Königswinter I

More information about the history

Image: Studio photo of the 16-year old prince with his companions (Schafgans, 1857), Royal Archives, Windsor Castle, Great Britain

In the 19th century, the Königswinter and Drachenfels guest list read like a “Who's Who” of the aristocracy and the cultural elite. The British heir to the throne, Prince Edward VII, spent six whole weeks in Königswinter in 1857, from where he climbed the Drachenfels once and the Oelberg twice.

Image: Frederick William of Prussia (19th century, unknown artist)

Here, he also met his future brother-in-law, Prince Frederick William of Prussia, the future German Emperor and King of Prussia, Frederick III, who was residing in Bonn.

Image: King Leopold I of Belgium (detail of a painting by Franz Xaver Winterhater)

Intrigued by the stories told by his nephew, Prince Edward, the Belgian King Leopold I also stopped over in Königswinter.

Image: Queen Sophia of Sweden (detail of a postcard)

Whereas noble and upper class gentlemen usually conquered the Drachenfels on foot, ladies preferred the more sedate ride on a donkey. Queen Sophia of Sweden was one of these ladies and she was carried to the top of the Drachenfels numerous times, as well as to other beautiful destinations in the Siebengebirge.

Image: Lord Byron (portrait by Richard Westall, National Portrait Gallery, London)

The person responsible for the first flood of culturally interested and wealthy Rhine tourists was the British poet Lord Byron. As early as 1816, he had immortalised the Drachenfels in his epic work “The castled crag of Drachenfels”. Look o‘er this vale of vintage-bowers; Bur one thing want these banks of Rhine, - Thy gentle hand to clasp in mine!

Image: Heinrich Heine, portrait, etching by Ludwig Emil Grimm (1790-1863), 1827. (LVR-Zentrum für Medien und Bildung)

Just a few years later, Heinrich Heine wrote about the Drachenfels with socio-critical undertones. After a trip with students from Bonn, he commented ironically on nationalistic glorification in his famous sonnet “Nacht auf dem Drachenfels” [Night on the Drachenfels].

Practical information

More information
Siebengebirgsmuseum Kellerstraße 16
Tue–Fri 2 PM–5 PM, Sat 2 PM–6 PM, Sun 11 AM–6 PM Mondays closed > Website

Others:
Sea Life Königswinter, Rheinallee 8
> Website