Weisswasserstelz, Medieval castle ruin in Hohentengen am Hochrhein, Germany
Weisswasserstelz is a castle ruin perched on a 340-meter hill overlooking the Rhine River, featuring fragments of walls and towers. The site displays the fortified layout typical of medieval Rhine Valley strongholds built to control river crossings.
The castle was built around 1100 and passed through multiple owners over the following centuries. Swedish forces destroyed it in the 1600s during the Thirty Years' War, which set in motion its eventual abandonment.
The ruins reflect how medieval fortifications shaped life in the Rhine Valley, where such structures determined who could move goods and people through the region. You can see traces of this power when you walk through what remains of the walls and towers.
The ruins are open year-round with no entrance fee, and informational signs explain the structure and its history. Plan your visit for clear days when the views of the river valley are most rewarding.
The location allowed defenders to monitor river traffic on the Rhine and the medieval trade road that ran directly below the courtyard simultaneously. This dual vantage point made it a strategic stronghold for controlling movement through the region.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
