Ruine Hohenringingen: A Medieval Hilltop Castle in Germany
Site at a Glance
- Rating
- 4.7
- Popularity
- Very Low
- Country
- Germany
- Primary era
- Medieval
- External website
- Open
- Eras represented
- Medieval, Modern
- Civilizations
- German, Holy Roman Empire
- Site type
- Military
- Remains
- Castle
On this page6 sections
History
Ruine Hohenringingen is the ruined remains of an aristocratic hilltop castle at Ringingen, now a district of Burladingen in Germany. Its keep was probably built in the eleventh century, and the castle was first recorded in 1180 in connection with the knights Dietrich and Otto von Ringingen.
The Lords of Ringingen
The castle remained associated with the local noble family during the Middle Ages. Heinrich von Ringingen was recorded as living there in 1390. His history also connected the castle’s lordship with Italy: in 1373, he brought the byname Affenschmalz from his service in the papal army as a condottiero, a professional military commander or soldier serving under contract.
Destruction and Later History
After its destruction, the castle declined into ruins during the fifteenth century. In 1508, it was described as a Burgstall, a former castle site whose buildings had largely disappeared or become ruins. Restoration began in 1972 as part of a local land-consolidation project. The keep was fully restored, and a roof was added in August 2008. It was later opened as an observation tower.
Local usage also calls the site Ruine Hohenjungingen. This name can cause confusion because Hohenjungingen belonged to the Lords of Jungingen, while Hohenringingen was associated with Ringingen.
Remains
Ruine Hohenringingen occupied a projecting ridge, or spur, on the 877.5-metre Nähberg above Ringingen. The former castle had a quadrangular layout with a keep, other buildings, an outer bailey, a neck ditch, a curtain wall, and ramparts. The surviving complex is represented chiefly by the restored keep and sections of the curtain wall.
The Keep
The restored keep stands 15 metres high and is built of rubble stone, ashlar blocks, and rusticated ashlar blocks. Its original entrance was positioned about 6 metres above ground level, while a loophole remains in the tower. The roof added in 2008 now covers the structure, which can be entered and climbed as an observation tower. An entrance area carries the Ringingen coat of arms, together with another coat of arms thought to represent Württemberg or Veringen and probably the Zollernalb district.
Defensive Layout
The keep formed part of a larger quadrangular castle complex. A curtain wall enclosed the site, while a neck ditch and ramparts strengthened the approach across the ridge. The outer bailey and additional buildings extended the complex beyond the principal tower, although only parts of the curtain wall remain alongside the restored keep.
