Rechtenstein Castle

The Rechtenstein ruin, also called Burg Stein, is a castle ruin on a high mountain ridge directly on the Danube in the village location above the municipality of Rechtenstein in the Alb-Donau district in Baden-Württemberg.

The hilltop castle was built in the 12th century by the Lords of Stain; the Lords of Stain are first mentioned in 1156. In 1348, the castle had two castle buildings (double castle), which were inhabited by the Lords of Stein and the Lords of Rechtenstein. In the same year, parts of the castle collapsed due to an earthquake, but were immediately rebuilt. Around 1390, the castle became the property of the neighboring Reichenstein Castle, later passed to Count Eberhard of Württemberg and then back to the Lords of Stein. In 1791, parts of the castle were sold again, and in 1817, the castle was demolished except for the keep. Today, the former core castle is part of the municipality of Rechtenstein and the former outer bailey is privately owned. Until around 1900, the tower housed a tower guard.