Built in 1245 by Count Diether V. von Katzenelnbogen, Rheinfels Castle was initially used as a customs castle for ships sailing up the Rhine. In the following years, the castle was able to repel several attacks and sieges and was therefore considered impregnable. After Rheinfels Castle had been an important administrative center in the 14th century, it was remodeled into a magnificent Renaissance castle in the 15th century under Count Johann III and has since been used as a courtly residence. In 1894 the castle was conquered by the French Revolutionary troops and in the following years it was blown up. Today, the ruins can be visited with their maze of fortifications and underground mine tunnels.
