Burgruine Rabenstein, Medieval castle ruins in Riedenburg, Germany

Burgruine Rabenstein is a castle ruin on a steep hill above the Altmühl valley near Riedenburg, with stone walls and tower remains still visible against the skyline. The preserved sections show parts of fortification walls, towers, and building foundations that reveal how the medieval site was constructed and organized.

The castle was probably built in the early 12th century by the Burgraves of Regensburg. The noble seat was no longer mentioned after 1400 and fell into ruin after its destruction in the 16th century. Remains of the residential tower and fragments of the ring wall survive from the former upper and lower castle.

The ruin is also called Ritenburg, and the name Rabenstein refers to the rocky spur it stands on. Visitors reach it on foot from Riedenburg and use the former castle platform as a viewpoint over the Altmühl valley and the Main-Danube Canal. It forms the Riedenburg castle group with Rosenburg, Tachenstein and Aicholding.

The site is accessible via marked hiking trails from Riedenburg, offering views of the Altmühl valley during the climb. Information panels along the route explain the structure and history of the former fortification.

The ruin is also listed as a Bodendenkmal, meaning buried medieval remains lie beneath the visible walls. It forms the Riedenburg castle group with Rosenburg, the former Tachenstein castle and Schloss Aicholding across the Altmühl valley. The preserved masonry belongs to the residential tower and the ring wall of the upper and lower castle.