Burg Schmalenstein, castle
Burg Schmalenstein is a castle ruin near Weingarten located on an island between two branches of the Walzbach River. The original structure had a square core with a large outer wall, and today only wall fragments up to about 16 feet (5 meters) high remain, accessible by a simple wooden footbridge.
The Schmalenstein family is first mentioned around 1262 and was likely the builder of the castle, which served as a strategic defense point in the region. In 1370, Elector Rupert purchased it, but by 1504 Württemberg forces destroyed the structure, and it was never rebuilt.
The name Schmalenstein comes from the family that ruled here in the Middle Ages and proudly displayed their coat of arms with a horizontal stripe on stones throughout the area. You can still see today how meaningful such family symbols were to the knights who used them to show their origin.
The ruin sits along a quiet path following the southern branch of the Walzbach River and can be visited anytime. Access is via a simple wooden footbridge with no special requirements, making it a straightforward visit for anyone interested.
A notable discovery during excavations was a helmet from the 14th century, now displayed in the Karlsruhe State Museum and considered one of the region's most important finds. This helmet provides concrete evidence of how the knights lived and fought.
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