Marksburg Castle

Marksburg Castle

Marksburg Castle is a fortress located on the hills of Braubach in Germany, and it is the only medieval castle in the Rhine Valley that has never been damaged. This castle has stood here for more than 700 years, and over the course of centuries, it has continually changed with time, eventually becoming what we see today.

Records of Marksburg Castle can be found in documents from the early 12th century, with the first official mention dating back to 1231. The construction of the castle served two purposes: the first was to protect Braubach, and the second was to function as a toll-collecting facility. Although the earliest written record of the castle is from 1231, its construction likely began around 1117. In 1283, the local count purchased the castle, and throughout the 14th and 15th centuries, renovation work continued non-stop. After the fall of the Holy Roman Empire in 1803, the castle came into the possession of the Duke of Nassau. During this period, it served as housing for disabled soldiers and also functioned as a state prison.

In 1900, with the help of Kaiser Wilhelm II, the German Castles Association acquired Marksburg for a symbolic price of 1,000 marks. Subsequently, architect Professor Bodo Ebhardt from Berlin took the initiative to begin extensive restoration work on the castle. Today, Marksburg Castle serves as the headquarters of the German Castles Association. Additionally, it is one of the most striking landmarks on the eastern bank of the Rhine and one of the most important historic sites in all of Germany.

Marksburg Castle

Must-visit reason: The only undamaged medieval castle in the Rhine Valley

Continent: Europe【Europe】

Country/Region: Germany[Germany]

Province/State: Rhineland-Palatinate [Rhineland-Palatinate]

City: Braubach [Braubach]