NARRATOR: The Upper Middle Rhine Valley between Rüdesheim and Koblenz. There are more castles and ruins here than anywhere else on Earth. Designated as a world cultural heritage with one of Europe's most spectacular landscapes.
Which is the biggest and mightiest castle on the Rhine?
Rheinfels
What is the Rhine River famous for?
Continent Europe
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Source Swiss Alps
Mouth Rotterdam into the North Sea
Why are there so many castles along the Rhine?
Many of the castles were "robber-baron" fortresses built by petty princes and two-bit rulers back when there were 350 independent little states in what is today's Germany. The castle owners raised heavy chains across the river when boats came — and lowered them only when the merchants had paid their duty.
Why were many of the castles on the Rhine river built?
In Germany, the emperors controlled the princes. But, in the 11th century, the pope established his power over the emperor. This allowed the little German princes to go wild and build all these castles. That's why most of the castles along the Rhine date from this era.
How many castles are on the Rhine river?
40 castles
Why does Germany have so many castles?
So, ultimately this massive amount of castles in Germany and the whole of Europe exists because they were not just meant for kings and queens, but they were for knights and nobleman that had a small fortune to spend on very expensive and protective housing to protect themselves, their families, their people, and their 10 Feb 2021
What castle is in Rhine River?
Pfalzgrafenstein Castle (German: Burg Pfalzgrafenstein) is a toll castle on the Falkenau island, otherwise known as Pfalz Island in the River Rhine near Kaub, Germany. Known as "the Pfalz," this former stronghold is famous for its picturesque and unique setting.
How old are the castles on the Rhine River?
Castles on the Rhine were mainly built between the 12th and 14th Centuries as defence strongholds and toll houses and over 40 punctuate the landscape on just one 65km stretch of the Middle Rhine Valley. However, it was the later Romanticism period that influenced many 19th-Century makeovers.18 Mar 2019