Bürresheim Castle near Mayen

The castle and its history

The castle is a magnificent fortress in the Eifel, built in the High Middle Ages. It is still a real beauty today and well worth a visit. Come and see it for yourself, and take in its remarkable atmosphere!

In the 14th century the castle belonged to the Bürresheim family, and it owes its name to that line. Many architectural details can be seen throughout the complex, which was built across 5 different periods of style.

You can visit the interiors and the lovely castle garden, which has served as the model for countless paintings, and immerse yourself in times long past. You may also remember one film or another, or the fairy tale “Rumpelstiltskin”. The castle has been used as a backdrop for television films on several occasions.

It sits nestled in the Nette valley at the entrance to the Nitz valley, picturesquely surrounded by forest and only a short way from the small town of Mayen.

Even from the forecourt you find yourself admiring this imposing building with its playful oriels and pointed roofs, looking forward to what awaits inside. What makes the interior special is beyond doubt the furnishings, which give an impressive picture of how the nobility of the Rhineland lived from the Middle Ages to the 20th century.

The castle was spared by war, and so it shows beautifully how people lived in a castle like this in the Middle Ages. It was in fact still inhabited until 1921. Bürresheim Castle was never captured and never fell victim to destruction.

Instead it was extended again and again over the centuries and grew into what it is today. The layout of the late-medieval complex shows vividly how simply people lived at that time. Much of the 15th-century furniture and many valuable paintings have been preserved and have their permanent place at Bürresheim Castle.

Bürresheim Castle is not only a lovely place to spend a holiday, it is also a well-known television filming location. The idyllic Waldsee Rieden lies close by. Are you looking for a holiday destination with a romantic atmosphere and plenty of history? Then the Eifel holiday park at Waldsee Rieden is just the place, a base from which you can set off on any number of trips. From there you might visit the beautiful fairy-tale Bürresheim Castle, for example. It gives you a warm welcome and makes a great starting point for days out across this varied holiday region.

Things to do around Bürresheim Castle

But Bürresheim Castle is not the only highlight. There is far more to experience on a holiday here, not least in the lively town of Mayen right next to the castle. It is a place of characterful cafés, narrow lanes and charming squares, somewhere to linger and let the world go by!

Did you know that one of Germany’s greatest actors spent his youth in Mayen? None other than Mario Adorf. Hollywood names such as Sean Connery and Harrison Ford have fallen under the spell of the Vulkaneifel too. So you can enjoy a first-class holiday in this wonderful spot as well. Whether you come on your own or with your family, make the most of what the region does best: its unmistakable calm, its wide forests and valleys, its volcanic crater lakes and the maars of the Eifel, crater lakes with crystal-clear water, some of which you can swim in, and of course a remarkable variety of wildlife and plants that will delight you.

More attractions in the area

Can you never get enough of good days out? Then it is fortunate that Bürresheim Castle and the neighbouring holiday park at the Waldsee Rieden lie in such perfect surroundings. Take the quiet countryside around the Laacher See, for instance, or soak up the spiritual atmosphere of the Romanesque Maria Laach Abbey. The Nürburgring, too, makes a spectacular day out. The Nürburgring is not only a venue for Formula 1 races. Many other big car, truck and motorbike races are held there every year as well. “Rock am Ring”, one of the largest open-air events in Germany, is another name that belongs to the region and draws hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. The Nürburgring also offers a very special visitor experience for young and old. If you are anywhere near, a visit is a must.

The beautiful Rhine and the mild Moselle with their many half-timbered villages are not far away either. If you would like to see more castles or visit a wine festival, the region has plenty for you to discover. Cochem with its magnificent castle is especially worth a look, as are Bernkastel-Kues with its charming lanes, cafés and restaurants and the old Roman city of Trier, the oldest city in Germany. Take the chance to spend a day on one of the Moselle or Rhine boats, with good food on board, or come and see the Waldsee Rieden. Here you can swim, go canoeing or simply let the world go by. The Waldsee makes an ideal base for a holiday: central, yet very quiet, surrounded by forest and well away from through traffic.

The Waldsee Rieden and the Osteifel

If you are visiting the fairy-tale Bürresheim Castle with your family, it is worth planning a few more days out as well. Tollipark in Mayen is a good choice – a paradise for children. Daun Wildlife Park and Klotten Wildlife and Adventure Park are just as rewarding. Neuwied Zoo and the Teufelsschlucht dinosaur park are also well worth the journey.

You can reach the castle by car on the A1 or A48 motorways. There are also several railway stations in the area (Andernach Hbf), so you can get to the castle by public transport as well.

The best-known productions include the film “Rumpelstiltskin” and parts of “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”.

The Hollywood superstars Harrison Ford and Sean Connery were among those at the castle during the filming of the Indiana Jones film.