Drachenburg is a combination of a castle and a country estate. One of the most magnificent palace buildings in Germany is located on the Drachenfels mountain near the small town of Königswinter. Due to its beauty, the castle is very popular with tourists.
Historical reference
By order of Baron Stefan Zarter, the construction of the castle was carried out from 1882 to 1884. The baron himself never lived there, and after his death in 1902, Drachenburg went to his nephew Jacob Biesenbach, who opened a residence hotel there for wealthy travelers.
Later, the castle was used as a Catholic boarding school and the Adolf Hitler National Socialist Military School. During World War II, German anti-aircraft troops were stationed in Drachenburg and the castle was almost completely destroyed.
The last large-scale restoration work was carried out from 1995 to 2005.
They wanted to demolish the Schloss in 1971, but Paul Spinat bought it and restored it. In 1986, the castle was opened to the public.
Castle architecture and exterior
The castle is surrounded by a beautiful green park with sculptures, which adds some fabulousness to the place. There is a tall column in the courtyard, and a stream is babbling nearby. Lanterns are installed along the terraces, and two sculptures of majestic deer are greeted at the entrance to the castle.
Drachenburg was built in the neo-gothic style.
Dusseldorf and Parisian architects worked on the castle project. The battlements, elegant details, elongation upward and different sizes of towers make the building look more like a medieval fortress.
Interior decoration
Drachenburg is especially beautiful on the inside. Visitors will appreciate the wall paintings, painted ceilings and tapestries depicting scenes from German legends and the heroic past of the people. Extremely popular are the "rooms of the Nibelungs" with frescoes telling about Siegrfried, who defeated the dragon and received immortality when he bathed in his blood.
Spiral staircases, carved furniture, exquisite chandeliers and marble busts fit perfectly into the chic interior of the castle, plunging the tourist into the richness of past eras.
The northern tower, the highest of all, has an observation deck. It is not easy to reach, which is why many travelers use the cable car to get stunning views of the Rhine and the green park.
Opening hours and entrance fees
Drachenburg Castle is a well-known landmark, where three-hour excursions from Bonn, Cologne and Düsseldorf are organized daily. There are walking and bus tours. Minibuses are designed for eight people, and four can go by car.
Königswinter offers exciting excursions, which, in addition to Drachenburg, include a visit to the Nibelungenhalle Museum, the Dragon Caves with a reptile zoo, the Drachenburg Royal Castle, as well as the ruins of Drachenfels Castle, where tourists like to take unusual photos.
Guided tours are held from April to November (11.00-18.00), at a time when the castle can appear in all its glory.
The cost of the excursion for adults is 30 euros, for children - 15 euros. In addition, children can attend paid seminars (15 euros), where they will learn more about the history of the castle and Germany.
The German authorities also organize a more extensive excursion - the Castle Road - with a visit to about 70 castles, including Drachenburg.
How to get there
On the map, Drachenburg is located in the south of North Rhine-Westphalia, on the top of Mount Drachenfels, on the banks of the Rhine River, in the lands of the Semigorye.
The city of Bonn is very close, from where tram 66 runs to the castle. And from Königswinter to Drachenburg special trailers run.
Bonn and Königswinter are most easily accessible from Cologne, where planes fly from many cities.
Other attractions nearby
Germany is rich in attractions. Near Drachenburg, there are the ruins of the medieval castle Drachenfels - a favorite place for poets and artists of the era of romanticism. This castle can be reached by funicular.
Nearby is the residence of the President of Germany, which is visible from the Drachenburg observation deck.
We should also mention the Drachenfels mountain - part of the famous hiking route from Bonn to Wiesbaden, known as the Rhine Trail.
Conclusion
Drachenburg is an unusual fairytale castle of the German lands of the 19th century, reminiscent of the oldest medieval building. External inaccessibility is vividly combined with the palace sophistication of the interior. The interior decoration strikes with elegance and wealth, dipping tourists into the atmosphere of antiquity. It is not difficult to get to the castle, because there are direct excursions from the nearest cities.
