South of Gemünden, on the northern edge of the Henau district, rises the approximately 16-meter-high keep of the former castle and town of Koppenstein, situated on a hill covered with massive quartzite blocks. The site is among the oldest castles in the Hunsrück region. The elevated settlement that developed in the castle area was granted city rights by the emperor in 1330, but it never gained significant importance as a town. The location, the harsh climate, the lack of arable and meadow land, and insufficient water supply hindered further development. By the end of the 16th century, the inhabitants gradually left the town.
In a courtyard house at the entrance to the dilapidated castle, Margarete Rosenstein died in 1821 at the age of 72 as the last resident of Koppenstein. The mysterious origin of the "Koppensteiner Gretchen" - her father was said to be a knight from Dhaun and her mother a shepherdess - served as the basis for the poem "The Virgin of Koppenstein" by the Hunsrück dialect poet Peter Josef Rottmann. In 1812, Baron von Schmidtburg acquired the castle complex. His heirs and descendants, the Barons of Salis-Soglio, still own the ruins today. From the plateau of the pentagonal keep, there is a magnificent view over the high plateaus of the Hunsrück on clear days.
Opening hours: The tower is open year-round.
From the hiking parking lot of the Koppenstein castle ruins (K 62), it is about 800 meters on foot to the castle complex.
Tourist Information Kirchberg, Tel. 06763/910144,
www.kirchberg-hunsrueck.de
The medieval castle Koppenstein in ARGO – Experience the past anew
Experience the building digitally reconstructed at the authentic location on your smartphone or tablet with the ARGO app!
The 3D reconstruction models the entire complex with the gate to the upper castle, the palas, and the keep, and shows the remarkably high, round-arched entrance to the keep.
Download the free app: www.ar-route.eu
Further information:
Tourist Information Kirchberg (Hunsrück), Tel. 06763 910144
