Hochburg, Medieval castle ruins in Emmendingen, Germany

Hochburg is a ruined hilltop castle on a 343.6 m spur at the edge of the Black Forest, between Emmendingen and Sexau. Its rough tan and grey stone walls have rectangular window openings, some in pairs, and a dark arched doorway in a lower section on the left. Painted red and yellow shields decorate the masonry, and a red and yellow striped flag flies from the rightmost tower.

The castle was probably founded in the 11th century by Dietrich von Emmendingen and was first documented in 1127. From 1212 it was the seat of the Margraves of Baden-Hachberg, and in 1415 it passed to the main line of Baden. After a two-year siege in the Thirty Years' War it was slighted, rebuilt from 1660, and finally blown up by French troops in 1689.

The castle gave its name to the Margraves of Baden-Hachberg, who ruled from it for two centuries after the margraviate was divided around 1212. A plaque placed by Margrave Karl II records the tradition that the name Hachberg goes back to a follower of Charlemagne called Hacho. Local legends tell of a white maiden carrying a key ring and of a hidden treasure in the ruin.

The walk up to the ruins is free and takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes from the parking area at the base of the hill. Wear proper footwear since the paths are uneven and some sections require climbing stairs or traversing rocky ground.

The castle's name probably comes from a follower of Charlemagne named Hacho, who is said to have received an estate here; a plaque added by Margrave Karl II records this tradition. A document of 1161 calls the site Castro Hahberc. The Margraves of Baden-Hachberg took their title from the castle.