Pfalzgrafenstein

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Shortened history of the castle:

Burg Pfalzgrafenstein is a toll castle on the Falkenau island, otherwise known as Pfalz Island in the Rhine river near Kaub, Germany. Known as "the Pfalz", this former stronghold is famous for its picturesque and unique setting.

Its keep, a pentagonal tower with its point upstream, was erected in 1326 by King Ludwig the Bavarian. Around the tower, a defensive hexagonal wall was built between 1338 to 1340. Later additions were made in 1607 and 1755, consisting of corner turrets, the gun bastion pointing upstream, and the characteristic baroque tower cap.

The castle functioned as a toll-collecting station that was not to be ignored, as it worked in concert with Burg Gutenfels and the fortified town of Kaub on the right side of the river. A chain across the river forced ships to submit, and uncooperative traders could be kept in the dungeon until a ransom was delivered, or simply drowned.

Unlike the vast majority of Rhine castles, "the Pfalz" was never conquered or destroyed, withstanding not only wars, but also the natural onslaughts of ice and floods by the river. Its quarters held about thirty soldiers.

The island of the castle was used for the Rhine crossing by 60,000 Prussian troops under Blücher in the winter of 1814 in his pursuit of Napoleon, which symbolized the end of Napoleon's presence on the german soil.

The castle was acquired by Prussia in 1866, and toll collections ceased ayear later. In 1946, the castle became property of the State of Rheinland–Pfalz.


Opening times and additionnal information:

January & February : Saturdays and Sundays, from 10am to 5pm
March : everyday (except Mondays) from 10 am to 5pm
April - October : everyday (except Mondays) from 10 am to 6pm
November : Saturdays and Sundays, from 10am to 5pm
December : closed

It is accessible to the public via a ferry service from nearby Kaub as long as river conditions permit.

Victor Hugo said about the castle that is was "A ship of stone, eternally afloat upon the Rhine, and eternally lying at anchor before the town of Pfalzgrafen"

Marksburg

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Shortened history of the castle:

In the early 12th century records mention for the first time the keep of the castle. The castle was built by the Eppsteins, a powerful family at that time; four of them were archbishops and electors of Mainz, and one of them held the same position in Trier.

The castle was bought by Count Eberhard II of Katzenelnbogen in 1283 and he built the Gothic part of Marksburg Castle, giving it its striking form.

When the last Count of Katzenelnbogen died in 1479, the castle passed to the Landgraves of Hesse, through the marriage of the heiress Anna to Heinrich of Hesse. Marksburg Castle was turned into a hill fortress with artillery batteries and ramparts.

When the old German empire broke up in 1803 the castle passed into the hands of the Duchy of Nassau. During this period our castle was only used as a home for disabled soldiers and as a state prison.

As a result of the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 the castle was taken over by Prussia.

In the year 1900, with the help of Kaiser WilheIm II, the German Castles Association was able to purchase the Marksburg for the symbolic price of 1,000 Gold Marks, who carried out extensive restoration of the castle.

Opening times and additionnal information:

From 2nd November to 18th March (winter season): 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (first and last admission, guided tours each hour)
From 19th March to 1st November (summer season): 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (first and last admission, guided tours start every 15 or 20 minutes)

The castle is closed only on December 24th and 25th.

Fees:
Adults € 5,00 (€ 4,50 in groups of 20 or more)
Students € 4,50 (€ 4,00 in groups of 20 or more)
Schoolchildren € 3,50 (€ 3,00 in groups of 20 or more)
Families (2 adults and 2 or more children) € 13,00

"Burgenticket" (including 10 castles between Rüdesheim and Koblenz)
Adults € 19,00
Children € 9,50

Reservations by Email : marksburg@deutsche-burgen.org

Cochem

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Shortened history of the castle:

Cochem Castle was built around the year 1000 by the palatinate count Ezzo. The castle was first mentioned in a document in 1051 when Richeza, Ezzo's oldest daughter and former Queen of Poland, gave the castle to her nephew palatine count Henry I.

Cochem became an imperial castle in the time when the Staufer dynasty reigned in Germany. From this time on, imperial ministers - with the title of "Lord of the castle" - were installed to administer the castle and the surrounding properties.

When the troupes of King Louis XIV (called the King) invaded the Rhine and the Moselle area in the war of succession of the Palatinate, Cochem castle, too, was occupied in 1688. After the town had been completely occupied by French troops in March 1689, the castle was set on fire, undermined and blown up on May 19th of 1689.

The French Sun King’s troops almost completely destroyed the town of Cochem. The castle remained in ruins until 1868, when a Berlin business- man, Mr. Louis Ravené, bought the castle grounds and the ruins. Shortly after his purchase he began to rebuild Cochem Castle incorporating the remains of the late Gothic buildings into the main castle structure.

The entire structure was rebuilt in the then popular Neo-Gothic architectural style. This style corresponded to the romantic ideals in vogue in Germany in the 19th century. Since 1978 the castle is owned by the town of Cochem.

Opening times and additionnal information:

All individual guided tours are only available by arranging and booking in advance and are subject to availability.(Duration approximate 40 minutes)

Booking at this adress: info@reichsburg-cochem.de

Fees :
Adults 5 €
Children (6 - 17 years) 3 €
Groups (12 people and more) 4,50 € / Person
Pupils over 18 years old, Students 4,50 €
Family Ticket (Parents with at least 2 children aged below 18 years) 14,50 €