The remains of the Castle can be visited
RuinPhilippstein
Philippstein Castle (Ruin)
Philippstein Castle is a small castle ruin above Philippstein, which today belongs to the town of Braunfels, in the Lahn-Dill district in Hesse.
The ruin of the spur castle lies about 35 meters above the village of the same name. The village and the castle in the Taunus are about 12 kilometers as the crow flies southwest of Wetzlar, 25 kilometers northeast of Limburg, and 47 kilometers northwest of Frankfurt am Main.
The castle was built in 1390 by Count Philipp I of Nassau-Weilburg. It primarily served to secure his territory and mining operations. By the 16th century at the latest, the castle lost its strategic importance and fell into disrepair after the last administrator left.
In the 19th century, the ruin was used as a quarry by the villagers, so that large parts were dismantled and the stones were incorporated into newly erected buildings.
Even the keep was not spared. Stones were also removed from its lower section, giving it the appearance of a tree trunk gnawed by beavers and making it highly prone to collapse.
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Philippstein Castle is a spur castle, meaning it is located on a mountain spur above the stream valley and the village.
The castle's keep is located at the western edge of the ruin at its lowest point, which is a peculiarity in castle construction. Remains of the shield wall adjoin the keep. Further wall remains on the hillside could originate from a palas, although this has not been definitively clarified.
The ruin is now freely accessible again. The approximately 20-meter-high keep has now been secured and can be climbed. It now has a roof, which consists of a wooden construction and is covered with slate. Not least, a local citizens' association has been instrumental in preserving the ruin since 1976. The foundations of other castle buildings have also been excavated and secured in the meantime.
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Source: Wikipedia · Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
This description draws on the facts documented in the linked Wikipedia article; Wikipedia content is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wording and editing: Mobile History.
Location: 50.4896, 8.3806