Burg Riegel, castle

Burg Riegel was a hilltop castle built in the 12th century on the Michaelsberg at 241 m above sea level, around the already existing Michaelskapelle. It was divided into a front courtyard, a rear castle and a middle castle, and was protected by rivers. The builders were the Lords of Roggenbach, followed by the Üsenbergs as castle lords in 1238. Today only the castle moat and the chapel remain.

The castle was built in the 12th century around the Michaelskapelle, which already existed in the 10th century. The builders were the Lords of Roggenbach; the Üsenbergs followed as castle lords in 1238. In the 14th century the castle was sold to the Snewlin im Hof and then to the Malterer family. After Hesso V von Üsenberg, the last of his line, died in 1379, the castle fell into decay and from 1399 was used as a quarry for Riegel Castle.

The chapel on Michaelsberg is dedicated to St Michael and already existed in the 10th century, before the castle was built around it in the 12th century. Today a small square with an information board has been laid out around the chapel, where visitors can read about the site's history.

The site is easily reachable on foot from Riegel am Kaiserstuhl, with paths ascending through vineyards to Michaelsberg and providing views of the landscape along the way. An information board at the site explains the history of the castle and chapel, and the walk takes about 30 minutes to an hour depending on how long you spend exploring.

The castle was already decaying when Hesso V von Üsenberg, last of his line, died in 1379; from 1399 its stone was quarried for the Riegler Schloss. The Michaelskapelle beside the surviving ditch predates the castle, existing by the 10th century. A panel now stands by the chapel on the Michaelsberg.