Arenfels Castle, Medieval castle in Bad Hönningen, Germany.
Arenfels is a castle in Bad Hönningen in the Middle Rhine region of Rhineland-Palatinate. The building consists of three wings arranged in a horseshoe shape with a tall central tower crowned by a pointed roof and stone spires.
The castle was founded in 1258 by Heinrich II von Isenburg and originally stood on a rocky plateau protected by a moat and defensive fortifications. Over the centuries, it was expanded and adapted to different architectural styles.
Inside, you can see different living areas including a knight's hall and rooms from the Renaissance period with original fireplaces. These spaces show how the castle residents lived and used the rooms over the centuries.
The building functions today as an event venue and offers accommodation in 15 hotel rooms. There is also a wine shop with local wines from the Rhine Valley that visitors can view and purchase.
Its 365 windows, 52 doors and 12 towers earned Arenfels the nickname "Schloss des Jahres" (Castle of the Year), but they date from Ernst Friedrich Zwirner's neo-Gothic conversion of 1852–1858, not from the Middle Ages. The Cologne cathedral master builder remodelled the complex after English and medieval German models.
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