Rheinstein Castle: Distant view, perched on cliff above the upper Rhine Gorge

The Burg Rheinstein is a castle near the town of Trechtingshausen in Rhineland-Palatinate. One of the river castles, perched on cliff above the upper Rhine Gorge, important for its strategic location. The castle was constructed in about 1316-1317. By 1344, the castle was in decline. During the Romantic period in the 19th century, Prince Frederick of Prussia (1794-1863) bought the castle and had it rebuilt by Lassaulx. Many crowned heads visited there including Queen Victoria. It is now privately owned.