The remains of the Castle can be visited
Tomburg Castle (Ruin) (Wormersdorf)

The Tomburg is a castle ruin near the Rheinbach district of Wormersdorf near Bonn. It is located in a small nature reserve on the high Tomberg. It is a relic from the Tertiary period, when liquid lava rose from the Earth's interior and, after erosion of the overlying layers, left behind a basalt dome.
Traces of settlement on the Tomberg can be traced back to the 4th century and suggest use by the Romans. The hilltop castle was built around 900 and was extensively expanded in later centuries.
Count Palatine Ezzo and his wife Mathilde, a sister of Emperor Otto III, resided in the Tomburg around 1000. Their daughter Richeza became Queen of Poland, son Otto inherited the Palatinate, became Duke of Swabia in 1045 and died in 1047 at the Tomburg. The Counts of Kleve (1090) were followed in 1230 by the Lords of Müllenark as castle lords. From this time on, they called themselves von Tomburg.
After a checkered history, the castle lost its military significance from the 14th century onwards. It served as a retreat for the von Tomburg family, who acted as robber knights. After 1420, there were several owners due to inheritance division. After a dispute with Friedrich von Sombreff, Lord of Tomburg and Landskron, the Duke of Jülich conquered the Tomburg. After its almost complete destruction on September 7, 1473, it was not rebuilt.
Current Situation+
Until modern times, the ruin and castle hill served as a basalt quarry. Nevertheless, approx. 70% of the Tomberg and parts of the keep have been preserved. The castle well, with a depth of 46 m, is also still present; it was excavated in 1883 by the local historical society. Numerous archaeological finds, such as stone cannonballs, were made during this process.
The motif of the Tomburg is stylized on the packaging of the well-known sugar beet syrup Grafschafter Goldsaft, which is produced in nearby Meckenheim.
The Bundeswehr barracks located in Rheinbach are
named after the Tomburg, as is the local Realschule.
Take Mobile History with you
You are reading this text for free. Premium adds what matters on the road: descriptions read aloud, sites found through your camera, whole regions taken offline.
- Every description, including the ~17,700 Premium sites
- Audio guide: have descriptions read to you on location
- AR finder: see sites through your camera, with distance and bearing
- Unlimited saved sites
14 days free, then from €2.99 a month. Cancel anytime.
Source: Wikipedia · Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
This description draws on the facts documented in the linked Wikipedia article; Wikipedia content is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wording and editing: Mobile History.
Location: 50.5954, 6.9739