Looking to explore the great outdoors, visit incredible castles and uncover the legend of the dragon on Drachenfels Hill? Then a visit to Drachenburg Castle (Schloss Drachenburg) is a must! This is one of my favourite castles I’ve visited in Germany and I can’t recommend it enough if you’re around Frankfurt, Cologne or Bonn. In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know to help your visit go as smoothly as possible.
Planning your visit to Drachenburg Castle can be pretty confusing to start with, a lot of places have similar names and it’s easy to mix them up. I’ll go through each place and what there is to see and do there with all the information you need to know!
Drachenburg Castle: Everything you need to know
What you need to know
- Is Drachenburg Castle worth visiting? Absolutely! I can’t recommend it enough.
- Where is Drachenburg Castle? Drachenburg Castle is in the town of Königswinter which isn’t too far from Cologne.
- Is Drachenfels easy to climb? It isn’t too bad, but there are some steep sections.
- Is Drachenburg Castle free to visit? No, you have to pay to access the castle and its grounds.
Location names
All of the places around here have similar-sounding names, here’s a quick breakdown of what’s what!
- Drachenfels (Dragons Rock) – The name of the hill the castles are built on
- Schloss Drachenburg (Drachenburg Castle) – The castle halfway up the hill
- Burg Drachenfels (Drachenfels Castle) – The ruins of the castle at the top of the hill
- Drachenfelsbahn (Drachenfels railway) – The railway running up the hill
How to get there
Getting to Drachenburg Castle is really easy, here’s how:
- By public transport: If travelling via Deutsche Bahn Railway get off at the Königswinter stop. Turn left upon exiting the train station and it’s a straight walk to the bottom of the hill. You’d have to try hard to get lost, the route is really well signposted and it only takes around 5 minutes to get there.
- On foot: The route to the Drachenfels is well signposted within Königswinter. Once you reach the station of the Drachenfels Railway at the bottom of the hill there’s only one route up to walk!
- By car: A car park is available at the bottom of the Drachenfels Railway station. Afterwards continue on foot up to the castle.
Opening times
Drachenburg Castle has the following opening times:
- 1st January – 15th March: Daily, 12 pm – 5 pm
- 16th March – 1st November: Daily, 11 am – 6 pm
- 2nd November – 20th December: Daily, 12 pm – 5 pm
- 21st May, 24th December & 31st December: Closed
Be sure to check the website for any changes to opening times.
Entry fee
- Adults: €8
- Children (6-17): €6
- Children under 6: Free
- Concessions: €6
The entry fee to Drachenburg Castle includes access to the grounds, inside the castle as well as the exhibition spaces.
My tips for visiting
- Climbing the hill: This can be a tough climb in places, there are some long steep spots so take your time. Take water with you, though there are some cafes along the way.
- Get there early: If you want your photos of Drachenburg Castle free of tourists get there early! I was there before the gates opened and there was already a queue of people waiting, it gets busy quickly.
- Take a picnic: While there are restaurants and cafes along the way, there are also lots of spots to sit and take in incredible views while eating. I did intend to take food with me to do this but unfortunately left it on the train so missed out!
All about Drachenfels and Drachenburg Castle
Drachenfels (Dragon Rock)
Drachenfels is a hill in the Siebengebirge (Seven Hills) mountain range. It’s just over 1000ft high with the ruins of Drachenfels Castle (Burg Drachenfels) at the top and the magnificent Drachenburg Castle (Schloss Drachenburg) around halfway up. There’s only one main route up, known as the donkey path, so unless you veer off the path you won’t lose your way.
The climb is around 2.5km and does have some steep sections along the way, I thought I was quite fit but was out of breath more than once. There are several cafes and restaurants on the way up before you reach Schloss Drachenburg as well as a restaurant at the top.
The legend of the dragon
Drachenfels is closely tied to the legend of the dragon Fafnir who is said to have lived in a cave on the hill, hence it’s name. The dragon is said to have been slain by Siegfried. Legend has it that Siegfried, feared by a blacksmith for his strength, was sent into the forest with hopes that Fafnir would defeat him. However, Siegfried emerged victorious, bathing in the dragon’s blood to gain immortality. He then returned to the blacksmith and killed him.
Nibelungehalle – Reptile Zoo
A short way up Drachenfels is something you probably aren’t excpeting to come across, a reptile hall. Inside, you’ll encounter paintings, reliefs, and sculptures depicting the legends associated with the hill, along with a cave featuring a 13-meter-long dragon sculpture. In addition to this is the reptile zoo where you can see several species of snakes and reptiles.
Drachenfelsbahn (Drachenfels Railway)
If you don’t feel like walking up Drachenfels, you can always take the Drachenfelsbahn. This is the oldest cog railway in Germany and has three stations, one at the top and bottom of the hill and one in the middle stopping by Drachenburg Castle.
Even if you don’t intend on riding the Drachenfelsbahn make sure to visit the bottom station where there’s a small museum showing the history of this historic railway.
Schloss Drachenburg (Drachenburg Castle)
For most people, the star of Drachenfels has to be Drachenburg Castle. Sat around halfway up the hill, the castle and it’s manicured grounds looks as if it was plucked straight out of a fairytale. Commissioned by Stephan Sarter, construction began in 1882 embodying the romantic architectural style of the time and the castle has seen several different uses since, including housing a boarding school. Restoration of Schloss Drachenburg began in 1989 by the North Rhine-Westphalia Foundation of Nature, Heritage & Culture.
Unlike many other castles I’ve visited, Drachenburg Castle is fully furnished, it’s rooms feel full of life and it really adds a lot to the visit. My personal highlight has to be all of the amazing stained glass windows. There’s also an exhibition space within the castle where you can learn about its history and many different uses throughout time.
The grounds of Drachenburg Castle are beautiful, especially if you visit over spring and summer when the flowers are blooming. There’s lots of outdoor seating if you fancy a picnic by a castle, which I would have done had I not left my dinner on the train!
Burg Drachenfels (Drachenfels Castle)
The ruins of Burg Drachenfels, a 12th-century castle, rest atop the peak of Drachenfels. Built in 1138 by the Archbishop of Cologne for city defence, it suffered significant damage in the 17th century. Since then, it has remained in ruins as there was no interest in restoration. You’re able to climb all the way up to the ruins and walk through them to look out at the incredible view from the top.
Located just beneath Burg Drachenfels, there’s a restaurant and shop with a large outdoor area. From here, situated about 1000 feet above, you can enjoy nearly 360-degree panoramic views of the Rhine and the valley below. The scenery is amazing, with plenty of information points and seating areas provided to take in the view.
Summary
I really can’t recommend visiting Drachenburg Castle enough. You get out in nature, see real castle ruins and a Castle that looks like a storybook picture. The whole experience makes for a great day out that I thoroughly enjoyed!
