May 18, 2024
This afternoon we traversed the Rhine River Gorge, considered the most picturesque section of the Rhine. If you’ve ever seen an ad for a Viking River Cruise, you’ve seen this gorge.
To set the stage, here is a short description of the Rhine River.
“Old Father Rhine,” as the Germans affectionately call their cherished river, begins as a trickle in the Swiss Alps. From these great heights, it flows 820 miles through several countries to the North Sea. The Upper Rhine carves out Germany’s borders with Switzerland and beautiful French Alsace. In the heart of Germany, the Middle Rhine creates a stunning canvas of picturesque forests, vineyards and castles before leveling into the Lower Rhine, The Netherlands and the scenic Rhine River Delta.
Castles, castles, and more castles – some rebuilt, some in ruins. This 40 mile section of the Rhine between Koblenz and Bingen is not only beautiful, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Home to more than 28 castles along with ancient towns and lovely vineyards, the steep hillsides provided the perfect place for feudal lords to control trade along the river.
Perched on the sundeck of our ship, wrapped in blankets or towels against the chill, with Viking’s Castle map and (spiked, if you desired) hot chocolate in hand, we listened as Program Director Carl narrated our passage through this fairytale section.
Maus Castle (Kilometer 558)
Given the name “Mouse Castle” by the counts of the larger Katz Castle, this castle has been completely restored.
Rheinfels Castle (Kilometer marker 556)
High on a cliff overlooking the Rhine are the ruins of this 13th century fortress. Today it is home to a hotel and museum.
Katz Castle (Kilometer marker 555)
Built in the 14th century Katz Castle was heavily damaged by Napoleon’s forces in 1806. It was rebuilt in the Victorian era.
Lorelei
Above Koblenz, at a point where the Rhine narrows and is at its deepest, the steep Lorelei Rock rises from the water. According to legend, it was here that the beautiful Lorelei maiden used to sit and sing sweetly. Woe to the sailor who passed the rock at nightfall and was lured to his doom, transfixed by her beauty and song as the rapid water lashed his vessel again the rocks.
Below the rock on a tiny spit of land is the Lorelei Statue.
St. Martin Church and Oxen Tower in Oberwesel
The construction of St. Martin’s Church began in the mid-14th century. It was a fortified church to provide protection against raiders, so the tower you see above was for defensive purposes. The tower on the right is the Ochsenturm or Oxen Tower. It is a type of tower called a “butter churn tower”, distinguished by having two parts, with the upper part having a smaller diameter than the lower part.
Schönburg Castle (Kilometer marker 549)
Schönburg Castle was built in 966 and burned by the French in 1689. The castle has been reconstructed and now contains a renowned hotel and restaurant. Liebfrauenkirche was built during the first half of the 14th century. Around 1400, the church was included in the fortification when the city wall was enlarged.
Gutenfels and Pfalzgrafenstein (Kilometer markers 546 and 545)
Pfalzgrafenstein (known as the “Pfalz”) was a toll station. The station plus nearby Gutenfels Castle made a formidable toll stop for boats navigating the Rhine.
Stahleck Castle (Kilometer marker 543)
This 12th century castle was in ruins for 237 years after being repeatedly attacked during 17th century wars. It was rebuilt in 1909 and now houses a youth hostel.
Heimburg Castle (Kilometer marker 539)
Built in the 13th century and destroyed under Louis XIV, Heimburg Castle was rebuilt in the 19th century.
Sooneck Castle (Kilometer marker 537)
Sooneck Castle was rebuilt by the crown prince of Prussia in 1834.
Reichenstein Castle (Kilometer marker 534)
A beautiful example of Neo-Gothic style, reconstructed Reichenstein contains furniture, porcelain, and weapons spanning 5 centuries.
Rheinstein Castle (Kilometer marker 533)
Rheinstein is a 14th century castle that features a drawbridge and ivy-covered battlements, not to mention a spectacular view of the Rhine.
Mouse Tower (Kilometer marker 530)
A former toll tower built on an island that served as a shipping signal station until 1974. According to legend, mice ate an archbishop imprisoned here.
Ehrenfels Castle (Kilometer marker 530)
A 13th century castle now in ruins.
Whew! That’s a lot of castles and we didn’t get photos of them all.
Mesmerized by the scenery, we apparently missed the German Teatime that was offered in the Lounge mid-afternoon but that’s ok. We enjoyed the remaining shipboard activities later in the day – the casual get together in the Lounge for drinks and music, the port talk explaining the next day’s excursions and schedule, dinner followed by trivia and then music in the Lounge.
It’s been a very full day, so we’ll leave you here. See you tomorrow.
