Oberwesel
In 1922, Prof. Dr. Edmund Renard, an official custodian, described the town as follows: ‘Of all the small towns, grey with age and sitting side by side on the narrow riverbank in the Middle Rhine Valley, the face of Oberwesel is the most impressive one as it is still completely dominated by the Middle Ages.’
16 of the original 21 defensive towers along the town wall are still preserved. Today, visitors can take a walk on a part of the around three-kilometre long town wall and enjoy a great view of the Rhine from there – if they are not afraid of heights, they can even climb up one of the defensive towers. The mighty circular towers on the Rhine side – the Ox Tower and the Haag Tower – are particularly impressive.
- Oberwesel. Source: LAD
- Town wall, Oberwesel. Source: LAD
In the year 50 BC, Oberwesel was settled by the Celts, and around 400 AD, the town was the seat of administration of a Franconian kingdom. Due to its history of a few thousand years, Oberwesel possesses more than just a few sights.
Schönburg Castle is situated above the town; built in the 12th century, it is one of the oldest hilltop castles in the Rhine Valley. The Church of Our Lady from 1308, also called the ‘Red Church’, houses a filigreed choir screen, a jewel of Gothic craftsmanship, and a golden altar that is considered one of the oldest and most precious carved altars in the Rhineland. What is more, the ‘City of Towers and Wine’ is one of the largest wine-growing communities of the Middle Rhine region, with the vineyards of Schönburg Castle producing an annual volume of around 500,000 litres.