Marxburg Castle is located in the Rhine river valley, which is rightfully considered the real kingdom of chivalrous buildings, which has more than 900 years. According to scientists in these places there are medieval fortresses on almost every kilometer. He is considered legendary for the fact that for several centuries the enemies never managed to capture him even once.
Location and legend
Marksburg Fortress (Marksburg) is located in Germany in the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate, near the town of Braubach. The magnificent building stands at an altitude of 150 m on a green hill above the river, it literally soars over the surroundings and is considered the most beautiful fortress in the valley of the Middle Rhine.
A sad legend about the unfortunate beauty Elizabeth Braubach, the daughter of the owner, is directly connected with Marxburg Castle. With her beloved Siegbert, the war separated her, where he went on the orders of the emperor, and then allegedly died. While Elsa was waiting for her fiancé, instead of him came his name cousin Rochus, who begged her to marry him.
The bride agreed in despair, however, on the eve of the wedding, St. Mark appeared to the local priest and accused Rohus of worshiping Satan. To verify these words, the next morning the priest pulled out a cross near the altar and pointed them in the face of Rohus, from which he fell underground.
After the loss of the second bridegroom, Elizabeth went to the monastery with grief, and after a while Siegbert returned with rich booty, which everyone considered dead. Upon learning of all the events, he became desperate, and the castle was then renamed in honor of St. Mark.
The history of the castle
The very first defensive structure was erected on this site in the 1100s by representatives of the Epstein family, among which were the archbishops of the cities of Mainz and Trier. It was used not only as a fortress, but also to house the administrative center and local customs office.
In the documents, Marxburg was first mentioned as the castle of Braubach in 1231. By the end of the 13th century. the fortress was already owned by the Counts Katzenlenbogen, and by the beginning of the 14th century. it became the property of von Hessen due to the fact that the previous owners did not have male heirs. For 14-15 Art. the fortress was rebuilt and updated many times. Its modern appearance (see Marxburg Castle, photo below) is already the result of continuous repair and restoration work, which lasted more than 700 years in a row.
In 1437, the chapel of St. Mark was erected on the territory of the fortress, after which the name "Marxburg" appeared. He distinguished himself during the years of the 30-year war, as the only German stronghold that successfully withstood the siege. The French were unable to take it by fit.
Castle prison
By the beginning of the 19th century, when Napoleon was able to capture Germany, the castle of Marxburg was presented to the Duke of Nassau, he came under the jurisdiction of Prussia. After that, instead of fortification, he began to perform civilian functions. A shelter for disabled soldiers was set up here, and then a prison.
In 1900, it was bought out by the German Association for the Protection of historic palaces for a nominal fee of 1,000 imperial marks. Its main function is the care and preservation of monuments of architecture and antiquity in Germany.
At the end of World War II, the castle was partially destroyed after shelling by American artillery, but in the postwar years it was almost completely restored.
Marxburg Castle (Germany): description
The entrance to the fortress is through the gate to which a small bridge leads. Its protective bastions are equipped with loopholes through which tourists can see part of the forest. On one of the walls are the family coats of arms of the families that alternately owned the castle: von Epstein, Counts Katzenelnbogenov, Landgraves von Hessen and Dukes of Nassau.
If you go to the fortress walls, you can see the surroundings and the picturesque landscape, consisting of a forest, the Rhine River and a town with small houses. On one side is a beautiful half-timbered building, built in 1705 instead of a bakery, next to it is a well and a cistern, which collect rainwater.
The main building of the fortress is the central white tower, which rises above the entire architectural structure. In the upper part of the fortress, in the space between the inner and outer walls, there is a small garden where medicinal herbs and spices are grown.
Through a separate entrance from the courtyard you can get into the room for torture and punishment, where tools and devices are exhibited. Ancient engravings are hung on the walls, describing the skill and technology of torture experts.
Interiors and Expositions
Description of Marxburg Castle and its interior should begin with the lower rooms, the entrance to which is from the courtyard. In the basement are located:
- an old forge showing equipment and various tools;
- a wine warehouse with a collection of old oak barrels, where once the famous Rhine wine was stored;
- the kitchen room demonstrates medieval utensils, dishes and various equipment, including for wringing wine.
To get to the upper floors, you must climb a narrow aisle with stairs. Here are mainly living rooms, which demonstrate the life and professional skills of the castle residents:
- a dining room with a fireplace and benches for knights, in which there are old examples of wooden furniture with beautiful carvings (chest, sideboard, chest of drawers, wardrobe), musical instruments and a set for playing chess, there is even an ancient closet;
- "Armory" or "Hall of the Knights", which presents the clothes and equipment of medieval warriors (armor, armor, etc.);
- ancient cannons are displayed here, with the help of which the defenders of the fortress defended themselves from the enemy;
- “Spinning mill” - a room for weavers represented by medieval equipment (spinning wheels, looms and other tools);
- upstairs is the Marcus Chapel chapel (1200), in which the ceiling and walls are decorated with frescoes and murals.
Castle in the 21st century
Since 2002, Marxburg Castle has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is also protected by the Hague Convention as an invaluable monument of architecture and history.
Since the beginning of the 20th century, the fortress has become one of the most picturesque historical buildings, against the background of which films and cartoons are being shot. He was the first of the castles presented in children's toy stores in the form of a cardboard model; his appearance was also used in several amusement parks.
Now in the castle of Marxburg (Germany) is the office of the German Society of Castles and Museums, which is making every effort to restore this architectural complex. The work is carried out on the preserved engravings of the German land surveyor Dilich. To get to the fortress, you need to walk through the old forest, climb to the top of the mountain, admire the beautiful medieval architecture and the interior of the castle.