The Marksburg stands out among castles. It is one of the few castles that is completely intact along the Rhine. After the construction was completed, in 1100, the Counts of Palantine took control of it. In 1214 the Wittelsbachs gained control of the Marksburg and fifty years later turned it into the Braubach toll station on the Rhine. The Bavarians handed the castle over to the Katzenelnbogen family. Later ,in 1479, the Landgraves of Hesse inherited the castle from the Katzenelnbogens. The Landgraves held control of the Marksburg until Prussia annexed the Hesse-Nassau region in 1866. Finally, in 1899 the German Castle Association took control of the Marksburg and it is now open to daily tours. The Castle is unique because it was constructed at different times with different styles. The castle was constructed first, then many years later a tall watch tower was built in the middle of the courtyard in the castle's center.
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