On the western slope of the Drachenfels, halfway up, lies Drachenburg Castle. Its west facade offers a magnificent view with its rich variety of forms, visible from the Rhine Valley. From the castle, there are views of the river stretching from the island of Nonnenwerth in the south to Cologne Cathedral in the north. Built between 1882 and 1884 by Baron Stephan von Sarter, who became wealthy through speculation, the castle impresses visitors approaching from the expansive landscape park with its lavishly decorated facades. Upon entering the representative rooms, they are overwhelmed by their splendor. The landscape park, the exterior, and the decoration of the rooms reveal a cohesive design and iconographic concept, forming a total work of art from the era of historicism. Today, Drachenburg Castle is the largest property of the NRW Foundation for Nature Conservation, Home, and Cultural Preservation.