Trifels Castle

Trifels Castle (Reichsburg Trifels) near Annweiler am Trifels is one of the most storied castles in southwestern Germany. Perched on a sandstone summit in the Palatinate Forest, it served the Salian and Hohenstaufen emperors as a stronghold for the imperial regalia – crown, scepter and orb – and as a prison for high-ranking captives, most famously King Richard the Lionheart of England. Today it combines medieval walls, a reconstructed great hall, a treasury of replica regalia and sweeping forest views.

Why it matters

First recorded in 1081, Trifels belonged to the Salian kings by 1113. In 1125 Emperor Henry V ordered the crown and other insignia of power to be kept at "the very strong castle called Trifels," and the regalia returned here repeatedly until the late 13th century. Richard the Lionheart was held here by Emperor Henry VI, who released him only after an enormous ransom was paid. After a lightning fire in 1602 the castle decayed into a quarry; restoration began in the 19th century, and much of what you see today was rebuilt in a historicizing style during the 20th century.

What to see

• The treasury: finely crafted replicas of the imperial regalia in a dramatic setting.
• "Macht und Mythos" exhibition: the castle's history and builders.
• The palace hall: a rebuilt hall with Romanesque-style arcades.
• Well tower: a separate tower linked to the castle by an arch.
• Views: across to the neighboring ruins of Anebos and Scharfenberg and over the Palatinate Forest.

Opening hours and tickets

As of October 2026: from March 15 to October 31, open Wednesday to Sunday and on holidays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (last entry 5 p.m.). In November and from February 1 to March 14, it opens weekends and holidays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed in December and January.

Admission is €6 for adults, €5 reduced, €3 for ages 6–17; children five and under are free. Tickets are sold on site and online. From May to October, a castle tour starts every Saturday at 1 p.m. (€4 plus admission); foreign-language group tours, including English, can be booked through the Annweiler tourist office.

How to get there

Trifels sits in the southern Palatinate, an easy day trip from Karlsruhe, Heidelberg or Mannheim. By car, take the A65 to Landau Nord and the B10 to Annweiler West. Paid parking lies at the foot of the castle hill, followed by a 20-minute uphill walk. By public transportation, take a regional train to Annweiler, then a bus to the Trifels stop; the Deutschlandticket covers local services.

Practical tips

The castle is not wheelchair accessible because of its historic layout. Dogs are allowed on a leash outdoors but not inside. There is only a vending machine on the castle; the Barbarossa restaurant is next to the parking lot. Allow two to three hours including the walk up.

Nearby

• Anebos and Scharfenberg ruins: two neighboring castles on the signed Annweiler castle trail.
• Annweiler am Trifels: a small town at the foot of the hill.
• German Wine Route (Südliche Weinstraße): wine villages around Landau.