Rheineck Castle was probably built in the 12th century. The sources name the count palatine Otto I of Salm as the founder. After his death, King Konrad III seized his estate and transferred it to his brother-in-law, Count Herman of Stahleck. This endeavour resulted in a bitter fight for the County Palatine of the Rhine - a conflict that culminated in the complete destruction of Rheineck Castle by the troops of the King in 1151. Rheineck Castle was rebuilt by the Archbishopric of Cologne by 1164 at the latest but did not, however, withstand the Palatine War of Succession in the 17th century. The Prussian politician von Bethmann-Hollweg inherited the ruin in 1832 and had the main building reconstructed together with the castle chapel. The latter represents a special feature, with its eight-sided design, which is reminiscent of the Carolingian Octagon of Aachen Cathedral. Today, the Castle is in private ownership and cannot be visited.
References:Saint-Émilion is a picturesque medieval village renowned for its well-preserved architecture and vineyards. The town and surrounding vineyards was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, owing to its long, living history of wine-making, Romanesque churches and ruins stretching all along steep and narrow streets.
An oppidum was built on the hill overlooking the present-day city in Gaulish times, before the regions was annexed by Augustus in 27 BC. The Romans planted vineyards in what was to become Saint-Émilion as early as the 2nd century. In the 4th century, the Latin poet Ausonius lauded the fruit of the bountiful vine.
Because the region was located on the route of the Camino de Santiago, many monasteries and churches were built during the Middle Ages, and in 1199, while under Plantagenet rule, the town was granted full rights.