EHEM. LÖWENBURG
The Löwenburg above Bad Honnef is the castle ruin on the mountain of the same name in the Siebengebirge, which at 455 metres is also the second highest mountain in the Siebengebirge after the Ölberg.
It was built in the 2nd half of the 12th century by Henry II, Count of Sayn, as a border fortress against the Drachenfels and Wolkenburg castles of the Electorate of Cologne. Through succession, the castle came into the possession of the Counts of Sponheim-Heinsberg, who also called themselves Lords of Löwenburg.
In 1484, the castle fell to the Duchy of Jülich-Berg. The duchy was administered from the castle, the ‘Amt Löwenburg’, until the middle of the 16th century. Due to the many battles in the wars of the 16th and 17th centuries, the castle was reduced to ruins.
The keep was demolished in 1881 as it was dilapidated. Even then there were protest movements against this, but unfortunately they were not able to prevail.
Between 1979 and 1985, the castle ruins were secured and partially restored. Plans to reconstruct the keep, which have existed since 2008 and are being pushed by Dr Paul-Georg Gutermuth, have not yet been successful.