Zavelstein Castle, Castle ruin in Bad Teinach-Zavelstein, Germany

Zavelstein Castle is a castle ruin standing 560 meters above sea level on a rocky ridge overlooking the Teinach valley. The surviving stone walls and towers display the typical defensive architecture of a medieval fortification from this region.

The castle first appears in written records in 1303 when knight Richelin dwelt there. Soon after, in 1311, it passed into the possession of the Württemberg counts.

The castle was rebuilt as a Schloss under Freiherr Benjamin Buwinghausen von Wallmerode between 1620 and 1630, and the name Zavelstein also denotes the surrounding town. Jakob Friedrich Buwinghausen, lord here from 1635, later became Obervogt of Calw and is known for his witch trials.

The 28-metre bergfried has been used as a viewing tower since 1844, when its stairs were renewed; visitors climb it for the view over the Teinach valley. The ruin keeps two neck ditches, a gateway, the palas ruin, a vaulted cellar and parts of the shield wall, ring walls and zwinger, which let visitors trace the layout on foot.

The 28-metre bergfried has served as a viewing tower since 1844, when its stairs were renewed; the castle had already been a ruin for over a century by then, abandoned by the Buwinghausen family after French troops under Melac destroyed it in 1692.