Hardtburg
Euskirchen
The ruins of the Hardtburg moated castle lie on the heights of the Stotzheim Forest. Even today, the remains of the keep, the outer castle and the ring walls bear witness to a fortified medieval fortress, as its character has not been changed by alterations. The Hardtburg was first mentioned in documents in 1166. While the core castle was already ruinous in the 18th century, the outer castle remained well preserved. The former main castle with tower can be climbed in the winter months, as it is home to nesting birds in spring and summer. In the idyllic setting of the Hardt forest, surrounded by castle ponds, the Hardtburg was already a tourist attraction in the last century. Today, the nature reserve around the castle has been developed as a local recreation area with hikers' car parks, refuges and bridle paths and circular walks. The Roman Canal hiking trail runs directly by the Hardtburg.
