This morning we disembarked in Koblenz but to be honest we were not here to see Kolbenz but use it as a stopping port for the ship so we could visit Marksburg Castle at Braubach, 11 kilometres away. The middle Rhine River is renowned for castles (about 30) but Marksburg is a beautifully preserved medieval castle and is the only castle in the Rhine Valley to have never been destroyed.

Koblenz is a 2,000-year-old city at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers and the convergence of three low mountain ranges - the Hunsrück, the Eifel and the Westerwald. Koblenz is a park- and flower-filled city that serves as both the northern gateway to the Rhine Valley and the northeastern gateway to the Moselle Valley. Koblenz was established as a Roman military post by Drusus around 8 B.C. Its name originates from the Latin (ad) cōnfluentēs, meaning "(at the) confluence".

Deutsches Eck (German Corner) is the primary landmark for Koblenz and is where Father Rhine meets Mother Moselle. The point is now topped with a copper monument of Emperor Wilhelm I on horseback. Originally erected in 1897 as a monument to the emperor who had brought about the complete unification of Germany after three wars, the monument was damaged during the war in 1945 and for decades, just the base was left till it was resurrected in 1990.

Ehrenbreitstein Fortress sits high on the hill above Koblenz and is the second largest fortress (after Gibraltar) in Europe. Built in its current form between 1817 and 1828, however, its origins date back to the year 1000.

Originally named Burg Braubach, the Marksburg Castle rises high above the right bank of the River Rhine, crowning a cone-shaped hill overlooking the town of Braubach. The castle has had a checkered history which was shared with us by our informative and enthusiastic guide. The original Marksburg is believed to have been built around 1100 by the powerful local Eppstein family, who later expanded it beyond the original keep tower, or bergfried. Marksburg Castle was sold by the Eppstein family to the powerful Eberhard of Katzenelnbogen in 1283. The oldest stonework in the current castle dates from the 12th century. After the line of Counts of Katzenelnbogen ended, the Castle was taken over by the Counts of Hesse, who expanded it further. Marksburg Castle was taken over by Napoleon's forces in 1806, and awarded to the Duke of Nassau, and later in the 19th century was absorbed into Prussian ownership. The only damage that Marksburg ever sustained was in 1945, when it came under fire from American forces.
After going through the Drawbridge Gate, the Fox Gate, the Notches Gate, and up the path, you will come to a covered entrance with roughed-in steps carved right into the slate floor. These steps were intentionally cut with a rough surface to keep the knight's horses from slipping on rainy days. After following the steps up to the courtyard, you will see the Great Battery, which houses the cannons that aim out over the lower Rhine, protecting the castle and the town of Braubach. Working around the upper bailey, you come to some steps that lead into the central courtyard where the Tower Keep rises 39 meters high. This is the heart of the castle. Giant wine barrels are located in the cellar below the Knight's Hall. You can visit the chapel dedicated to Saint Mark from the Knight's Hall, where the castle gets its name. There is also a castle dungeon with many medieval torture devices on display and an armory displaying weapons and armor from different periods. The romanesque residential apartments include furniture to show the simple yet comfortable living conditions.

After leaving the castle we got back on board our ship to have lunch and then some scenic sailing along the Rhine River to check out all the other sights. The Upper Middle Rhine Valley, also known as the Rhine Gorge, has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. This 65 km stretch of the middle Rhine Valley between Bingen/Rüdesheim and Koblenz is often referred to as the most scenic section of the Rhine and is the location for some of the best castles! Viking gave us a wonderful map which denoted the different castles by the km marker number complemented by interesting commentary from our Cruise Director.

Tonight we have been invited to the Viking Explorer Society cocktail party prior to dinner. Got to love this cruising lifestyle!!