Hohentwiel, Volcanic mountain with castle ruins in Hegau region, Germany.
Hohentwiel is a volcanic mountain in the Hegau region of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, with its summit at 686 meters (2,251 feet) crowned by the remains of one of the country's largest fortress ruins. The complex spreads across several levels with gates, towers, bastions, and deep ditches, some of which are carved directly into the hard phonolite rock.
Duke Burchard III of Swabia ordered the construction of a first fortification on the mountain in the year 914, which grew into a powerful fortress over the centuries. During the Thirty Years' War it resisted several sieges and was only dismantled in 1800 by order of Napoleon.
The name Hohentwiel probably comes from an old Alemannic word meaning high double hill, referring to the twin peaks visible in earlier times. Today, visitors walk through the old casemates and along the sprawling walls, where it becomes clear how soldiers and craftsmen lived and worked here for centuries.
The climb to the fortress ruins takes about 30 to 45 minutes and follows well-maintained paths that become steep in some sections. Comfortable footwear is recommended, as there are many steps and uneven passages to navigate.
The peak rises like an island from the flat surroundings and is visible from far away on clear days, as the dark phonolite summit towers steeply above Lake Constance and the Alpine foothills. From the top, good weather reveals not only the lake but also several other extinct volcanic cones in the Hegau region.
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