Burgruine Haltenberg, Castle ruin and observation tower in Scheuring, Germany
Burgruine Haltenberg is a medieval castle ruin built from large Nagelfluh blocks, set on a hilltop above the Lech river near Scheuring in Bavaria. The round keep has walls about 2 meters thick and rises to around 18 meters, with a platform at the top that looks out over the surrounding land.
The castle was founded around 1260 by Konrad von Haldenberg, a ministerial in the service of the Staufer dynasty, on the banks of the Lech. In 1612, Duke Maximilian had it converted into a hunting lodge, which changed its purpose from a defensive structure to a place of leisure.
The name of the tower traces back to its founder, and that connection feels present when standing before the thick stone walls. On Sundays, the tower opens to visitors who can look out over the Lech valley from the top platform.
The ruin sits between Scheuring and Kaufering and is reached by a footpath through hilly terrain, so sturdy shoes are a good idea. The tower is open on Sundays and public holidays, so planning a visit on one of those days allows access to the interior.
The original fortification was protected on three sides by a double moat system that separated it from the steep Lech riverbank. The traces of these two ditches can still be made out in the ground around the tower today.
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