Count William II of Katzenelnbogen built Katz Castle around 1371. Its official name is Burg Neukatzenelnbogen, and it is commonly called die Katz, the Cat. It stands on a ledge above Sankt Goarshausen in Rhineland-Palatinate, overlooking the Rhine downstream from Sankt Goar. The article describes a medieval fortress castle with a compact layout, a great hall, and a massive bergfried on the uphill side that was originally 131 feet (40 meters) tall.
The Counts of Katzenelnbogen were the first to plant Riesling grapes in their vineyard, in 1435. Napoleon bombarded the castle in 1806, and it was rebuilt from 1896 to 1898.
It is popularly linked with Burg Maus, which was built as close to it as possible. The castle is privately owned and not open for visitors.
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