Burg Volmarstein

Burg Volmarstein stands on a ridge above the Ruhr in the town of Wetter, in the Ennepe-Ruhr district of North Rhine-Westphalia. It was built in 1100 by the Archbishop of Cologne to assert his authority in Westphalia. The castle protected the archbishop’s escorted trade route from Ennepetal to Soest and served as the administrative centre for the Volmarstein lordship, which once included Hagen. The fortress changed hands several times in the 13th and 14th centuries. After the Battle of Worringen in 1288, Count Eberhard I of the Mark besieged and partly destroyed it. The castle was rebuilt, only to be besieged again in 1324 and finally taken after two months when its defenders ran short of water. The ruins later belonged to the Counts of Mark, then to the Dukes of Cleves, and finally to the family of von der Recke. Today the well-preserved ruins are freely accessible. A broad path leads up the hillside to the remaining tower, where stone tablets record key moments in the castle’s history. From the top there is a wide view over the town of Wetter and the surrounding countryside. Below the hill lies a hotel whose car park is reserved for guests, so visitors usually park in the village and walk up. The site is a landmark of the former municipality and hosts summer festivals such as an Irish-Folk event and a rock concert.