An 1127 document refers to an Anshelmus de Tannicka as the owner or governor; as a result the castle was probably built in the early 12th century.

In 1189, in a deed by Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, a Henry von der Than is mentioned and the castle designated as an immediate imperial fief.

Its occupation by troops of the Archbishop of Trier lasted until 1544 and probably led to irreparable damage to the structure of the castle, because it was finally abandoned in 1585.

On the rocks today are modern parapet walls that have been rather arbitrarily added and do not give any real idea of the old castle buildings.

The lower ward on the southern rock outcrop still shows traces of the original walls dating to the 15th century.