Burg Ringelstein

The fortress stands on a ridge above the Alme Valley, featuring underground passages, vaulted cellars, and a defensive tower reaching 20 meters in height.

The Davensberger lineage of the Büren nobles received permission from the Archbishop of Cologne to construct this castle in 1383 as a strategic outpost.

A 1574 inventory reveals the castle contained twelve rooms, a kitchen, cellars, plus brewing and baking facilities, serving as a hunting lodge for nobility.

The castle ruins undergo restoration work since 2005, with excavations revealing medieval structures and architectural elements from different construction periods.

During the Thirty Years' War, the castle became a site of witch trials, where over 100 people faced conviction and execution within its walls.

Location: Büren

GPS coordinates: 51.50230,8.57347

Latest update: March 3, 2025 08:21