Clan Rising
Klopp Castle today

Germany · Restored

Klopp Castle

Burg Klopp

Klopp Castle (Burg Klopp) is a hilltop castle in Bingen am Rhein on the Upper Middle Rhine. Much of what is seen today dates to 19th-century rebuilding: a crenellated bergfried tower and a Gothic-style building that houses the town administration. Portions of the medieval curtain wall, the base of the bergfried and the moat survive as incorporated features.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

First raised

1240

Its prime

1879

Today

Restored

As it stood in 1879

What Klopp Castle looked like in its prime.

Perched on a wooded vineyard slope above the Rhine, the castle presents a tall, crenellated rectangular bergfried with four small corner turrets built of local grey-brown stone, adjoining a larger 19th-century Gothic-style ashlar building with stepped gables and steep slate roofs. Short stretches of curtain wall with battlements and a visible chemin de ronde connect sections of the complex. The site is set above terraced vines with the river and town as a backdrop.

Its story

The story of Klopp Castle.

Klopp Castle stands on a hill above Bingen am Rhein with a wide-ranging view over the Upper Middle Rhine, a site that may have carried a Roman fortification built by Nero Claudius Drusus at Bingium around 10 CE. The last medieval castle here rose in the 13th century: possibly around 1281, possibly between 1240, when Kloppberg is mentioned as the residence of a churchman, and 1277, the first record of the name Burg Clopp.

In 1438 the archbishop sold the town and the castle to the cathedral chapter, and the townspeople effectively controlled it. The state of Hesse acquired the ruin in 1815 and sold it to Hermann Faber, a lawyer; it was later owned by a Berliner called Rosenthal, who renovated the well.

What stands today is largely 19th-century rebuilding: the bergfried of the medieval castle was restored and crowned with crenellations, and a new Gothic-style building added, which has been the seat of government and mayoral residence since 1897. Portions of the medieval curtain wall, the base of the bergfried and the moat survive as incorporated features.

Step inside

8 places to explore in 1879.

The record describes 8 distinct spots at Klopp Castle, including 1 interior: interior chamber of the bergfried (former museum). Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach from the vineyard terracesGatehouse and bridge across the moatInner courtyard by the main entranceFaçade of the Gothic administration buildingExterior of the bergfried (keep) towerInterior chamber of the bergfried (former museum)Southern curtain wall and chemin de rondeGarden paths and terraced grounds

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Questions about Klopp Castle

What is the history of Klopp Castle?

Klopp Castle was built in the 13th century to strengthen the Archbishopric of Mainz’s river toll system. It stood with Ehrenfels Castle and the Mouse Tower to control trade on the Rhine. The medieval castle was destroyed in the Thirty Years’ War, rebuilt in 1653, destroyed again in 1689, and partly blown up in 1711–12. Its present form mainly comes from 19th-century rebuilding.

What is inside Klopp Castle?

Inside Klopp Castle is a Gothic-style building that houses part of Bingen’s town administration, including the mayor’s office. The bergfried formerly contained the town’s local history museum, which moved in 1998. The documented interior also includes a chamber in the bergfried, formerly used as a museum space.

Why was Klopp Castle built, and what was it used for?

Klopp Castle was built to reinforce the Archbishopric of Mainz’s toll barrier on Rhine river trade. Together with Ehrenfels Castle and the Mouse Tower, it helped exact tolls from passing vessels. After 1438, it also served as a stronghold for controlling townspeople seeking independence; in its rebuilt form, the Gothic building became a seat of government and a mayoral residence.

Where is Klopp Castle?

Klopp Castle is in Bingen am Rhein, on a hill above the town in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. It stands in Rhineland-Palatinate, above the Rhine and the town’s terraced vineyards. The castle is a hill castle overlooking the Upper Middle Rhine.

When was Klopp Castle built?

Klopp Castle was first raised in 1240, and its medieval castle was built in the 13th century. The supplied history places its development between 1240, when Kloppberg was mentioned as a churchman’s residence, and 1277, when Burg Clopp was first recorded. Another possible date given for the medieval castle is around 1281.

Was Klopp Castle ever attacked or besieged?

Klopp Castle was attacked and destroyed more than once. French troops destroyed it in 1689 during the War of the Palatine Succession, and Mainz forces blew up the remaining structure in 1711–12 during the War of the Spanish Succession to prevent its use by the enemy. It had earlier been destroyed in the Thirty Years’ War and rebuilt in 1653.

What did Klopp Castle look like in its prime?

In its present appearance, Klopp Castle has a tall, crenellated rectangular bergfried with four small corner turrets, built of local grey-brown stone. A larger 19th-century Gothic-style ashlar building adjoins it, with stepped gables and steep slate roofs. Short stretches of battlemented curtain wall and a visible chemin de ronde survive above the terraced vineyards.

Is Klopp Castle still standing or is it a ruin?

Klopp Castle is still standing and has been restored, but much of what is visible dates from 19th-century rebuilding. The medieval remains include the base of the bergfried, the moat, and parts of the southern curtain wall with its chemin de ronde. The bergfried was rebuilt as a crenellated tower, while the Gothic-style main building was added between 1875 and 1879.

Can you visit Klopp Castle?

Klopp Castle can be visited, including the bergfried as a viewing tower. The tower formerly housed the local history museum, but the museum moved to a former power station on the waterfront in 1998. The castle grounds include the gatehouse, bridge, inner courtyard, curtain wall, chemin de ronde, garden paths and terraced grounds.

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