Trifels Castle

Trifels stands on a sandstone crag above Annweiler and was the chief imperial castle of the Hohenstaufen, used to keep the imperial regalia, the crown, sword and orb, from 1125 for over two centuries. Richard I of England was held here for a period in 1193 after being captured returning from crusade, while an enormous ransom was raised in England for his release; the length of his stay at Trifels itself is debated but the imprisonment is documented. The castle decayed and was heavily rebuilt from the 1930s in a monumental style, so the present building reflects that period as much as the medieval one.

What you actually see

• The crag setting - a castle on a sandstone tower with two neighbours nearby.
• The regalia story - the imperial insignia kept here for two centuries.
• The Richard imprisonment - the documented captivity of 1193.
• The 1930s rebuilding - much of the visible fabric from the modern restoration.

When to go

April to October; the castle closes Mondays and reduces hours in winter. The walk up from Annweiler takes about forty-five minutes, or drive to a car park below.

Honest expectations

Much of what stands is twentieth-century reconstruction in a heavy style. The regalia are copies; originals are in Vienna. The climb is steep.

Nearby

The Dahner Felsenland lies southwest; the Wine Route is east.