The imposing Drachenfels rock castle was founded in the High Middle Ages, probably around 1200. A noble family named after the castle first appears in documents in 1209. The von Drachenfels family probably originally came from the ministeriality of the High Abbey of Worms. Later we find Klingenmünster Abbey as the fief holder of Drachenfels. As early as 1335, Drachenfels Castle was besieged, captured and burnt down by a contingent from the imperial city of Strasbourg, as its owners were accused of highway robbery. It was probably rebuilt quickly. In 1344, the castle was purchased by the Counts of Zweibrücken and Drachenfels was subsequently the seat of a manor. The "Holy Spirit Society", founded in 1463, chose the castle as its meeting place. In 1510, Franz von Sickingen was the captain of the Ganerbschaft, which gave the League of Princes against him the opportunity to destroy the castle in 1523. Drachenfels has been in ruins ever since. (Jens Friedhoff)
Due to the lack of existing buildings, there is no datable evidence for the eastern and western upper castle. Only in the south-eastern lower castle can the original (old) gate tower and other building remains be roughly dated to the 13th/14th century. Several phases of expansion can be identified here, culminating in the construction of the large gate tower around 1500.
Extensive renovation work has been carried out since 1990, particularly in the area of the lower castle. (Dieter Barz)
Of the two narrow and elongated sandstone cliffs that supported the Drachenfels upper castle, the larger, eastern cliff culminates in a tower-like extension. The ascent to the upper castle is via three staircases hewn out of the stone (two on the eastern rock, one on the western rock). Numerous chambers, cellars, corridors and cisterns have been hewn out of the rock on both upper castles. Remains of buildings are only preserved in the lower castle on the south side of the rock: an older gate tower with humpback ashlars and traces of an adjoining building to the west. To the east, a vaulted cellar of a multi-phase building with a well/cistern has been preserved. A large gate tower with vaults and spiral staircases was added to the outer wall of this building. Remains of the curtain wall and a round corner tower are visible at the western end of the lower castle. A multi-storey building projecting round to the north stood in the cut between the two rocks. (Dieter Barz)