Grenzau Castle

Grenzau Castle, locally known as Burg Grenzau, is a spur castle north of the town of Höhr-Grenzhausen, in the Rhineland-Palatinate region in Germany.

Grenzau Castle was first mentioned in 1213 when it was stated that, by building this castle a few years earlier, Heinrich I von Eisenburg had violated the rights of the Maria Laach Abbey.

In 1346/7, during the Grenzau Feud, 172 soldiers from Koblenz were killed during an ambush when they marched on Grenzau Castle. In the next centuries the castle was home to different lines of the Counts of Isenberg, who in 1557 strengthened the castle by adding artillery bastions and a roundel.

In 1635, during the Thirty Years' War, the castle was burned by French troops. In 1664, after the death of Count Ernest of Isenburg-Grenzau, the badly damaged castle went back into the ownership of the Electorate of Trier.

During the 2nd part of the 18th century Grenzau Castle fell into dilapidation. In 1788 its chapel was torn down and in 1793 the roof of the keep collapsed. It remained a ruin. In 1953 it was bought by a professor Hans Spiegel. He consolidated the ruin, executed archaeological excavations and rebuild small parts. His descendants now care for the castle.

Grenzau Castle's mid-13th century keep is 32 meters high. It has a triangular shape, making it unique in the whole of Germany.

At present Grenzau Castle is private property. It is however accessible during summer weekends. A very nice small castle ruin.

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