Maus Castle

In 1356, the archbishop of Treves received permission from the emperor to build a castle in order to protect his estate on the Rhine against the Counts of Katzenelnbogen further upstream. Completed in 1388, Peterseck Castle was built within sight of Rheinfels Castle, which belonged to the Katzenelnbogen family. Legend has it that the owners of Neukatzenelnbogen Castle, which was abbreviated to ‘Katz’ (cat), gave the smaller castle of the bishop the name ‘Maus’ (mouse). In the 14th and at the start of the 15th century, it was the residence of the Electors of Treves.

Maus Castle, also known under the names of Deuernburg or Thurnberg Castle, was very up-to-date in its time. Built on a hilltop, its core building is almost square and surrounded by an outer bailey projecting towards the eastern defensive side where it is combined with a moat. The inner core of the castle is divided into three parts: a great hall with two storeys, domestic offices that are only a ruin today, and an inner courtyard in the middle. Two polygonal angle towers frame the eastern curtain wall, with the round keep in its middle. A residential tower on the western side is partly from a later construction phase.

Maus Castle was never destroyed but probably began to fall into disrepair in the 18th century. In 1844, an archivist from Wiesbaden bought the ruins in order to preserve them. Around the turn of the century, Wilhelm Gärtner, a Cologne architect, took charge of the castle’s restoration in the contemporary style of that period. Many of the castle’s interiors are still furnished in this Gründerzeit style (the period of promoterism in the late 19th century).

Information in brief

D-56346 Wellmich

Privately owned.

Opening times of the eagle and falcon house:

End of March until start of October, daily show at 11.00 and 14.30, on Sundays and public holidays also at 16.30. Castle pub opened during shows.

Phone: +49 (0) 6771 7669

Fax: +49 (0) 6771 951003

How to get there:

From the B42 road, turn off at Wellmich towards Bad Ems/Dahlheim. After approx. 1 km, you can park on the side of the road and take the footpath to the castle; it takes around 10 minutes.

More photos

Holger Klaes

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