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"

Chinon

Shortened history of the castle:

At the intersection of three provinces: Anjou, Poitou and Touraine, the rocky outcrop on which stands the royal fortress of Chinon is a strategic site occupied since ancient roman times.

A castle was built there in the tenth century at the latest but it was Henry II Plantagenet, Count of Anjou and King of England since 1154, who will give the fort its present shape.

In 1205, after a long siege, the King of France Philip Augustus takes the fortress and builds the dungeon.

In 1308, the site is the scene of an important event in the history of the Temple Order: The Grand Master Jacques de Molay and some dignitaries of the order are imprisoned before being tried and burned in Paris.

During the Hundred Years War, the court of Charles VII moved to the castle of Chinon in 1427. In March 1429, he received Joan of Arc who came to him to ensure her legitimacy and convinced her to be crowned at Reims.

The decline begins in the seventeenth century fortress with Cardinal Richelieu, who becomes owner of the castle. In 1808, the monument was kindly given to the public administration.

Opening times and additionnal information:

Open all year except december 25 and JAnuary 1st.
From January to end of March : 9.30am to 5pm
From April to end of September : 9am to 7pm
From October to End of December : 9.30am to 5pm

Fees:
Adults - 7 €
Reduced rate - 4.50 €

Visits in english with reservation (from April to September)

Email: forteressechinon@cg37.fr

Loarre

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Shortened history of the castle:

Castillo de Loarre is a breathtaking castle. The castle has withstood time on a rocky prominence in the southern foothills of the Pyrénées.

The origins of Loarre can be traced back to ancient Rome, before the birth of Christ. Historians believe Loarre was the site of Calagurris Fibulariensis whose people offered Julius Caesar their aid by sending men to fight in the battle of Lérida in August 49 BC.

By 1016 Loarre is being used as a border fortress by the King of Aragon, Sancho el Mayor III. The oldest remaining part of the castle was built by him between 1015-1023, as a defense against the Muslim power. The castle was used as a royal residence for about 100 years. Loarre’s location gave it a mark of strategic importance, as it was one of several castles in a line of defense that covered the region of Huesca.

From approximately 1062 to 1070, Loarre was under Muslim rule. King Sancho Ramírez retook and expanded the castle in 1070-1071. King Sancho Ramírez continued to use the castle till around 1094, after which Loarre lost its importance as a royal residence, and became a seat for royal governors. In 1906 it had become a national monument.

Opening times and additional information:

Winter (1st of November until 28th of February):
from 11am to 1.30pm and from 3pm to 5.30pm

Summer (16th of June until the 15th of September):
from 10am to 2pm and from 4pm to 8pm

Mid-seasons from the 1st of March until the 15th of June and from the 16th of September to the 31st of October):
from 10 am to 2pm and from 4 pm to 7pm

Castle closed on December 25 and 1st of January.

Fees:
Adults: 2 Eur (3,50 Eur with guide)
Students/Youngs: 3 Euros (with guide)
Under 12: FREE

Email : loarreturactiv@hotmail.com

Loarre Castle recently was filmed in the motion picture The Kingdom of Heaven.

Loches

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Shortened history of the castle:

Designed and occupied by Henry II of England and his son, Richard the Lionheart during the 12th century, the castle withstood the assaults of the French king Philip II during the wars for the control of France. It was finally captured by King Philip II in 1205. Construction work immediately upgraded Loches into a huge military fortress.

The castle became the favorite residence of Charles VII of France who gave it to his mistress, Agnès Sorel. It was then converted into a State prison by his son, King Louis XI who had lived there as a child but preferred the royal castle of Amboise.

During the American Revolution, France financed and fought with the Americans against England and King Louis XVI used the castle of Loches as a prison for captured Englishmen.

At the time of the French Revolution, the château was ransacked and severely damaged. Some major restoration began in 1806 but today there are parts visible as ruins only.

Château de Loches has been recognised as a monument historique since 1861 and is listed by the French Ministry of Culture.

Opening times and additional information:

Open all year except 25th of December and 1st of January.

From 2nd of January to 31 of March : 9.30am - 5pm
From 1st of April to 30th of September : 9am - 7pm
From 1st of October to 31st of December : 9.30am - 5pm

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

Kamerlengo

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Shortened history of the castle:

Kamerlengo Castle was built in the fifteenth century and it is also known as Gardina Kamerlengo.

Additional information and opening times: