Marksburg Castle, Braubach Germany

​We arrive in Braubach, Germany for our trip to Marksburg Castle.  This Castle is one of the finest along the Rhine River since it has retained nearly all its original construction and is one of the best preserved castles along the river.

Marksburg Castle sits high atop a hill overlooking the Rhine.  The location is one of the reasons it was never destroyed in the many wars in the region.   When you first begin the tour, the guide unlocks the gates and then once everyone is in, she locks the gates behind us.   The stone staircases into the inner part of the castle were very well worn.  Many of the family crests from the Counts that resided here were on display in this stairway.  We saw a few workers doing regular maintenance on the castle the day we were there.   Once we got into the inner walls of the castle the view from an outer walkway was spectacular of the valley and the Rhine River below.  Here is where they were growing an herb garden with many of the herbs used back in the days of the castle being occupied.

Many of the rooms are very well preserved from the sleeping quarters to the dining room, the wine making cellar. We toured Knight’s Hall where all of the knights’ armor over the centuries was displayed.  You could see the differences in the armor over the years.  The kitchen is still used today to hold parties and events.  The Chapel was a small circular room with a painted ceiling.  The Chapel is dedicated to Saint Mark, from who the castle gets its name.  Today Marksburg Castle is home to the offices of the German Association of Castles.
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As we depart Braubach, the ships next stop will be Koblenz, Germany, where the Rhine and Moselle Rivers intersect.