The Rhine river once used to be the most important transport route between the Mediterranean region and the north. For this reason mighty fortresses, castles and palaces were built in order to protect these trade routes. Ever since countless legends have been wrapping themselves around these proud ruins, recounting the adventures of a violent past. As a result a mystical magic spheres the Upper Middle Rhine Valley which has been fascinating numerous visitors for ages.

In fact, there is hardly any other landscape offering that many castles, palaces and ruins as monuments to its country´s history.

The acceptance of the romantic Rhine Valley to the World Heritage was proposed in one of the committee's first meetings in 1973. However, it was in 2002, almost 30 years later, when the UNESCO added the Upper Middle Rhine Valley as a continuing cultural landscape to its list of World Heritage.

Along the upper Middle Rhine charming towns as well as castles and palaces on the Rhine path through the slate rocks can be found and all of them are worth visiting. You can go on time travels to the world of noblemen, robber barons, farmers, craftsmen and traders. And to let oneself being captured by the magic and romance of the Middle Rhine World Heritage with its myths and legends is great fun. Of course, it is also possible to enjoy old traditions at historical markets and castle or knights festivals.

Along the Rhine route there are first-class hotels as well as guest houses that certainly will make any effort to make one´s stay in the beautiful Rhine Valley as pleasant as possible.

The castles and ruins on the Rhine river are also evidence of a changing understanding of culture. Originally preserved and unmodified castles of the World Heritage such as the Marksburg and Pfalzgrafenstein, stand next to ruins such as the Fürstenberg, Ehrenfels or Rheinfels on the one hand and next to carefully restored castles such as the Sterrenberg, Stahleck or Schönburg on the other hand.

Furthermore, 19th century´s renovations of some castles such as the Rheinstein, Castle Katz, Sooneck and in particular Stolzenfels tell visitors about the fact that the castles and ruins of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley have aroused people´s imagination ever since.