Großsachsenheim Castle

Großsachsenheim Castle is a former moated castle in Sachsenheim.

Built in the 13th century with a verifiable keep on the south wing, the castle served as the seat of the Lords of Sachsenheim. The complex forms an almost regular dodecagon with a square inner courtyard and a former moat outside. It was built in its current form two years after a fire in 1542 by Reinhard von Sachsenheim, incorporating old building parts. According to an old legend, the "Klopferle" (little knocker) residing in Sachsenheim Castle is said to be responsible for this fire. This figure sits as a Gothic stone man on the bridge. Above the round-arched entrance with the old and new Sachsenheim coats of arms, the new building is documented with the year 1544. In 1823, the south wing of the castle burned down. In 1828, Württemberg sold the castle to General von Misani, who resold it to Baron von Röder in 1846. After several changes of ownership, the castle came into the possession of the Reichsbund für Leibesübungen (Reich Federation for Physical Exercise) in 1938. After the Second World War, the castle housed the casino, staff headquarters, and prison of the French occupation zone in Sachsenheim. Since 1952, the castle has been used as the town hall.

Within the moat and formerly also belonging to the castle grounds is the Outer Castle Courtyard. This contains former economic buildings of the castle such as the granary built in the 17th century, the New Dairy from 1714, the Old Dairy, built around 1600, and the former Vogtshaus (bailiff's house) from 1493, which is now the rectory. Furthermore, the tithe barn stood there, but it burned down in 1903. In the approximately 2-hectare park belonging to the castle, there is the so-called Tea House, dated 1629.