Siebengebirge
On the opposite bank of the Rhine are the Siebengebirge Mountains, with dramatic scenery more reminiscent of the Loreley Valley farther upstream between St Goar and Rüdesheim. This area is Germany’s oldest nature conservation area and popular for hiking.
The most famous sight here is the Drachenfels (Dragon Rock), a 321-m (1,055-foot) peak with marvelous views of the Rhine Valley. According to the Nibelungen legend, Siegfried slew the dragon here and bathed in his blood to become invincible. The peak can be reached by walking, or via Germany’s oldest Zahnrad (cogwheel) cable car, below. The ruins at the top are from a 12th-century castle that was destroyed in the 17th century.
En route to the top, the Neo-Gothic late 19th-century Schloss Drachenburg, Drachenfelsstraße 118, 53639 Königswinter, is passed – it has a large, panoramic terrace. The interior can only be seen on a guided tour.
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