Unteres Schloss, Medieval castle in Vellberg, Germany

Unteres Schloss is a medieval castle in Vellberg with stone walls, multiple towers, and defensive fortifications standing on elevated ground. The complex includes courtyards, residential chambers in the towers, and various outbuildings that together form an intricate defensive system.

The Lords of Vellberg built the castle around 1200; in the 15th century their knightly family expanded it and the hamlet below into the centre of their lordship and a market. In 1523 troops of the Swabian League destroyed the share held by Wilhelm von Vellberg, an ally of the robber baron Hans Thomas von Absberg. Wolf von Vellberg and Anna Treusch von Buttlar rebuilt it in 1543–1546, carving their coats of arms above the entrance portal. The town bought the building around 1857 and used it as its administration seat until 2004.

The castle displays typical medieval German architectural features with steep roofs and stone construction that remain visible today. The arrangement of different buildings and towers reflects how nobility lived and protected themselves in that era.

The site is accessible via a clear path, and the various levels of the castle can be explored on foot. It is advisable to wear comfortable shoes, as the ground is uneven and there are some steps to climb.

The castle features a distinctive arrangement with two separate defensive zones, an outer fortification and an inner protected courtyard. This dual system allowed defenders to slow attackers at multiple points and provided residents with several escape routes.