Felssockel der Starkenburg

The Starkenburg is a ruin of a spur castle at 365 meters above sea level. The "Starkenburg" built by the Counts of Sponheim in 1125 gave the place its name.
Johann I. von Sponheim ruled 1233-66 at the castle, followed by his sons Heinrich and Johann II.
Heinrich von Sponheim married Loretta, the daughter of Count Johann von Salm from Lorraine. After his death, Loretta took control of Starkenburg.
In order to enforce the rule over the Cröver empire, in 1328 Loretta imprisoned the archbishop and elector Baldwin under the castle for 9 months and received a high ransom after his release.
Her son Johann III is the last Sponheimer on the Starkenburg. Around 1350 the Grevenburg became the seat of the Counts of Sponheim in Trarbach.
The Starkenburg had a longitudinal axis (N-S) of 135 meters and a transverse axis (W-O) of 30 meters. - A very mighty keep towered in the east. The Johanniskapelle was in the immediate vicinity. In the north and south the fortress was bordered by a moat. A bridge led from the castle to the village.
The visitor has a fantastic view over the Moselle valley far into the Eifel and eastwards over the Ahringsbach valley to the Hunsrück heights.
starkenburg-mosel.de/Geschichte/Die-Starkenburg.html

Starkenburg castle ruins, where Countess Loretta imprisoned the Archbishop of Trier.
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starkenburg_(Burgruine)

The story of Countess Loretta von Sponheim ...
It's just a shame that there is practically nothing left of the castle in this exposed location.
Make sure to ascend from the vantage point on the street through the archway - only then can you discover the remains of the wall and - now more away from the street - you have reached the more beautiful vantage point.

Very beautiful castle ruins in a pretty little mountain village

Great view and a small hut for a rest