Top 15 Castles around Welzheim

The remains of the Staufen castle Ebersberg lie above the Auenwald districts of Ebersberg and Lippoldsweiler. Construction of the castle began at the start of the 12th century, and it was first mentioned in 1226. After the extinction of the family of the free lords of Ebersberg, in whose possession the castle had passed around 1300, the castle changed owners frequently. In 1551, the two-winged Ebersberg Castle was added, the remains of which can be seen in today's structure. The Schöntal Monastery (Jagst) became the new owner of the castle estate in 1698. In 1714, a fire destroyed almost the entire castle complex. In its current, baroque form, the castle was built around 1720 by the Schöntal Cistercian Monastery after this devastating fire.

Schloss Ebersberg, also called Burg Ebersberg, is the educational and meeting center of the Deutsche Pfadfinder*innenschaft Sankt Georg (DPSG) in the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart. Schloss Ebersberg is located in the municipality of Auenwald in the Rems-Murr district, east of the sub-districts Ebersberg and Lippoldsweiler, on a spur of rock.

The 23-meter-high defense tower remains the only remnant of the former Bürg castle. The castle was built in 1181 by Gottfried von Winnenden on a spur of the mountain.

Interesting tower with traditional craftsmanship

Bürg Castle, Winnenden Of the former Bürg Castle, the 23-meter-high keep remains, visible from afar. Gottfried von Winnenden had it built in 1181 on the commanding promontory. The once mighty castle complex of Alt-Winnenden fell into ruin during the 15th century and was demolished in 1538, except for the keep. The Bürg district now occupies the site of the castle.

Situated in a scenic location (390 m above sea level), Waldenstein Castle dominates the beautiful Wieslauf Valley. The castle, with its walls up to 3 m thick, suggests a certain importance in earlier times. The property and the surrounding area belonged to the Hohenstaufen dynasty; when Württemberg assumed control is unknown. However, Count Ulrich I of Württemberg appears to have been the overlord of the castle as early as 1251. Around 1420, Waldenstein Castle was then described as the property of Württemberg, which, however, frequently mortgaged its bailiwick. After the Rudersberg district was established, Count Ulrich V granted Waldenstein Castle, including gardens, meadows, pastures, and fishing waters, to his court master, Antony von Emershofen, in 1456. The feudal services were the responsibility of the surrounding villages such as Schlechtbach, Steinenberg, Rudersberg, and Michelau, which redeemed themselves for 720 guilders in 1590. The Emershofen family remained on the Waldenstein for over a hundred years. Hans and Gerung von Emershofen are known by name. The latter was the bailiff of Winnenden and stabbed a farmer while trading oats. After this crime, he fled to the commandery of the Teutonic Order in Winnenden. The sub-bailiff of Schorndorf then took over the property. In 1551, Duke Christoph enfeoffed Chr. Waldauf, already known as Christoph von Waldenstein, with the Waldenstein, who was succeeded by his son in 1571. Around 1586, we encounter a line of the von Gaisberg family. In the 17th century, the von Göllnitz family acquired the estate, and in 1761, the widow of the court physician Riecke of Stuttgart owned it as a Kunkellehen. In 1792, the property was sold by the Chamber Clerk's Office to the municipality of Rudersberg. Some of the noblemen who named themselves after the Waldenstein belonged to the class of dynasts. Special mention should be made of Konrad von Waldenstein, who was part of Count Ulrich II of Württemberg's entourage around 1720. The Lords of Gaisberg apparently owned Waldenstein only for a short time. The following episode is related to this noble family: At the end of the 16th century, the plague raged in Germany. Anna von Gaisberg, who had married a Baron von Holtz and was staying in Welzheim, wanted to escape the epidemic. She sought shelter at the castle with her parents, but was not allowed in for fear of bringing the terrible disease. On November 1, 1597, she gave birth to a boy outside the protective castle walls, near a well belonging to the castle – the later famous Generalfeldzeugmeister Georg Fr. von Holtz. Since the 17th century, representatives of the lower nobility and commoners were also enfeoffed with Waldenstein.

What was Winnenden's former name? In 1525, it was called Bürg, and in 1624, Altwinnenden. Altwinnenden Castle was the seat of the Lords of Winnenden before it became part of Württemberg. Initially, the town, along with the settlements of Schulerhof and Stöckenhof, belonged to the municipality of Baach. In 1686, the town was called Bürck bey Bach.

Falcons live in the castle tower and occasionally stick their heads out or fly in and out.