Political and economic powers unite in the Rhine River valley where
castles controlled river traffic and served as toll stations. Individual lords
could become piratical in their collection practices. Along the Rhine and
Danube local authorities controlled travel, collecting endless toll from
castles seemingly on every hilltop. Not far from the famous Lorelei Rock
(according to local legend, the home of a nymph whose songs lured
boatmen to death in the rapids) are the castle of Gutenfels, the village
of Kaub, and toll fortress the Pfalz (Figure 23).
World History
