Hirrlingen Castle

Hirrlingen Castle in Hirrlingen, in the district of Tübingen in Baden-Württemberg, is one of the few rural Renaissance castles in Baden-Württemberg that has been preserved almost unchanged.

The castle was built from 1557 to 1558 by Baron Georg VII von Ow (1517-1575) in the Renaissance style, following the example of Bühler Castle. The castle building is three-storied on a rectangular floor plan and has a high gabled roof. Two round towers at the corners of the north side, with their loopholes on the ground floor, still give it a defensive character. The former moats, which surrounded the entire castle area, have been largely removed. Only the castle pond towards the village remains. The courtyard facade is structured by a centrally placed octagonal stair tower. Opposite the courtyard entrance, a two-story oriel window rises at the southeast corner, featuring the ornamental coats of arms of the builder and a later owner.

The von Ow-Hirrlingen family died out in 1709. The castle was inherited by Imperial Count Anton Ferdinand von Attems. In the 19th century, the municipality acquired it. Today, it houses the town hall of the municipality of Hirrlingen. The outbuildings, which form the castle courtyard, also largely date from the 16th century. As a result, the castle still conveys an almost undisturbed impression of a rural Renaissance manor.

An epitaph in the parish church of St. Martin still commemorates the builder: Anno domini 1575 on the 27th day of June, the noble and steadfast Georg von Ow zu Hirrlingen fell asleep in Christ, whom God grant a joyful resurrection with all the resurrected.