wackelburg

Oblong building complex between "Deutschen Haus" and former hotel "Königsstuhl", presumably the old elector Castle was located here (it is known this was located along the Rhine and had been the spot of medieval election negotiations). The origin of this unusual name Wackelburg is unknown, what is known is that both parts of the Wackelburg were built in 1573 and 1623 as part of the former “Salhof”, in which the in 1622 built (renewed?) port, located along the streetside a quarry barn. This “Salhof” was owned by the landlord (pledgee) of Rhens. He was the centerpiece of the Grundherrschaft (manorialism, an essential element of feudal society) who was paid by approximately 100 Rhenser citizens who leased agricultural land via ground rents (tithe tax, land interest) in the form of wine and grain. Older than the Wackelburg is the wing of former hotel Königsstuhl (located on the embankment side), the so-called “Kurkönische Amtshaus” (electorate of Cologne administrative building) dating back to 1557. As the buildings of the Wackelburg it was built under Hessian pledgeeship, 18th century it became the seat of a Electoral Cologne landdrost (drossaard, Reeve or Steward, title of various officials with local jurisdiction). Due to numerous renovations and extensions it changed drasticly changed and present it almost completely disappears behind the Rhine side wing of former hotel Königsstuhl (built end 18e century by Joseph Kügelgen).