Medieval knight's castles and pretty baroque palaces on the Rhine cycle path
The past centuries have left their mark on the entire Rhine. Nowhere is this more evident than on the Romantic Rhine, the section between Bingen/Rüdesheim in the south and the Siebengebirge in the north. Here, over 60 medieval knight's castles, pretty baroque palaces and impressive fortresses come together to form a unique cultural landscape. Whether it's the Mouse Tower, Stahleck Castle, Stolzenfels Castle or Marksburg, their locations and their different functions are just as diverse as their names: some castles were used to collect customs duties and were therefore important sources of income for those in power. Other buildings were built to protect against neighboring archbishoprics or electorates, while others served purely representative purposes.
Feel the mystical charm of crumbling ruins
The way the numerous castles and palaces look today couldn't be more different. Some have been preserved through extensive restoration over the centuries, house restaurants, hotels or museums and are partly still family-owned. Others exude the mystical charm of (almost) crumbled ruins and only give an idea of how many wars and revolts they have seen come and go. The castles and palaces can also be discovered by bike, as they are always within sight, usually directly on the Rhine cycle path.
