Nürburg is actually named after the castle of the same name, 'burg' meaning 'castle'. (Actually, 'Burg' is usually a fortress rather than a castle, a true castle being a 'Schloss'. Not to be confused with a 'Berg', which is a mountain.)

The 'Nür' bit is derived from the mountain it sits on, which was originally (in the year 954) known as Mons Nore, or Black Mountain. This was a volcanic mountain.

The castle is handy for Ringers with non-petrol-head partners as example of the many other attractions in the area. If pressed to name any of the others, just take them through the castle pics below, pointing out how scenic and atmospheric it is, and hope they'll have forgotten the question by the time you get to the end.

Trevor Wright kindly sent me a potted history from the guidebook, and I've included a few highlights here ...

The castle was built in 1166, we think by Count Ulrich of Nurburg.

The castle fell into disrepair, and in 1302 the Electorate of Cologne took possession of it, and rebuilt it.

At different times it was captured by Swedish, Imperial and French troops, and has at various times served as a prison, quarry and trigonometric point!

In 1949, responsibility passed to the Department for the Preservation of
Monuments of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate.

Since 1953, the castle has been in the care of the Administration of State Monuments of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate, who cleared
buildings buried under rubble, made stairways and walls safe and roofed over the Tower.