Königstein Castle

Archaeological evidence suggests initial settlement of the castle hill as early as the 10th or 11th century. The oldest remnants of the core castle walls, featuring herringbone masonry, date back to the first half of the 12th century. Initially, the castle served to protect the trade route between Frankfurt and Cologne. Following the extinction of the Counts of Nürings and a period of limited construction under Kuno I von Münzenberg, the complex underwent significant expansion under the Falkenstein family. In the 16th century, the castle was transformed into a Renaissance palace, with Counts Eberhard IV von Eppstein and Ludwig zu Stolberg adding the rondelles and a representative facade.