The Site
Marksburg Castle, situated on a commanding hill above the small town of Braubach, is one of the best-preserved examples of medieval defensive architecture in Germany. Unlike many other castles in its vicinity, Marksburg Castle has never been destroyed, allowing it to retain a high degree of historical authenticity. Originally constructed in the 1230ies, the castle underwent various modifications in architecture and function over the centuries, adapting to evolving defensive needs while preserving its structural integrity. Today, Marksburg Castle serves as the headquarters of the German Castles Association, Germany’s oldest non-profit organisation dedicated to the study and preservation of castles, palaces, and manors.
The castle is located within the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site inscribed in 2002. This 65-kilometre stretch of the Rhine between Bingen and Koblenz is recognised for its outstanding cultural landscape, shaped by centuries of human interaction with the natural environment. The valley is home to an exceptional concentration of castles, fortresses, and historic towns, illustrating the region’s strategic and economic significance throughout history. The terraced vineyards along the steep riverbank – where European Heritage Volunteers has engaged in various conservation projects over the past years – further highlight the valley’s long tradition of viticulture, an integral part of its cultural identity. As one of Europe’s most influential transport routes since ancient times, the Rhine facilitated the exchange of ideas, goods, and artistic influences between the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. The landscape’s historical depth, combined with its role as a source of inspiration for writers, painters, and composers, has cemented its place as an icon of European Romanticism by the so-called Rhine Romanticism. Marksburg Castle is one of the most attractive touristic hotspots in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, seeing some 180.000 visitors a year that come from all over the world.
The German Castles Association, founded in 1899, is committed to the preservation, research, and promotion of historic castles and fortifications across Germany. It plays a leading role in advancing knowledge about the architectural, historical, and cultural significance of these structures. Since 1900, the association owns and maintains Marksburg Castle as a model example of castle preservation, ensuring that best practices in heritage conservation are demonstrated and applied. Additionally, the German Castles Association supports academic research through the European Castles Institute, which is housed in the nearby Philippsburg Palace in Braubach. The institute maintains a specialised library, a comprehensive collection of images and architectural plans, and extensive documentation, serving as an important resource for scholars and professionals in the field of castle studies.
Marksburg Castle, as both a historic site and an active centre for castle preservation, represents an important component within the broader Upper Middle Rhine Valley World Heritage landscape. The site’s inclusion as part of the UNESCO cultural landscape highlights the interdependence of castles, trade routes, and human settlement patterns in shaping the historical development of the Rhine Valley. The work carried out by the German Castles Association at Marksburg, both in conservation and in research, exemplifies the ongoing commitment to maintaining the authenticity and cultural value of these historic structures.
The Training Course
The 2025 European Heritage Training Course is a continuation of a longstanding collaboration with the German Castles Association, which has been part of the European Heritage Volunteers Programme since 2017.
The 2025 training course will focus on carrying out necessary conservation works on areas of historical relevance in the defensive structures of the historical castle ensemble which is currently inaccessible to visitors. The course represents the first stage of a multi-year collaboration aimed at reconstructing, conserving, and restoring the outer defensive wall, with the ultimate goal of reintegrating this area into the public experience of Marksburg Castle.
The hands-on activities will centre on addressing structural and material deterioration affecting the outer defensive walls, which has suffered from overgrowth, missing layers, cracks, and weathered mortar. The first task will involve carefully removing vegetation and organic material that has grown over time, contributing to surface damage and weakening the stonework, of local, very sensitive Rhinish slate. Where necessary, damaged stone material will be removed. Following this, the participants will work on stabilising cracks and gaps, using historically accurate techniques to clean, refill, and reinforce damaged sections with traditional lime mortar. An important aspect of the course will be the reconstruction of missing layers, rebuilding the structure close to its historic height using traditional materials and methods. To ensure authenticity, all mortar will be produced manually, with participants learning how to control moisture levels and density to match the original construction techniques. The final stage will focus on surface treatment and integration, ensuring that the newly restored sections blend with the existing structure while maintaining historical integrity.
Where necessary, smaller archaeological excavation soundings will be carried out to clear the architectural outlines and course of the walls and other structures, and to establish the relevant chronological data.
The works will be led by a Technical Instructor with experience in traditional masonry and lime techniques and other heritage professionals from the German Castles Association.
Alongside the hands-on conservation work, the educational programme will provide the participants with a comprehensive understanding of heritage conservation within the context of a World Heritage site. Experts from the German Castles Association will lead presentations on medieval fortifications, siege technologies, and castle defence systems, placing Marksburg Castle within the broader historical and architectural context of European castles. A series of guided tours and site visits will be conducted, including explorations of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley UNESCO cultural landscape, allowing the participants to appreciate the interconnection between natural and built heritage. They will also visit other castles in the region, studying comparative conservation approaches and discussing best practices in heritage conservation.
One element of the educational programme will be the participants´ presentations, where participants will prepare and deliver presentations of heritage sites in their countries of origin, focusing on historic defensive systems and their conservation and maintenance in current times. This part of the educational programme is oriented towards facilitating intercultural exchange and professional dialogue on conservation methodologies between the participants.
The project coincides with the 125th anniversary of Marksburg Castle being in possession of the seat of the German Castles Association, adding a further dimension to the conservation efforts. This milestone highlights the castle’s long-standing role as a centre for castle preservation and castle studies in Germany and reinforces the significance of the work undertaken by the participants of the European Heritage Training Course.
The training course will take place from July 20th to August 2nd, 2025, and is jointly organised by European Heritage Volunteers and the German Castles Association.
The training course is part of the World Heritage Volunteers campaign for 2025, a worldwide initiative taking place yearly within the framework of the World Heritage Education Programme at the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
