We're doing pretty well collecting castles, ruins, and other historical sites.  Maybe by the time we leave, I'll have more ruins than ghost towns.  Stay tuned.

Burgruine Schmidtburg, Schneppenbach, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany

This castle, like several others that appear on my site, is in the Hunsrück mountain region of Rheinland-Pfalz.  The first castle on this site was probably built around 926 AD.  The present castle was built around the 1300s and was beseiged by invading Swedes in 1633.  The structures remained intact until around the time of the French revolutions, when it fell into disrepair and ruin.  A local bandit, Hans Bückler, or "Schinderhannes," used the ruins as a hideout at the turn of the 19th Century and claimed the right to issue passes (and collect taxes) in the surrounding area.  He and 19 of his men were put to death in 1803 by the court in Mainz.  Open to the public, free.  Visited in September 2006.
 
 

Burgruine Kyrburg, Kirn, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany

Located not too far from Schmidtburg, Kyrburg was built around 1128.  During the 30 Years War, it was occupied by Spanish and Swedish forces, eventually falling to the French.  It was attacked by the French again in 1734 and largely destroyed.  Portions of the castle were rebuilt thirty years later.  Today, the main attraction on this hill over Kirn is not Kyrburg, but the adjacent Whisky Museum, though a portion of the castle has been restored and served as a wedding chapel.  Open to the public (except the  chapel, which is closed for private events), free.  Visited September 2006.
 
 

Burgruine Landshut, Bernkastel-Kues, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany

The Mosel River valley may not have as many castles as the Rhein valley, but it has some good ones nonetheless.  Burguine Landshut towers over the twin town of Bernkastel-Kues.  The castle was first mentioned in the 7th century AD.  It became a residence of the bishops of Trier in the 1200s.  On January 8, 1692, a devastating fire swept the castle.  What remained after the fire was preserved basically as it stands today.  Open to the public; free, but portions are off-limits except for biergarten staff.  Visited in September 2006.
 
 

Klosterruine Stuben, Neef, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany

Driving down the Mosel from Bernkastel-Kues toward Koblenz, if you pay attention, you'll see this scenic ruined cloister sitting on the bank of the river in the middle of lush vineyards.  Getting to it is a little tricky, as it's at the end of a long road, which sports several "do not enter" signs and was at one point totally blocked by a landslide.  During the summer and early fall, though, the only obstacles you'll see are the walkers trekking back and forth from the holiday campground at the start of the road to the cloister.  Cloister Stuben was founded in 1137 as a home and place of worship for up to 100 nuns, or Sisters of St. Nicholas.  The cloister remained in use unil 1789, when it was abandoned.  The ruin site is free and open to the public, but the inside of the cloister is closed off by a locked fence and presumably open only for special events.  Visited in September 2006.
 
 

Restmüll

OK, probably not fair to use the German word for "other mixed garbage" to refer to castles.  But sometimes we visit a castle that just isn't worth hanging around for a day, or we don't have time to stay, or large portions of it are off limits to the public.  So, now even those will have a home.
 
 

Burgruine Grevenburg Traben-Trarbach, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
	Burgruine Laufenburg Kreis Düren,  Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
	Burg Nassau Nassau, Hessen Germany
	Burgruine Landskron Oppenheim, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany