The Castle on the Hill

Katz Castle, St Goarshausen, Germany

High above the German town of St. Goarshausen in Rhineland-Palatinate is the privately owned Katz Castle. It is one of the 28 castles that we passed on a rainy day on our Rhine River cruise last September. The Katz Castle was built in the 1370's by Count Wilhelm II of Katzenelnbogen. It was bombarded by Napoleon in the early 1800's as it could not possibly be conquered from the valley due to its location on the mountain ridge. The castle was later rebuilt in the 1890's. 

As we approached the town, the rain conveniently slowed down to a light drizzle and I was able to get a better view of how the castle dominated the town and mountain.  I was able to quickly run out from under the shelter and capture this scene before the heavens opened up again.