Martinsburg, Medieval château in Lahnstein, Germany
Martinsburg is a medieval castle in Lahnstein, Rhineland-Palatinate, standing near the point where the Lahn river meets the Rhine. The structure consists of a rectangular tower house with two corner towers and today serves as a mix of private apartments, offices, and a museum.
The castle was built in 1298 as a customs post for the Archbishops of Mainz to control river traffic on the Rhine. The tall keep was added around 1400, significantly expanding the structure.
The castle now houses a carnival museum displaying masks and costumes from celebrations along the Rhine. The collection shows how deeply rooted these festive traditions remain in the life of the surrounding region.
The castle can be visited on guided tours that allow access to the interior rooms. Daytime visits are best for seeing the architectural details and the museum displays clearly.
The keep was built around 1400 with an integrated spiral staircase and toilet facilities inside the walls, which was very rare at the time. This shows that the people who designed it were already thinking about everyday comfort, not just defence.
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