엘샤이드‬에서 가장 멋진 ‪20‬개의 동굴

After centuries in the possession of the von Isenburg family, the castle changed hands several times over the course of history. Since the 20th century, it has been partially open to the public and today serves as a venue for weddings, parties and cultural events. The combination of history and modern use makes Arenfels Castle a living cultural monument in the Rhineland.

Zwirner significantly modified the medieval castle, giving it the characteristic appearance that is admired today. In doing so, he added, among other things, the 365 windows, 52 doors and 12 towers that made the castle the "Castle of the Year", a playful allusion to the days, weeks and months of a year.

Arenfels Castle has a long and fascinating history dating back to the 13th century. The castle was originally built around 1258 by Gerlach von Isenburg to secure and control the surrounding lands. However, the current castle dates largely from the 19th century, when the Prussian architect Ernst Friedrich Zwirner - known for his work on Cologne Cathedral - had the building redesigned in the neo-Gothic style.

As so often over the centuries, only a ruin remains of the once imposing imperial castle (mentioned as such in documents in AD 1000). During the French occupation of the Rhineland, it suffered the typical fate: conquest and destruction.

Altwied Castle - an admirable gem from the 12th century, until 1653 the ancestral seat of the Counts of Wied, today's princely house. However, it is less due to the Princely House than to the Altwied Heimatverein founded in 1980 that it is still here and can be admired by us.

A little rest at the keep of the Hammerstein ruins, enjoying the view and unpacking a picnic - that's hiking fun!

The castle, the gate and the old half-timbered houses create a nice picture.

as children we always imagined how criminals were locked in the dungeon