“Ehrenbreitstein” Fortress, Europe’s second largest preserved fortress, was constructed between 1817 and 1828 in its present-day design; however, its origin dates back to the first century AD. The recent archaeological findings prove an ancient settlement in this area from pre-Christian times. The Conradiner Ehrenbert ordered to build a castle in around 1000 AD. The name of the fortress changed from “Ehrenbertstein” to “Ehrenbreitstein” during the course of time. In the 11th century, the castle came into the possession of the archbishops of Trier, who fortified it and made a series of additions and extensions. In the 12th century, the hilltop of the castle was enriched by the castle "Helfenstein" that later became the residence of the Earls. By the order of the Archbishop, Richard from Greiffenclau, in the 15th century, the major expansion of the fortress was conducted in order to protect the buildings against artillery attacks. During the Thirty Years' War, the ownership of the Ehrenbreitstein Castle changed constantly. In 1797, the French troops besieged the fortress, but were forced to give up in 1799, due to the starvation; in 1801, the French finally managed to destroy the fortress. In the year 1815, after the Vienna Congress declared that the Electorate of Trier should be handed over to be ruled under the Kingdom of Prussia, King Friedrich Wilhelm III commanded the expansion of Koblenz to a fortified town and the largest fortifications in Europe were built. After the First World War, Ehrenbreitstein was intended to be demolished according to the terms of the Treaty of Versailles but luckily the Allied Military Control Commission in Berlin prevented them from doing this in 1922 after they had convinced the US American General Allen that the fortress no longer had any relevance in war times. American troops then occupied Ehrenbreitstein followed by French soldiers in the years between 1923 and 1929. Today, beside the State Museum of Koblenz - with its impressive collection of antiquities, a worth seeing presentation about the archaeological finds collected from the region, and also special exhibitions – you will find the memorial honouring the killed soldiers during World War I, II (das Ehrenmal des Deutschen Heeres) and also Youth Hostel Koblenz.
Tags: Ehrenbreitstein Fortress Koblenz Germany Level 1-Photography for Recreation Castles Upper Middle Rhine Valley
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Excerpt from loreley-info.com:
Elector's Palace, nearby the Rhine River, is the first most important early classical building in the Rhineland. The palace was built for the Elector Clemens Wenzeslaus of Trier according to the plans of French architects from 1777 to 1793. It was the favourite residence of Prince Wilhelm from Prussia and his wife Augusta especially between 1850 and 1858.
In 1944 the palace was destroyed. It was rebuilt from 1950 to 1951. Entrance hall, stairway and garden hall were reconstructed in simplified form.
Today the building houses public authorities.
Tags: Elector's Palace Koblenz Germany Kurfürstliches Schloss UNESCO World Heritage Sites Rhine Gorge Castles Upper Middle Rhine Valley
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Excerpt from loreley-info.com:
Once built as border fortress by Arnold von Isenburg, the archbishop of Trier (1242 - 1259), the castle served later as a toll station.
In 1689 the destruction in the Palatinate War of Succession put an end to its military history. Not sooner than 1823, when the city Koblenz gave the ruin to the later Prussian king Friedrich Wilhelm IV., a new era began for Stolzenfels, to which the palace owes essentially its appearance today. After plans of the architects Schinkel and Stüler a summer residence was built from 1836 to 1842, which is considered as one of the most outstanding evidences of German romanticism.
To this day Stolzenfels fascinates guests from all over the world. From its wonderful terrace you enjoy an incomparable view of the Rhine Valley, which already excited the higher nobility of Europe. Since the days of the Hohenzollern the furniture and decoration of the wonderful rooms remained almost invariably preserved.
Tags: Castle Stolzenfels Rhine Gorge Rhine River Germany UNESCO World Heritage Sites Castles Upper Middle Rhine Valley
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Excerpt from loreley-info.com:
The castle was built for the archbishop of Mainz in 1244 to provide protection for the Mainz estates. During the Thirty Years' War it was severely damaged and remained uninhabited afterwards.
Since 1803 the castle Ruin had been owned by Nassau before it became a private property of the railway director Morarty, who rebuilt it partly in 1852.
Lahneck Castle is an interesting example of the combination of medieval defence-building and historical restoration. Inside you find glorious furniture and precious collections. The pretty chapel, the knight's hall with precious furniture and pictures or the old servants’ kitchen still tell a story about the life in a medieval castle, no matter what modifications have been made. From the terrace you will enjoy a fantastic view of the Lahn delta and Stolzenfels Palace.
I must apologize for the poor quality of this photo. It was quite foggy when it was taken early in the morning.
Tags: Castle Lahneck Rhine Gorge Rhine River Germany UNESCO World Heritage Sites Castles Upper Middle Rhine Valley
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Excerpt from loreley-info.com:
Martinsburg Castle with its powerful hexagonal tower was built by the end of the 14th century on the Rhine bank in Oberlahnstein. It was a toll castle in the Electorate of Mainz. The pictorial assembly was built together with the town fortification.
The pointed gate in the east wall shows a delicate cast iron oriel with emblem (1395). The north wing probably contained the main rooms. The apartment tower in the northwest, built in the 14th century, was modified in the 18th century. The south wing is likewise Gothic. The archbishop Franz Lothar von Schönborn established the southwest and west wing between 1719 and 1721; there the main tower (end of the 14th century) is assembled; at its windows one sees outside small console stones for the fold-down wooden shutters. The roof dates from the 18th century.
Tags: Martinsburg Castle Lahnstein Rhine Gorge Rhine River Germany UNESCO World Heritage Sites Castles Upper Middle Rhine Valley
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