Hohenbeilstein Castle

Hohenbeilstein Castle is located on a hill above the town of Beilstein on the southern edge of the Heilbronn district in Baden-Württemberg.

Its origins lie in the 11th century; the oldest parts still visible today date from the 13th century. Originally built by the Count of Calw, the castle came into the possession of Württemberg in 1340. Subsequently, it was besieged and destroyed several times, including by rebellious peasants in 1525 and by the French during the War of the Palatine Succession (1688 to 1697).

At the end of the 19th century, the entrepreneur Robert Vollmöller acquired the complex and surrounding properties. He was largely responsible for the restoration of parts of the complex and the construction of the Lower Castle around 1905, which was built in place of the former administrative building. The Cavalier building of the castle, which had been restored as a shell, fell victim to arson in 1908.

The castle today consists of the so-called "Langhans", a 27-meter-high, pentagonal keep, a 2.5-meter-thick shield wall, and several outbuildings in the outer bailey area, which are now used as a falconry and restaurant. The original palas has not been preserved.