Kastelburg: A Medieval Hilltop Castle Above Waldkirch
Site at a Glance
- Rating
- 4.6
- Popularity
- Low
- Country
- Germany
- Primary era
- Medieval
- External website
- Open
- Eras represented
- Medieval
- Civilizations
- Holy Roman Empire
- Site type
- Military
- Remains
- Castle
On this page8 sections
History
Kastelburg is a ruined medieval hilltop castle in Germany above Waldkirch, built by the Lords of Schwarzenberg between 1250 and 1260. As a seat of the free nobility, it defended the town together with the older Schwarzenburg across the valley and controlled the trade route through the Elz Valley.
Schwarzenberg Foundation
Johann I of Schwarzenberg, a medieval nobleman of the Schwarzenberg family, was Kastelburg’s first inhabitant. The castle remained connected to changing feudal relationships among regional noble families. In 1354, it was sold to Martin Malterer of Freiburg, who later died at the Battle of Sempach in 1386, a major conflict between the Swiss Confederacy and forces associated with the Habsburgs.
Later Feudal Holdings
In 1396, Count Hermann of Sulz held Kastelburg as a fief, meaning that he possessed it under a feudal grant. In 1442, ownership passed to the Lords of Staufen. These transfers reflected the changing administration of castles within the region’s medieval noble networks.
Destruction and Safeguarding
Imperial troops destroyed Kastelburg on 14 March 1634 during the Thirty Years’ War, the European conflict fought from 1618 to 1648 through intertwined religious, dynastic, and territorial struggles. The destruction was intended to prevent advancing Swedish troops from occupying the castle.
Since 2002, the Kastelburg in Distress working group has carried out structural safeguarding of the ruin, helping preserve the surviving fabric for historical interpretation.
Remains
Surviving Castle Buildings
The ruin occupies a spur in the Black Forest at 368.3 metres above sea level, above Waldkirch and about 100 metres from the town’s built-up area. Its surviving buildings form the remains of a hilltop defensive and residential complex.
Square Keep
The square keep, the principal defensive tower of a medieval German castle, rises 28 metres. Its sides measure 12 metres, while the walls are up to 4 metres thick. The tower survives as a dominant element of the ruin and can be climbed as a lookout tower.
Rondel and Palas
A rondel, a rounded defensive structure designed to accommodate weapons and strengthen a fortification, also survives at Kastelburg. The palas, the castle’s main residential and representational building, contains a basement, a ground floor, and two upper floors.
