Saffenburg Castle Ruins

The Saffenburg is farmed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays in May, September and October. But a visit is always worthwhile.

Very beautiful castle ruins with a view of the Ahr valley with Mayschoß and Rech.
What a beautiful castle that was in the Middle Ages!
The Saffenburg is derived from the old family of the Counts of Saffenberg. The name Saffenberg first appears in 1081. As a witness, Count Adalbert von Saffenberg signed a document from the Elector of Cologne, whose liege he was.
Different noble families as owners
Later, Adalbert's descendants were the sole owners. Numerous different noble families followed them as owners: In 1424 the complex came to the Counts of Virneburg and, after their extinction, to the Counts Manderscheid-Schleiden, who were followed by the Counts of Marck-Schleiden in 1593.
Largest hilltop castle in the Ahr Valley
If you now take into account the poor, narrow Ahr roads, where heavy siege artillery could not be brought to the surrounding mountains anywhere, it becomes clear that even centuries after the invention of gunpowder, the Saffenburg retained its military importance.
Over the course of its history, the Saffenburg has been occupied several times by various foreign powers. This mostly happened bloodlessly; only once was the castle taken by enemy troops in battle. In December 1632, Swedish mercenaries under General Wolf Heinrich von Baudissin, coming from the Westerwald, conquered the cities of Linz, Remagen and Andernach, among others.
Source:
saffenburg.de/index.php?id=3597

From the castle ruin Saffenburg you have a wonderful view on Mayschoss, the surrounding vineyards and on the rocky section of the red wine trail between Rech and Mayschoss. From Mayschoss station follow the Ahrtalweg in the direction of Rech and turn off in a short ascent to the Saffenburg.