Englisch - Burg Runkel

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On the half way between Koblenz and Giessen, in the Lahn valley, which is the natural border between Taunus and Westerwald,  you find the village Runkel with its imposing castle. A typical example of a premedieval defense building.
    
Opening times:
Good Friday until end of October.
Open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Notification for guided tours required.
Monday: Closed.
Entrance-fee:  Adults:  5,- EUR  
Children 4 up to 14 years old:  2,50 EUR
Guided Groups max. 15 persons, each: 5,- EUR
+ 45.-EUR for the Guide

Historical background
    
Runkel Castle has been built to safeguard the Lahn crossing and has been extended several times.
It was first documentary mentioned in 1159 with Siegfried von Runkel, who stands surety and witness for the countess  Beatrix von Lauenburg at her entailing with the castle Nassau through  archbishop Hillin of Trier.  In his function as a trustee of the Reich, he might be responsible for  the construction of Runkel. Probably Runkel was founded by the emperor  Friedrich Barbarossa. In the year 1634 the palace had been destroyed by croatian troops of count Isolani and wasn't rebuilt again.
At about 1250 a quarrel started in the family,  which ended in the expulsion of Heinrich by Siegfried of Runkel. In the  consequent Heinrich sets up Schadeck Castle as a defiance on the opposite of Runkel. It was first mentioned 1288.  The history of Runkel and its castle is wild-motioned and feudful, as the following extract will show:
In the year 1288 the families Runkel and Westerburg finally and  definitvely divided.              
1315 Dietrich von Runkel is mentioned. Dietrich, the third  of its name, takes 1376 posession of the Zehnten (tithes?) Schupbach  and Aumenau and gives order to build the palace beside the castle.
1440
the Lahn-Bridge is being build, but couldn't completed  until 1448, because of a quarrel with count Reinhard von Westerburg.
1543
Melanchthon, Luther's friend and helper, is guest of Johann IV von Wied (a nephew of the archbishop Hermann of Cologne) at Runkel palace. 1568 the reformation was introduced to Runkel.
1622
Sovereign count Hermann II was expulsed of palace and  reign at 9th of September in a brawl by his younger brother Philipp Ludwig, who ment to been set back at the inheritance.
1634
Runkel's most disasterous day in the Thirty Year's War was  the 15th of October.              The croatians of count Isolani climbed over the wncient palace.
1719    Runkel was occupied by Hannover,
1758   by Saxony,
1759   by the French.
1791
Count Friedrich Ludwig is raised into a heriditary princely rank by emperor Leopold II.
1794
the French Revolution takes effect.alls of  the village and

BACK burned down the place including its a
1796
Troops of Darmstadt threw out the French in a nightly street-fight.
1806
the right-sided part of the government Runkel and also the  belonging part of the village was attached to the new, by Napoleon  created, grand duchy Berg.
1824
Friedrich Ludwig, the last decendant of the house Wied-Runkel died. Wied-Runkel was inheritated by Wied-Neuwied. Runkel Castle is still the property of the house zu Wied.

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