|
|
Burg Rheinstein - near Bingen
The castle construction originates in the 9th century. It was originally built as toll tower. One of the historical highlights was 1282, when King Rudolf von Habsburg held court against the perfidious robber knights from the Middle Rhein. After the glory period between the 13th and 16th centuries, Castle Rheinstein became a ruin. In 1823, Prince Friedrich Wilhelm von Prussia became the owner, and he restored the ruins. Three architects: J.C. Lassinel, Friedrich Schriever, and Wilhelm Kuhn were hired to reconstruct the castle according to the "Romantic Rhein" concept of the 19th century. The family Hollenzollern kept the castle through the inheritance until 1975.
In 1975, Hermann Hecher, the opera singer from Tirol, bought the castle. Through 25 years of hard work and vision, the family Hecher together with financial assistance from the state of Rheinland-Pfalz, and the support of the "Friends of the Castle" society were able to awaken the "the little castle" from it's "Sleeping Beauty" dream. Today, Castle Rheinstein is a unique living cultural monument on the Middle (Romantic) Rhein.