Bubenstein Castle, Medieval castle ruin in Höllental valley, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Bubenstein Castle, also called Neu-Falkenstein, is a ruined spur castle on a rock spur at 560 m above sea level on the north side of the Höllental valley, about 500 m west of Falkenstein Castle above Falkensteig in Buchenbach. Its bergfried measured 10 by 10 metres, and a neck ditch 5 metres deep and 8 metres wide survives along with wall remains.

Walter of Falkenstein probably built the castle in the 13th century and is named as owner in 1266. In 1328 Werner of Staufen sold three quarters of the tower to Johann Schnewlin, and in 1407 Kuno of Falkenstein sold the last quarter to Hanmann Schnewlin. In the 19th century part of the rock was blasted for the Höllentalbahn, and in the 1960s high wall sections were removed for safety.

The castle layout shows typical medieval defensive design that visitors can observe in the remaining walls and structures. You can walk among the stones and see how the construction once protected those who lived there.

The ruin sits on a rock spur on the north side of the Höllental, about 500 m west of Falkenstein Castle, above the Falkensteig hamlet of Buchenbach. Access is on foot; the climb from the valley is steep, so wear sturdy shoes and allow extra time.

During the 1800s, workers removed large sections of the castle rock to make room for a railway line running through the valley. This extraction significantly changed the shape of the original site.