Ruine Hofen, Medieval castle ruin in Grabenstetten, Germany.
Ruine Hofen is a castle ruin perched on a steep cliff overlooking the Schlattstaller valley in Baden-Württemberg. The stone walls sit at approximately 670 meters in elevation and still display the solid structural elements of the original fortification.
The Schwenzlin family built this fortress before 1323 as their ancestral home and maintained it through generations. It was destroyed in 1478 and subsequently abandoned, eventually becoming the ruin visible today.
The site served for centuries as a seat of regional nobility and still shapes local identity today. It stands as a reminder of medieval authority and is maintained by residents as a symbol of their heritage.
You can reach the ruins via two different routes: a challenging forest trail from Schlattstall or a gentler path from Grabenstetten. The easier route suits most visitors, while the forest trail may be slippery depending on the season.
Beneath the ruins lies the Gustav-Jakob cave system with passages extending over 400 meters underground. This system ranks among the longest cave passages in the Swabian Alb and offers visitors a remarkable underground experience.
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