DRACHENBURG PALACE

This unusual building, erected between 1882 and 1884 for Stephan von Sarter, is one of the most important palace buildings of the late 19th century in Germany. Above Königswinter, in the centre of the Siebengebirge Nature Park, the picturesque building is visible from afar, halfway up the Drachenfels.

The owner Stephan Sarter (1833-1902) came to wealth and honour as a stockbroker. After being made a baron in 1881, he laid the foundation stone for his dream castle. This was completed in 1884 after less than three years of construction. The prestigious residence is a synthesis of palace, castle and villa. The graceful Venus Terrace in front of the south façade and the extensive park appear to be part of an elegant palace complex, while the view from the north with its mighty tower is reminiscent of the fortifications of a castle.

The owner of this ensemble never lived in his castle himself. Stephan von Sarter continued to live in his adopted home of Paris, where the bachelor died in 1902. His nephew, the lawyer Jakob Biesenbach, bought the estate from his estate and designed it as a "summer retreat" for wealthy travellers. He had log cabins built on the park grounds to accommodate the guests and the inside of the castle could be visited for an entrance fee. In later years, the castle was home to a Catholic boarding school, a National Socialist school and a training centre for railway workers. The building was severely damaged during the Second World War and in the immediate post-war period and fell into noticeable disrepair in the 1960s. Finally, in 1971, a private individual and lover of prestigious residential culture acquired the ensemble and saved it for the future.

Drachenburg Palace and its park have been a listed building since 1986. War damage, inappropriate repairs and the varied use of the building had left clear traces. From 1995 to 2010, the Nordrhein-Westfalen-Stiftung Natur Heimat Kultur, in close co-operation with the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the city of Königswinter, carefully restored the Palace Drachenburg ensemble. The extensive landscaped park with its botanical exotics, the Venus Terrace and the terrace on the Rhine invite visitors to linger and take a stroll. A newly established castle museum in the main castle provides information about the varied history of Drachenburg Palace's use.
From the 36 metre high north tower, visitors can enjoy an unforgettable panoramic view of the Siebengebirge mountains and the Rhine bend as far as Cologne.

The restored historical rooms provide an insight into the upper middle-class and stately living culture of the Wilhelminian era. The rooms on the representative level can be visited individually. The private rooms of the castle are also open to visitors on public and private tours. The outer bailey is home to the Nature Conservation History Foundation with its permanent exhibition under the motto "Nature conservation has a history".

Holiday where history is at home

Enjoy an exclusive holiday high up in the castle: In one of the stylishly furnished suites - north or south.