Burg Riegel, castle
Burg Riegel was a hilltop castle on Michaelsberg built in the early 12th century to control the narrow mountain pass called Riegeler Pforte between the Kaiserstuhl and Black Forest. The fortress had three sections with the Burgberg as the highest point, and the front and rear castles were protected by moats, though today only fragments of the ditches and walls remain visible.
The castle first appears in records in 1180 under Herzog Bertold IV of Zähringen, though evidence suggests older structures stood on the hill between the 10th and early 12th centuries. After the Zähringen line ended around 1218, the Ueßenberg family took control, but financial troubles led to the castle and village passing to Freiburg and Endingen by the late 14th century, and the site was abandoned by 1400.
The Michaelskapelle stands as a focal point on the hilltop and draws both visitors and locals to the site. Built in the 15th century with a late Gothic choir, this small chapel carries forward the spiritual purpose of a place that once served a medieval fortress.
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.
Starting in 1399, stones from the castle were reused as building material for the nearby Riegler Schloss, meaning parts of this fortress literally live on in another structure nearby. This practice of stone reuse was common, but few sites document this process as clearly as this location does.
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