Stahleck Castle, 12th-century castle in Bacharach, Germany
Stahleck is a 12th-century castle perched about 160 meters above the Rhine River on a rocky crag and commands the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. The complex features a central tower, multiple structures, and defensive walls built into the steep hillside.
The castle was built around 1135 by archbishops from Cologne and controlled trade along the Rhine. It remained a working fortress for several centuries before eventually being repurposed as a youth hostel in later times.
The castle displays medieval defense design with its rare water-filled moat and commands the landscape from its position above the river valley. Visitors can observe how the construction adapts to the steep hillside and follows the defensive lines.
The castle now serves as an operating youth hostel with dining facilities and overnight accommodations for visitors. A viewing platform offers views over the Rhine valley and is accessible to day visitors who wish to explore the grounds.
The name comes from Middle High German and means steel crag, a name reflecting the fortress's strength and impregnability. This naming convention shows how medieval castles were often called after their most impressive physical features.
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