Welcome to the Sporkenburg castle ruins
You can follow a narrow path slightly downhill and discover the Sporkenburg, which is well hidden on a mountain ridge in the Emsbach valley in the heart of the Westerwald forest – it’s a real insider tip!
The ruins you will find date back to the late Middle Ages. There are a striking number of influences from French chateaux. For example, there was no castle keep. Instead, there was a five-storey shield wall with ‘tourelles’, or tower-like projections from the façade.
The window openings afford lovely views over the scenic valley.
The ruins are open all year round and free to access.
No winter service on site.
Please inform yourself about current weather warnings before your visit.
Address
Ruine Sporkenburg
56337 Gemeinde Eitelborn
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The Sporkenburg is a historical site of the Generaldirektion Kulturelles Erbe Rheinland-Pfalz (General Directorate for Cultural Heritage Rhineland‑Palatinate), www.gdke.rlp.de.
Regrettably, as it is a historic site, there is no disabled access to Sporkenburg castle ruins. Thank you for your understanding.
Sporkenburg Castle rests well hidden in the middle of a forest, on a mountain spur in the Westerwald’s Emsbach Valley.
The ruins visible today date back to the early 14th century and replaced a destroyed predecessor building. Its numerous elements from French castle Architecture are simply striking. There was no keep, for instance, as it was replaced by a fivestorey shield wall, which was reinforced on the inside like a tower and thus provided sufficient protection. The so-called Tourellenrunde – oriel-like projections on the outside – are also modelled in line with French design.
The entrance to the inner castle was located in the western shield wall, of which the outer walls of the great hall with a row of windows, the chimney and a privy shaft have been preserved.
Double-pointed arch niches characterise the appearance of the inner courtyard. The inner courtyard not only invites you to take a relaxing break, but also offers beautiful views of the picturesque valley.
Touristik Bad Ems-Nassau e.V.
Am Alten Rathaus 1
56130 Bad Ems
Phone +49 2603 93110 0
info(at)badems-nassau.info
www.badems-nassau.info