Castle Rothenstein, Hill castle ruins in Bad Grönenbach, Germany.
Castle Rothenstein is the ruin of a spur castle on a narrow, steep hill spur at 727 m above sea level south of the Rothenstein hamlet in Bad Grönenbach. The ruin covers almost the entire plateau, which is bounded to the south by a neck ditch. The subsoil consists of Upper Freshwater Molasse from the second half of the Miocene.
The Rothenstein family built the castle around the early 11th century; it was first documented in 1037. Ludwig von Rothenstein bequeathed it to his nephew Heinrich von Pappenheim, and after disputes the Pappenheims secured it permanently in 1514. In 1692 Kempten Abbey bought it for 65,000 guilders. A landslide on 19 March 1873 caused the walls and tower to collapse.
The castle once served as a residence for the Rothenstein family and later other regional rulers who displayed their power from this hilltop position. It symbolized control over the trade routes and lands of the surrounding area at that time.
To reach the castle, visitors follow established hiking trails through the forest and up the hillside. The path is not wheelchair accessible, and wearing sturdy footwear with adequate time to navigate the elevation comfortably is advisable.
The castle was sold in 1909 to a scrap dealer for demolition, but the collapse of 1873 had already left the walls largely in ruins. The site is now part of the LEADER project Burgenregion Allgäu.
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