Gebsenstein Castle Ruin

En un regard

Le château en bref

The remains of Gebsenstein Castle lie on the northern edge of the Heilsberg, at an elevation of about 548 m and some 1.5 km south of the church in Hilzingen, in the Hegau (Landkreis Konstanz). This hilltop castle, built on a rocky spur, was probably erected in the first half of the 13th century by a noble family; the similarity of names has led to its identification as the seat of Gebzio von Twiel, mentioned in 1214, though this is not certain. A family of Gebsenstein, bearing the name of the castle, is recorded from 1253 until the early 14th century, but it lost its seat before 1275: in that year Count Mangold of Nellenburg sold the "Burg ze Gepsenstein" to the lords of Randegg, masters of the neighbouring Heilsberg. The date of abandonment is not known; by 1683 the site was no more than a "Burgstall", mentioned in connection with hunting rights. Around 1800, treasure hunters are said to have unearthed a gold sword guard during excavations, which has since been lost. On the site survive a main castle platform of roughly 23 × 16 m, sections of collapsed curtain wall, deep depressions, a broad ring-shaped ditch, and a lower bailey separated by a transverse ditch, all within forest.