Germany - Rhine Gorge

The Rhine Gorge is a popular name for the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a 65 km section of the Rhine between Koblenz and Bingen, in Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse. The area was included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites, in June 2002. The river has been an important trade route into central Europe since prehistoric times and small settlements have grown up along its banks. Many of these old towns retain a historic feel today. By increasing wealth, many castles appeared and the valley became a core region of the Holy Roman Empire. There are 40 hill castles between Koblenz and Bingen. The area was the centre of the Thirty Years' War, which left many of the castles in ruins. At one time forming a border of France, in the 19th century the valley became part of Prusia. This part of the Rhine featured strongly in folklore, such as a legend of an enchanting female, associated with Loreley rock. The area is a particular attraction for today's cruise ships which follow the river. There are the annual "Rhine in Flames" festivals, which includ the spectacular firework displays at Koblenz in August and Sankt Goar in September, the best view being from one of the convoy of boats.

Koblenz and Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. Koblenz, spelled Coblenz before 1926, is a German city on the banks of the Rhine and of the Mossele. Koblenz was established as a Roman millitary post by Drusus around 8 B.C. The Prussian Fortress overlook the town of Koblenz. The first documented proof of the castle at this location dates from the year 1129.

German Corner, at the confluence of the Rhine and of the Mossele, is a symbol of the Unification of Germany, that features an equestrian statue of Emperor William I.

The Marksburg is a castle above the town of Baubach in Rhineland-Palatinate. A stone keep was bulit in 1100 by the Eppstein family and expanded into a castle around 1117 to protect the town of Baubach.

Trechtingshausen is a town in the Mainz-Bingen district, in the Rhineland-Palatinate. The Chronicler told of the Castrum Tajani, in Roman times. From the 1135, documents comes the information that Trechtingshausen was in "the parish of Saint Clement".

Trechtingshausen and Reicheinstein Castle

Saint Clement's Chapel

Reicheinstein Castle. The extensive Reicheinstein Castle area is situated on the southern fringes of the Trechtingshausen town. The oldest building parts of the castle indicate its construction in the early 11th century. Reicheinstein Castle was the seat of robber knights. The castle can be visited.

c

The defensive wall of Reicheinstein Castle

View of the Rhine as seen from the Reicheinstein Castle.

The castle's fortifications.

Trechtingshausen boat station. I took the boat from Trechtingshausen to Rüdesheim am Rhein, via Rheinstein Castle.

Rheinstein Castle. The existence of the castle has been documented since 1323.

View of the Rhine as seen from the Rheinstein Castle.

Burgundia Garden of Rheinstein Castle.

Krone Assmannhausen, Rüdesheim am Rhein

The Mouse Tower (Mäuseturm) is a stone tower on a small island in the Rhine, outside Bingen am Rhein. Hatto II, Archbishop of Mainz, restored the tower built by the Romans in 968. The structure became an official customs collection tower in 1298. The tower cannot be visited.

Bingen am Rhein is a town in the Mainz-Bingen district in the Rhineland-Palatinate. The town was the starting point of the Via Ausonia, a Roman military road that linked Bingen with Trier.

Bingen and Basilica of St.Martin.

Ehrenfels Castle. It can be reached from the hill walking paths from the townships of Rüdesheim and Assmannhausen. In the 12th century, a first tower already existed on the site, which had belonged to the Diocese of Mainz since 983. The ruins can only be viewed from outside.

Klopp Castle, near Bingen. Around 11 BC, there was a Roman watch tower on the Burgberg (the castle hill) for the town "Bingium". The tower was extended to a castle from 370 on. Today there is restaurant and the municipal administration in the castle.

The Niederwald Monument is located in Niederwald, near Rüdesheim am Rhein, in Hesse. It was built between 1871 and 1883 to commemorate the Unification of Germany.

Rüdesheim am Rhein lies at the foot of the Niederwald on the Rhine's right bank in the Rheingau wine region.

Kaub is a town in Rhineland-Palatinate, located on the right bank of the Rhine, approx.50 km west from Wiesbaden.

Kaub, with Gutenfels Castle. The Imperial Ministers of Falkenstein started to build the castle after 1200. The castle is in private ownership and it cannot be visited.

Kaub, with Pfalzgrafenstein Castle and Burg Gutenfels

Pfalzgrafenstein Castle was a toll castle, located near Kaub. The castle was mentioned for the first time in 1339 and it was never distroyed. The castle can be toured.

View of the Rhine as seen from the Pfalzgrafenstein Castle.

Sankt Goarshausen is a town located in the Rhein-Lahn-Kreis in Nassau on the eastern shore of the Rhine.

Katz Castle sits majestically halfway up the hiilside above the city of St.Goarshausen. It was presumably built by Count Wilhelm II of Katzenelnbogen, by 1371. The castle is in private ownership and it cannot be visited.

The Loreley is a 132 meters high rock on the right bank of the Rhine river in the Rhine Gorge, at Sankt Goarshausen.