Whilst the southern, western and northern flanks of Sayn drop steeply into the valley, the flat hill ridge on the eastern side, from where the castle is accessed, is protected by a deep and wide artificial neck ditch.

Excavations in recent times have revealed that the palas originally stood on the south side of the smaller eastern courtyard, but was later moved to the western spur of the site.

These excavations also uncovered the foundation walls of a castle chapel at the southwestern corner in the form of a simultaneum with three apses and its well preserved, ornately decorated floor dating to about 1200.

Here there is also a smaller gateway zwinger and, further down the hillside, the Mittlere Burghaus ("Middle Castle House"), which is joined to the inner ward by a wall.

The excavations, carried out by the State Conservation Department, also exposed the original access track to the inner ward along the southern flank through the gate zwinger, which may now be used again.