Wolkenstein Castle

The ruin of Wolkenstein is a rock castle built in the 12th century and now lost, located in the canton of Schaffhausen in Switzerland. The castle site lies on a rock spur on the Wolkensteinerberg, the last foothills of the Schiener Berg, high above Hemishofen. To the east of Wolkenstein Castle stands Hohenklingen Castle.

Wolkenstein Castle was probably built by the Lords of Wolkenstein, who were ministeriales of the Bishops of Constance. The first documented mention of the castle dates back to 1236, when a "Rudolf von Wolkenstein" is mentioned as a witness in a document. The castle was strategically located and controlled an important Rhine crossing. In the 14th century, the Lords of Wolkenstein died out, and the castle changed hands several times.

In 1377, the castle was acquired by the city of Schaffhausen. During the Old Zurich War (1440-1446), the castle was besieged and probably destroyed. After the war, the castle was not rebuilt and fell into disrepair. Today, only a few wall remains and a cistern are visible.

Wolkenstein Castle was a typical spur castle. It consisted of a main castle and a lower bailey. The main castle was located on the highest point of the rock spur and was protected by a ring wall and a ditch. The lower bailey was located to the east of the main castle and contained residential and utility buildings.

The castle was built of local molasse sandstone. The walls were up to 2 meters thick. The main castle had a keep, a palas, and a chapel. The keep was a square tower with a side length of about 8 meters. The palas was a rectangular building with several floors. The chapel was located in the eastern part of the main castle.

Today, only a few wall remains and a cistern are visible of Wolkenstein Castle. The castle site is overgrown with trees and shrubs. The remains of the castle are not secured and are freely accessible. The site offers a magnificent view of the Rhine valley and the surrounding area.

Wolkenstein Castle is accessible on foot from Hemishofen. A hiking trail leads from the village up to the castle site. The ascent takes about 30 minutes. There are no parking spaces directly at the castle.