Schloss Bürresheim

About the museum

The complex in the Nette valley northwest of Mayen dates back to a 12th-century castle first mentioned in records in 1157. All that remains from that period is the keep, which gained an additional residential floor in the 15th century. The name comes from the von Bürresheim family, who owned the earlier structure in the 14th century. After that, several noble families as well as the Archbishops of Cologne and Trier shared ownership – which is how the Cologne castle in the west, built in the 14th century and now a ruin, and the Trier castle in the east came into being.

In 1473 Gerlach von Breitbach acquired the eastern castle; a little over a hundred years later his family owned the entire complex. Under the Breitbachs, the Trier castle grew into a comfortable residence arranged around an inner courtyard: the bailiff's house of 1380 was followed by the late Gothic great hall (Palas), in the 17th century by the administrative building with a tunnel-like cannon passage beneath the south wing, and around 1700 by the chapel. After the Breitbach-Bürresheim line died out at the end of the 18th century, the castle passed to the Counts of Renesse and, in 1921, to the von Westerholt family.

Because the complex was never destroyed and remained inhabited until 1938, its furnishings from several centuries have survived remarkably intact, from late medieval heraldic stained-glass panels to a leather wall covering from 1730. In 1938 the Prussian Rhine Province bought the castle; since 1948 it has belonged to the state of Rhineland-Palatinate and is now managed by the Generaldirektion Kulturelles Erbe. The rooms can be seen on guided tours; the castle has also served as a film set, including for “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”.

Highlights

• Never-destroyed complex with pointed roofs, oriel windows and colorful half-timbering
• Living quarters furnished from the late Gothic period to historicism, including a leather wall covering from 1730
• Late medieval heraldic stained-glass panels of Johann von Breitbach and Loretta von Schöneck
• Castle garden on the south side, captured by many painters
• Ruins of the Cologne castle next to the preserved palace
• Filming location for “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” and the fairy-tale film “Rumpelstilzchen”

Permanent exhibitions

• Schlossführung durch die historischen Räume – The roughly 45-minute guided tour tells the story of the von Breitbach-Bürresheim family and shows living quarters with original furnishings from several centuries. Free accompanying texts in English, French, Spanish and Russian are available for international visitors; in 2026 the station theater “Hexen, Musen, Herrscherinnen” temporarily complemented the program, and new dates have been announced for 2027.

Operated by

Generaldirektion Kulturelles Erbe Rheinland-Pfalz, Direktion Burgen Schlösser Altertümer

Admission & discounts

The guided tour of the interior is included in admission. Tickets on site or online.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Due to the historic building fabric, the castle cannot be made accessible. Dogs are not allowed, except guide and assistance dogs. The operator's website offers information in Easy Language (Leichte Sprache).

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

“Geisterpass” (ghost pass) with a search activity in the castle available for download (stamps also at other GDKE castles). Family day with hands-on activities at the start of the Rhineland-Palatinate summer school holidays, plus holiday programs for children. The castle is not accessible.

Getting there & parking

GPS address: Schloss Bürresheim, L83, 56727 Mayen.

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Restaurant: not available

No food or drink service at the castle; places to eat in the surrounding area.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Weddings / ceremonies

Civil wedding ceremonies in the historic Ancestors' Hall (Ahnensaal) through the Vordereifel registry office (Mayen); information and site visits through the castle administration. No other rentals are listed.

Plan your visit