Hohengeroldseck, Medieval castle ruins in Seelbach, Germany

Hohengeroldseck is a castle ruin situated on a hilltop in the Black Forest region and constructed from stone. The remains consist of several sections, including a lower area with outer walls and an upper castle section, which together give a complete picture of medieval building techniques.

Walter I of Geroldseck built the castle between 1240 and 1250 as the ancestral seat of his family. From 1277 it was the centre of the Upper Lordship of Hohengeroldseck, and in 1486 it was captured by Count Palatine Philip after a six-week bombardment. French troops destroyed it in January 1689 during the War of the Palatine Succession.

The name Hohengeroldseck comes from the Geroldseck family, whose ancestral seat the castle was. Since 1958 the Verein zur Erhaltung der Burgruine Hohengeroldseck has looked after the ruins, and in 2005 the Landesverein Badische Heimat named them a heritage site of the state. In June 2010 the Denkmalstiftung Baden-Württemberg made the ruin its Monument of the Month.

The site is freely accessible and can be reached on foot by taking a walking trail of about 45 minutes from the parking area. The route passes through forest and is easy to follow, though sturdy footwear is recommended.

The ruin consists of two distinct castle areas that show how the complex was expanded over time. This division provides insight into the different phases of medieval construction and use of the site.