Rotwasserstelz Castle

Rotwasserstelz Castle, also known as Rötteln Castle, Röteln Castle or Kaiserstuhl Castle, is a rock castle on a high rock in the village of Hohentengen am Rhein in the Waldshut district, Baden-Württemberg. It is located at the northern bridgehead of the river crossing to Switzerland opposite Kaiserstuhl.

The castle, built in the 12th century by the von Wasserstelz family, was first mentioned in 1163. In 1185, a Ludwig von Rötteln, who was in the service of the Dukes of Zähringen, is documented. In 1362, Hans von Rötteln was a Habsburg liegeman. On May 1, 1294, the lordship of Rötteln came to the Diocese of Constance through sale by the Regensbergers. The castle was expanded in 1294 and received its present form in 1787. Rötteln Castle was the seat of the High Bailiff of the Lordship of Kaiserstuhl (which included: Kaiserstuhl, Lienheim, Hohentengen am Hochrhein, Herdern with the Türnerhof, Weisswasserstelz with the Guggenmühle, Schwarzwasserstelz with Fisibach and Weiach) and was granted by the Diocese of Constance. The Rhine bridge is first mentioned in documents in 1294. A drawbridge was installed on the Kaiserstuhl side. In 1554 a new bridge was built. In 1768 a part collapsed and had to be rebuilt, in 1799 it was burned by the French, in 1817 swept away by floods, rebuilt in 1822, swept away again by floods in 1876, and in 1890 the bridge was built in an iron construction. The lordship remained with the Prince-Bishopric of Constance until the Peace of Lunéville on February 9, 1801, after which the Prince-Bishopric of Constance came to the Margraves of Baden. The last High Bailiff was Privy Councillor von Würze. The castle was sold in 1823 to the chief customs officer Mathäus Ackermann for 6775 guilders. In 1889 it was acquired by the paper manufacturer Lenz in Wehr. He sold it again to merchant Mutter from Todtmoos. It is still privately owned today.

The castle included: The old tower, the customs office, barn and stable, the rock cellar and the red house, 7 Juchert meadows and 3 Juchert arable land.

In the immediate vicinity there are also the ruins of the former castles: Weisswasserstelz Castle and Schwarzwasserstelz Castle. There is a risk of confusion with Rötteln Castle near Lörrach, also located in Southern Baden, which is popularly known as Röttler Castle.