September 10, 20

Koblenz  via the Marksburg Castle on the Rhine Gorge

The Skirnir set off from Wertheim towards Koblenz through the Rhine Gorge, a 65 mile stretch with fields of vineyards and lots of castles.  The vineyards/grapes were introduced by the romans who's influence went all the way up to the edge of the south side of the Rhine River and is the start of many villages, outposts and castles in the area.  Gotta put some castle pictures in because Bob took them all and there were a lot, but I will pick out the best ones.  Most are in ruins except for the Marksburg castle.  We did visit this one so you will see it in detail.

One wonders how they manage to harvest all these grapes on these slopes....you have better really appreciate your Rhine wines now - Riesling (yum), Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, Müller-Thurgau and Gewürztraminer (yum) - it must be a labor of love.

Inside Marksburg Castle - a castle above the town of Braubach in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.  The fortress was used for protection rather than as a residence for royal families.  Of the 40 hill castles between Bingen and Koblenz (Rhine Gorge) the Marksburg was one of only two which had never been destroyed (the other being Maus Castle) and at least the only one that had never fallen into disrepair.  A stone keep (central feature of the castle) was built on the spot in 1100 and expanded into a castle around 1117 to protect the town of Braubach.

View of the Rhine River Gorge from the walk up to the castle gate

Castle Gate (finally there)

Castle literally built on the rock...eventually stone steps were carved in the stone to help enter the castle

The Battery Armament - alias weapons location...I like the view from the canon peep hole...canon included in picture for the guys...

Garden outside of castle walls

Bedroom with a very small bed lengthwise.....apparently they slept sitting up...Lying down was associated with death, and therefore sleeping was done in a half-upright position.

Privy....a hole to sit on and the deposit went straight out the open hole into the yard....pee yew.

Kitchen

Dining Room or reading room with light

And armor through the ages and weapons to go with them...just to keep the guys interested

So, finished with the castle and meet back with the Viking Skirnir at Koblenz (at the confluence of the Mosel and the Rhine...remember?)  As it was late, we did wander a bit outside where the ship was docked and to our sruprise came across the largest equestrian monument I have ever seen...of German Emperor William I of Germany, mounted on a 46 foot high horse.  The whole monument is 65 feet high.  

And nearby the statue was a pretty parkade with beautiful aged trees.  What was particularly interesting to me where the trunks of the trees....and of course the girth.

The  Ludwigmuseum was closed but we could enter the courtyard.  The capstones to the arches caught my eye.  

Koblenz at night - all views near where the boat docked for the evening.