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| We took Grandma & Grandpa and the Hall's on a Rhine River Cruise. We got on the boat in Bingen. We took a one way trip to St. Goar. We got to see 14 Castles in 2 1/2 hours. When we got to Bingen, it was pouring rain. Luckily the rain stopped before we boarded for our cruise. Yeah! |
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| We had a couple hours to spare before our cruise time. So we stopped to eat lunch. I'm not sure where the Halls and Grandma and Grandpa ate. However, we went to a fun little pizza place down the pier. |
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| After Lunch we got Gelato. YUMMMM |
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| Still waiting for our boat. |
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| The Beautiful vineyards around Bingen |
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| Rudesheimer Roseneck- means many hedges of wild roses growing on it's rocky outcrops. |
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| On the boat ready to explore the Castles on the Rhine with Grandma & Grandpa ******Disclamer****** I'm not 100% sure the names I give the castles are the correct names. I'm going off of our book and map. Hopefully I am matching the correct castle with the information. The information is correct but not sure the castles are. |
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| Burg Klopp- This is the town's landmark. It is situated on a hill in the middle of town. It was built in the Roman Times. It was the seat of the noblemen during the period when the archbishop were in power. In the tariff war (1301) the castle troops only surrendered when fire made further defenses seem pointless. this gave the castle its title of honor "Burg Kopp the Invincible". The city bought the castle in 1897 since that time the Castle has served as a town hall and a museum. One of the most interesting things worth seeing in the museum is a collection of Roman doctor's instruments (2nd century.) |
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| Burg Ehrenfels was built in the 13th century. The castle was partly destroyed by the Swedish troops in 1636 and then completely ruined by the French in 1689. Ehrenfels has remained a ruin since it was destroyed by the french in 1689. This castle is not open to the public due to danger of collapsing. |
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| Berg Rheinstein With its battlements rises up from a rocky, craggy ridge. Built around 900 as a customs house for the Empire, it was given in about 990 by Emperor Otto III to the archbishopric of Mainz, who had it extended into a fortress. By the 17th century, the castle had fallen into disrepair and was described as a ruin. You can tour this castle. |
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| Burg Reichenstein This is one of the oldest castles on the Rhine 11th Century. in 1253 this robber knight's castle was destroyed by the Rheinishcher Stadtebund. The Burg Reichenstein has a mighty curtain wall flanked by two towers. the walls are 8 m thick at it's base and 5 m thick at the top and 16 m high. Inside there is now a hotel-restaurant. There are open guided tours daily. |
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| Burg Sooneck Also belonged to robber bands and which were destroyed on two occasions during the 13th century. The emperor lifted a temporary ban on building in the year 1349 and the new owner Kurmainz had the castle re-erected. |
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| Kaub |
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| Burg Stahleck was rebuilt after the Thirty Year's War, only to be wrecked again by French troops in 1689. The Rheinischer Verein had it restored on its old foundations in 1925-27as a youth hostel. It is still a youth hostel today. |
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| Pfalzgrafenstein This is a castle built as a customs house on a small island in the middle of the river. It has a twelve meter high ring wall around it. The entrance is on the third floor and the floor of the dungeon could be raised and lowered depending on the water level. Burg Gutenfels is in the background. |
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| Burg Gutenfels This castle was built in the 1200s by the Falkenstein family and was the location where Adolf von Nassau found out he had been chosen as the new king. In the early 1800s, Napoleon almost had is destroyed but it was saved and later rebuilt. It is now being used as a hotel. |
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| Schoenburg Castle The town of Oberwessel is on the site of an old Celtic settlement from about 400 BC and was used by the Roman's as well. The castle was given as a fief by Friedrich I Barbarossa in 1166 and was extended from a fortress to a castle in the 1400s. It was destroyed by the troops of King Louis XIV Le Roi Soleil. It was partly rebuilt in 1885 and is now part international youth hostel and part hotel. |
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| Shoenburg Castle |
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| Burg Katz This is the sister castle to Burg Rheinfels. It was built by the same family to help reinforce their right to levy customs and helped provide a view down the river. It also helped protect the town and the family's training grounds. |
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| Burg Katz The castle was blown up by Napoleon but rebuilt in the late 1800s and expanded upon later by various owners. |
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| Our destination! St. Goar. |
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| Burg Rheinfels This castle was built by the Katzenelnbogen family in 1200s. It was tested when attacked by 9,000 soldiers with 40 charges and a year-long siege. After many years and many added fortifications, it withstood the French army of 28,000 troops an 56 artillery pieces. Unfortunately, a poor commander surrendered the castle and it was later destroyed by the French and turned into a quarry. It was purchased by the Prince of Prussia in 1843. |
