Viking Cruise #18: Middle Rhine River: Schonberg Castle

 Today's blog about the Castles along the Middle Rhine River in Germany takes a look at the history associated with Schonberg Castle. No ghosts are known to dwell in the castle, likely because any ghosts before 1689 wound up leaving when the castle burned down. Ghosts like to inhabit structures! Here's the history:

The Schönburg is a castle above the medieval town of Oberwesel, Germany.

HISTORY OF THE CASTLE - The first mention of Schönburg Castle in history was between the years 911 and 1166. It was built in the first half of the 12th century, probably by Count Palatine Hermann von Stahleck. Later the Archbishops of Trier expanded the defensive fortifications of the consolidated castle group

From the 12th century, the Lords of Schönburg ruled over the town of Oberwesel. The most famous was Friedrich von Schönburg - a much-feared man known as “Marshall Schomberg” - who in the 17th century served as a colonel and as a general under the King of France in France and Portugal and later also for the Prussians and for William Prince of Orange in England. The Schönburg line died out with the last heir, the son of Friedrich of Schönburg.

STRUCTURE HISTORY - The castle was burned down in 1689 by French soldiers during the Palatinate wars. It remained in ruins for 200 years until it was acquired by the German-American Rhinelander family who bought the castle from the town of Oberwesel in the late 19th century, and restored it. Since 1957 the Hüttl family have been living at the castle on a long-term lease; they operate a successful hotel and restaurant there.

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