Castles in the Sky and The Ruins on the Rhine Quiz

Answer: False

This alley is called Drosselgasse, and was built during the 15th century. Drosselgasse is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Rüdesheim and is the centre of a vibrant community. Some of the finest restaurants in the whole of Germany can be found in Drosselgasse, and there is nothing comparable to a glass of the local wine whilst sitting outside on a balmy summer evening. Unter den Linden is the name of a tree lined boulevard in the Mitte district of Berlin.

The word 'linden' is German for 'lime', and it is from the rows of lime trees planted along the edges of this thoroughfare that it takes its name.

Answer: Asbach-Uralt

The Asbach-Uralt distillery was founded in Rüdesheim in 1892 and became very popular amongst the Germans almost immediately. It was, in fact, so popular that in 1917 the German government prevented the sale of Asbach to the general populace in order that they could guarantee supplies to the imperial navy! After the First World War, the Treaty of Versailles prevented Germany from using the term cognac to describe Asbach, as they had been doing until that time, and so Hugo Asbach the founder coined the term 'Weinbrand', which eventually made its way into law and is still used to provide legal protection for Asbach itself and other fine German brandies.

Answer: Germania

This imposing monument dominates the skyline above Rüdesheim, and was built to commemorate the foundation of Germany during the latter years of the 19th century. The monument itself consists of the central figure of Germania flanked by two other figures that represent war and peace. Around the pedestal are inscribed the words of the greatest patriotic folk hymn of the period, 'Die Wacht am Rhein' or 'The Watch on the Rhine', that was written sometime during the early 1840s.

Answer: Eaten alive by vermin

Bishop Hatto, Bishop of Mainz, was a thoroughly despicable fellow... or so this legend tells us. During a period of great famine, this greedy and selfish churchman confiscated the regions stocks of corn and hoarded it to sell at vastly inflated prices.

He became tired of visits to his palace by the starving and so, one day, he enticed the population of a village into a huge barn with a promise of free corn. Once they were inside Bishop Hatto had the barn secured and set ablaze, burning its occupants alive. Ignoring their screams of agony, the bishop laughed and returned to his palace. Shortly afterwards, his guards raced to tell the bishop that a hoard of mice was rushing towards the palace.

The mice overran and killed the bishop's soldiers forcing the bishop to flee to the tower that he had built on an island in the Rhine for safety.

This was to no avail as the mice swam across the river to the tower and after pouring through the windows and doors, ate Bishop Hatto alive... A fitting end for an evil tyrant! And that, fellow traveller, is the reason that this tower is known as Mäuseturm, The Mouse Tower.

Answer: Satan

In this tale, a powerful nobleman has inherited a mountain and wishes to build an impregnable castle at its peak. After many failed attempts the frustrated noble calls upon Satan for help. Satan appears and promises to build his castle for him on condition that once completed he can possess the soul of the first living being that looks out from a castle window.

The noble agrees and the following morning his castle is there for all to see. The noble, unbeknown to Satan, had told his wife of Satan's plans and, wily woman that she was, had an idea of her own.

The noble and his retinue marched into the castle with his wife leading the way mounted on a donkey. Once inside the castle the noble's wife covered the donkeys head with a shawl and pushed the creature's head through one of the window openings. Satan, on seeing this immediately swept away his prize only to drop it as the donkey let loose a mighty bellow. With this Satan disappeared screaming in a sulphurous cloud with the howls of laughter from the local populace ringing in his ears!

Answer: Castle, Keep or Chateau

There are a total of forty seven castles and ruins along the banks of the Rhine between Rüdesheim-am-Rhein and Koblenz. The term Schloss denotes a building more like a French chateau, a large, grand house with a lesser degree of fortification than a castle.

The most accurate name for the more heavily defended castle-type building is 'Burg'. A very heavily defended building should be described as a 'Festung' or fortress. If the building in question is at the pinnacle of a hill or mountain then it is often referred to as a 'Stein' or 'Fels'.

Answer: Robber Barons

Many of the castles along this stretch of the Rhine were built by members of the nobility back in the 11th and 12th centuries, and this area has become famous for its 'robber barons'. If the truth were known, fewer of these castles were inhabited by robber barons than we might believe. Due to the geography of the area, most cargo of any value was transported on the river itself, even that far back in time, and so taxes would have been paid at, or on, the river itself.

As far as historians can say, there were only two locations on this stretch of the Rhine that were originally built for this purpose, one being the Mäuseturm near Bingen-am-Rhein, and the other was the Pfalzgrafenstein at Kaub.

Answer: Blücher

The Pfalzgrafenstein Toll Station at Kaub collected taxes on the river in league with the inhabitants of Castle Gutenfels and the fortified town of Kaub. It was built in 1326 on Falkenau Island by King Ludwig the Bavarian, and operated as a toll station until as late as 1867. Pfalzgrafenstein, known simply as 'The Pfalz', stands at the point on the river at which, in 1814, the Prussian Field Marshall Blücher crossed the Rhine with his army on the way to fight against Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo.

In Kaub there is the Blüchermuseum which is well worth a visit. After World War II, the building became the property of the state of Rhineland-Pfalz, was restored to its former glory, and became a museum itself that can be reached by ferry boat provided that river and weather conditions suitable.

Answer: Lorelei

Lorelei was a beautiful water nymph. The son of the Count of Palatinate, Ronald, had heard tales of this beautiful maiden and determined to have her for himself. One day, on the pretence of leaving court to go hunting, he had a local boatman row him across to the base of the cliff upon which Lorelei sang her enchanting song. So enamored of Lorelei he dived into the fast flowing river to go to her and drowned. The Count, on hearing of his son's death, demanded that Lorelei be brought before him dead or alive. Four warriors sailed the following day to kill Lorelei. As they crept up the steep cliff to kill her Lorelei called upon her father, The Rhine, to rescue her. Suddenly from out of the Rhine two horses sprang from the foam and carried Lorelei away into the river and the body of Ronald was returned upon the shores of the river.

"The Lorelei has vanished, but her charm still remains. Thou canst find it, O Wanderer, in the eyes of the maidens near the Rhine. It blooms on their cheeks, it lingers on their rosy lips, there thou wilt find its traces. Arm thy heart, steel thy will, blindfold thine eye!" (Wilhelm Ruland)

Answer: True

Here, the Rhine is only 134 yards wide and of interest at this point is a system of lights known as the 'Wahrschau' which controls shipping for the three mile stretch of river between St Goar and Oberwesel. Due to particularly steep cliffs, tight bends and dangerous currents at this point in the river's course, it has proved to be very difficult to install a reliable radio warning system and line-of-sight navigation is especially fraught with danger.

The system consists of a number of radar stations that feed live pictures to monitors at the system headquarters in Oberwesel.

It is from this station that the lookout observes the entire stretch of the river and controls the light system. Strangely, the Wahrschau only applies to vessels between 62m and 150m in length.

It appears that smaller vessels are permitted to come and go as they please!

Answer: Burg Rheinfels

This imposing building was founded in around 1245 and was home to the Counts of Katzenelnbogen until 1479 when it became the property of the state of Hesse. The castle withstood an assault by the armies of French king Louis XIV during the War of the Grand Alliance only to fall just over one hundred years later to French revolutionary forces.

After its partial destruction, material from Rheinfels was used to construct the fortress of Ehrenbreitstein near Koblenz. In 1834 Burg Rheinfels was acquired by the Prussians who began a period of restoration, not only of this castle but of the entire Rhine Gorge area.

The town of Saint Goar has owned the building since 1925 and it is now home to one of the finest hotels in all Germany. For those who aren't claustrophobic, a visit to Burg Rheinfels cannot be complete without a scramble through its extensive network of underground passages!

Answer: Gasthaus

Fortunately for speakers of English, it is not too difficult to understand many words of German and 'Gasthaus' simply translates as 'Guesthouse'. A 'Schnellimbiss' or 'Schnellimbiß', sometimes shortened and anglicised to 'Schnelly', is a fast food outlet.

Many towns and cities in Germany possess a hostel that is run by the 'Jugendherberge', indeed there are somewhere in the region of 550 hostels scattered over the country. The accommodation in these hostels is very good; clean warm and comfortable and where one can obtain excellent food.

The word 'Pension', a French word for a guesthouse, can be found in Germany, especially in those regions that lie close to the border with France.

Answer: Maus

Cat and Mouse... Who says that the Germans have no sense of humour? The construction of Thurnberg was started in 1353 and was completed in 1388. One of the most technically advanced castle designs of its time, Thurnberg was a favourite residence of the Electors of Trier. Thurnberg is open to members of the public containing, as it does, many examples of fine furniture dating back many centuries. Castle Katz, or Neu-Katzenelnbogen, was built by the Counts of Katzenelnbogen during the 14th century, with work finishing in around 1370.

Unfortunately, Katz Castle is a private residence and is closed to the public. However, a section of this impressive building has been converted into another fine hotel.

Answer: The Hostile Brothers

These castles are not, in effect, two entirely separate buildings. Construction work on Castle Liebenstein was started during the 13th century and this castle was intended to act as a bulwark, or forecastle, to Castle Sterrenberg. There is no historic evidence that the occupants of either castle took up arms against each other, although tales of such started to appear at around the end of the 16th century. During the 1970s restoration works to return Sterrenberg Castle to its medieval condition took place and the Castle is now owned and run by the organisation, "Burgen, Schlösser, Altertümer Rhineland-Palatinate". Castle Liebenstein is now run as a luxury hotel.

Answer: False

Marksburg Castle along with the Pfalzgrafenstein at Kaub are the only two castles within the Rhine Gorge that have never been destroyed. Marksburg, which sits atop the hill immediately behind Braubach, is a monument of national importance within Germany as it remains in its complete and original state as it was when built during the 14th century. Marksburg possesses the highest levels of protection. Marksburg is open to the public and inside can be found an original medieval knights hall, an armoury and wine cellar.

It is also possible to walk around the castle battlements and the turret rooms.

Answer: Royal Chair

The 'Königsstuhl', or more accurately 'Königsstuhl von Rhens', is a two-storey stone building, an octagonal platform raised upon nine pillars and was the site upon which German kings would swear their oaths of allegiance as they travelled to Aachen for their coronations.

The Royal Chair that we see today however, is not the original, but a rebuilding that took place in 1842, the ancient monument that was standing on the site was destroyed in 1795.

Answer: Lahn

The Lahn is an important tributary of the Rhine that rises in the Sauerland and passes through the states of North-Rhine Westphalia, Hesse and the Rhineland-Palatinate before joining the Rhine a few miles to the south of Koblenz. The Lahn has a course of 153 miles as it descends by one thousand and seven hundred feet through a total of twenty three lock complexes and two tunnel systems before joining with the Rhine.

The waters of the Lahn are also used to generate electricity with there being a total of 19 facilities operating along its length.

The Lahn is a popular waterway for pleasure boating above the city of Gießen and the middle Lahn valley itself has become one of the largest nature reserves in the state of Hesse.

Answer: She died from thirst in the tower

The castle at Lahneck was built for the Archbishop of Mainz and was completed in around 1244. It became severely damaged during the Thirty Years War and was left uninhabited until the unfortunate event in 1851 which led to its partial rebuilding in 1852. In June 1851, seventeen year old Idilia Dubb starved to death at the top of the tower after the old wooden stairs had collapsed. Because of the 12 foot high walls around the top of the tower he cries for help could not be heard and she slowly succumbed to thirst and starvation whilst all the while recording her experience in her diary. Her remains were discovered many years later in 1860 and her diary was discovered within the walls a few weeks after her discovery.

"All I know is that there is no hope for me. My death is certain... Father in heaven, have mercy upon my soul"... These were the last words in her diary followed by a sketch of two hearts. A tragic story indeed.

Answer: Mosel

It is at Koblenz, 'The Deutsche Eck' or 'German Corner' that the Rhine meets the Mosel or Moselle. The Mosel is another major tributary that feeds into the Rhine and is most famous for its wine. The south banks of the Mosel, almost permanently bathed in warm sunshine during the growing season, produce some of Germany's finest wines.

The Mosel has its source in the Vosges Mountains, a highland region that straddles the border between France and Germany. The river valley forms a natural separation between the Eifel and Hunsruck mountain ranges. With a total length of just short of 340 miles, the Mosel flows through the cities of Metz in France, Schengen and Grevenmacher in Luxembourg and Trier and Cochem in Germany before joining the Rhine.

Answer: Bonn

From 1949 until 1990, Bonn was the capital of West Germany and holds a unique title, that of 'Bundesstadt' or 'Federal City'. Bonn was selected as the new capital of West Germany by the country's first post-war Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer, and was only considered to be the temporary capital until the return of this status to Berlin which lay within the sphere of soviet influence at that time. Ludwig van Beethoven is, without doubt, Bonn's most famous son being born there in 1770. Beethoven is the composer of some of the western world's most famous pieces of music and by the time of his death in Vienna, Austria on the 26th of March 1827, he had produced thirty-two piano sonatas, sixteen string quartets, nine symphonies and numerous other choral works and songs, all in spite of being profoundly deaf for the last few decades of his life.