The cog railroad takes you steeply uphill. From Drachenfels near Königswinter, Germany's most "climbed" mountain, the view stretches far across the Rhine. A stop at Drachenburg Castle is worthwhile halfway up.
Two large golden stags greet visitors on the Venus Terrace before they reach the castle via a large flight of steps. From the terraces, the view sweeps over the densely wooded Siebengebirge Nature Park, and even Cologne Cathedral can be seen in the distance. Poets such as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Hölderlin once raved about the romanticism of the Rhine. But it was a stock market speculator, of all people, who made an architectural dream come true by building Drachenburg Castle in the middle of this idyllic setting. In 1882, Baron Stephan von Sarter laid the foundation stone for the stately Wilhelminian-style building.
Tristan and Isolde at the castle
To this day, no one knows exactly why the son of a Bonn innkeeper had this mixture of villa, castle and palace built. Perhaps a woman was behind it. Perhaps the banker who became rich simply wanted to emulate the nobility. In any case, he himself never lived in the magnificent rooms and halls of Schloss Drachenburg, but lived in a rented apartment in Paris until his death in 1902. Just one year later, Sarter's nephew Jakob Biesenbach took over the estate and made it accessible to the public for "summer retreats". The log cabins he built in the park of Schloss Drachenburg still bear the names Isolde, Parsifal, Tristan and Walküre.
Tower room looks breathtaking
It is also thanks to Biesenbach that Schloss Drachenburg can be visited today in its original state after being threatened with decay several times. A series of postcards published at the time made it possible to reconstruct the neo-Gothic art gallery and the private chambers. It was also possible to restore some of the richly decorated stained glass windows, which visitors can admire during guided tours, regular concerts and special events.
The Festival of the Imagination in August, for example, is an ideal opportunity for a stroll through the extensive park. Walking acts, acrobats, puppeteers, comedians and musicians transport visitors to fairytale worlds in the wonderful ambience of the palace park.
Walkers will find many a cozy spot for a picnic on the green areas on both event and normal opening days. And for a romantic getaway, book a suite with a tower room and enjoy the breathtaking view over the Rhine Valley from high above.
The view of the river and Siebengebirge mountains is even better further up from the summit of Drachenfels, where the remains of a 12th century castle can still be found. In a panoramic restaurant on the Drachenfels plateau, visitors can enjoy the sweeping views and fortify themselves for the return journey. However, if you don't fancy the one-hour walk, you can also take the cog railroad from up here down into the valley.
