Viking Cruise #15: Castles Along the Middle Rhine: Cat and Mouse Castles

In today's blog of our Viking River Cruise on the Rhine River, I'll talk about the Middle Rhine River, where there were many castles that we saw from the cruise, and point out a bit of history. Today's blog will provide background on the Middle Rhine and explore Cat and Mouse Castles! 

(Photo: Rob and Tom ready for the castle tour on the top deck of the Viking Cruise ship on the Rhine River! Credit: R.G.) 

(Image: Map of the castles of the Middle Rhine. Credit: Hotel Castle Leibenstein)

WHAT IS THE MIDDLE RHINE? The "Middle Rhine" is one of four sections (High Rhine, Upper Rhine, Middle Rhine, Lower Rhine) of the river between Lake Constance and the North Sea. The upper half of the Middle Rhine (Rhine Gorge) from Bingen (Rhine-kilometer 526) to Koblenz (Rhine-kilometer 593) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a striking cultural landscape with more than 40 castles and fortresses from the Middle Ages, unique terraced vineyards, and many wine-villages. For two millennia, it has been one of the most important routes for cultural exchange between the Mediterranean region and northern Europe.

THE CASTLE "RUN" - This area runs from Koblenz to Rudesheim and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nowhere else in the world, you can find as many castles as close together as along the Upper Middle Rhine Valley in Germany. 

MOUSE CASTLE'S HISTORY - Mouse Castle is located above the village of Wellmich in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It lies on the east side of the Rhine, north of Katz Castle (Cat Castle). Construction of the castle was begun in 1356 by Archbishop-Elector of Trier Bohemond II. Kuno von Falkenstein completed the castle construction between 1362 and 1388.

HOW IT GOT ITS NAME - The castle became known as Burg Maus due to the cat-and-mouse rivalry between the Catholic Church and the powerful counts of Katzenelnbogen who owned nearby Katz Castle (Burg Neukatzenelnbogen).

CASTLE CHANGES OVER TIME - According to great-castles dot com, the castle fell into disrepair starting in the 16th and 17th centuries. By 1719, the castle was dilapidated and empty. In 1806 it was auctioned off for demolition and used as a quarry, but only partially demolished. Around 1900 it was bought by the architect Wilhelm Gärtner who restored the castle between 1900 and 1906 in great historical detail. Burg Maus also suffered damage during World War II.

CASTLE USES TODAY - Burg Maus is privately owned and not open to the public daily, but does occasionally host events which sometimes include guided tours. The Knights' Hall can also be rented for weddings, anniversaries, or conferences.

THE "CAT AND MOUSE" HISTORY -  Burg Neukatzenelnbogen was constructed around 1371 by Count Wilhelm II of Katzenelnbogen. Just down the River Rhine, the Archbishop of Trier built Mouse Castle. Shifting power and antagonism between respective castle owners, Counts of Katzenelnbogen, and Archbishop of Trier fueled much hostility. The "cat and mouse game" between them inevitably resulted in the assignment of nicknames to castles that are still popular today.

EXTENSIVE HISTORY - There's a lot of back and forth in Katz Castle over time until 1806, when Napoleon Bonaparte ordered Burg Katz to be obliterated during his battle with the Prussians, reducing the castle to ruins. The ruins had several owners until 1896 when Landrat Ferdinand Berg purchased it, who performed various restoration efforts based upon drawings by Dilich. Since 1989, Burg Katz has been under private ownership. 

NEXT: The Ghost of Reichenstein Castle!