Marksburg Castle rises above the town of Braubach in Germany and is one of the principal sites of The Rhine Gorge UNESCO World Heritage area. Come on in, and let’s go snoop around….
Construction started on the schloss in 1100. The great hall dining area dates back to 1239.
Of the original forty castles in the Middle Rhine Valley, this is the only one that was never destroyed. It seems an impenetrable fortress.
It was, however, damaged by allied artillery in 1945, but not destroyed.
Touring gives one a sense of what life was like living (and eating) here in the middle ages.
The living areas are surprisingly cozy and welcoming for a castle,
and the old artifacts and furnishings are fascinating to see in situ, as they were used in everyday life.
Topping off your visit, there are amazing views of The Rhine Valley from the castle ramparts.
Cheers to you from Schloss Marksburg~
Exquisite images as always, Cindy! What a great place.
You are very kind and most appreciated!
Now *that’s* a fairytale setting! Beautiful shots, Cindy. Hugs
It is indeed and we both know fairytales can come true!
Gorgeous photographs Cindy!
Thank you & so happy you enjoyed them!
Very much
<3 <3
😊
Always enjoying accompanying you on your excellent adventures via your wonderful images.
It’s fun to travel the world through your computer screen. It’s what I do when I am home! <3
Some years ago I’ve been on a small boat trip on the Rhine, from Koblenz to… one of these little wine towns, maybe it was Oberwesel. They got trips for a week long too, beginning up country in Germany and ending in the low country of Holland. (We use to have this song back then: oh, a boat trip on the Rhine Rhine Rhine, oh that is so very fine fine fine 🙂 ) The wonderful thing is indeed these castles, high up the grape covered flanks of the rizing shores at both sides. Even Loreley isn’t that eye catching. Your pictures remind me of this trip.
Yes, this is what we did too and it was purely wonderful! All these storybook picturesque towns, the wonderful German food and chocolate, and the Christmas markets! Heavenly! So happy you have experienced it.
Everything looks so well made and of quality! That so much endures to our times is a testament to that isn’t it? I loved touring castles like this in Germany! Thanks for sharing these! Great job!
Yes lasting construction. What a concept! No plastic, aluminum, or styrofoam hidden in these walls.
An enjoyable and excellent lesson in how some people once lived. Shortly before I was born.
Tee hee hee…..You look quite young for your age!
Thanks, Cindy, for showing me around that wonderful castle. Even if I lived not far away for almost 40 years of my life, I have never visited it.
There are always things we miss, which of course, is one of the motivations to return!
We were there in 2015 and had planned to see the castle, but the our friend Mike was in no shape to get up there plus negotiate staircases inside, and we didn’t want to leave him in the car in the parking-lot while we visited the castle. So we just skipped it. But Mary and I intend to go back.
How wonderful, Cindy! 1100… WOW! Seems like good food and coziness have never gone out of style. What a fab place for Titania to dine within.
Oooooooh, yes! Yes should shoot all your dresses in the old castles of Europe. Can I be your photographer?
You would be the only one!
I was fortunate to visit this castle over the summer! Such a wonderful place, and your pictures have captured it perfectly.
Such a beautiful stretch of the Rhine. Very happy you were there & cheers to you Carrie! <3
What an impressive sight from below (looking up). Enjoy your trip!
Yes, it is perched on the mountain top like a eagle!
Made me want to visit. Great shots.
You will be very glad if you visit this gorgeous Rhine Valley region!
If only I could travel Cindy, ah, sad. The beauty comes out in you photographs for me though, thanks.
I am sorry. That is very sad. Thank God we all can travel in our imaginations. And our minds are the most awesome travelers ever invented. Every trip can be perfect. <3
Great story of history in pictures. Beautiful and interesting post
Such a very kind and most encouraging comment. Thank you Micki!
Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
Vielen Dank fur Ihre Rucksichtnahme! Das ist ein wirklich schoner Teil der Welt.
I had to look up the area to see where it is. It’s on the way to Koln which is close to where I was born, I’ve never seen that castle so thank you for photographing it for me. It is beautiful and very indicative of the way Germans lived. I loved this.
Koln is so beautiful. You come from a beautiful place, so rich in history. There is just so much to love about Germany. <3
So very fascinating, and such history there. Love all the antiques. The Rhine River is said to be an original point of beginnings for my paternal grandfather’s German family before immigration into Russia (according to my ancestry.com records) so I am always interested in that part, to learn new things and see maps, etc. A very rich history.
I had never heard of this migration. Certainly I had heard of Russians immigrating to Germany, so I had to look it up. This is pretty amazing history to be descended from.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Germans_in_Russia,_Ukraine_and_the_Soviet_Union
Yes. My paternal grandfather’s family were called German Russians because they were from the groups of people that originated in different parts of Germany and France and migrated through Germany to hook up in bigger groups that left the old Prussia province and migrated into Russia in the 1700’s -1800’s period. My grandfather’s family left from Prussia and came into Russia in 1789 and settled in the old Bessarabia region and then later into Odessa where they ultimately immigrated to the U.S. from in 1889. Those groups were called the Germans from Russia and settled in the N. & S. Dakota regions where they homesteaded and were given 160 acre plots of land. My great grandfather’s family were part of that original group. They were also from the Ashkenazie German Jewish ancestry. I did over 30 years of ancestry research on my own family trees. Very fascinating. So, when I made my trip to Russia in 1989 I was wanting it to be a commemorative trip for sentimental reasons. I have loved doing all their family history research. 🙂 My research books and internet resources helped a lot in getting a lot of it beside all the documents, pictures, a copy of my grandfather’s passport and stories of his background. I wrote about some of it when I first started blogging so told a bit in my earlier posts. Anyway, some of the original group came out of the Rhine River Valley region.
Fascinating and wonderful that you were able to recreate your ancestors history so completely! Amazing how brave and resourceful these immigrating groups of people were and they added their rich cultural traditions to our American experience. All of us Americans, except Native Americans, are descendants of immigrants with such rich histories. Thank you for sharing yours!
The sausage looks real enough to eat, Cindy, but the bed seems a little small. 🙂 Thanks for the tour. –Curt
Yes, laughing….. People were smaller back in 1100, and no central heating, so cuddling was a must!
With Peggy, cuddling is still a must, even on a king sized bed. 🙂
Wonderful photographs, Cindy.
Ah, thank you so much!
This castle Ian beautiful!
*is
It is was a bit unusual in that there was such welcoming warmth within it. I liked the feel of it.
Thanks for sharing these pictures. I love seeing history like this.
I do too. The emotional connection places like this help to forge to people living so many hundreds of years ago is an incredible experience.
I habe diese schloss gesehen (I used to live in Germany and spoke German fairly well, but it’s definitely out of practise 🙂 ). Great photos. 🙂
Wie glucklich, in Deutschland zu leben. Ich wurde gern!
It was fun. 🙂
I know it would be.
A fairy tale setting !
Beautiful images Cindy.☺
Ah, thank you my friend & be well!
I love this beautiful castle, my friend! ❥✧¸.•*¨*✧♡✧ ୧(๑❛ั⌔❛ั๑)୨✧♡✧*¨*•.❥
Hugs to you dear one & cheers too! 🏰
Gracias, my friend! (♡´❍`♡)*✧ ✰ ｡*
I visited this castle several times as a child and loved it. Thanks for reminding! 🙂
Lovely & happy you enjoyed revisiting! 🏰
Well yes, that really is some castle … almost like from a fairytale. – Our visit there dates years back already and we rounded that off with a nice summer picknick in the Nahe river valley which is close by. – Do they still explain german idioms like “auf den Hund kommen” and “einen Zahn zulegen” while showing visitors around?
I can well imagine why your picnic and visit has remained in your memory. Such a truly beautiful part of the world, and all the wonderful food, makes it ideal. I didn’t hear these idioms, or more likely if I did hear them, I had no idea what they meant. It have been one of those, just nod and act like you understand scenarios! 😉
Reblogged this on luca701.
I am touched by your thoughtfulness. Thank you! 🏰
What an interesting place!
It has stayed safe & snug for many centuries! 🏰
Germany is so beautiful. Thanks for sharing! I lived in Hanau and Nürnberg in the 80´s And early 90’s – each time I visit France I think about visiting Germany – Maybe next time. I loved the German Castles. I just love Europe!
Lucky you! Those are such charming cities! I would love to live in Germany for a summer and maybe I will someday. I do hope you go back and post about your experience. 🏰
Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
Photos of Schloss-Marksbug Castle along the Rhine River by Cindy Knoke
Hugs to you my thoughtful friend! 🏰
For a castle it does look kind of cosy. And also kind of empty – where there really no people?
It was fairly empty and I waited if someone was in the room. We traveled in November and there were no crowds. Only locals which was a joy. 🏰
Well ordered and functional……I enjoyed this excellent post and photography. thanks Cindy
I am honored and pleased that you did & thanks you for telling me! 🏰
Your pictures are so full of life, as if you would have made them in times long ago when this beautiful castle has been occupied.
Thank you! I love that feeling of stepping back in time. I am fascinated with the people who came before us. They are so mysterious to me. 🏰
Hi Cindy, the peacock feather, confused me about your whereabouts, but I soon found out when I started reading, you’re visiting the Rhine valley, how awesome! 🙂
Yes! I think they kept peacocks as ornamental birds and and to eat. 🏰
Great photos and tour! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you more for appreciating! 🏰
Wow! Thank you, Cindy.
Thank you & very pleased you enjoyed! 🏰
You are welcome!
Thank you for sharing these wonderful pictures. What a treat!
I can’t resist snooping inside all sorts of historical domiciles, so I am very pleased you enjoyed! 🏰
😉
Those are great photos, Cindy. I think I either did a painting or a drawing of that castle. It’s very distinctive.
Leslie
How wonderful that you did and what a lovely coincidence! 🏰
Such a lovely castle.
Thanks for the tour, Cindy! We know this beautiful burg, it was lovely to see it through your eyes. 🙂
Thank you and I hope you are all doing well. We have rebooked Norway, Greenland and Iceland for next year. Fingers crossed we make it this time……
Shoen!
Vielen dank mein lieber Freund! 🏰
Beautiful! I think I may have visited this schloss as a child on one of our canoe tours.
Lovely & happy you experienced it! 🏰
Thank you so much, Cindy for taking us inside of the castle allowing us to imagine the daily life was like. Great photos, as always!
Photos, like yours dear friend, are gifts that allow our minds to wander into fascinating spaces. Hugs to you Amy <3
Thank you for the reminder, dear Cindy. Often, I let some of the rules restrict my mind to wander. Hugs 🙂 <3
It always amazes me how many castles were destroyed or left to ruin. Thanks for sharing this one, Cindy. Beautiful. 🙂
Yes. I thought exactly the same thing. It is rather shocking. So many castles left in ruin. Each one a time capsule of history and personal stories. Still evident on the hills, falling further into ruin. Amazing really.
What a remarkable Schloss Cindy! You have captured it so well .. down to the last wurst 💛
Laughing, yes it wouldn’t be Germany without the wurst, which my husband consumes with gusto. I am more a kartoffelpuffer addict myself. Now, once again….. I am missing German food.
A well preserved for nearly a thousand year old castle. I have been wondering people back then keep the place warm in winter. I think the summer time may not be too bad. Great pictures of the place!
I am so glad you thought of this. They had these amazing porcelain tiled stoves that generated enough heat to keep at least some rooms warm in the freezing German winters. I have photographed so many of them and am fascinated by them because I have never actually seen one in operation. I didn’t take this photo. I took photos of prettier ones. Many are much more beautiful than this one because they are covered in hand painted, hand made tiles. But check out one example:
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/f4/ec/d9/f4ecd922e13733bda6df635a554a545e–old-stove-antique-stove.jpg
Such a really intelligent observation on your part. <3
That first photo is breathtaking, Cindy. I can almost hear the castle speaking to me. I loved snooping inside 🙂 ♥
Snooping is always a good thing in historical places that give us clues to the meaning of ourselves. Hugs to you Val <3
I wouldn’t want the heating bill! Looks fascinating Cindy! You always seem to find the most interesting subjects!
You have Romeo & Juliet and I am just totally jealous. But, very glad they have you <3
I love them both! It’s such a odd relationship! I’ve never had a relationship like this before.It’s just kind of evolved.
You’ll get to meet them.They do not always take to some people.Not sure why?Almost as If they can feel something on another level that we are not aware of?
Birds definitely react differently with different people. I think they are highly intelligent.
yep & the Einstein of the Avian world is Mr.Raven!
True, parrots are super smart too~
Amazingly well preserved Cindy. Has it recently been given a reno job???
I know repairs were made after the 1945 bombings, I would imagine that castles this old require ongoing maintenance.
What an impressive post Cindy, beautifully historically described and your pictures bring the history to life.
Thanks for an enjoyable and informative post.
Ian
Thank you more for such a motivating and encouraging comment! 🏰
Look at that wee baby bed situated next to the adult bed!! Too cute, Cindy!
So the hand that rocks the cradle, can do just that, without getting out of bed! Clever. 🏰
Whenever I venture into the kitchens of the past, I imagine the chaotic excitement that went into the meal preparation. A wonderful look back, Cindy – thank you!
What a handsome place, Cindy! 🙂 🙂 Hope all’s good with you.
Thanks Jo & visa versa 2UX2! <3
Wow! Amazing!
Danke schoen! 🏰
Your Welcome, how would I say that?
My kind of place!! Pictures are great.
It feels homey doesn’t it, which is unusual for a castle! 🏰
Don’t you wish you and I could beam in unnoticed and watch the whole preparation!!!! 🏰
Stepping back in history. Bet that long table near the kitchen hearth was comfortable in winter. – Oscar
I would have never expected “cozy” rooms…I guess I watched too many episodes of “Game of Thrones!” Lovely tour, Cindy. I am wondering where we are going next??
Wow, the interior of that castle looks extremely warm and welcoming. If I had to wait out a siege, that’s where I’d like to do it.
Your blog keeps disappearing from my reader… hopefully I fixed it now. I love looking at your amazing photos from all over the world.
Wow, schöne Bilder dieser antiken Gegenstände aus dem Schloss, danke für’s zeigen Cindy…
That took me straight back to my childhood and a visit with my parents – one of a seemingly endless supply of castles and abbeys during that holiday (not that I didn’t enjoy them)…
An amazing post. I’m sure life was much harder back when this was built, but their diet seems to be well varied – sausage, sausage, and more sausage supplemented with various fowl.
This was so gorgeous, my sweet Cindy! I loved the castle up on the mountain, the furniture and the kitchen crockery. 😊
Bon voyage, safe travel mercies. . . May the Southern place be as welcoming and charming as you are, dear! ❤
Hi Cindy!! Loved the tour! It looks so romantic– but in the end, I think I prefer by gas oven and dishwasher. And really loved your colorful flower post– but didn’t see a spot to leave a comment! Where is that stained glass dome?? (the conservatory at Balboa Park??) So beautiful! And– I wonder where you’re traveling to in the south?? Mexico? Argentina? You have me guessing! Happy travels!! xox
Wow. How wonderful and when I was in Germany I missed going to this Castle and thank you for sharing. I feel like I have been there now! Beautiful photography!
Liebe Cindy das sind ja super Fotos ganz toll und die Farben der Aras einfach überwältigend uns dann der wunderschöne Sonnenuntergang liebe Cindy toll hab ein schönes Wochenende Klaus in Freundschaft danke für deinen Link
Love all the pictures you’ve been taking!
I enjoyed this tour very much!
Bonjour ou Bonsoir CINDY
Joyeux Noël mon ami amie !
J’espère que le Père Noël sera généreux avec toi
Si ce n’est pas le cas ne t’inquiète pas
Sache que mon amitié pour toi vaut tout l’or du monde
Ce petit message marrant pour Noël
Que tu te rappelles combien notre relation amicale est importante pour moi.
Je te présente par avance tous mes vœux de bonne année 2018
Ton ami qui pense à toi
Bisous Bernard
https://img15.hostingpics.net/pics/578189joop2.gif
Merci beaucoup mon ami Bernard!
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Extrordinary! Scloss Markheim is smaller inside than I thought it might be for such an old castle. Did they ever finish the repairs and fully restore the entire place?
As an student of the Middle Ages and a recreation demonstrator of spinning and weaving, I am always curious. Did they have any rooms set aside for weaving and spinning? What tools did they have if they had such a room? Did they display any extant textiles from the time hanging on the walls or as tapestries other than a few blankets or bed curtains?
Yes there was a loom and weaving room with tools for weaving flax. I think I have photos of the loom and tools on my travel laptop. I will check to see if I saved them. There were tapestries too and I will see if I have the photos. In the interim check out this link:
http://www.threelittlekittens.com/?p=8541
And google image search Schloss ‘Schloss Marksburg weaving’ ‘Schloss Marksburg loom’ ‘SM tapestry”