Only a steep, winding footpath leads to Marco and Cora's home. But they have the most beautiful view over the Rhine: together with their two children, they live in the medieval Rheinstein Castle in the upper Middle Rhine Valley, between Bingen and Trechtingshausen.
The history of Rheinstein Castle dates back to the 14th century. In the 17th century, the castle fell into ruin until Prince Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig of Prussia acquired it in 1823 and had it rebuilt in the spirit of Rhine Romanticism.
In 1975, the Austrian opera singer Hermann Hecher, Marco's grandfather, bought Rheinstein Castle for 360,000 marks and restored it with the help of the Friends' Association and the State Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments. After more than thirty years of restoration work, the castle was largely restored to its original state. Marco's grandfather and his family lived on the top floor of the castle, the so-called princes floor.
Marco and Cora now live in the former servants' quarters, an outbuilding at the foot of the main castle. Marco lived here with his parents as a child, even though the room layout was completely different back then. This part of the building was rebuilt several times in the past and the historic structure was altered. This meant that the part of the building no longer had any historical value - an advantage for Cora and Marco, as it made it easier for them to implement their own living ideas in consultation with the heritage office.
They transformed three small, dark rooms into a spacious kitchen, living and dining area. With a spiral staircase, wall openings and a glass roof over a small inner courtyard, they have combined rooms from several parts of the building to create an unusual and contemporary apartment. In total, they have 230m² of living space at their disposal. The two completed the conversion in several stages up to 2017.
The biggest challenge during the conversion - apart from the necessary permits and monument preservation requirements - was the lack of access to the castle. It can only be reached on foot via the 300-meter-long, steeply winding path or with a small train, the vineyard tractor - but the last stretch to the apartment has to be carried. This had to be carefully considered during the planning phase and limited the size and weight of glass elements or the kitchen worktop, for example. Due to the unusual location, the construction costs for the conversion work were very high and roughly equivalent to a new building of a comparable size.
To ensure a good living climate, special plaster had to be applied to the walls and a ventilation system installed to prevent mold. The apartment is located in the shadow of the castle. Special attention was therefore paid to light during the renovation. The Gothic windows in the old castle walls, the glass roof over the former inner courtyard, many carefully selected lamps and indirect lighting create a light, bright living atmosphere.
Marco and Cora have to share parts of their home with castle visitors: The castle is open to visitors from March to November. The reconstructed architectural paintings and the restored stained glass windows from the 14th to 17th centuries are particularly worth seeing. The Burgundy Garden, an example of medieval garden art, is part of the World Heritage Garden Route. The castle is not only Marco and Cora's home, but also their workplace. The two are now the third generation to run the castle - museum, restaurant and guest rooms.
The costs and effort involved in renovating the living quarters were considerable, but Cora and Marco believe that all the effort was worth it. Today, the family lives in a cozy, modern apartment in a unique location with panoramic views.
A film by Sibylle Roderer (editor), Bettina Lichtenauer (camera), Yannick Gaul (camera and sound), Yannick Wagner (editor).
00:00 Life at Rheinstein Castle
01:45 Kitchen and living/dining area
04:34 Bedroom
06:47 Children's room
08:14 Playroom
08:59 Office
11:11 Tower room
On the ARD Room Tour RU-vid channel, people open the door to their unusual homes. On a very personal tour, they talk about the details of the interior design, furnishings and architecture and talk about their philosophy of life.
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#Rheinstein #Middle Rhine #RoomTour
3 июл 2024
