Drachenfels Castle (Wasgau)
| Drachenfels Castle | |
|---|---|
| Busenberg | |
Ruins of Drachenfels Castle
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 Drachenfels Castle
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| Coordinates | 49°07′19″N 7°49′41″E / 49.122°N 7.828°ECoordinates: 49°07′19″N 7°49′41″E / 49.122°N 7.828°E |
| Type | hill castle on a rock formation |
| Code | DE-RP |
| Height | 368 m above sea level (NN) |
| Site information | |
| Condition | ruin |
| Site history | |
| Built | Early 12th century |
| Materials | rusticated ashlar |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants | Ganerbenburg (joint inheritance) |
Drachenfels Castle is a ruined hill castle near the village of Busenberg in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. It lies within the German half of the Wasgau region, the southern part of the Palatinate Forest.
Drachenfels Castle is about 7 kilometres (4 mi) north of the Franco-German border on the eponymous 150-metre-long bunter sandstone rocks which are on a ridge at an elevation of 368 metres (1,207 ft) above sea level. The highest part of the rocks was turned into a keep or bergfried. Because of its present appearances the remains of the tower are known as the Backenzahn ("molar tooth") by the locals and make it one of the most striking castles in Rhineland-Palatinate.
Not far from the Drachenfels are several other historic castles: just 3 kilometres (2 mi) to the south-east is Berwartstein; a similar distance to the north-west are the three castles of Dahn; Lindelbrunn is 6 kilometres (4 mi) northeast and the group of castles on the Franco-German border - the Wegelnburg (German) and the Hohnebourg, Lœwenstein and Fleckenstein (all on the French side) - are 10 kilometres (6 mi) to the southwest.
Man-made chambers have been hewn out of a rock massif opposite the castle, the so-called Buchkammerfels, which lies on the Heidenberg, 420 metres (1,380 ft) high. The date and function of these Heidenkammern are unknown: it is speculated it may have been an outpost of the Drachenfels.
The name of the castle could have come from the dragon carved in the sandstone wall of the old great hall of the castle. However, because it has not been dated, it is also possible that the dragon was inscribed on the wall because of the castle's name.
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Wikipedia