Rheinfels Castle, Medieval fortress in Sankt Goar, Germany
Rheinfels Castle is a fortification built on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Rhine, featuring defensive towers, thick stone walls, and interconnected underground passages. The site spans multiple levels and demonstrates how defensive design evolved across different time periods.
The fortification was founded in 1245 and grew into the region's largest defensive structure by the 16th century. Military advances eventually made it less important, and parts of it were destroyed in later conflicts.
The name reflects the family who originally built this fortification. Visitors can sense how residents once lived here and used the structure as a seat of power and control.
The site can be explored on foot with marked pathways through the ruins and down to the underground areas. Plan for several hours to visit the different sections and enjoy the views across the river valley.
The site contains one of Europe's largest self-supporting vaulted cellars, which once held an enormous wine barrel. This reveals how important wine production and storage were to the economic life here.
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