Barbarakapelle, Medieval chapel ruins in Langensteinbach, Germany

Barbarakapelle is a ruined chapel on a hill south of Langensteinbach, next to the Langensteinbach castle ruin. The surviving structure consists of stone walls and a tower rebuilt in 1797 and restored in 1903, with a spiral staircase inside. Since 1966 the tower has been open as a viewing tower.

The chapel was built around 1330 by monks from Herrenalb monastery and later developed into a pilgrimage site. From the 15th century onward, pilgrims came because of a religious image of Saint Barbara kept there.

The chapel's name recalls Saint Barbara, whose image drew pilgrims from the mid-15th century; the site was also a market ground, with regional markets held several times a year until 1816. Open-air services still take place at the ruin, and legends tell of an underground passage said to run as far as Ettlingen.

The tower is accessible daily and offers good views of the surrounding landscape. The spiral staircase is narrow and fairly steep, so wear sturdy shoes and be prepared for the climb.

In 1796, Napoleonic troops removed the last lead sheets from the tower roof and melted them into bullets. The tower was rebuilt the following year, in 1797, and the whole building was restored in 1903. The site has been open as a viewing tower since 1966.