Admire the arresting architecture, glimpse inside the well-preserved rooms and explore the ramparts of Marksburg Castle. This hilltop stronghold has the honor of never falling to enemy attack and thus stands virtually unaltered since its foundation. The Lords of Eppstein established Marksburg Castle and it later passed through the hands of the Counts of Katzenelnbogen and became quarters for Prussian soldiers. Today it is home to the German Castles Association, which protects and preserves castles.
Access to the castle is via guided tour only. Listen as knowledgeable guides narrate its long history and tell stories about the many former inhabitants. Enter via a series of gates and tunnels, including the Drawbridge Gate and Fox Gate. Climb the Riders Stairway and browse a display of the coats of arms of the former residents.
Peek into the rooms of the Romanesque-style great hall, which dates back to the 1200s and today is part of the offices of the German Castles Association. See a 15th-century cannon in the Small Battery and a collection of huge, river-facing cannons in the Great Battery. Spot medicinal plants and spices in the garden and look down on the Rhine River.
Go to the central courtyard and gaze up at the narrow keep, another part of the original building. Visit the wine cellar, kitchen and bedrooms. Study the ceiling and wall paintings in the chapel. Find 12 life-sized models dressed in suits of armor in the armory and see the recreation of a blacksmith’s shop. Don’t miss the examples of gruesome torture devices.
Walk to the castle in about 30 minutes from Braubach’s train station. Parking is available a short distance from the entrance.
Marksburg Castle is open daily, except for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The admission fee includes a guided tour. Tours in English take place during the summer only. Throughout the rest of the year you can follow tour groups with an English-language fact sheet. Visit the castle’s official website for more information.
