Ehrenfels Castle Ruins, Rüdesheim am Rhein, Germany

Ehrenfels Castle was (re-)built about 1212 at the behest of the Archbishop of Mainz as a defensive work against the constant attacks by Elector Palatine Henry V, who, as Imperial vicar of Franconia, strived to cut down the archbishop's reach. Mainz staffed the castle with Burgmannen and erected a customs post controlling the shipping on the Rhine, supplemented by the Mouse Tower below at the river. Heavily damaged in the course of the Thirty Years' War, the castle was finally devastated by French troops under the command of Lieutenant General Nicolas Chalon du Bléduring the 1689 Siege of Mainz.

The ruin can be reached from Rüdesheim via a hiking trail through the vineyards. The interior however can only be visited in guided tours by prior appointment.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

Chris Wyatt (2 years ago)
Very cool place, they have a cable car

Shane Vandecar (2 years ago)
It's a bit of a hike to reach these old castle ruins near a bend in the Rhine river, but totally worth it. I've visited three times and never seen anyone else here! Quite, secluded, and beautiful. Different from most of the other Rhine valley castles and palaces I've seen. I recommend parking in Rudesheim and biking through the vinyards to reach it.

Simon Traberg-Larsen (2 years ago)
I can truly recommend the wonderful trip/hike/bike tour from Rüdesheim am Rhein to this ancient castle. The view across the Rhein is marvelous and riding between the thousands of wine stocks, where locals work on the fields really adds to the experience.

Mike Branum (2 years ago)
So, it appears someone is actively restoring this castle. You can drive right up to it and there are some great photo opportunities, but do NOT expect to get within the walls of the ruins as the entrance is behind a locked (fairly newly-installed) gate.

Jens Thomas (3 years ago)
Great views of the ruins from the river. This is such a wonderful area. Even if one doesn't want to hike in the hills, one can see it all from the comfort of a ship.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Makser

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Derbent is the southernmost city in Russia, occupying the narrow gateway between the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus Mountains connecting the Eurasian steppes to the north and the Iranian Plateau to the south. Derbent claims to be the oldest city in Russia with historical documentation dating to the 8th century BCE. Due to its strategic location, over the course of history, the city changed ownership many times, particularly among the Persian, Arab, Mongol, Timurid, Shirvan and Iranian kingdoms.

Derbent has archaeological structures over 5,000 years old. As a result of this geographic peculiarity, the city developed between two walls, stretching from the mountains to the sea. These fortifications were continuously employed for a millennium and a half, longer than any other extant fortress in the world.

A traditionally and historically Iranian city, the first intensive settlement in the Derbent area dates from the 8th century BC. The site was intermittently controlled by the Persian monarchs, starting from the 6th century BC. Until the 4th century AD, it was part of Caucasian Albania which was a satrap of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. In the 5th century Derbent functioned as a border fortress and the seat of Sassanid Persians. Because of its strategic position on the northern branch of the Silk Route, the fortress was contested by the Khazars in the course of the Khazar-Arab Wars. In 654, Derbent was captured by the Arabs.

The Sassanid fortress does not exist any more, as the famous Derbent fortress as it stands today was built from the 12th century onward. Derbent became a strong military outpost and harbour of the Sassanid empire. During the 5th and 6th centuries, Derbent also became an important center for spreading the Christian faith in the Caucasus.

The site continued to be of great strategic importance until the 19th century. Today the fortifications consist of two parallel defence walls and Naryn-Kala Citadel. The walls are 3.6km long, stretching from the sea up to the mountains. They were built from stone and had 73 defence towers. 9 out of the 14 original gates remain.

In Naryn-Kala Citadel most of the old buildings, including a palace and a church, are now in ruins. It also holds baths and one of the oldest mosques in the former USSR.

In 2003, UNESCO included the old part of Derbent with traditional buildings in the World Heritage List.

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