Hohengundelfingen Castle (Ruin)

Hohengundelfingen Castle in Münsingen, Reutlingen district, is the medieval ruin of a hilltop castle in the Lauter Valley. It was the main seat of the Gundelfingen family. From federal highway 465, you reach Dürrenstetten. Continuing towards Gundelfingen, there is a hiking car park. From there, the castle can be reached without an ascent in 10 to 15 minutes on a signposted path. It is freely accessible.

The hilltop castle is considered the ancestral castle of the noble family of Gundelfingen. This family has been known since the 12th century. Swigger IV von Gundelfingen (approx. 1160–1228) can be named as a possible builder of the castle. The remains of the keep made of ashlar blocks date from the beginning of the 13th century. The construction of the high-quality masonry coincides with the flourishing period of the noble family. In 1236, the castle was mentioned for the first time in a document.

Beginning with the Gundelfingen inheritance division in 1250, the decline of the noble family began. After 1293, the castle was sold to the Habsburgs. From then on, it had many different owners and was just as frequently pledged. Gundelfingers also appeared several times as pledgers.

In 1389, the castle was referred to as a "Burgstall", i.e., a ruin. Apparently, it had been destroyed in the preceding War of the Cities between Eberhard the Quarrelsome and the Imperial Cities.

In 1939, the manufacturer Hans Römer bought the complex. He had extensive repair and supplementary work carried out.