Above the Eifel community of Monreal, in the Elzbach Valley, rise the neighboring ruins of Löwenburg, also known as Monreal Castle, and Philippsburg Castle on a 350-meter-high mountain spur.
The Löwenburg Castle:
The Löwenburg Castle above the half-timbered village of Monreal is a so-called spur castle and was first documented in 1229.
Today, large parts of the Löwenburg Castle are still preserved, giving a good impression of how imposing the castle must have been. First and foremost, the remains of the 25-meter-high keep with its three-meter-thick walls are visible from afar. The high entrance of the imposing keep faces the valley and is thus strategically advantageous, on the side facing away from the enemy. The castle tower is unfortunately currently closed and inaccessible.
The Philippsburg Castle:
The Philippsburg Castle in Monreal was also built in the 13th century. Philippsburg Castle was popularly nicknamed "Rech" (deer) due to its smaller size compared to Löwenburg Castle.
There are two different theories regarding its origins: On the one hand, Philippsburg Castle was built merely as an outbuilding or outer fortification of Löwenburg Castle, or on the other hand, it was built as Philippsburg's "response" to his brother's unauthorized construction of Löwenburg Castle. Some substantial remains of Philippsburg Castle's walls have also been preserved – including the northwest tower and the restored southern wall – which provide a good impression of the original structure.
Very beautiful hiking trails and stunning nature.