Can you go inside Ehrenfels Castle?

No, the ruin can only be viewed from the outside, and the site is currently closed to protect a nesting pair of falcons.

When was Ehrenfels Castle built?

It was built in the 13th century, between 1208 and 1220, by Philipp III of Bolanden.

Why is Ehrenfels Castle a ruin?

It was destroyed on 30 May 1689 by the troops of Louis XIV during the War of the Palatine Succession, having survived the Thirty Years' War largely intact.

How do you get to Ehrenfels Castle?

It can be seen from the Rhine or reached via a hillside path from Rüdesheim am Rhein through the vineyards.

Is Ehrenfels Castle the same as the Mäuseturm?

No, they are two separate structures: the ruin on the cliff and the Mäuseturm, a toll tower on a Rhine island, which remains open to visitors.

Ehrenfels Castle

Rüdesheim am Rhein

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Where: Rüdesheim am Rhein

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Burg Ehrenfels stands in Rüdesheim am Rhein (Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis), in Hesse, Germany. The building is a listed Baudenkmal. Recorded dating: 13th century. Its opening hours and prices have not been verified at the source yet.

Ehrenfels Castle rises above the Rhine near Rüdesheim am Rhein, marking the entrance to the UNESCO-listed Upper Middle Rhine Valley. Built in the 13th century by Philipp III of Bolanden, it later served as a residence for the archbishop-electors of Mainz before being destroyed in 1689 during the campaigns of Louis XIV. What remains today is a striking ruin set among vineyards, seen from the river or the paths that climb the hillside.

What to know

Ehrenfels Castle cannot be entered, it is only viewed from the outside.
The site is currently closed for nature conservation reasons, as a pair of falcons nests there.
A hillside path through the Rheingau vineyards connects Rüdesheim am Rhein to the ruin.
The ruin should not be confused with the nearby Mäuseturm on a Rhine island, which remains open to visitors.
The site is listed as a Kulturdenkmal in Hesse.

Where this château is

Rüdesheim am Rhein · Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis · Hessen

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This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

65385 Rüdesheim am Rhein

Directions open from wherever you are, by car or public transport.

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4.5 / 5from 411 Google reviews

Heritage status: Kulturdenkmal in Hessen
Period of construction: 13th century

Frequently asked

Can you go inside Ehrenfels Castle?: No, the ruin can only be viewed from the outside, and the site is currently closed to protect a nesting pair of falcons.
When was Ehrenfels Castle built?: It was built in the 13th century, between 1208 and 1220, by Philipp III of Bolanden.
Why is Ehrenfels Castle a ruin?: It was destroyed on 30 May 1689 by the troops of Louis XIV during the War of the Palatine Succession, having survived the Thirty Years' War largely intact.
How do you get to Ehrenfels Castle?: It can be seen from the Rhine or reached via a hillside path from Rüdesheim am Rhein through the vineyards.
Is Ehrenfels Castle the same as the Mäuseturm?: No, they are two separate structures: the ruin on the cliff and the Mäuseturm, a toll tower on a Rhine island, which remains open to visitors.