Lierheim Castle

Lierheim Castle is located in Lierheim, a district of the municipality of Möttingen in the Donau-Ries district. Remains of the old castle are contained in the northern foundations of the castle. It is privately owned and not publicly accessible.

The noble free lords of Lierheim were an old knightly family that produced several high ecclesiastical dignitaries. For example, Otto von Lierheim was anti-bishop in Constance from 1071 to 1086, and in Augsburg, Hartwig von Lierheim was elected bishop in 1091. The noble family largely owned property on the lower reaches of the Eger in the Nördlinger Ries. Between 1381 and 1427, the Lierheim lordship was gradually bought up by the Counts of Oettingen. On August 25, 1427, Count Ludwig von Oettingen acquired the ruined Lierheim Castle. 27 years later, Count Wilhelm von Oettingen sold it with all its accessories, including the serfs, to Amalie Erckinger von Mittelburg and her sons. The noble family from Treuchtlingen rebuilt the medieval castle between 1579 and 1584. The northern and southwestern parts of this reconstruction with its bossed ashlar blocks are still largely preserved.

In 1495, the entire area passed to the Lords of Hürnheim-Hochaltingen, who sold the castle and village to the Imperial City of Nördlingen in 1541. The castle underwent a thorough redesign between 1758 and 1762 on behalf of the new owners, the Teutonic Order. The representative living and official rooms received magnificent ceiling stucco, which is still preserved today. The stucco work was probably created by Paul Anton Landes from Wessobrunn.

In 1874, the castle came into the possession of the Meyer family; in 1971, the Gerlinger family acquired the imposing building and had it thoroughly renovated.