Page 360 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Germany

358  WESTERN GERM AN Y RHINELAND–P ALA TINA TE & SAARLAND  359

8 Rhine Valley (Rheintal) Bonn LimburgLimburg 8 Marksburg From 1117 this castle, which towers
over the Rhine and the small town of Braubach,
The Celts called it Renos, the Romans Rhenus, Rhein Bendorf has been owned at different times by the von
while to Germanic tribes it was the Rhein, or Braubachs and the powerful Epstein family. The
Marksburg is the only castle along this stretch
Vater Rhein (“Father Rhine”), as it is known of the Rhine which has never been damaged.
today. The source of this mighty, 1,320-km
Bad Ems
(825-mile) long river is in Switzerland, from Siegen Bad Ems
where it flows through or past Liechtenstein, KoblenzKoblenz
Germany, France and the Netherlands, yet the
Germans regard it as “their” river. The Rhine
is steeped in many legends – it was into this Trier Bad EmsBad Ems
river that Hagen von Tronje, faithful follower
of King Gunther and slayer of Siegfried, 7 Loreley The Loreley Rock, onto which many
threw the treasure of the Nibelungs, and Saarbrücken boats have been smashed by the strong currents,
Lohengrin’s swan is said to appear near has been a source of inspiration for many poets.
the town of Kleve (see p393) to this day. A 19th-century legend tells of a beautiful blonde
siren combing her hair and luring unlucky
sailors to their deaths with her song.
J
1 Stolzenfels The existing
castle complex has little in 4 Pfalzgrafenstein In the middle of
common with the original the Rhine River stands the proud and
13th-century fortress, which mighty fortress of Pfalzgrafenstein –
burned down in 1688. In the one of the most beautifully situated
early 19th century, the ruins castles in the Rhineland. Its origins date
were bought by the future back to 1326, but its present shape is
king Friedrich Wilhelm IV. Limburg the result of Baroque refurbishments
The castle, designed by the in the 17th–18th centuries.
famous Prussian architect
Karl Friedrich Schinkel, was
built in 1833–45.
0 kilometres 5
5 Bacharach The town has
0 miles 5 Saarbrücken
a unique complex of historic
buildings, with fortified town
walls, the church of St Peter,
Oberwesel the ruins of the Gothic chapel
Oberwesel
of St Werner, and Burg
Kaub
2 Boppard Boppard’s most Stahleck – the castle towering
famous sights are the remains of the over the town which today
Roman military camp of Bodobrica, houses a youth hostel.
the church of St Severus (12th–
13th centuries), famous for its wall Lorch 6 Burg Sooneck In the 13th century,
paintings, and the medieval market Sooneck castle was the home of various
square, built on the site of Roman robber knights. The fortress fell into ruin
hot baths. Michael Thonet, the in the late 17th century, due to frequent
creator of famous chairs made from raids by the French. In the 19th century it
bent wood, was born here in 1796. was bought by the Hohenzollerns, who
J rebuilt the castle in its original form.
Rüdesheim
Tips for Walkers
3 Burg Rheinfels This
Length of the route: about castle ruin was begun in
125 km (78 miles). 1245 by Count Diether V Bingen
Stopping-off points: the best of Katzenelnbogen, and Key
places to stop are Boppard or was partially destroyed by Motorway
Bacharach, offering the widest French Revolutionary army Suggested route
choice of bars and restaurants. troops in 1797. Some of
Further attractions: a boat trip the outer buildings are a Scenic route
on the Rhine river, from Koblenz luxury hotel, wellness River
to Mainz. Viewpoint
centre and restaurant. Kaiserslautern Mannheim
The River Mosel near Trittenheim, Rheinland-Palatinate For hotels and restaurants in this area see p499 and pp524–5
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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Feature template “UK” LAYER
(SourceReport v1.3)
Date 18th October 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm