Stolzenfels Castle

Stolzenfels Castle (Schloss Stolzenfels) near Koblenz is a neo-Gothic palace high above the Rhine and a key example of Prussian Rhine Romanticism. It belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage site Upper Middle Rhine Valley and faces the mouth of the Lahn River. The Prussian king Frederick William IV turned a medieval ruin into a royal summer residence in the 19th century. Inside you tour historic rooms, and from the courtyard you get a wide view over the valley.

From toll castle to royal retreat

The original castle was built around 1244 for Archbishop Arnold von Isenburg of Trier, where the territories of Trier, Mainz and Cologne met. Rhine tolls were collected here from the 14th century until at least 1412. In 1688 French troops burned it after a failed siege of Koblenz, and the ruins became a quarry. The city of Koblenz gave the ruin to the Prussian crown prince in 1823.

From 1836 he had it rebuilt to plans by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, aiming to preserve as much of the old fabric as possible. Landscape architect Peter Joseph Lenné designed the park. Together they form what is considered the most important testimony to Prussian Romanticism on the Rhine.

What to see

• Great Knights' Hall with original furnishings, centuries-old paintings, weapons and neo-Gothic furniture from the mid-19th century.
• Castle chapel and Lesser Knights' Hall: murals ranked among the most important works of Rhenish High Romanticism.
• Courtyards and upper terrace with views of the Rhine and the Lahn mouth.
• King's Way audio stations: eight stops with stories told by a friendly castle ghost; you scan QR codes.

Interiors can only be seen on guided tours, which are included in the ticket. Plan one to two hours, because the walk from the parking garage takes about 20 minutes.

Tickets and opening hours (as of October 2026)

• Opening hours: March 15 to October 31, Thursday to Sunday and public holidays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entry 4 p.m.). In November, Saturday, Sunday and holidays only; closed in December and January.
• Admission: adults 6 EUR, reduced 5 EUR, ages 6 to 17 3 EUR, children up to age 5 free. Family ticket 1 (one adult plus up to four children) 6 EUR, family ticket 2 (two adults plus up to four children) 12 EUR.
• Tickets are sold on site and online.

Getting there from Cologne and Frankfurt

By train, go to Koblenz Hbf, then take bus line 670 to the stop "Stolzenfels-Schlossweg". From there a signposted path leads to the castle in about 20 minutes. In season, boats run from Koblenz to Stolzenfels (about 30 minutes). By car, it is about 115 km (roughly 1.5 hours) from Cologne and about 120 km from Frankfurt. Park in the garage below the castle (Rhenser Straße 15); it is open only during castle hours, and the fee (1 EUR for up to one hour, then 1 EUR per hour, 7 EUR maximum per day) comes on top of the ticket. A handout in English is free at the ticket desk.

Accessibility and rules

The park path is not wheelchair accessible but works for strollers. Only the two courtyards are accessible inside the castle. Dogs are not allowed, except guide and assistance dogs. There is no restaurant at the castle.