The castle ruins of Königstein im Taunus are among the largest such historical complexes in Germany.
The castle was built in the 11th century.
However, the oldest parts of the wall still visible today date back to the 12th century.
As was customary in past centuries, the castle was constantly expanded, improved and rebuilt.
The castle was repeatedly partially destroyed by wars and sieges and then rebuilt with stronger components.
In the 18th century, the castle was largely destroyed and not rebuilt.
The deterioration of the ruins was accelerated from 1796 onwards, as the inhabitants of Königstein kept helping themselves to the stones in order to build more and more houses in what is now Königstein’s old town.
A practice that was common and permitted at the time, and which also impacted other historical buildings in many countries.
The castle ruins as we know them today are, as the saying goes, what’s left of it.
Towering at 407 metres, the ruins still stand impressively on the western hilltop above the old town of Königstein.
Every day, visitors marvel at the magnificent views over the Taunus, the tall Feldberg Mountain and the Rhine-Main plain.
