Drachenfels Castle (Wasgau)
| Drachenfels Castle | |
|---|---|
| Busenberg | |
 Ruins of Drachenfels Castle | |
  Drachenfels Castle | |
| Coordinates | 49°07′19″N 7°49′41″E / 49.122°N 7.828°E |
| Type | Höhenburg, Felslage |
| 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 |
Drachenfels Castle[1] is a ruined hill castle near the village of Busenberg in the in German state of Rhineland-Palatinate. It lies within the German half of the Wasgau region, the southern part of the Palatinate Forest.
Location
Drachenfels Castle is located about seven kilometres 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 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 three kilometres away to the south-east is Berwartstein; a similar distance to the north-west are the three castles of Dahn; Lindelbrunn is 6 kilometres to the northeast and the group of castles group on the Franco-German border - the Wegelnburg (German) and Hohnebourg, Löwenstein and Fleckenstein (all on the French side) - are ten kilometres away to the southwest.
It is unknown when the castle was built, but its castellans, the lords of Drachenstein, are first documented in 1209.
Notes
49°07′19″N 7°49′41″E / 49.122°N 7.828°E{{#coordinates:}}: cannot have more than one primary tag per page
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