Germany · Ruin
Burg Alt-Wolfstein
Old Wolfstein Castle (Burg Alt-Wolfstein) is a medieval hillside castle ruin on the eastern slopes of the Königsberg above the Lauter valley near Wolfstein in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Built in the High Hohenstaufen period, the site preserves the tall pentangular bergfried and fragments of curtain walls, a gate tower, a castle residence (Burghaus) and a courtyard well; it was destroyed in the early 16th century and left to decay.
First raised
1160
Its prime
1170
Today
Ruin
As it stood in 1170
What Burg Alt-Wolfstein looked like in its prime.
Perched on the eastern slope of the Königsberg above the narrow Lauter valley, the compact stone castle is dominated by a roughly 20-metre-high pentangular bergfried with an elongated projecting tip toward the expected approach. Low curtain walls and terraced wards step down the hillside; ashlar masonry typical of High Hohenstaufen work is visible. The site includes the footprint of a gate tower, the burghaus residence and a courtyard with a stone-lined well, with the lower outer ward formerly descending the steep northern slope.
Its story
The story of Burg Alt-Wolfstein.
Old Wolfstein Castle sits on the eastern slopes of the Königsberg at the narrowest point of the Lauter valley, near Wolfstein in Rhineland-Palatinate. The walls of the small castle are a well-preserved example of High Hohenstaufen architecture, with a pentangular bergfried whose elongated tip faces the likely direction of attack.
In the 14th century the castle served as security, ending up as an imperial pledge in the possession of the counts of Sponheim and the counts of Veldenz. In 1362 the Bishop of Speyer occupied it, and in 1400 the Archbishops of Mainz and Trier, the Duke of Lorraine and Count Palatine Rupert III besieged it. Destroyed in the early 16th century, it was left to decay.
Rubble on the steep hillside north of the ruins marks the castle's former lower-lying outer ward. Excavations between 1961 and 1975 uncovered the remains of a castle residence, a gate tower and a water well, and the platform of the bergfried gives a very good view over the surrounding country.
Step inside
8 places to explore in 1170.
The record describes 8 distinct spots at Burg Alt-Wolfstein, including 1 interior: burghaus (castle residence) interior. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.
Build Your Own Castle
Recreate Burg Alt-Wolfstein with AI to explore it.
The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1170, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.
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Clans who held Burg Alt-Wolfstein.
The families that held Burg Alt-Wolfstein for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.
Sponheim
Held the castle as an imperial pledge in the 14th century.
Veldenz
Held the castle as an imperial pledge in the 14th century, alongside the counts of Sponheim.
