Sayn Castle, Medieval castle ruins in Bendorf, Germany.
Sayn Castle stands on Kehrberg hill at roughly 110 meters elevation and is defined by thick stone walls and a preserved tower rising about 20 meters high. The site overlooks the Rhine valley and consists of several structures spanning different periods.
The castle was built in the 12th century as a residence for the Counts of Sayn-Wittgenstein. Swedish forces destroyed it in 1632 during the Thirty Years War, and it was never fully rebuilt afterward.
Excavations at the southwestern corner exposed the foundations of the castle chapel, built as a double church with three apses and a decorated ornamental floor laid around 1200. The counts of Sayn took their name from this site, and the chapel's plan shows the separate worship spaces of a medieval noble household.
The site is reachable via federal highway B413 or regional road L306, with parking available near the grounds entrance. Visitors should expect uneven terrain and wear sturdy footwear to explore the castle safely.
The castle chapel uncovered at the south-western corner was built as a double church with three apses, and its ornate floor from around 1200 survives in good condition. The original approach track along the southern flank, exposed by excavation, can be walked again.
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