The castles of the Our-Valley
The castles of the Our-Valley, which guarded the approach to the castle of Vianden, served either to protect it or to enforce its neutrality.
Le château de Falkenstein
The Castle of Falkenstein, truly a hawk's nest perched on a rock above the lake of the our dam, seems to have been constructed in the 12th century by the counts of Vianden. It belonged in turn to the Lords of Grandpre, Marlieres, Brandenbourg, Blankenheim, Fenetrange, Haraucourt, Salm, Everlange and de la Gardelle. In 1679, the Marechal de Boufflers destroyed the castle and there only now remain the ruins of the castle-keep, the chapel, reconstructed in the 19th century, and the present owner's new house.
Le château de Stolzembourg
The Castle of Stolzembourg dominated the Our-Valley north of Vianden. In the 14th century the castle belonged to the lords of Brandenbourg. It was first destroyed in 1454 by Antoine de Croy, Governor of Luxembourg, and a second time in 1679 by the Marechal de Boufflers. Today one can only see the ruins of the medieval castle - two fortification walls and some cellars. In 1898, the castle was tastelessly reconstructed in a mock-Gothic style and restored after 1988.
Le château de Roth
The Castle of Roth, situated south of Vianden, was built at the beginning of the 13th century by the TempIars, to whom the count of Vianden had assigned the Roth Basilica. After the dissolution of the order of the Temple in 1311, the commandery of Roth was handed over to the Knights of St. John who were also called Knights of Malta. Nothing is left over of the ancient commandery. The entrance-tower goes back to the 16th century; the castle, as it exists nowadays, dates from 1733. It was seriously damaged during the Battle of the Ardennes in 1945, and transformed into a hotel after its reconstruction.
Le château de Brandenbourg
The Castle of Brandenbourg, in the valley of the river Blees, was built in the tenth century and used to dominate the tract of land in between Vianden and Bourscheid. During the 13th century, the primitive dynasty of the Brandenbourgers was replaced by the representatives of the House of Neuerbourg, a junior line of descendants of the Vianden-dynasty. In the course of time the castle successively belonged to the lords of Haraucourt, Salm, Kitzingen, Stassin and Blochausen. The castle fell into ruins through lack of maintenance. Today one can still see a massive three-storied dungeon, the ruins of the Gothic chapel, solid towers, important cellars, as weIl as a Roman stone, embedded on the right side of the entrance-door.