Top hotels in Königswinter

The small summer town of Königswinter has all the romantic charm of Medieval Germany and the fascinating legends to match. The most popular tourist attraction for visitors is the Drachenfels–Dragon’s Rock–where local folklore has it a dragon once lived and terrorized the natives. On the way to the hilltop ruins is the formidable Drachenburg, a fairy-tale castle standing proudly on the hillside. Other places of historic interest include Heisterbach, a ruined Abbey in the forest that offers glorious scenery and wonderful views of the Rhine. For nature lovers, a walk through the nearby forests of the Siebengebirge mountain range is a must, and you may want to pay a visit to the SeaLife Aquarium, which boasts a vast array of aquatic wildlife.

Location: On the banks of the Rhine

Königswinter is camped in the Rhein-Sieg district of North Rhine-Westphalia on the opposite side of the river to Bonn, the former German capital. The nearest international airport is Cologne-Bonn, at a half hour’s distance by car.

Business: Close to Bonn and Cologne

The main lure for travellers to Königswinter is connected with tourism, although several of the bigger hotels do cater for conventions, meetings, and talks. Better business opportunities can be found in the neighbouring cities of Cologne and Bonn.

Culture: A Hill-Top Castle and Medieval Legends

The legends and the old castle ruins of Königswinter truly brings romanticism to life–no more so than a visit to Drachenfels. Local legends say a dragon used to live in a cave at the top of the mountain until it was slayed by the hero, Siegfried in the Nibelungenlied (The Ring of Nibelung) myths. The ruined castle on the summit was built between 1138 and 1167, but is outshone by the 19th Neo-Gothic castle built by Freiherr Stephan von Sarter, located 500-metres up the legendary hill. To get there, take the train to Drachenfels, the oldest railway in Germany. Make sure to try the Koelsch in the restaurant at the bottom.

Activities: Explore the glorious scenery

If mythical legends are not your thing, why not escape to the forests of the Siebengebirge mountain range, where you will find several hiking routes starting from Margarethenhöhe district. From here, you can head to the Ölberg, the highest mountain in the region, which provides amazing views of the surrounding landscape. Along the same route, you can also reach the ruins of Löwenburg castle, which was built in the middle ages. If you don’t have time to leave the city, you can always head to the SeaLife Aquarium and find solace in the tranquil movements of tropical fish.