Burg Mandach, Medieval castle ruins in Riedern am Wald, Germany

Burg Mandach is a castle ruin sitting on a granite rock that overlooks the Mettma Valley. Parts of the original foundation walls and defensive structures remain visible among the trees at the site.

The castle was built in medieval times as a fortification on a rock ridge to watch over valley passages. Over centuries, natural processes caused significant portions of the structure to slide down the hillside.

The ruins show how medieval people built fortifications on difficult terrain and how such structures survive today. You can see from the remaining walls and the site's position how important this place was for the region at that time.

The ruin stands on a narrow granite spur above the Mettmatal near Riedern am Wald, and the approach is overgrown with trees. Much of the masonry has slid down the slope over the centuries, so the ground is loose and uneven. Wear sturdy shoes and watch your step near the drop.

The castle was built directly on a narrow granite spur, so over the centuries many wall sections slid down the slope. What remains today are the foundation wall of a round corner tower, possibly a cistern, and the pillar remnant of the former drawbridge.