Burgruine Rosenau

Burgruine Rosenau is a castle ruin in the Siebengebirge range near Königswinter with surviving ring walls made of trachyte stone. The walls reach heights of around six meters in places and sit surrounded by forest.

The first written record dates to 1222, when the castle owner adopted its name for his own. After the monastery purchased it in 1243, the fortification was demolished within a few years.

The ruins were part of a defensive network protecting the Cologne Archbishop's lands in this region. Visitors can still sense the strategic importance this location held in medieval times.

Several hiking trails lead to the ruin, with a moderate loop route from Ittenbach providing direct access. The site is most accessible during warmer months when forest paths are dry and easy to walk.

The monastery that purchased the castle received explicit permission from church authorities to demolish the fortification. This was uncommon, as monasteries typically took over fortifications rather than tear them down.