Rittersdorf Castle

Rittersdorf Castle is located on the Nims (Eifel) in the municipality of Rittersdorf in the Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm in Rhineland-Palatinate.

The moated castle was first mentioned in a document in 1263. Theoderich von Rittersdorf is considered to be the builder, who erected the complex – presumably as a sub-bailiff of the Counts of Luxembourg – for the Abbey of Saint Maximin in Trier. The castle's purpose was probably to secure the Trier-Bitburg-Prüm-Cologne road.

In 1290, King Rudolf of Habsburg gave permission for the construction of a keep. From the 15th century, the Lords of Enschringen were the owners of the castle. From 1550, they had a residential building with two round towers erected. - Between 1978 and 1987, the complex was extensively renovated.

Today, the complex serves as a restaurant and local history museum. Furthermore, the registry office of the Bitburg-Land Verbandsgemeinde is housed in the castle.

The almost square complex is surrounded by a moat. On the east side stands the round, 26-meter-high keep. A residential tower from around 1300 is located on the north side. There is also a residential building from 1550 onwards and a coat of arms gate from 1575.