The Castle of Stahledc (12th century), near the town of Bacharach, was formerly the residence of the Counts Palatine. Taken and retaken eight times during the Thirty Years' War, it was finally destroyed by the French in 1689, but its picturesque ruins are of great interest to travelers. Near it are the ruins of the Castle of Nollich, 580 feet above the Rhine, the subject of many a legend. Near the vil lage of Rheindiebach is the Castle of Ffirsten burg, also in ruins. It was here that in 1292, when Adolph of Nassau was on his way to be crowned at Aix-la-Chapelle, the garrison of the castle detained his vessel for the purpose of levying toll. It was destroyed by the French in 1689. The massive tower of the Castle of Heimburg (13th century), near Niederheitn bach; the Castle of Nollich, near Lorch; and Sooneck (Au. 1010), with its slender tower, are interesting, as well as the Falkenburg stronghold of the °robber knights," and for this reason destroyed in 1252 by the Rhine League, but later restored and again destroyed in 1689.
An example of a castle entirely surrounded by water is the Mouse Tower, near Bingen, in the middle of the river. It was built in the 13th century by Archbishop Siegfried as a toll house. It fell into ruins, was restored in 1856 and is now used as a signal station. The Castle of Klopp, at Bingen, stands upon the site of a former Roman fortification. It has been re stored and is now the municipal seat of Bingen, and in it are preserved many of the antiquities of the Roman and Mediaeval periods. It was at this castle that Emperor Henry IV was seized by his treacherous son — afterward Henry V — on Christmas Day, 1105. Other castles of interest are Ehrenfels (ruined) and Rheinstein, the latter one of the oldest castles on the Rhine. In 1825 it was purchased by Prince Frederick of Prussia and has since been carefully restored, even to the interior furnish ings. Its collection of mediaeval armor is notable.
The Schloss Saarsbriicken is a splendid eiFample of the feudal castle, having all the ap purtenances of mediwval times. Located on the river Saar, the castle was until 1793 the residence of the family of Nassau-Saarbriicken, when it was destroyed by the French. Later it was restored in part and was used as a nunnery. While it is strongly fortified, many of the buildings are devoted to residential pur poses. Being situated upon a height, its natural location is defensive. Its walls, with their towers and upper corridor, portholes, etc., are built for repelling attack from any quarter, and within is sufficient space to accommodate a large number of retainers or a garrison, with living accommodations superior to the ordinary castle. The court is divided into two wards, in addition to the divided garden plot, the last a later development. The donjon is the tower ing structure at the upper corner, overlooking the valley and inaccessible from the outside.
In addition the wall is plentifully supplied with watch and defensive towers. The lack of a moat is explained by the fact that the ground surrounding the castle slopes away in every direction. Another fine example of the media val castle of the *robber knights* is Castle Wildenstein. Its location on a high cliff over looking the Danube River is an ideal one for protection against sudden attack Such loca tions were usual for the castles of the free booters of the Middle Ages. The stone tower in the centre was connected by bridges that could be lifted or destroyed with the two castles' on the cliff, and in case of siege, the knight and vassals, taking refuge in the one on the isolated cliff, were able indefinitely to withstand attack.
Other notable German castles are those of lower Bavaria planned and constructed by Lud wig II, the Mad King. They are the castles of Neu-Schwanstein, Hohen-Schwangau, Lin derhof and Herrenschiemsee. The Neu Schwanstein is modern, its construction being begun in 1869 • on the site of the old castle, Vonder-Hohen-Schwangau, on a precipitous rock. Its style is Romanesque, and the great est German architects of the day —.Hoffmann, Riedel and Von Dollmann — are responsible for its completion. Its fittings, while mod ernized, are connected with the past, particu larly in the mythological subjects known to us from Richard Wagner's operas and events in the history and life of Louis XIV, King Lud wig being particularly proud of both. Its tower rises to a height of 195 feet, from which there is to be had a splendid view of the Pdllat River with its gorge and waterfall and the surrounding country. Schloss Hohen Schwangau (12th century), formerly called Schwanstein, was originally the seat of the house of Guelph; in 1191 it came into posses sion of the Hohenstaufen Dukes of Swabia, and in 1567 passed to the Dukes of Bavaria. Fallen into ruins, it was purchased in 1832 by King Max II of Bavaria, who restored it, decorating the interior with frescoes depicting German legends. Later, King Ludwig made additions. Schloss Linderhof, erected by King Ludwig II (1869-78) in the rococo style, is notable for its unique furnishings and garden, particularly its grotto with a subterranean lake and swan-drawn boat, Moorish kiosque and the cascades. Schloss Herrenschiemsee (1878-85), near the ancient castle of the same name, is another of King Ludwig's creations, and in it also the motive is Louis XIV and Wagner. The decorations are sumptuous and many of the halls are notable. The Gallery of Mirrors, 245 feet long, is lighted with 35 lustres and 2,500 candles. One of the most novel features, how ever, is its dining-hall with its table ascending and descending, so that no servant need be in the room.