Burg Hohenbeilstein, Medieval castle in Beilstein, Germany

Burg Hohenbeilstein is a hilltop castle ruin above the Bottwartal valley in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. A pentagonal tower called the Langhans rises above the remaining walls and is visible from the valley below.

The castle's origins lie in the 11th century, though the oldest surviving parts date from the 13th century. It was probably built by the Counts of Calw, passed to the Margraves of Baden, then to Württemberg, and around 1340 came permanently to Württemberg. It was besieged and destroyed several times, including by rebellious peasants in 1525 and by French troops in the Palatine War of Succession.

The castle hosts falconry demonstrations with birds of prey that visitors can watch. These shows connect travelers with an old hunting tradition that was once central to life in this region.

The site is reached on foot from Beilstein via hiking trails that start near the town center. Comfortable shoes are a good idea, as the paths lead uphill through the surrounding landscape.

The restaurant building is not medieval: it was designed by architect Albert Benz, who from 1906 to 1908 rebuilt parts of the castle for industrialist Robert Vollmöller. The original palas no longer survives. Vollmöller died in 1911, and further reconstruction stopped.