Bergfried, Medieval tower keep at Pyrmont Castle in Roes, Germany.
The Bergfried is a square tower keep built on a slate rock outcrop above the Elzbach river waterfall, rising prominently above the castle complex. The structure features thick stone walls with several chambers stacked vertically and connected by internal staircases.
The tower dates to the late 12th century when Count Palatine Cuno of Schönburg ordered the construction of Pyrmont Castle, with the first written mention appearing in 1225. The project was part of a wider building program to establish defensive strongholds along the Middle Rhine and secure control over major trade routes.
The tower's solid stone walls and narrow openings reveal its role as a last stronghold for those living in the castle. This type of fortress structure became a model for many other fortifications in the region and influenced how such buildings were designed and used.
Visitors can explore multiple levels of the tower through internal staircases during castle opening hours. The site requires sturdy footwear since paths to the tower climb over rocky and sometimes steep ground.
The tower operated as both an observation post and a final refuge for castle residents if outer defenses were breached. Its internal chambers were arranged so defenders could control access to the entire castle complex from a single stronghold.
Location: Roes
Part of: Pyrmont Castle
GPS coordinates: 50.23750,7.28792
Latest update: December 6, 2025 19:03
Rhineland-Palatinate preserves centuries of European fortification architecture across a region shaped by river valleys and forested highlands. Medieval castles like Eltz Castle rise above the Moselle loop at Bremm, while Pfalzgrafenstein Castle sits on a Rhine island at Kaub, where it once controlled river traffic. Roman foundations lie beneath later structures such as Limburg Monastery near Bad Dürkheim, and Romanesque abbeys like Maria Laach demonstrate monastic design from the 11th century. The landscape ranges from the Teufelsfels rock formation in the Hunsrück to the ruins of Hardenburg, among the largest fortress complexes in the state. From the Rhine Valley with Stolzenfels Castle and the Loreley to the Palatinate fortresses of Hambach and Trifels, these sites document the region's strategic importance. Pyrmont Castle stands beside a waterfall near Roes, while the ruins of Frankenstein Castle near Kaiserslautern show medieval defensive works. Natural formations like the Kaltwasser Geysir at Andernach and the Geierlay Suspension Bridge at Mörsdorf complement the historical structures, providing access to the geological features between the Rhine, Moselle and Nahe rivers.
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