Rheinbacher Burg, Medieval castle ruins in Rheinbach, Germany.
Rheinbacher Burg consists of water castle remains featuring a defensive tower, residential palace, gatehouse, and wall sections that were once surrounded by a moat system. The site displays the typical layout of a medieval fortress with distinct functional areas for living and defense.
The castle was founded in the 12th century by local knights as a strategic fortress controlling an important trade route between major cities. It was destroyed in 1673 and only its ruins have survived to the present day.
The tower name Hexenturm comes from folk legends that developed centuries after the structure was built, though it served purely as a defensive feature at its origin. Visitors can see how the thick walls were constructed using techniques that shaped medieval German castles across the region.
The ruins are accessible on foot via marked pathways and can be visited free of charge. Guided tours are available and provide insight into how the fortress functioned and what each section was built to achieve.
Scientists have used growth rings from surviving timber beams to pinpoint exact construction dates and discovered evidence of advanced building techniques from the late 12th century. This reveals that the builders employed methods far ahead of their contemporaries.
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