Burg Ringelstein, Medieval castle ruins near Büren, Germany
Burg Ringelstein is a castle ruin on a ridge above the Alme Valley near Buren. The site contains underground passages, stone-vaulted cellars, and a defensive tower standing about 20 meters tall.
The Davensberger noble family received permission from the Archbishop of Cologne in 1383 to build this fortress. During the Thirty Years' War the stronghold lost importance and gradually fell into ruin.
The fortress served as a residence for local nobility and a hunting retreat. Today visitors can see traces of daily life that excavations have uncovered in the ruins.
The ruin sits on a hilltop requiring a short climb to reach. Excavations since 2005 have uncovered structures from different building periods, though parts remain under restoration work.
The fortress became a site of persecution during wartime when many people faced accusations and execution. This darker chapter of the castle's history is now documented through excavations and research.
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