Burg Häringstein, Medieval castle ruins in Ebingen, Germany

Burg Häringstein consists of castle ruins on a hilltop around 950 meters high, with views across the Schmiecha valley toward the Alps. The site includes an observation tower and remains of the medieval fortification with a double trench system.

The castle was built around 1100, by the Lords of Ebingen or the Lords of Häringstein, and was abandoned in the first half of the 13th century. Its kidney-shaped core castle measured 17 by 28 metres, and a double wall-and-ditch system protected the eastern slope. The site belongs today to the city of Albstadt.

The name Häringstein comes from a field parcel at the foot of the Schlossfelsen, named after the noble family von Haeringstein. The 24-metre tower erected in 1899 on the excavated castle site is regarded as Ebingen's landmark, and the rock below it is called Ebinger Schlossfels.

The site is reached via a walking trail from the Waldheim Ebingen recreational area, which is clearly marked. Wear sturdy shoes because the path goes uphill and some sections are unpaved.

Below the castle sits the Hexenküche cave, a natural formation tied to local folklore and stories. This geological feature adds an unexpected natural dimension to the historical site.