Welcome to Bürresheim Castle

Bürresheim Castle welcomes ist visitors like an enchanted fairy-tale castle. With its pointed roofs, playful bay windows and colourful half-timbering, time seems to have stood still. No wonder, as the complex was never destroyed and was even inhabited until 1938.

The name Bürresheim is derived from the family of the same name, who owned the predecessor building of the current complex in the 14th century. After their departure, several noble families as well as the archbishops of Cologne and Trier shared the castle. In 1473, Gerlach von Breitbach acquired the Ostburg. Over a century later, the Breitbach family became the sole owners of the entire castle complex. It owes its present appearance to them.

Only the keep, which was extended by a residential storey in the 15th century, remains of the original 12th century complex. It forms the boundary between Cologne Castle to the west and Trier Castle to the east.

Cologne Castle was built in the first half of the 14th century and still exists today as an impressive ruin.

To the east, Trier Castle has been preserved as a great hall with buildings grouped around a courtyard. These buildings date back five centuries. The oldest preserved building is the Vogthaus, built in 1380. The late Gothic great hall, consisting of a north and east wing, was built after 1473. In the 17th century, the Amtshaus was built together with the Kanonenweg, which runs under the entire south wing of the castle complex in form of a tunnel-like structure. The gap between the great hall and the keep was closed by the construction of the chapel between 1698 and 1700.

The interior of the castle not only offers exquisite examples of noble living culture spanning several centuries, but also harbours numerous interesting details. For example, you can admire a leather wallpaper from 1730 or the late medieval glass panes with the coats of arms of Johann von Breitbach and Loretta von Schöneck. The garden on the south side of the castle has been depicted in numerous paintings and is well worth a visit.