Castles in the Eifel: the 8 most rewarding at a glance

Introduction

The Eifel and its neighbouring regions along the Moselle and the Rhine have an unusually high density of castles. There are historical reasons for that: trade routes, territorial borders and river valleys ran through here, and all of them wanted controlling.

What matters for visitors is that these castles are very different in kind. Some were never destroyed and survive in their original state. Others were rebuilt in romantic style in the 19th century. Others again are ruins you can walk into free of charge.

This overview is sorted by distance from the Riedener Waldsee and tells you which kind each one is.

The overview

The three that are most worth it

Eltz Castle: the most famous

Has stood for more than 850 years, was never destroyed and belongs to the same family to this day — now in the 34th generation. That makes it the most photographed castle in Germany, and the walk through the Elzbach valley is part of the experience.

Important: the castle can only be seen on a guided tour. The car park is a fair way off, and you cover the rest on foot or by shuttle bus.

→ Read the full article

Cochem Castle: the most theatrical

Unlike Eltz Castle, Cochem Castle was blown up in 1689. What towers over Cochem today was rebuilt in neo-Gothic style from 1868 by Louis Ravené — a castle as the 19th century imagined the Middle Ages.

That takes nothing away from the impression it makes. It simply explains why it looks so complete, while genuinely medieval sites are usually fragments.

Daily 9:30 to 17:00, guided tours only. Adults 10.00 €, family ticket 26.00 €. Owned by the town since 1978.

→ Read the full article

Bürresheim Castle: the quiet surprise

Never destroyed either, with interiors preserved in their original state — and far less visited than the other two. It became known as a film location: in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" it plays Schloss Brunwald.

Only around 15 kilometres away, which makes it the closest proper castle visit from the Waldsee.

→ Read the full article

For a quick stop: the free ruins

Not every castle needs an admission ticket and a guided tour.

Löwenburg and Philippsburg in Monreal — two 13th-century ruins on facing hills above the half-timbered village. The climb up takes only a few minutes.

The Manderscheid Castles — the Oberburg and Niederburg in the Lieser valley. The Oberburg is freely accessible all year round; the Niederburg has a digital, step-free visitor experience. The Burgenstieg trail between the two has been named one of the finest walking trails in Germany.

Landshut Castle above Bernkastel-Kues — a ruin with a restaurant and a view over the bend in the Moselle. Built in 1276, destroyed by fire in 1692. Excavations in 2012 brought to light the remains of a late Roman fortification.

Not a castle, but the largest site: Ehrenbreitstein Fortress

The fortress above Koblenz is the second-largest surviving fortress complex in Europe — though not a medieval castle but a Prussian fortress of the 19th century.

Getting there is part of the experience: the cable car takes you up from the Deutsches Eck across the Rhine. 18 panoramic gondolas, one of them with a glass floor.

In summer daily 10–18, in winter 11–16. Adults 10.00 €, children aged 7–17 4.00 €. Combined ticket with the cable car 21.90 €.

→ Read the full article

Castles with events

Several castles in the region put on their own events:

• Genovevaburg Mayen — in 2026 and 2027, though, the Burgfestspiele are not staged at the castle but in front of the Herz-Jesu church, because the Oberburg is being restored
• Cochem Castle — Adventszauber and Burgweihnacht Christmas events in December
• Satzvey Castle (approx. 70 km) — jousting festivals and a castle Christmas with a medieval nativity play

More on this in Christmas markets in the Eifel.

FAQs