Burg Riedheim, Medieval castle in Hilzingen, Germany

Burg Riedheim is a castle standing at the eastern edge of Riedheim with a rectangular layout and four stories in its main tower. The residential tower rises about 27 meters high, supported by walls roughly 1.5 meters thick at the ground level.

Burg Riedheim was built in the 13th to 14th century and was held by the Lords of Randegg. It was reportedly damaged in the Swiss War, and around 1500 the residential tower was probably raised and the courtyard portal enlarged. In 1518 it belonged to Hans von Schellenberg, in 1609 to Konrad Vintler von Plätsch; in 1601 it passed to Archduke Leopold of Austria, in 1735 by sale to Petershausen Monastery, in 1803 to the Margraves of Baden and in 1841 to the municipality of Riedheim.

The name Burgstall, still used locally, refers to the castle site rather than a standing fortress. The four-storey tower with late Gothic stepped gables was raised around 1500, and the round-arched courtyard portal on the west side dates from about 1550. Sheds built against the inside of the ring wall show how the complex was used for storage.

Access to the interior is not available to visitors, but you can view the exterior walls and tower structure from outside. The best view is from Burgstrasse, where you can observe the full layout and architectural details of the building.

The entrance to the residential tower is positioned roughly 4.5 meters above ground level, a deliberate defensive design from medieval times. This raised entry kept unwanted visitors away and was a common building practice for defensive towers of that era.