CASTLES, Historic. Of castles and ruins of castles to be found to-day, perhaps the most interesting are those of Germany. These °Burgen,-* whether of the feudal lords or of the °Robber Knights,* on account of their rugged situation, protected by mountain fast ness, forests and rivers, were peculiarly adapted to the feudal period, and their remains stand as representative of the best of that time. And nowhere else has greater effort been made to preserve these relics of the Middle Ages, or to keep alive the history and romance with which they have been identified. The district having the greatest number of especial interest is that along the Rhine, from Coblenz to Bingen, where in the course of a five-hour trip by steamer 20 or more castles may be seen; however, below Coblenz are a few notable castles, for instance, near Konigswinter stands above the mountainous terrace the ancient and famous castle of Drachenfels, or °dragon's rock* (so called in reference to the dragon slain by Siegfried). It was erected by Arnold, archbishop of Cologne, in 1147 and bestowed by him as a fief on the Cassins Monastery at Bonn in 1149. The keep is one of the rare examples of pure ashlar work in the district of the Rhine. From 1176 on the castle was in the hands of the Burggraves of Drachenfels, whose race became extinct in 1530. The red wine grown on the southwest slope is known as °Drachenblut" or dragon's blood. The castle of Ehrenbreitstein at the junction of the Mo selle and the Rhine, just opposite the city of Coblenz, was an ancient stronghold of the Electors of Troves (Coblenz). It played an important part in the Thirty Years' War; it was taken by the French in 1799 after a gal lant resistance. Since 1826 it has been a fortress.
One of the most imposing is the Castle of Stolzenfels — The Proud Rock*— near the village of Capellen. Built in 1250 by Arnold, archbishop of Treves, destroyed by the French in 1688, it remained in ruins until 1823, when the city of Coblenz purchased and presented it to the Prince Royal Frederick William IV, who at an expenditure of a quarter million dollars restored and furnished it (1836-42). While greatly modernized, the original pentag onal tower, 110 feet high, has been retained. Also on the Rhine near the village of Ober lahnstein is the Castle of Lahneck, with its pentagonal tower, of the 12th century. De stroyed by the French in 1688• it was restored during the last century. It is noted in litera ture as being the Inspiration of Goethe's (Geistes-Grus0 (1774). Commanding Brau bach is the Castle of Marksburg, 490 feet above the river. It is the only ancient fortress on the Rhine that has escaped destruction. Built in
1437, it received its name from its chapel dedi cated to Saint Mark; from 1479 to 1803 it belonged to Hesse-Darmstadt, in the latter year being turned into a state prison. Since 1900 it has been in the possession of the Society for the Preservation of German Castles, which has had it restored in 15th century style. Near the town of Saint Goar are the ruins of the Castle of Rheinfels, the most imposing and extensive on the Rhine. It was built in 1245 by Count Diether III of Katzenbogen, for the purpose of forcing payment of tribute for the right of navigating the river. The exactions of this robber knight becoming onerous, the neighbor ing inhabitants rebelled and for 15 months be sieged the castle in vain. The siege being raised, a league was formed to relieve navi gators of the river from such tolls, as a result of which many of the Rhine castles were de stroyed. Near Saint Goarshausen is the Castle of Reichenberg, built by Count Wilhelm I (1284), of Katzenbogen, rebuilt in 1319 and subsequently the residence of the governors during the Hessian supremacy.
For romantic interest the Castle of Schon burg is especially notable. Erected in the 12th century near the town of Oberwesel, it stands proudly to-day with its four towers. It was the birthplace of Frederick Hermann of Schon burg, who, as Marshal Schonburg, was killed at the battle of the Boyne in the wars of Wil liam, Prince of Orange, against his father-in law, James II of England. Innumerable legends cluster about the castle, the best-known being of the seven beautiful daughters of one of the Counts of Schonburg, who through their coquetry caused such havoc with their admirers that the Lorelei, the river fairy, to punish them, drowned the seven and turned them into rocks, which rocks are to-day pointed out by the boatmen during low water. Another is the Castle of Gutenfels, one of the most ancient on the Rhine. Built by the Knights of Falken stein, it was sold, along with the little town of Caub, to the Palatinate in 1277. Its lofty, square-pinnacled tower still stands as originally built. Recently the castle has been restored. The Pfalz, near Caub, is a splendid example of the 14th century castle, being well pre served within and without. It has a pentagonal tower— a favorite form among the Rhine castles — and numerous turrets and jutting corners, loopholes and one entrance only, a door situated six feet above the rock and reached by a ladder. It was built on a ledge of rock in the middle of the Rhine by Lotns the Bavarian for the purpose of exacting tolls from passing boatmen.