Altenburg, Medieval castle ruin in Weiler-Simmerberg, Germany

Altenburg is a castle ruin located at about 690 meters elevation in Weiler-Simmerberg and stands on a hilltop overlooking the Allgau region. From this strategic location, visitors can see stone walls and foundations that remain from the original medieval construction.

The fortress was built between 1200 and 1300 by Eberhard von Weiler and served as a fortified stronghold for controlling the area. Later, Austrian officials administered the location until 1784, after which the ruin lost its role as an administrative center.

The ruins function as a landmark for the local community, where visitors can observe the remains of a medieval stronghold. People use the site mainly for hiking and viewing the surrounding landscape, showing how this place fits into the region's outdoor activities today.

The ruin sits at 690 metres on a spur above the Altenburg hamlet of Weiler-Simmerberg. It is reached on foot along local hiking trails; the final stretch climbs steeply and the ground around the surviving masonry is uneven, so sturdy footwear helps. Only fragments of the dry-stone walls remain, so there is little shelter in bad weather.

The castle was sold for demolition in 1784, and in 1826 stones from the ruin were used to build the church tower in Scheidegg. Only remnants of rubble-stone masonry survive on the ridge at 690 metres. Two local legends are recorded about the site: "The Treasure Guardian of the Altenburg" and "The Last Lords of the Altenburg".