History, myths and legends surrounding Schönburg Castle

Schönburg Castle was first mentioned in historical records between 911 and 1166 AD. Until the 17th century, the castle experienced a highly turbulent and warlike history marked by tribal conflicts and family feuds. In the 12th century, the Schönburg family acquired the previously royal churches as fiefs and also had the right to collect tolls on the Rhine. Almost without exception, they ruled Oberwesel as imperial bailiffs until the beginning of the 13th century. Schönburg is one of the few castles of shared inheritance, where, upon the death of the father, the burgage passed equally to all sons and not—as was generally the case—only to the eldest son. Thus, at its peak in the 14th century, Schönburg Castle housed 24 different families, totaling approximately 250 people. The highest renown of the entire Schönburg family of Oberwesel was achieved by Friedrich von Schönburg as a lieutenant general and colonel in French, Portuguese, and Prussian service, under the name "Marshall Schomberg." During the War of the Palatine Succession, French troops set fire to the town of Oberwesel and Schönburg Castle in 1689. Two centuries after its destruction, Schönburg remained a ruin. Victor Hugo once described it as one of the most admirable ruins in Europe. The Schönburg line died out in the male line with the death of Friedrich von Schönburg's son. After repeated changes of ownership (including Prince Albrecht of Prussia), the German-American Rhinelander acquired the castle. By 1914, he had invested over 2 million gold marks in its restoration. The town of Oberwesel was able to repurchase Schönburg Castle from the American's son in 1950. Since 1957, Schönburg has been leased to the Hüttl family, and since 1983, it has been held under a hereditary lease, now in its third generation.

The Hüttl family is very much looking forward to a present and future with you as guests at the historic castle hotel.

Myths and legends

The Legend of the Seven Virgins

Long ago, seven sisters lived in Schönburg Castle. Because of their beauty and loveliness, their fame was spread by many singers to the farthest lands. At the same time, the singers also sung that the sisters were very rich and virtuous.

Numerous knights of proud lineage, with rich possessions and the most courteous manners, who considered themselves worthy of taking one of the seven noble ladies home, therefore set out for Schönburg to win one of their hearts by storm or with patient wooing.

But this task became all the more difficult as more and more rivals arrived at the castle. A lively and bustling atmosphere soon prevailed. Competitions in all kinds of weapons, in wrestling, but also in singing and playing stringed instruments, in courtly love songs, and in adventurous storytelling ensued. And often, one or another of the ladies' hearts seemed to lean towards a suitor. But after only a few days, the inclination usually seemed to have changed. Each of the suitors had to confess after some time that he had wrongly interpreted a kind word, a firmer handshake during a dance, or a small piece of embroidery as a sign of impending victory. Many, therefore, annoyed and disappointed, tried their luck at another castle. But the seven ladies maintained their independence and their impeccable reputation. And they certainly didn't have to complain about boredom.

Over the years, the opinion slowly took hold that the seven nobles were merely making fools of all the suitors. The suitors therefore decided to finally end the waiting and hoping by force. They informed their beloveds that they would besiege the castle until their pride was broken and they had chosen one of the suitors. At first, the beauties seemed taken aback by this message. But how could the seven have evaded such manifold wooing for so long if they hadn't always found an unexpected twist? They therefore announced to the suitors' herald that they were now ready to put an end to the charade.

Oh! How the suitors dressed themselves, adorning themselves in their finest garments, secretly showering their maids and squires with rich gifts, singing and frolicking, all to appear advantageous to their rivals. But when the hour of decision arrived, the sisters announced that lots would decide their fate. The lots were drawn, and, perhaps through some inexplicable trickery by the Rhine maidens, the lot fell upon the ugliest and most despised of the suitors. From that moment on, nothing remained of the unity that had reigned just moments before. And filled with envy, the losers awaited the following morning, when the victors would be presented to their ladies.

But things turned out differently! The pages flung open the double doors to the great hall to admit the fortunate and the unfortunate. But in the festively decorated hall, seven straw dolls sat in seven armchairs, dressed in the garments of fair maidens.

Down in the valley, however, a boat was floating down the Rhine with the seven coy maidens, who mischievously waved back towards the castle.

But the legend continues that the maidens didn't get far. A large and unusual wave caught and swept away the boat below the town of Oberwesel, where the Roßstein rock juts far out into the water. And where the seven maidens sank, seven rocks rose up, which even today, at low tide, serve as a warning to every maiden not to be too stubborn in resisting the advances of sincere suitors. Therefore, the locals still call these stones "The Seven Maidens of Schönburg."