Gollenfels

The Gollenfels is a rock castle perched on a crag above the Guldenbach valley at 285 metres. It stands on the edge of the Soonwald forest, facing the Stromburg near Stromberg in the Hunsrück hills. The site commands views over two valleys, the Dörrebach and the Guldenbach, giving it a strong defensive position. The castle first appears in records in 1156, with another mention dated 5 April 1191. Johann von Stein is recorded as living there in 1450. In 1614 Spanish troops destroyed the medieval stronghold during the Jülich-Klevian succession dispute. A new castle was built in 1619 and survived a French assault in 1793, though it lost its military value soon after. By 1848 it served as soldiers’ quarters and remained inhabited until after the Second World War. The ruins include a large keep with a two-storey residential wing and service buildings at the rear of the courtyard. The structure has been uninhabitable since 2002 and remains in private hands. Visitors can still see the tower’s massive walls and the outline of the former living quarters. The setting offers sweeping views across the surrounding valleys and forest.