Model cut-out sheets, Scale 1:160

The Marksburg is the seat of the German Castles Association. The complex has been extensively renovated according to the original condition. For this occasion, the model was completely redeveloped and expanded. A representative model in photorealistic design has been created.

Model cut-out sheets, Scale 1:160   In the world-famous Middle Rhine Valley, even today there still exist over 40 castles which are in good condition, most of which, however, were rebuilt after their destruction. Marksburg Castle stands on a high rock above the small town of Braubach in the Rhine-Lahn District. The triangular ground plan of the main castle complex is characteristic for the Staufer era. Later extensions were constructed round the castle according to the shape of the rock. Marksburg Castle was never destroyed, apart from some damage done through bombardment during World War II and therefore the castle is considered to be one of the best preserved castles from the Middle Ages. The castle was originally known as Braubach Castle and consisted of a tower which wasn’t quite as high as the present one, a residential building and a curtain wall. The castle was built in the first half of the 13th century in the shape that can still be easily recognised today and was first owned by the Lords of Eppstein, one of the most influential noble families in the High Middle Ages. From 1283 to 1479 it was owned by the Counts of Katzenelnbogen, also a very powerful family in the Late Middle Ages. It is from this period that the Gothic castle buildings originate and up to the present day they determine its outer appearance. After that period, the castle passed to the Landgraves of Hesse through inheritance and was enlarged to become a fortress, only to be much neglected later on. Landgrave Philipp II of Rhenish Hesse had Philippsburg Castle built beneath Marksburg Castle and used this as a widow’s seat. At the time of Napoleon Marksburg Castle belonged to the Dukedom of Nassau and served as a state prison and home for disabled soldiers. In 1866 the castle was taken over by Prussia and was drastically in need of renovation. A legend says that as early as the time of the Eppsteins, Braubach Castle was renamed “Markusburg”. The veracity of this is to be doubted, however, as the new name of the castle was first mentioned in a document in 1574. The name “St. Markusburg”, which was later shortened to “Marksburg” most probably goes back to the patron saint of the castle chapel. Since the beginning of the 20th century, Marksburg Castle has been owned by and is the seat of the German Castles Association. It was extensively renovated from 1987. The grim-looking masonry was re-plastered and parts of the façade were given a colour scheme similar to the original. In that way, not only the appearance of the castle as it was around 1600 was restored; the new plaster was to protect the cracked masonry from harsh weather conditions, just as it used to. Nowadays Marksburg Castle is a much-visited tourist attraction, also for foreign tourists. Twice already, in the years 1977 and 2015, the ‘Deutsche Post’ has issued a stamp with the image of Marksburg Castle. In Japan, an exact replica of Marksburg Castle has even been built. On the Pacific island Miyako, where in the 19th century Germans were rescued after being shipwrecked, there is a kind of theme park where half-timbered houses, a mansion and the castle should impart a picture of “typical Germany” to tourists. With the assistance of the German Castles Association, the main castle complex of the Marksburg has been recreated on a scale of 1:1 and houses a museum.

Author: Przemyslaw Tabernacki
13,5 model sheets DIN A 4
Size of the model: L 44 x B 30 x H 35 cm
Multicolored printing.

Degree of difficulty: difficult

Published by: Schreiber / Aue-Verlag