Welcome to the Nürburg castle ruins
Does Nürburg make you think of fast cars and tight curves? Then you probably don’t yet know the castle ruins bearing the same name. The Nürburg was founded before 1166, probably by the Counts of Are. The silhouette of the mountain is visible from afar, with its characteristic conical slate roof. It is worth a visit not only for the views from the mighty castle keep, but also for the impressive remains of the former castle complex, which was built in a number of ‘expansion rings’.
Opening hours
Current opening hours can be found here.
Please inform yourself about current weather warnings before your visit.
Address
Burgruine Nürburg
Burgplatz
53520 Nürburg
bsa(at)gdke.rlp.de
Contact on site
Eventlocation Nürburg
53520 Nürburg
Phone +49 171 6449644
info(at)dienuerburg.de
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Nürburg castle ruins are a historical site of the Generaldirektion Kulturelles Erbe Rheinland-Pfalz (General Directorate for Cultural Heritage Rhineland‑Palatinate), www.gdke.rlp.de.
€3.00 Adults
€2.00 Adults, concessions*
€1.50 Children and young people**
Families
€3.00 Family ticket 1 (1 adult and children)
€6.00 Family ticket 2 (2 adults and children)
Groups (10 or more people)
€2.50 Adults, price per person
€1.00 Children and young people**, price per person
€1.00 School groups, price per person
* With valid identification: trainees and students under 28, those completing national voluntary civil or military services, pensioners, those with severe disabilities, the unemployed and those receiving welfare benefits
** Children of 7 or over, holders of an honorary Rheinland-Pfalz Card, students over 18 and schoolchildren with school ID.
Regrettably, as it is a historic site, there is no disabled access to the castle. Thank you for your understanding.
Do you think of fast cars and tight bends when you see the term Nürburg? In this case you may not yet be familiar with the imposing castle ruins of the same name.
Count Ulrich von Are, who probably had the castle built in the middle of the 12th century, is regarded as the builder of Nürburg Castle. After the castle founder’s dynasty had perished, Nürburg Castle was acquired by the Electorate of Cologne at the end of the 13th century and became the seat of a bailiff. From the 16th century onwards, there were increasing complaints about the castle’s structural condition.
Although the bailiffs continued to represent the interests of Electoral Cologne until 1793, they had long since moved to the valley. In 1689, Nürburg Castle was largely destroyed by French troops.
The ground plan shows three “growth rings“, which precisely document the centuries-long development process of the castle. The centre is formed by the core castle from the 12th century in the shape of an almost regular rectangle. Only the south side, following the slope, curves slightly. At the beginning of the 14th century, a second ring of fortifications was built on the long sides. In the 15th century, a third ring of walls was built, the enclosing walls of the outer bailey on the southern slope. The previously detached fortress guards‘ houses were thus incorporated into the protection of the castle.
At the foot of the castle hill are the remains of the Romanesque castle chapel built around 1200. A winding footpath leads to a mighty double gate, the main gate. With its numerous round towers, which since extensive restoration have been defined by characteristic tent roofs, dominate the landscape from afar. The mighty round keep still has a late Romanesque ribbed vault. The remains of a chimney and a privy alcove bear witness to its former function as living space. Residential buildings were attached to the curtain wall. There is even a large fireplace on the western curtain wall building, which probably belonged to a castle kitchen.
When climbing the stairs of the keep, visitors reach a platform which offers a magnificent view of the Eifel’s vast forest landscape.
Café-Restaurant „Zur Nürburg“
Burgplatz 2
53520 Nürburg
Phone +49 2691 9399060
zurnuerburg(at)gmail.com
www.zur-nuerburg.de
There is a car park for cars and buses about a 10-minute walk from the castle. Parking spaces are also available just below the castle, about five minutes’ walk away.
Tourist-Information Hocheifel Nürburgring
Kirchstraße 15-19
53518 Adenau
Phone +49 2691 305122
tourismus(at)adenau.de
www.hocheifel-nuerburgring.de/en