History
Burg Bosselstein, also known as Burg Stein or the Old Castle, was built by the Lords of Stein (Oberstein) around 1150 and is first mentioned in a document dating from 1197. It's located on the Kirchenfelsen, a rocky hilltop above the Felsenkirche (rock church). Prior to the Felsenkirche, a cave castle stood at that location, where the Oberstein family lived before building Burg Bosselstein.
Legend says that brothers Wyrich IV and Emich von Oberstein lived at Burg Bosselstein. Both were in love with Bertha von Lichtenburg, and when Wyrich learned of his brother's engagement to her, he threw Emich out the castle window to his death in front of the old cave castle below Burg Bosselstein. Marked by his guilt, Wyrich confessed the crime to an Abbot.
As atonement for the murder, Wyrich converted the cave castle into a rock church, which is today the Felsenkirche, a Protestant Church. Wyrich asked God for a sign of forgiveness, and a spring sprang from the rock, which still flows today. During the consecration of the chapel, Wyrich sank down and died at the Altar in front of the Abbot.
Around 1250, the von Daun family married into the Bossel line when Gud von Oberstein married Wirich von Daun, forming the powerful Daun-Oberstein family.
The Daun-Obersteins were not only entitled to the Bossel family land rights in the area, but they also lived with them at Burg Bosselstein.
Ownership of Burg Bosselstein was disputed between the Lords of Oberstein and the Lords of Daun-Oberstein, leading to the construction of Schloss Oberstein on the opposite hill by the Daun-Oberstein around 1320, while the Lords of Oberstein remained at Burg Bosselstein.
Burg Bosselstein served as a defensive stronghold and a residence for the family. The castle was inhabited until around 1600, after which it was abandoned and began to fall into ruin.
In 1945, the Burg Bosselstein passed to the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate and has since been managed by the Directorate General for Cultural Heritage.
Castle Highlights
Today, little remains of Burg Bosselstein. The lower portion of the round Keep, or Bergfried, is the most impressive part of the castle ruins. Enough foundation work of the Palas and portions of the Ring Wall exist to give a clue to how the castle was once designed.
It's worth a visit to see the castle if you are also going to visit Schloss Oberstein, located about 500 yards away on an adjacent hilltop. The best views of each castle are from the other castle.
