Marksburg at Braubach
Jeanette M. Enmon
Pearl River High
Social Studies/Gifted Departments
Pearl River, Louisiana

Marksburg castle at Braubach, Germany is one of the few castles that has never been fought over and never besieged. It is the only Rhine River castle that has been completely preserved.  Today it offers a glimpse into the lives of the nobility in the Middle Ages.  The castle sits above the town of Braubach.  It remains much the same as it was when it was first built as a fortified residence. The earliest data on the castle dates to 1100, but since it is now the headquarters for the Association for Preservation of German Castles, the site has much earlier records.

The earliest family name recorded in 1231 is Huren von Eppstein who owned it as a fief.  The castle changed hands during 1283 to the count of Katzenelnbogen by marriage.  In 1479 it became part of the Landgraves of Hesse's property.  Finally in 1866 the Prussians took it over and in 1899 Wilhelm II gave it to the Association for Preservation of German Castles.

The castle has various groups of buildings which include a dungeon and towers. The dungeon contains different methods of torture, while the Hall of Knights contains original armor, weapons, and artifacts

Marksburg Castle

Torture chamber rack in Marksburg

                            Stocks in Torture Chamber
 

Body Armor located in the
                                        Hall of Knights

More body armor located in the Hall of Knights

                    Body Armor and shield

 Chasity belt and chest armor

Medieval bathroom off of the master bedroom.  A pipe ran down the outside of the castle into
a stream several feet below the castle.

http://www.loyno.edu/~MidAges.index.html

j_enmon@yahoo.com
All materials at this site not otherwise credited are Copyright 2000 Jeanette M. Enmon
All rights reserved.