Burg Absberg, Medieval lowland castle in Absberg, Germany

Burg Absberg is a ruined lowland castle on a spur below the village, not on a hilltop above it. A wide neck ditch cuts it off from the village side, and the Pfarrbuck shows visible signs of human shaping. The site is a protected archaeological monument (D-5-6831-0084); no excavations have been carried out.

A knight named Goswin von Absberg received permission from the emperor in 1349 to build the castle. The fortress was later destroyed and today remains only as earthen mounds and trenches.

The ruins show how a local family expressed their authority through architecture and displayed their standing in the region. The earthworks still visible today echo this former importance to the village.

The site is reachable by foot from the village via small paths and offers open access to the grounds. There are few signs or markings, so it helps to research the location beforehand or ask locals for directions.

The 1523 woodcut by Hans Wandereisen labels the site "Asperg" and shows two entrances to the main castle, the one nearer the village protected by a crenellated gatehouse. It depicts collapsed roof beams and cracks in the masonry, plus the Swabian League's 10,000 foot soldiers and 1,000 horsemen with 100 cannons.