Burg Ehrenfels, Rhine River, Germany. 2001

Ehrenfels Castle (Burg Ehrenfels) is a ruined castle above the Rhine Gorge near the town of Rüdesheim am Rhein in Germany. Located on the steep eastern bank of the river amid extensive vineyards. The grape variety Ehrenfelser is named after the Castle. It was rebuilt about 1212 by the Archbishop of Mainz (Sigfried II von Eppstein) as a defensive work against the attacks by Elector Palatine. The castle was staffed with Burgmannen (members of the low aristocracy) and a customs post controlling the shipping on the Rhine was built supported by the Mouse Tower below at the river. Heavily damaged in the course of the “Thirty Years War, the castle was finally devastated by the French troops under the command of Lieutenant General Nicolas Chalon du Blé in 1689 during the Siege of Mainz.

“Looking across the Rhine from Ehrenfels to Bingen. The Nahe river valley lies through the gap in the hills beyond.”

– Jonathan R White

See more

Back to previous page