Haneck Castle (Ruin) (Gerolstein)

Haneck Castle is the castle ruin of a hilltop castle near Geroldstein, a district of Heidenrod, in the Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis.

Haneck Castle on the "Hanenberg" above the Rhine at the mouth of the Wisper was considered an outwork to Schwarzenberg near the village of Geroldstein. However, it is located just within the municipal area of the distant Hallgarten, municipality of Oestrich-Winkel, as the municipal boundary runs along the edge of Geroldstein. It can be reached from the village of Geroldstein by a short walk (approx. 15 min.). To the east, at a lower elevation, is Geroldstein Castle. Both castles were confused in recent times, which has only been corrected on maps since 2010.

It was built with an imposing shield wall in 1386 above Gerhartstein (today Geroldstein). The construction was carried out by Philipp von Gerhartstein on Mainz territory and was promoted by the Archdiocese of Mainz to secure the area against the Counts of Katzenelnbogen.

The ministerial family died out in 1569 with Hedderich von Gerolstein; by 1585 the castle was already in ruins. In later times, legends tell of robber gangs who presumably settled in the ruin.

The castle ruin is now privately owned.

Preserved are the seven-sided keep, parts of the shield wall, and the stump of a stair tower. The castle was secured to the south by a deep neck ditch against the higher slope.