Bischofstein Castle, Castle in Münstermaifeld, Germany

Bischofstein Castle sits on a steep slope above the Moselle River between Moselkern and Hatzenport, accessible via highway B 416. Its most striking feature is a tall round tower with a white band running around its middle section.

The castle was founded in 1270 by the Archbishops of Trier as a fortification along the Moselle. It suffered destruction in 1689 during conflict with French forces but was reconstructed in the 1930s.

Since 1954 the castle has housed the Schullandheim of the Fichte-Gymnasium in Krefeld, a school retreat centre. The Hatzenport winegrowers also produce a white wine named after the site, the Hatzenporter Burg Bischofstein. The chapel's ruined walls adjoin the keep.

The castle sits roughly 25 kilometers from Cochem and 35 kilometers from Koblenz, reached most easily via the nearby highway. Access requires good footing as the steep terrain and paths demand careful attention.

The keep's white plaster band at mid-height is the castle's most recognisable mark, visible from across the Moselle. Hatzenport's vintners bottle a white wine under the name Burg Bischofstein, so the castle also appears on wine labels.