Metternich Castle, Medieval castle ruins in Beilstein, Germany.
Metternich Castle stands as a ruin on a rocky outcrop above the Moselle River near Beilstein village. The remaining walls, towers, and foundations reveal the typical layout of a medieval fortress built to dominate the river valley.
The fortress was built in the 13th century under the name Bilstein and belonged to the Counts of Nassau-Dillenburg for generations. It was renamed when the House of Metternich acquired the property in the 1600s.
The castle served as a power base for successive noble families who controlled the Moselle valley for generations. Today, visitors walking through the ruins can see how landowners demonstrated their authority over this strategic river region.
The site is accessible via marked hiking trails from Beilstein village and offers good views across the Moselle valley. Sturdy footwear is recommended since the climb is steep and the ruins sit on uneven ground.
French forces heavily damaged the castle in 1689, transforming it into the ruin that visitors see today and making it a protected monument. The destruction remains visible in the crumbling walls and missing roof structures throughout the site.
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