Drachenfels Castle, Medieval rock castle in Busenberg, Germany.
Drachenfels Castle sits on two steep sandstone cliffs at 367 meters elevation within the Palatinate Forest nature reserve. The structure divides into an upper and lower castle, with ruins visible in both sections.
The Lords of Drachenfels constructed the fortress gradually between 1209 and 1344 across the rocky peaks. Military destruction came in 1523 during a campaign against Strasbourg, after which the site remained abandoned.
The fortress retains a rock chamber in the upper section, a gate structure, and remnants of a flanking tower in the lower area. These spaces reflect how medieval inhabitants adapted their home to the steep sandstone cliffs around them.
A paved road from Busenberg leads to the Drachenfels hut, then a roughly 200-meter walk takes you to the entrance. The path is steep and calls for sturdy footwear and moderate fitness.
A dragon symbol was carved into the sandstone wall of the former knights' hall, which is where the fortress takes its name. This dragon motif continues to shape how people identify and remember this medieval site.
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