Journeys back in time The Rhine flows through what can be cal-led 8 a real valley of kings and kaisers. Only a few kilometres away from Boppard town lies the 'Königsstuhl' (King's Throne) where, in the Middle Ages, kings were elec-ted and where many succeeding regent climbed this way to pay his respects at a coronation. The majority of the castles were built by power hungry electors like those of Cologne, Mainz and Trier, men who also erected many another fortifications in the area. Boppard's Elector's Castle on the banks of the Rhine also looks back to these old times. In fact, Boppard provides the perfect point of departure back to a time of knights, minnesingers and tales of yore. And as fo the castles, these are like so many pearls on a string: famous fortifications like that at Marksburg the 'Two Hostile Brothers', Sterrenberg and Liebenstein, the fortresses Katz and Maus to mention but a few. Each supplies a splendid view over the valley and their stones tell a tale at every turn of the noble men and women who once lived there. Journeys back in time For 'sword and crown'! Here, on the Rhine, men have fought their battles and defended their castles, plundered where they could and levied tax where they could. Even today, the forty or so castles and fortresses, fortifications and defences speak of the importance of the river's course through the country as a narrow waterway for the transport of goods, and in the past were most desirable targets for those who could tax them from their vantage points in the hills above. The Hostile Brothers Castles and fort-resses on the Rhine