Burg Drachenfels, Medieval castle ruins in Königswinter, Germany
Burg Drachenfels is a castle ruin in Königswinter that rises steeply above the Rhine valley within the Siebengebirge mountains. The stone walls and fortification remains shape the landscape and are visible from various directions.
Archbishop Arnold I of Cologne had the castle built in 1138 to protect the region from attack. Over the centuries it served as a fortress, then was abandoned and gradually fell into ruin.
The castle's name refers to local legends about a dragon said to live in a cave beneath the fortress. Locals still enjoy sharing this story when showing visitors around the site.
Access to the ruins is easy via the historic Drachenfels Railway, which has run from Königswinter station since 1883. Alternatively, hikers can use the trails that wind through forested slopes to reach the summit.
The stone used in the castle, called trachyte, was extracted for centuries in quarries below the fortress and used for major building projects. A significant portion of the stone for Cologne Cathedral came from these deposits.
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