Burg Ramsberg, Medieval castle ruins in Heiligenberg, Germany

Burg Ramsberg is a medieval castle ruin in Heiligenberg situated at about 650 meters elevation. The ring wall remains partially intact and has been incorporated into the current Messnerhaus building.

The hilltop castle was built in the 11th century by the Counts of Pfullendorf as a lordly seat; Rudolf II, the dynasty's last male heir, still called himself von Ramsberg but from 1171 only von Pfullendorf, and the family died out in 1181. After the counts moved away, ministerials administered the site. In 1409 Hans von Homburg sold half the castle with Großschönach to the Heilig-Geist-Spital in Überlingen, which bought the other half in 1423; the castle tower was then truncated and roofed, with roof beams dated 1432.

The pilgrimage chapel of St. Wendelin, built into the former castle site, combines Romanesque and Gothic elements; its choir frescoes date to 1467. The chapel is dedicated to Mary. Nearby, in the Ramsberger Tobel, a Lourdes grotto was built in 1908 by citizens of Großschönach and draws worshippers, especially in May.

The ruin is reachable via a hiking trail starting from the Großschönach cemetery that passes through young moraine landscape. Access is available year-round and the route presents moderate difficulty.

The chapel on the castle site, dedicated to St. Wendelin, was painted with late Gothic frescoes in 1467. The castle tower was shortened and given a roof after 1409; dendrochronology of the roof beams yielded a felling date of 1432.