Reichenberg Castle (Burg Reichenberg)

Architecture, patrimoine et histoire · Rems-Murr-Kreis

Overlooking Oppenweiler, Reichenberg Castle is a fortified castle of the Staufer era built in 1230–1231 by Margrave Hermann V of Baden. A castle of ministeriales and the administrative seat of the area, it is thought to have been built at the same time as the castles of Ebersberg and Besigheim, with which it shares dimensions, layout and stonemasons' marks. Its first known occupants were the knights Wolfram and Berthold of Reichenberg, followed from 1293 by the Sturmfeder of Oppenweiler. The site is distinguished by a powerful keep with walls four metres thick and by a high shield wall topped by a half-timbered wall-walk, a later addition. Between 1556 and 1562 the south-west wing, known as the “Schloss”, was added, partly carved into the rock; it served as the residence of the master forester. In the 19th century Karl von Schiller, the poet's son, worked here as a forester. Owned by the State of Baden-Württemberg, the castle has housed social institutions since 1888, now run by the Paulinenpflege Winnenden; groups can visit it by appointment.