Stahleck Castle

Stahleck Castle (Burg Stahleck) towers on a rocky spur above the wine town of Bacharach in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the oldest castle sites on the Rhine, it is now a youth hostel, which means you can actually spend the night in a medieval-style castle. Even if you are not staying, the climb is worth it: the courtyard is open to the public and offers a superb view over Bacharach and the river.

A short history

The name roughly means "impregnable castle on a crag." Built around 1100 as an outpost of the Archbishops of Cologne, Stahleck became the seat of the Counts Palatine of the Rhine in the 12th century. In 1193 or 1194 it was the scene of a famous secret wedding: Agnes of Hohenstaufen married Henry of Brunswick, son of Henry the Lion, instead of the French king chosen for her. During the Thirty Years' War the castle changed hands eight times, and French troops blew it up in 1689. A heritage society bought the ruin in 1909 and rebuilt it as a youth hostel from 1925, closely following a 17th-century engraving; the keep was completed in 1967.

What to see

The interior is not open for tours because the building is a working hostel, but the courtyard is publicly accessible. Only a low parapet separates it from the drop to the Rhine, so the views are excellent. Look out for the water-filled moat in front of the shield wall, a rarity in Germany, and the round keep with its pointed roof. Allow 30 to 60 minutes at the castle, or half a day combined with Bacharach.

Staying overnight

The hostel has 178 beds and a Knights' Hall for up to 100 people. It is popular with school groups and families, and rooms in the keep are named after medieval minstrels. Book directly with the Bacharach youth hostel.

How to get to Stahleck Castle

Bacharach lies on the Rhine railway between Mainz and Koblenz and is about an hour and a half by train from Frankfurt, making it a classic day trip from Frankfurt or a stop on a Rhine cruise. Regional trains are covered by the Deutschlandticket. From the village, a steep footpath climbs to the castle; bus line 692 also runs up the hill. Drivers cannot reach the castle directly: the parking lot is about 200 meters above it, reached via Bacharach-Steeg.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, if you are in Bacharach. The view alone justifies the climb, and staying overnight is a memorable budget option on the Rhine.

Nearby

• Bacharach Old Town, with half-timbered houses and town walls.
• Werner Chapel, a Gothic chapel ruin on the way up.
• Pfalzgrafenstein Castle on an island in the Rhine near Kaub.
• Lorelei Rock, a short trip downstream.