Burg Katz
Description
Etymology
After the original castle "Burg Katzenelnbogen" (lit. Castle [of] Cat's Elbow) this medieval fortress castle is officially known as Burg Neukatzenelnbogen (Castle [of] New Cat's Elbow). It used to be and still is, however, comfortably and commonly contracted to "die [Burg] Katz" ("the [Castle] Cat").
As such, it is popularly linked with Burg Maus ("the [Castle] Mouse"), which was indeed erected in closest possible vicinity as its military counterpart.
Architecture
The castle is of compact layout, consisting mainly of a great hall and a massive bergfried, originally 40 metres tall, on the uphill side.
In 1435, the Counts of Katzenelnbogen were the first to plant Riesling grapes in their vineyard.
Katz Castle and its surroundings are the place of action for the Belgian comic book L'Orgue du Diable in the Yoko Tsuno series by Roger Leloup.
Gallery
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Southwest view
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The castle in the 1890s, before the reconstruction
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View from Lorelei rocks
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View from Lorelei harbor
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View from Rhine
Notes and references
External links
- Katz Castle
- Katz Castle in the Lorelei Valley
- Katz Castle near the Lorelei