Photo: museums and exhibitions, castles, fortresses and palaces, Rheinstein Castle, Rhineland-Palatinate

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Rheinstein Castle – Rock’s Continuation

Museums and Exhibitions • Castles, Fortresses and Palaces

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Rheinstein Castle on theRhine near Bingen is one of the most notable on the tourist route. It is known forits walls that are the continuation of a rock. The castle seems to be hangingover the steep bank of the Rhine. The mastery of medieval builders, who erectedthe castle, is but astonishing. The castle construction began in the first halfof the XIV century. Archbishop of Mainz was its first owner.

Rheinstein Castlewas built for pretty non-trivial purposes. It was supposed for observing if ReichensteinCastle, located downstream of the Rhine, was under restoration. The latter was thenest of a famous robber, destroyed at the order of the bishop. Over time, Rheinstein Castle got also another function - thecustoms. Here, taxes were collected from merchant ships, reaching the Rhine. Atthat time the castle had another name: Fautsburg and later Vogtsburg. Overtime, however, Rheinstein Castle gotpretty dilapidated. Prince Ludwig Wilhelm of Prussia gave a second life to it.In 1823, the prince, the cousin of the then ruler King of Prussia, bought thecastle from its owners for 100 thalers. He restored the dilapidated castle andbuilt several new buildings. He gave the castle its present name - Rheinstein. Later,the castle passed from hand to hand. In the mid 70-ies of the XX century, HermannHecher, an opera star, bought it. His family lives in the castle now, too, whodo not prevent tourists from visiting its attractions. The Rheinstein CastleMuseum works at the castle. In summer it can be visited on a daily basis, inwinter the museum is open only on weekends.

Rheinstein Castle – Rock’s Continuation

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