Stolzenfels Castle: A jewel of the Rhine romance awakens to life!

Stolzenfels Castle: A jewel of the Rhine romance awakens to life!

Castle Stolzenfels, high above the Rhine in Rhineland-Palatinate, is an outstanding example of Rhine romance. This cultural epoch, which included literature, music, painting and architecture, found its expression, especially between Mainz and Cologne. Like Südwest24 reported, the castle was built between 1242 and 1259 by the Archbishop Arnold II of Isenburg. It experienced numerous transformations and destruction, especially through the French in 1689 during the Palatinate War of Succession.

After the defeat of Napoleon, the orphaned ruin came into the possession of the city of Koblenz. In 1823 it was given to the Prussian crown prince Friedrich Wilhelm and then rebuilt under the direction of the famous architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel in the style of Rheinromatik. This reconstruction was considered by the romantic landscape of the Rhine and is a lively testimony of the cultural heritage of the region.

architecture and gardens

The Stolzenfels Castle, which once served as a Zollburg, has been expanded several times over the centuries. The mountain fried dates from 1244 and was later increased. The landscape park around the castle, planned by garden architect Peter Joseph Lenné, extends over 9 hectares and contributes to the picturesque framework. Wikipedia emphasizes the meaning of the interior, which was designed by various craftsmen and artists, and the neo -Gothic chapel that was built between 1843 and 1847.

After the First World War, the castle came into the possession of the state castle administration. In 2002 it became part of the UNESCO World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley and attracts up to 250,000 visitors every year. The renovation measures that started in 2011 cost a total of 21 million euros by 2016 and focused on the restoration of the external appearance and the restoration of the Bergfried.

Rhine romance and cultural relevance

The Rhine romance that was created around 1800 describes a special connection between nature and culture on the Rhine. It was a reaction to rationalism and industrialization and made artists and writings deal with the beauty of the Rhine landscape. This era is still being carried in Rhine tourism. wikipedia emphasizes that the print graphics and publications with Rhine views shaped the romantic idea of ​​the river.

The influence of this era extends far beyond art. Historical personalities such as Queen Victoria, who visited the Rhine Valley in 1845, and significant writers and composers shaped the cultural memory of the Rhine. With the reconstruction and the numerous cultural events that take place today in Stolzenfels Castle, this legacy is kept alive and attracts both tourists and cultural lovers.

Stolzenfels Castle is not only a protected cultural monument, but also a lively part of the Rhineland heritage and the romantic history that shapes this part of Germany.