned to the Prussian province of Hesse-Nassau. A customs tower was built in 1348. During the Thirty Years’ War, it was occupied by a series of forces: Swedish, Imperial, Hessian and French. In 1688, nearby Burg Lahneck was destroyed by the French. Between 1795 and 1800, the castle was occupied by Austrians, Prussians, French and Russians. On January 1, 1815, part of the Russian Army crossed in the Rhine at Niederlahnstein on its way to engage Napoleon.

Its oldest church is the Johanniskirche, whose earliest mention occurs in the ninth century when it was consisted of one nave. The flat-roofed Romanesque five-bay basilica was built about 1130, and was a model for the churches in the area. It was destroyed several times and was left as a ruin after its destruction in the French Revolution. In 1857, it was restored in the Romanesque tradition. Its chapel, known as Allerheiligenberg was a centre for pilgrimage. Johanniskirche has the oldest gallery in the Middle Rhine district. St. John’s Abbey (Johanniskloster) is under the purview of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (Arnstein Fathers). St. Barbara’s is Niederlahnstein’s other Roman Catholic Church, and features a centuries-old cemetery