Hohenurach Castle, Medieval castle ruins on hilltop near Bad Urach, Germany
Hohenurach Castle is a medieval fortress ruin sitting on a rocky ridge directly above the town of Bad Urach in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Parts of the outer walls, a residential tower, and several building foundations are still standing today.
The castle was built between 1030 and 1050 by the Counts of Urach as a stronghold above the Erms valley. Over the following centuries it changed hands several times and was later used as a state prison by the Duchy of Württemberg.
The castle gave its name to the surrounding territory: the Counts of Urach, first recorded as builders between 1030 and 1050, came from the East Frankish area near Würzburg. Their descendant Egino V. called himself Count of Urach and Lord of Freiburg Castle in Breisgau. From 1490 to 1519 the castle held Heinrich von Württemberg, kept from the outside world with his family; his son Georg I. was born here in 1498.
The ruins are reached on foot from Bad Urach along a clearly marked trail, with the climb taking roughly 45 minutes. Sturdy footwear is a good idea because parts of the path are steep and uneven.
A lightning strike in 1694 hit the powder tower and triggered an explosion that destroyed much of the fortress in a single moment. That event ended its military use and left behind the broken walls that visitors walk through today.
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