Senften Castle

The late Gothic stone house with a half-timbered upper floor is one of the few castle-like country estates preserved in their historic form, as they were owned by the patriciate of the imperial cities in the wide vicinity of their respective cities in the late Middle Ages. The rubble stone structure of the Senftenschlössle with its monolithically carved slit windows, however, suggests an earlier building of much greater age. The chronicle mentions in this context a castle "which the Veldner and then the Senften owned since 1361, in the middle of our village". The Senften von Suhlburg were a well-known, highly respected and wealthy urban noble family since the 14th century. Melchior Senft zu Suhlburg was one of the five city councillors of Schwäbisch Hall. In 1515, he built the Senftenschlössle as a water house in Untermünkheim, after he had to leave the city of Schwäbisch Hall following an uprising. The Sperberbach, which is now culverted for a longer stretch, bordered the property of the small castle, which was surrounded by a high wall and could only be reached via two small stone arch bridges, until the beginning of the 20th century. In 1532, a stone oriel was installed on the south side. The exterior facade is elaborately designed with rectangular sun-quader stones.