Hauenstein Castle

Hauenstein Castle is the ruin of a hilltop castle in the Aschaffenburg district in the Bavarian Spessart, between Hauenstein Farm and Mensengesäß in the Kahlgrund.

Hauenstein Castle, the so-called "Robber's Castle", was located on a hill above the Schlossgrundgraben, a stream that flows into the Kahl. A depression separates the castle hill from the height on which the large, new Hauenstein Farm is located. An earthen dam built across the streambed allowed the upper course of the stream to be dammed. The castle was probably built around 1300 by the Mainz electoral bailiffs, the Counts of Rieneck. It consisted of a "fortified house" with a heated building section for residential purposes. It is likely that the complex included not only the present ruin, but also an outer bailey, which was located in the area of the present large Hauenstein Farm. This included stables, barns, and warehouses.

From there, together with the slightly larger Mömbris Castle, often mistakenly called Womburg, and Hüttelngesäß Castle, the area of the upper Kahl and Lohr under Rieneck's influence was secured. During a campaign against robbers and thieves in the entire surrounding area, the castle was destroyed in May 1450. The former trade route, the "Alte Heuweg" (Old Hay Path), leads to the Hauenstein ruin, where the remains of the walls can be visited. A cellar with walls and a barrel vault, as well as the remains of adjoining wall sections, are preserved.