Exploring Burg Castle
Burg Castle (Schloss Burg) is a medieval castle dating back to the 12th century and once home to the Dukes of Berg. It was also the childhood home of Anna von Jülich-Kleve-Berg (AKA Anne of Cleves, or Henry VIII's fourth wife).
The castle is perched on a hilltop a few miles southeast of Solingen. It takes 15 minutes to drive there, or about 50 minutes by bus. You could visit as a day trip from Düsseldorf or Cologne (perhaps in combination with the Müngsten Bridge) — driving is easier as the public transport routes are a little long-winded, if scenic.
The most fun way to get to the entrance is to park at the bottom and take the chair lift to the top (€8 return). The weather was a little erratic during our trip so we skipped the chair lift and parked at the top instead.
The castle was renovated recently and the knights' hall, chapel, ancestral hall and tower are all open to visitors again, as is the new and improved museum (€10). After buying our tickets, we watched a bit of sword fighting practice in the courtyard before heading into the museum.
The museum is small but interesting, with lots of information about the history of the castle, the Dukes of Burg, the region and, of course, Anne of Cleves. There were lovely views of the surrounding countryside from the top of the Great Tower, although it was starting to cloud over again.
The castle gift shop has various trinkets and a good selection of knifes — a speciality of Solingen, the 'city of blades'. My inner Tudor historian was hoping for more Anne of Cleves merch! There are various shops nearby selling artisan goods, from scarves to ceramics and pottery.
Bergische Kaffeetafel: A Traditional Coffee Experience
When my friend described Bergische Kaffeetafel as "like afternoon tea but with coffee", I was sold! I love to try local coffee traditions and specialities when I travel and this was a new one for me.
Bergische Kaffeetafel means 'coffee table from the Bergisches Land'. The coffee is served in a traditional, three-legged pot called a Dröppelminna, named its tendency to drips when the spout gets clogged with grounds. It comes with a big spread of regional breads, waffles, cakes and other baked goods.
Many restaurants in the area serve a Bergische Kaffeetafel and we chose one of the most traditional — Zur Schönen Aussicht — where it costs €18.90 per person. Steps away from Burg Castle, the 200-year-old, timber-framed building looks out over the verdant valley, so try to get a table by the window.
Our coffee arrived first. It tasted good with a full-bodied, chocolatey flavour. Almost immediately, I experienced the Dröppelminna's signature drip first-hand. But at least my brew came with an excellent view!
The Bergische waffles soon followed. Served with rice pudding and cinnamon, they were delicious!
Next came the bread basket and various toppings. Our server explained which breads and cakes to pair with which toppings. My friend translated the German for me, but you could also Google Translate the menu.
I started with a dark, malty bread, which I buttered and topped with slice of pound cake. Cake sandwich — what's not to like?! Next came the sourdough bread with sliced ham and cheese, followed by raisin bread (served with quark (curd cheese) and plum compôte) and some crispy pretzels.
Finally, I tried Zwieback, a toasted, sweet biscuit a bit like biscotti (both names mean 'twice baked'). These are best dunked in coffee (or hot chocolate), even when they dwarf the small cups. A great way to (literally) soak up local food culture!
You can buy bags of Zwiebacke at the nearby shops. They come in many flavours from salted caramel to Aperol spritz, and even 'troll' and 'fairy'! Sadly, my small personal item bag was already full as I'd stocked up on another local sweet treat.
Burg Castle makes a great day trip from Solingen, Düsseldorf or Cologne. And if you combine it with a Bergische Kaffeetafel and a climb over the nearby Müngsten Bridge, it offers the perfect blend of history, regional German traditions and a dose of adrenaline!
Planning a trip to Germany? Check out my guides to Berlin, Cologne and Müngsten Bridge.
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