Kyrburg was started around 960 by Count Emich, making it one of the older extant castles in Germany. The selection of the site was dictated in large measure by the intersection of five roads at the town of Kirn, thus making it an important location to control and protect trade in the area. The castle was expanded significantly in the early 1600s, just prior to the Thirty Years War. In 1620, Spanish troops under Ambrogio Spinola occupied the site. The castle was later destroyed by French troops in 1734. The watch house was built after this and is today a restaurant.
Today, the castle houses one of the largest collections of vintage whisky, and each year a whisky tasting is hosted. It is of interest that the nearby town of Kirn was the home of the Stroh family who eventually emigrated to the United States to found the Stroh Beer Company. The company adopted the castle's lion as their label.
These photos were taken in 2008.
Kyrburg has some unique items, such as the sculpted jester (left) on the moulding.
Below, a view into the outer ward of the castle.
Left, it is unclear if the trail winding through the castle ruins follows the historical path.
As you go up the trail you come to an area that once contained a vaulted room (below). If you look carefully you can see the outline of the vaulted roof. You can also see the foundation of the wall.
Right, this area appears to be the main palas, as it contains the basis of a number of columns (close up below). It is difficult to determine if this area is a debris field of has been cleared.
