Castles on the Rhine

Our tour director gave a running commentary for over three hours as we passed the castles, churches and villages on the Rhine. This river was especially important since Roman times. It served as the border between the Roman Empire on the south bank and barbaric Germany on the north. Of special note are the ruins of Durnstein Castle. Here Richard the Lionhearted was held for ransom when returning from the crusades. In 1192 he was held as a prisoner here until his family, primarily his mother, could raise 26.5 metric tons of silver.Read more