Day Trip Guide to Drachenburg Castle: The “Neuschwanstein of the Middle Rhine” 

Built on the hill where the hero Siegfried is said to have slain the dragon, picturesque Drachenburg Castle is one of the jewels of the Rhine. This guide shares all you need to know to plan a successful day trip to this famous castle near Cologne and Bonn!

How to Get to Drachenburg Castle by Train

If coming from Bonn: 30 minutes. Take the #63 tram to Beuel (on the outskirts of Bonn), then transfer to the RB27 or RE8 train and get off at Königswinter. 

If coming from Cologne: 40 minutes. Take the RB27 train from Cologne’s central station to the Königswinter station. Parts of the journey take you right along the Rhine River, and it’s absolutely stunning! 

If coming from Düsseldorf: 1 hour. You’ll need to take the train to Cologne’s central station, then transfer to the regional train (RB) and continue your journey to Königswinter from there. 

If coming from Koblenz: 1 hour. Take the RE8 or RB27 from the Koblenz central station and disembark at Königswinter. 

Once you reach the Königswinter train station, plan on a steep but otherwise easy 30-minute walk up to Drachenburg Castle. Simply follow the signs! I wore tennis shoes, but sturdy sandals like Birkenstocks would probably be fine since the path is paved the whole way up.

Claire’s Tip: If you don’t want to walk from the Königswinter train station to the castle, you can pay to ride the Drachenfelsbahn instead. It’s Germany’s oldest cog railway and has been in operation since 1883! Round-trip tickets cost 12 Euros, or they have an 18 Euro combo ticket that includes a round-trip ticket + entrance to the castle. 

A Brief History of Drachenburg Castle

Situated high atop the scenic Drachenfels Hill overlooking the Rhine River, Drachenburg Castle (Schloss Drachenburg) isn’t actually a castle. It’s a sprawling villa that was just styled to look like a medieval castle! 

Königwinter’s famous castle was commissioned by Baron Stephan von Sarter and building began in 1882. At the time, “historicism” was a popular architectural style among those with enough money to afford it. 

Ironically, the baron never actually lived in the castle. He died in 1902 in Paris, and the castle was subsequently inherited by his nephew. From there, the castle continued changing hands rapidly. 

The nephew sold it to a retired cavalry captain who planned to turn the property into an amusement park. After the captain died in World War I, the castle turned into a catholic boys’ boarding school. Quickly thereafter, it became a training school for Nazi elite.

The castle’s eclectic history continued in a similar vein for many years — until it eventually stood empty during the 1960’s. A man called Paul Spinat bought the property in the early ‘70s and restored it to its former glory. 

Highlights of Drachenburg Castle and Its Grounds

Upon arriving at the castle, you can’t help but gasp at the view in front of you. First, there’s the castle itself, which looks different from every angle since it was built from a hodgepodge of architectural styles. 

Then, you have the drop down to the Rhine River valley, with views of Königswinter and, beyond that, Cologne in the distance. 

The main photo op on the castle grounds is the Venus Terrace. From here, you have an unparalleled view of the front entrance, which is flanked by two luminous golden stags. Over the door are three sculptures of famous rulers (Caesar, Charlemagne, and Kaiser Wilhelm I). 

There are far too many rooms inside Drachenburg Castle to discuss each one in detail, but my personal favorites include: 

The Dining Room — This dark wood paneled, Gothic-style dining room boasts an impressive mural of a hunt above the sideboard. If you look closely, you’ll see that a large chunk has been repainted because parts of the original mural were cut out by vandals during the years the castle lay abandoned in the 1960s. 

The Nibelung Room — This small but impressive “gentleman’s lounge” is decorated with scenes from “The Song of the Nibelungs” (a German epic poem written during the Middle Ages, from which the legend of Siegfried and the Drachenfels come from). Look at the windows in this room too; the stained glass also shows scenes from the Niebelungenlied! 

The Guest of Honor Suite — If I lived inside the castle, this would be my room. The walls are wallpapered with a delicate floral pattern, the bedding is white and airy, there’s a chaise lounge for all the reading I plan to do, and the polar bear skin acting in lieu of a rug … well, that can go. Off the side of the bedroom is a tiny tower room with a nearly 365-degree view of the valley below.

The Art Gallery — This impressive space was built to resemble a Gothic church. There’s one massive stained glass window depicting the famous artists Ruebens, Dürer, and Rembrandt. At the end of the gallery, you’ll find a lavishly painted withdrawing room with an incredible view of the Rhine and surrounding region (on clear days, you can see the outline of the Cologne Cathedral!).

In addition to the glorious rooms mentioned above, a visit to Drachenburg Castle will also grant you access to the billiard room, library, a lofty stairwell decorated in murals, a music hall, additional bedrooms, and more! 

Note that there’s also a permanent exhibit on the ground floor detailing the history of the castle and providing more information on its past owners.

Claire’s Tip: Curious to know if a visit to Drachenburg Castle is worth it? Check out this Virtual Tour before booking your tickets. 

After touring the castle and the gardens immediately surrounding it, be sure to take the small footpath down to the bottom of the castle and out onto its grounds. You’ll get an even better view of the castle as a whole from down below! 

How to Visit the Drachenfels Castle Ruins 

After visiting the lavishly decorated Drachenburg Castle, follow the paved path up, up, up to the medieval ruins of Drachenfels Castle (Burg Drachenfels).

It’s a steep uphill trek, so take advantage of the many viewpoints along the way to catch your breath and take in the ever-changing view. 

Originally built as a defense point in the Middle Ages, the castle that once stood here is where the area derives its name from. Legend has it that beneath the castle ruins lies the cave where a fearsome dragon lived, wreaking havoc on the countryside until the hero Siegfried slayed it.

Drachenfels Castle has lain in ruins for hundreds of years, and it was an incredibly popular tourist attraction during the Romantic era. Poets like Lord Byron referenced these ruins in their work, and artists used to travel up the Rhine to sketch the area.

There’s not a lot to see of the ruins (since, you know, they’re in ruins), but the view from the top of Drachenfels Hill is unreal. On one side, the Rhine curves its way from Cologne on down south. On the other side is a densely forested hillside.

Where to Eat in the Area

The castle and ruins are both on the top of a mountain, so it should come as no surprise that your dining options will be extremely limited! On the plus side, the few eateries available have fair prices and the quality is pretty good. 

• Drachenfels Restaurant — Conveniently located by the Drachenfelsbahn cog railway station, as part of a large viewing terrace that overlooks the Rhine River. There are healthier options like salads, plus grain bowls, Flammkuchen, schnitzel, and baked potatoes. 
• Luigi Ponzetta Restaurant — This restaurant is located within Drachenburg Castle and is my top choice simply for the epic view of the Rhine River you’ll have while dining. The menu has a handful of solid food options like currywurst, housemade drinks, and Flammkuchen. 
• Am Drachenbrunnen Imbiss — You’ll pass this eatery if you walk from Königswinter up to the castle. It has basic fare like bratwurst and french fries, and there’s plenty of seating outside. 

You can also pack a lunch or snacks to save money! 

Enjoy Your Visit to Drachenburg Castle! 

A day trip to Königswinter to visit Drachenburg Castle and the nearby ruins of the medieval Drachenfels Castle is absolutely worth the journey.  

One final piece of advice is to arrive as close to the castle’s opening as possible so you can enjoy the view and photograph the castle with fewer people around. You should also wear sturdy walking shoes and pack a bottle of water since walking up and down Drachenfels hill is thirsty work! 

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