Marksburg
On Gingerguide's self-guided Rhine Valley audio tour, Marksburg is a stop worth about ~60 min. Stand in front of it, press play for a short narrated story, and put any follow-up question to the built-in AI guide.
- Type castle
- Suggested visit ~60 min
- Rhine Valley Rhine Valley guide
About Marksburg
A hilltop castle above Braubach on the Rhine, said to be one of only two hill castles here never destroyed, and now headquarters of the German Castles Association.
The Marksburg is a hilltop castle about 160 metres above the town of Braubach, on the right bank of the Rhine in Rhineland-Palatinate. Tradition dates the first fortification to around 1117; the castle is first documented in 1231, and its oldest datable fabric is dendrochronologically dated to 1239. It was developed by the House of Eppstein, then held by the Counts of Katzenelnbogen and the Landgraves of Hesse, who added artillery-resistant defences with pointed bastions and round towers. The Gothic chapel of around 1340 is dedicated to Saint Mark, the source of the castle's name.
It is often described as the only Rhine hill castle never destroyed; more precisely, of about 40 hill castles between Bingen and Koblenz it is said to be one of only two never destroyed, alongside Burg Maus. It was nonetheless damaged by American artillery in March 1945. Since 1900 it has been owned by the German Castles Association, whose headquarters has been here since 1931. It is open to the public by guided tour.
Did you know? Its founding around 1117 is a traditional date, not a proven one. The castle is first documented in 1231, while its oldest wood, at the keep and hall, has been dendrochronologically dated to 1239.
How much time do you need at Marksburg?
Around ~60 min works well for Marksburg — time to look properly and listen to its story on the spot. Linger if you like; nothing on a self-guided walk is on a clock.
Should you stop at Marksburg?
Yes — Marksburg made the cut as one of 13 places the Gingerguide team researched and narrated across Rhine Valley. The story tells you why it is worth the stop, and the AI guide fills in anything you still wonder.
Nearby stops in Rhine Valley
Sources and further reading
Where to check the facts about Marksburg and read more:
Day 2 of the Rhine Valley in 2 days itinerary →
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Hear the story of Marksburg
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