The Marksburg – the most beautiful castle in the Loreley valley
The Marksburg is a fortress which is located just above Braubach, a small town in Rhineand-Palatinate, Germany. One of the distinct differences that separate this fortress from other castles and fortresses is the fact that it was used primarily for protection as opposed to a residence for the royal families of the land.
This castle was initially constructed in order to protect Braubach and was built around 1117, mentioned for the first time in 1231. The Marksburg was used as a prison around the Napoleon era and in 1855 it was owned by the Duchy of Nassau. Eventually this fortress was sold to the German Castle Associated in 1990 for 1000 Goldmark.
Marksburg, fortress, Germany
One interesting fact that makes the Marksburg such a unique attraction for so many people is the fact that it is the only castle of the middle Rhine to never have been destroyed.
It still stands proudly today, attracting many people to it who are interested in seeing it for themselves. The Marksburg now serves as the head office of the German Castle Association.
Although it is true that this castle was never destroyed like so many others in the area, in 1945 it did sustain some very severe damages from American artillery which came from the opposite side of the Rhine.
In the early 1990s the exact design and architecture of this castle was copied for the German village of Ueno as well as the Japanese island of Miyako-jima. The Marksburg continues to be one of the more historically interesting structures in the country.
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