The Dragon’s Nest

Have you ever wondered what the connection between dragons and castles is? I suspect the famous Schloss Drachenburg castle of Königswinter helped to create the myth. “Drachenburg” actually translates directly to “dragon castle” from German. All throughout the castle and the surrounding exhibit, there are pictures and figures of dragons. There is even a reptile museum just down the hill.

This weekend I toured the castle with my girlfriend and family. It was a free tour and a really nice day. The interior had a very cool style, and the upper towers offered unparalleled views. The sky was so clear we could see the top of the Cologne Cathedral. The exterior had multiple styles blended together to create a truly ornate design. We learned all about the person who constructed it, Baron Stephan von Sarter. Apparently he made the building overlooking Bonn as a status symbol, and never actually lived there. He chose instead to spend most of his years in Paris.

To get up and down the Drachenfels (Dragon rock), we took a unique form of transportation: the cog train! This special train has a few special features that allow it to travel up and down the steep tracks. To start, it is tilted forward slightly, that way the riders feel level despite the steep climb. It also has a special gear system on the bottom that interlocks with a linear gear on the tracks to help push the train. For a steep hill like Drachenfels, the flat train wheels just don;t have enough traction and it needs some unique technology to safely operate. The whole system was really cool, with two trains designed in retro style. Both are alternating going up and down on just one track with a small area to pass, optimizing material costs and travel times. According to the website, it is the oldest cog train in Germany.

If you have time to visit this attraction just across the river from Bonn, I would highly recommend it. You might not be able to resist, as you will be able to see its beauty from anywhere in south Bonn.

-Drew A

Drachenfelsbahn Königswinter. (n.d.). https://www.drachenfelsbahn.de/en/