Welcome to Trifels Castle

Trifels Castle on the Sonnenberg above the town of Annweiler gives the entire region its name: Trifelsland.

The origins of the castle probably date back to the middle of the 11th century. It was first recorded in a document from 1081. By 1113 at the latest, it was in the possession of the Salian kings as an imperial castle. In 1125, it was the last Salian emperor, Henry V, who instructed his nephew and loyal follower, Duke Frederick II of Swabia, a Hohenstaufen, to “keep the crown and the other insignia“ of power “until the gathering of the princes in the particularly strong castle called Trifels“. From then until the end of the 13th century, Trifels was repeatedly home to the most important symbols of royal and imperial power. At the same time, the castle served the Salians and Hohenstaufen dynasty as a state prison for prominent detainees. The most famous prisoner was the English King Richard the Lionheart, who was only released by the Hohenstaufen Emperor Henry VI after a huge ransom had been paid.

From the 14th century onwards, Trifels Castle was mortgaged to various territorial lords before it was assigned to the Duchy of Palatinate-Zweibrücken. In 1602, it burnt down completely after being struck by lightning and was subsequently used as a quarry. From 1841, the ruins were secured for the first time and modest attempts at restoration were made by the Kingdom of Bavaria, to which the Palatinate belonged at the time. The Trifels Association, which was founded in 1866 and is still active today, dedicated itself to rebuilding the castle.

The current appearance of the castle is the result of changing phases of expansion, decay and reconstruction – from its beginnings in the 11th century to the recent past. The curtain wall, gateway, fountain tower, main tower and the base of the hall structure often show traces of Salian and Hohenstaufen master builders. They are joined by historicising extensions, conversions and additions that were built during and after the Third Reich period.

The permanent exhibition “Macht und Mythos“ (Power and Myth) not only outlines the history of the castle, but also tells the story of its builders. Excellently crafted replicas of the imperial insignia are presented in a separate treasure chamber.