Burg Baldeck, Medieval castle ruins in Bad Urach, Germany.
Burg Baldeck are the ruins of a medieval castle perched on a rock formation about 628 meters above the upper Erms Valley. Remaining wall fragments and stone steps carved into the rock show how the structure was once integrated into the natural stone formation.
The castle was founded around 1250 by the lords of Baldeck, who were followers of the Counts of Urach. A major turning point came in 1256 when the fortress faced a siege by opposing forces.
The site is known locally as the 'Murderers' Castle', a name that reflects its role in regional stories and remains part of the place's identity today. Visitors walking through the ruins encounter this dark local heritage embedded in how people refer to the location.
The ruins are accessible by hiking trails that start about 2 kilometers southwest of the Wittlingen district near Bad Urach in Baden-Württemberg. Sturdy footwear is recommended because the paths cross uneven ground and steep sections.
In the early 1700s, authorities deliberately demolished the castle to prevent bandits from using it as a hideout. This destruction was not accidental decay but a calculated action against crime in the region.
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