Marksburg Castle in Braubach, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

Marksburg is one of the most celebrated castles on the Rhine, and for a very particular reason: of the many fortresses that once guarded the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, it is the only hilltop castle never to have been destroyed. Standing on a steep cone of rock some 150 metres above the little town of Braubach, on the river’s right bank between Koblenz and the Loreley, it survived even the French campaigns of the late 17th century that reduced most of its neighbours to picturesque ruins. Begun around 1100 and expanded through the Gothic centuries, it preserves a complete medieval layout of towers, halls, gates and gun batteries, and since 1900 it has served as the seat of the German Castles Association (Deutsche Burgenvereinigung). Together with the rest of the Rhine Gorge, it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002.

What to See

Because it can be visited only on a guided tour, Marksburg offers an unusually vivid walk through a genuine medieval fortress. The route climbs from the outer gates up the steep “Rider’s Stairway,” cut in places straight into the bare rock, and passes through a sequence of defensive gateways to the great keep (Bergfried) that crowns the summit. Inside, visitors see the Gothic hall, the chapel set in its tower, the smoke-blackened medieval kitchen with its huge hearth, the wine cellar and the bedchamber, all furnished to evoke daily life in the Middle Ages. One of the most memorable rooms holds a collection of historic armour tracing the warrior’s harness across many centuries, while the battery terrace bristles with old bronze and iron cannon. From the ramparts and the little garden of medicinal herbs there are magnificent views up and down the Rhine and over Braubach’s slate roofs far below.

How to Get There and Practical Information

Marksburg rises above Braubach on the right bank of the Rhine, about 13 kilometres upstream of Koblenz. Braubach has its own station on the scenic right-bank Rhine railway, with regional trains from Koblenz taking only around fifteen minutes; from there it is a signposted uphill walk of roughly twenty to thirty minutes to the castle, or a short drive to the car park just below the gates. In the warmer months the town can also be reached by Rhine excursion boat. The castle is open daily for guided tours throughout the year, with tours in English at set times during the main season, and there is a castle tavern by the entrance. As the paths and stairways inside are steep and uneven, sturdy footwear is recommended and the interior is not suitable for visitors with limited mobility.