Schloss Burg (Burg Castle)

Schloss Burg (Burg Castle) in Solingen rises above the Wupper River as the ancestral seat of the Counts and Dukes of Berg and the landmark of the Bergisches Land region. Behind its gates, curtain wall and keep you will find a museum devoted to the Middle Ages, a knights' hall with monumental murals and battlements overlooking the wooded valley. A small cable car from the village below makes getting there part of the fun, which is why it is a favorite family outing in the Rhineland.

Where it is and how to get there

The castle stands in the Burg district of Solingen, between Düsseldorf, Cologne and Wuppertal, close to the A1 highway. Drivers should navigate to Wermelskirchener Straße 2. There is a paid lot at the castle and several free lots in the upper and lower village. By public transit, buses including line 683 stop in Unterburg, the lower village, and on weekends leisure line 687 runs from the Müngsten Bridge Park straight to the castle; the Deutschlandticket is valid. From Unterburg, the cable car climbs 91 meters in about five minutes (€5 one way, €8 return, cash only).

A short history

Count Adolf II of Berg began building the castle from 1130. Archbishop Engelbert of Cologne expanded it into a large residence from 1218. After the Battle of Worringen in 1288, Count Adolf V founded Düsseldorf, which later became the capital. Troops destroyed the fortifications in 1648, and in 1849 the roof was removed and the stones reused. A citizens' association founded in 1887 rebuilt the castle from around 1890, and a museum opened in 1894. A major renovation worth about €53 million has been underway since 2018.

What to see

• The knights' hall: Large murals depicting the Battle of Worringen.
• The museum: Medieval knights and nobility, with a tournament helmet and a coin hoard.
• Keep and north terrace: Areas opened to visitors after the renovation.
• The battlements: Views across the Wupper valley.

Tickets and opening hours

Through October the castle opens Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on weekends and holidays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; from November to March weekend hours end at 5 p.m. It is closed on Mondays except holidays. Adults pay €10, children aged 3 to 15 pay €5 (as of October 2026). There is no audio guide, but the Schloss Burg app offers background information and virtual reality features.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially with kids or combined with the nearby Müngsten Bridge, Germany's tallest railroad bridge, as a day trip from Düsseldorf or Cologne. Plan about 90 minutes for the castle.

Nearby

Nearby you will find the Müngsten Bridge Park, the half-timbered houses of Unterburg and hiking trails along the Wupper River.