Pfalz / Burg Pfalzgrafenstein - 25km from St.Goar and other Sankt Goar, Germany Off The Beaten Path Tips

Pfalz / Burg Pfalzgrafenstein -

25km from St.Goar

by globetrott , 3 more photos

Just about 25km upstream from St.Goar you may see this interesting castle built on a small island in the middle of the river Rhine / Rhein. Pfalz or Pfalzgrafenstein castle is the name of that castle, built between the villages of Oberwesel on the left bank and Kaub at the right bank of the river. In medieval times a strong chain held up all the ship-trafic passing by this castle and high taxes had to be payed by the merchants passing by.
In the village KAUB a ferry will take you there and you may visit the castle-interior.
In December and every 1st workingday of the week it is closed.
January - March : 09.00a.m.-01.00p.m. + 02.00p.m.-05.00p.m.
October - November 09.00a.m.-01.00p.m. + 02.00p.m.-05.00p.m.
April - September 09.00a.m.-01.00p.m. + 02.00p.m.-06.00p.m.
Last entry is 1 hour before closing !!
Pfalz / Burg Pfalzgrafenstein in Kaub is to be found at about halfway from Ruedesheim&Bingen to Koblenz. The ferry to the island is leaving in Kaub. During the day a large car-ferry goes across the river there !

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Off The Beaten Path: Stolzenfels castle - 30km downstream from St.Goar

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Written by globetrott

on Mar 15, 2006

Stolzenfels castle - 30km

downstream from St.Goar

30 km downstream from St.Goar, on the left bank of the river Rhine you will see the castle of Kapellen-Stolzenfels, mostly it is just called Stolzenfels and it is one of the most beautiful palaces along the river Rhine / Rhein. The first castle of Stolzenfels dated back to the 13th century, but it was destroyed - like many other castles in the area - by french troops in 1689. In 1823 the city of Koblenz gave the castle-ruins to the prussian king Friedrich Wilhelm IV, who had the castle rebuilt by the famous architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel in Neo-gothic style.
Today you may see the yellow castle already from a long distance, when cruising the Rhine or driving by car through the Rhine-valley.I drove there in order to get inside, BUT unfortunately I came too late, as they close the gates at 05.00p.m. for the last tour.
You have to park your car in the village and walk the steep road uphill to the castle. It takes about 15-20 minutes to arrive at the gate-house on my picture, that was obviously used for the living-quaters of the employees and as stables for the horses .
From that Gatehouse you have to walk another 200 meters to the castle.
When you intend to see the interior of the castle, mind this timetable:
The castle is open daily except in December
and except the 1st workingday of the week (eastermonday is open...)
January 1st - March 31st : 09.00a.m. - 05.00p.m.
April 1st - September 30th : 09.00a.m. - 06.00p.m.
October 1st - November 30th : 09.00a.m. - 05.00p.m.
Last entry is 60 minutes before closing-time.

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Website: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/1ffe4/be79

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Off The Beaten Path: The Marksburg in Braubach - 25km from St.Goar

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Written by globetrott

on Mar 15, 2006

Marksburg in Braubach, 25km from

St.Goar

About 25km downstream from St.Goar, at the right bank of the river Rhine / Rhein you will see Marksburg. It is the only medieval castle in the area of Middle-Rhine, that was almost not changed or adapted afterwards and that was never destoyed.
Marksburg is also the seat of the "Deutsche Burgenvereinigung" (German castle assosiation) and holds a big library with 12000 books.
The castle is 150 meters above the Rhine and you may drive up by car or take a small road-train from Braubach, a lovely village, also worth a visit !
The castle is open for visitors daily 10.00a.m.-05.00p.m. and photography inside the castle is allowed !

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Website: http://www.marksburg.de/frame.htm

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Off The Beaten Path: Burg Stahleck in Bacharach - 23km from St.Goar

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Written by globetrott

on Mar 15, 2006

Burg Stahleck in Bacharach - 23km

from St.Goar

Burg Stahleck in Bacharach is a really beautiful castle, about 23 km upstream from St.Goar. The castle dates back to the year 1135 but it was destroyed by french troops in 1689. In 1828 it was sold to crown-prince Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia, who wanted to restore it as a residence for his wife, Elisabeth of Bavaria. But soon he found out, it was impossible to restore it completely, so it was sold again and it finally became a Youth-hostel already in 1926. Today it might be the most beautiful hostel in Germany and built at one of the very best places above the Rhine-valley. - see also my hoteltips !!
Stahleck castle may be visited freely and without restrictions by everyone, only a small part of the building is reserved for the hostel-guests.
You may drive up to Burg Stahleck by your own car or take the public bus to the castle, hiking through the vinyards takes about 20 minutes from the city-centre - the steps to the castle start at the church of St.Peter or at the Malerwinkel.

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Phone: +49 (6743) 1266
Website: http://www.hostelz.com/display.php/12718+Jugendherberge+Burg+Stahleck
Other Contact: Fax:+49 (6743) 2684

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Off The Beaten Path: Bacharach - a romantic town,20 km from St.Goar

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Written by globetrott

on Mar 15, 2006

Bacharach - a romantic town,20 km

from St.Goar

About 20km upstream from St.Goar, at the left bank of the river Rhine / Rhein you will get to Bacharach. It is certainly one of the most romantic villages along the river Rhine. When passing by it on a cruise or by car you will first of all see that wall of houses facing the river : it was the former medieval townwall and serves still today as a certain wall against the noises of the trains passing by there all day and night !!
So you have to choose your hotel carfully in order to be able to sleep in Bacharach !
Park your car and walk into the town behind the townwall and you will see plenty of great half-timbered houses and a great church. See my next tips about "Posthof" and "St.Peter"-church !
Bacharach is 20km upstream from St.Goar, at the left bank of the river Rhine and pretty close to the "Pfalz"

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Off The Beaten Path: Oberwesel - 20km upstream from St.Goar

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Written by globetrott

on Mar 15, 2006

Oberwesel - 20km upstream from

St.Goar

Don't miss Oberwesel, it is just about 20km upstream from St.Goar and has a lot of interesting sights : Liebfrauenkirche dates back to the year 1213 and although it does not really look very special from outside it is really worth seeing for it's very special and beautiful interior , including one of the oldest wooden gothic altars !! Click on my pictures in order to see all the fine details of the architecture and great wood-carvings ! You may enter the church freely and without restrictions during the day !
In Oberwesel you may still see almost the complete medieval townwalls, dating back to the year 1220. 16 of the formerly 21 towers are still there, some of them are privately owned nowadays, but on most of them you may even step up and enjoy the perfect panorama-view of the Rhine-valley. You may still also walk around the city of Oberwesel on top of the medieval walls and during such a walk you will pass by a modern house, beautifully painted and decorated by paintings in the style of Salvadore Dali. Not the real ones of course, but perfectely copied or imitated - see my extra pictures !
Oberwesel is one of these towns, where the train-lines run directely through town and at most of the hotels you will hear them all night !!
An exception are of course all hotels high above Oberwesel, like Schoenburg-castle-hotel !!

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Off The Beaten Path: Burg Lahneck - 30km from St.Goar

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Written by globetrott

on Mar 15, 2006

Burg Lahneck - 30km from St.Goar

by globetrott , 3 more photos

About 30km downstream from St.Goar you may see Burg Lahneck at the right bank of the river Rhine / Rhein. It is a really interesting castle, built high above the place, where the river LAHN flows into the Rhine.
The castle dates back to 1245 and you may visit it with a guided tour only. Tours are daily 10.00a.m. - 05.00 p.m. between easter and end of October.
Unfortunately I did not go inside, as for the next tour I would have to have waited 1,5 hours :-((
Just a few meters from the castle, you may see a great restaurant with a lovely terrace facing the Rhine-valley and with a great view on castle Kapellen-Stolzenfels. There is also a camping-site close to Burg Lahneck.

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Website: http://www.burglahneck.de/index.html

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Off The Beaten Path: Castle Sternberg - just 12 km from St.Goar

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Written by globetrott

on Mar 15, 2006

Liebenstein & Sternberg - just 12

km from St.Goar