Königswinter is a quaint town near Cologne in Northrhine-Westphalia, Germany, that’s best known for its Drachenfels (Dragon’s Rock) and Schloss Drachenburg (loosely translates to Dragon’s Castle). Wikipedia says: “The Drachenfels, crowned by the ruins of a castle built in the early 12th century by the archbishop of Cologne, rises behind the town. From the summit, which can be accessed by the Drachenfels Railway, there is a view celebrated by Lord Byron in Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage. A cave in the hill is said to have sheltered the dragon which was slain by the hero Siegfried in a Germanic heroic legend.”
Even though I grew up not far from there, I had never visited Königswinter. Some weeks ago I decided this had to change and oh boy, had I been missing out on a cool place for so long!
Mode of travel
Königswinter can be reached by train pretty easily, it’s a 30-45 minute train ride from Cologne, depending on where you depart. As I live in Düsseldorf, it took me about 1.5 hours to get there.
You can go by car, too. There are parking lots in several places in Königswinter. Maybe google the fees to find the most affordable one before you go.
The town centre/old town
Even though Königswinter is known for its castle up on the hill, you should definitely also visit the city centre and picturesque little old town. Wander the cobble stone roads for a bit and marvel at the timber frame houses, some of which are protected landmarks. I promise you will feel like a time traveler! There are cute little cafés, restaurants, pubs and shops scattered all around the downtown area. You will also come across the river Rhine as it flows right through there.
Drachenfels
Going up Drachenfels is a beautiful (but steep) hike on foot. On a hot day (or if you can’t or don’t want to ascend on foot), you can take the Drachenfels Railway, one of Germany’s oldest cog railways. One-way trips up or down are 10 € each but you can save some money and buy a combined roundtrip ticket for 12 €.
Once you arrive at the peak, you will be rewarded with stunning views over the surrounding area – picture-perfect especially on clear, sunny days. The ruins of a castle are worth a quick visit, too – however in my opinion there wasn’t much to see. The restaurant next to the ruins is a nice spot to rest your legs for a bit and grab a popsicle, a drink or a snack but it is crowded on weekends and super touristy. I didn’t need a break, so I headed back down the hill towards the actual castle.
Schloss Drachenburg
Schloss Drachenburg is a privately owned palace that was constructed in the late 19th century. Baron Stephan von Sarter (1833–1902), a broker and banker, planned to live there, but never did. I’d love to know why he never moved in because it is absolutely stunning.
The regular admission fee for the castle and gardens is 7 € (there are discounts available for students, children etc.). Once you enter the premises it feels like you stepped into Disneyland or some kind of fairytale movie set.
Inside the castle the movie set vibes continue: some rooms reminded me of Game of Thrones, others of Cinderella. I could probably name a thousand other movies, too! It’s amazing how some random rich person (okay, a baron…) had all this designed for himself. “I want a Disney princess bedroom!” – “Okay, no problem.” – “I want a badass medieval castle style dinig room!” – “Say no more.” *sound of the credit card being swiped* Done! (I know, they didn’t have credit cards back then, but figuratively speaking that’s how it went I guess.)
By the way, there is a café/restaurant on the castle grounds too in case you want to feel royal while enjoying some food or drinks (again, very high touristy prices though).
Honourable mentions: Nibelungenhalle, Drachenhöhle and Reptilienzoo
I didnt’t manage to visit these places but I’d still like to mention them here because they’re great options for visitors who stay longer than half a day.
Nibelungenhalle
Nibelungenhalle is a museum located close to the castle. It exhibits some of the most important paintings on the “Ring of the Nibelungen” (a cycle of German-language epic music dramas composed by Richard Wagner and based on Germanic heroic legends).
Drachenhöhle (Dragon’s Lair)
This is probably especially cool for kids: Drachenhöhle is a dim corridor leading around the Nibelungenhalle. Stepping out of the corridor you will arrive at a pond that’s guarded by a 13 metre dragon statue. Legend has it that the Nibelungen Saga’s hero Siegfried killed the dragon and bathed in its blood to become invincible. Nowadays visitors like to throw coins into the pond for good luck.
Reptilienzoo
This is where the dragon’s real-life descendants can be visited. More than 100 different reptile species from all over the world are kept and displayed there.
Food
Im sure there is more good food in Königswinter, but these are the two places I visited and can totally recommend.
Kontor und Kaffeehaus Königswinter
This is your picture-perfect country style shabby chic café. They serve breakfast/brunch/lunch style dishes such as pancakes, sandwiches and cakes with complementing hot or cold beverages. I had the salmon sandwich, rather a German style sandwich as you can see with slices of wholemeal bread, fresh raw salmon, avocado and spicy horseradish spread. The perfect simple brunch item on a warm day – delicious and not too heavy on the stomach.
This little gem of a place is not only a café and restaurant but also a store that sells books, stationery, posters and local products like wine, gin and such. I absolutely LOVED it there because I was able to have my iced latte and waffles (which were fresh and scrumptious) in the actual book store section. A bookworm like me couldn’t wish for more, it was perfect! I browsed the book shelves while waiting for my order and of course couldn’t leave without a new book and a poster.
This sums up my day trip to Königswinter and I have to say it was lovely. I had no idea such a cool place was basically almost in my backyard all these years. I’d definitely visit again and I think it’s a great location to take people from other regions or countries when they visit you.
Travel Toast Adventures 